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"SLATE III" FLAT EMULSION | October 31st 2008

"Grey can be the most romantic of colours", writes Gavin Houghton, former art director of World of Interiors  ...

From INTELLIGENT LIFE magazine, Autumn 2008

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"Christopher's perfumes are not for everyone", writes Jessica Gallucci about the man behind CB I Hate Perfume. But you might consider a dab of "Wet Pavement" or "In the Library" behind each ear ...

Special to MORE INTELLIGENT LIFE 

"I have a strong sensitivity to certain aromachemicals, like musk," says Christopher Brosius. "The aldehydes in Chanel No. 5 make me puke." And that is unfortunate, he continues, because the Polish ladies here in Williamsburg wear so much of it.

Christopher is the perfumer behind CB I Hate Perfume Gallery, a small shop on a street that runs parallel to New York's East River. I've visited often in the years since I first wandered in and overheard the owner describing his philosophy: that great fragrances are unimposing and genderless, and they should harmonise with a person's natural odour. Christopher ("Never call him 'Chris'", his assistant once whispered) is a theatrical presence, possessing a wry wit and a spring-loaded arch to his brow. He speaks to me between sips from a container labelled Muscle Milk, as Zephyr, his mastiff, rests his enormous head on my knee.

The shop's exposed wooden beams and minimalist decor give it the air of an austere cabin. Three hundred miniature laboratory vials populate white shelves. Inside the bottles are accords, the aromatic building-blocks with which one can--for $125 to upwards of $1,200--collaborate with Christopher to construct one's own custom scent. The vials of single notes, which can be had individually for around $25, carry hand-scrawled names like "Rhubarb Leaf", "Papaya Seed", "Celo Tape" and "Crayon".  read more »

WILL SMITH LEARNS SOMETHING NEW | August 26th 2008

"I have found the silver bullet that will stop the trade in illegal drugs ..."

From INTELLIGENT LIFE magazine, Summer 2008

Where? Twenty feet up in the air, hanging from two canvas straps in a big top in Amsterdam.

In a city renowned for drugs, the one I'm getting off on is adrenalin. This is the biggest high I've ever experienced--and I've performed in front of 6,000 people and shaken Stephen Fry's hand. Admittedly my experience of drugs doesn't stretch beyond Irish coffee, but I'm sure heroin wouldn't make you feel as good as this. Rehab should start with circus lessons.

Rewind to London in February, when I go to see Cirque du Soleil's latest show, "Varekai"--a blend of heart-stopping circus acrobatics and huge-scale theatrical stagings--to choose which act I might like to attempt. My initial reaction? None of them. Not if I value my limbs, and the ability to use them. Maybe I could learn a bit of stilt work instead, or do a little jump through a trapdoor? No, I was told. According to Cirque's publicist, two far more exciting acts--known as Aerial Straps and Icarian Games--are "easy to teach".

By that way of thinking, I could probably pick up piloting Harrier jumpjets in an afternoon.  read more »

Over lunch with Simon Lovell, a fascinating former card shark, Allison Schrager learns all sorts of things about how swindlers operate ...

Special to MORE INTELLIGENT LIFE

"I can spot someone's weakness a mile away. In any room I can pick out the best target," says Simon Lovell, reformed con artist and famed magician, when asked over lunch about the root of his talents.

"Take that woman over there." He motions across the room towards a lady speaking to a man engrossed in his menu--"vulnerable, needy, looking for attention from the man she is with, but he won't give it to her. She even lacks the social skills to get the waiter's attention."

"Or that man over there, over-dressed, too neat, over-confident, thinks he is too smart to be taken." He says, pointing to a middle aged man in a neat suit, with excellent posture.

"But ultimately, anyone can be conned, if you have the balls to do it."

Simon Lovell should know. He spent many years pulling cons, indulging in everything from swift bar games to more elaborate schemes. A fascination with magic as a child eventually led Mr Lovell to hone his skills as a sleight-of-hand expert, and then as a professional card cheat.  read more »

HOT ON YOUR TRAIL | March 11th 2008

Kapungo/flickr

How can you tell if you're being followed? Don't bother looking for men with turned-up collars, who peer round corners or keep tying their shoelaces, says Alan Judd. The secret to identifying a tail is all in the shoes ...

From INTELLIGENT LIFE magazine, Spring 2008*  read more »

CONNECT AT THE MET | February 12th 2008

Waldo Jaquith/Flickr

Intrigued by the promise of a posh singles' mixer at the Met Opera House, Enid Stubin suits up in cocktail-dress armour and heads into battle. Alas, she observes, the search for love in New York is a fool's game ...

Special to MORE INTELLIGENT LIFE

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YOU'RE A CAB, SIR | January 2nd 2008

Mgmt Design for the Design Trust for Public Space

Does this transaction look familiar? Then join us in wishing the New York taxi a happy 100th birthday, and admiring a new volume of taxi manga from the Design Trust for Public Space ...

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