Bonbons & beauty

We've been listening to the same Radiohead songs on repeat for about a week while we pack web orders. Important to maintain aural consistency to keep in the groove of ribbon-tying & note-writing (always a particular thrill to send out a pair of Father Panik "hell yeah" gloves with a note that simply reads "hell yeah!"). We've also been hatching new home pages ideas (hilarious, if I do say so myself) and cooking up wish lists of what we're going to bring to the site and the store when we go shopping (professional-style) in January. Personally, I'm crazy excited about bringing more beauty and skincare to the site. This might be fueled by my time spent prowling Into the Gloss, the expertly designed, warm and inviting beauty blog. I've never been a huge product person, but I feel myself falling, and quick.

Sally Singer's hands, Jen Brill's bathroom - both from Into the Gloss

What We Love Today: Saipua Basil Soap

Fall is coming so, farewell coconut! See you in 10 months. Welcome fall with a new bar of Saipua's basil soap, a deeply sexy autumnal blend of Hungarian basil topped with a touch of lime for levity.

Sweet, like mead and mink

Gucci is sponsoring the restoration of La Dolce Vita, and this morning I'm wondering if the vivacious Anita Ekberg would've smelled more like Tocca's Stella or Cleopatra when that little white kitten (or, Marcello) nuzzled in her neck. I'm going to mull it over today with our resident nose, Joanie, who, by the by, has been working her little nostrils into a heavenly fatigue, helping Rony with the Catbird signature candle line. It's coming, and it's going to be grand.

laundry wash $15

Raise your hands if you hand-wash at home! Raise your hands if you'd like your hand-washables to smell insanely amazing! Raise your hands if you're always at a loss for a pretty, inexpensive gift for a hostess, a pal's birthday, Secret Santa! Problem solved, friends. Please meet Tocca's Laundry Delicate wash. Beautiful-looking, fantastic-smelling, wallet-loving.

Stella!!

Tocca's Stella Laundry Wash, $15

Raise your hands if you hand-wash at home! Raise your hands if you'd like your hand-washables to smell insanely amazing! Raise your hands if you're always at a loss for a pretty, inexpensive gift for a hostess, a pal's birthday, Secret Santa! Problem solved, friends. Please meet Tocca's Laundry Delicate wash. Beautiful-looking, fantastic-smelling, wallet-loving.

Time as virtue

Modern Alchemy solid perfumes, $40

It's particularly nice out today, and I don't mean to be a Cassandra, but a little beast called winter is brewing. I find fragrance to be one of the easiest ways to beat the dirty winter blues. These little lockets fit in a pocket and avoid the uncouthness that is spraying yourself and your neighbor on the subway. Nobody likes that, even if its some Chanel no 5 you're spraying. I'm partial to the jasmine sambac- we've also got lily of the valley and tuberose.

Seda France candles, $29

I'll be unpacking our Seda France order this morning (always a delight- each slash of the box cutter releases the best smells), plucking out my personal favorite (hyacinth), then heading home to light it up while I continue to reorganize my apartment. I am a serious wild woman.