The World's Most Expensive Perfumes

The world's most expensive has been revealed as the Imperial Majesty, which costs $215,000 a bottle. It is officially the most expensive perfume in the world. The Imperial Majesty, a limited edition of a Clive Christian signature scent, will be sold simply as No. 1; the fragrance priced at $2,150 an ounce. The world’s most expensive perfume costs so much according to Christian, a British designer-turned-perfumer, because the 16.9 ounces of No. 1 is poured into a Baccarat crystal bottle, stuck a five-carat diamond into the 18-carat gold collar. It was unrevealed at Harrods in London and Bergdorf Goodman in New York City this past holiday season.

Only three of the five bottles released for sale have been sold. The other two perfumes were kept for Christian's archives. Since 2005 over 500 other fragrances were launched, but none can beat out the new world's number one perfume. Statically, people are not buying more perfumes. However, they are prepared to spend more on perfumes they continue like best. According to The NPD Group, a Long Island-based market research company, the U.S. fragrance industry grossed $2.8 billion in sales in 2004, but last year the industry was up only 1% over the prior year.

U.S.-born writer who sued over Da Vinci Code dies

Richard Leigh, a writer of the world's relevant yet unconventional historical stories has died, his agent said Friday. He was 64. He is also renowned for his attempt unsuccessfully to sue for plagiarism over themes in Dan Brown's blockbuster novel "The Da Vinci Code."

Leigh, born in New Jersey in 1943 to a British father and Austrian mother lived in Britain for three decades, died in London on Nov. 21 of causes related to a heart condition. Leigh was co-author of "The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail," a work of exploratory nonfiction that claimed Jesus Christ fathered a child with Mary Magdalene and that the bloodline continues to this day.

Firstly, a best-seller on its release in 1982, the book has gone onto gain new readers after Brown's thriller, which explored related themes. The book has sold more than 40 million copies, and was released in 2003. He along with co-author Michael Baigent sued Brown's publisher Random House, claiming "The Da Vinci Code" "appropriated the architecture" of their book. A third "Holy Blood" author, Henry Lincoln, was not named in the lawsuit.

However, in April 2006, High Court judge Peter Smith threw out the claim, on the grounds that the ideas in dispute were too general to be protected by copyright.

Ironically, the prominent court case sent "Holy Blood" back up the best-seller lists, and Baigent and Leigh were presented with a bill estimated at nearly 3 million pounds (US$6.2 million) after the judge ordered them to pay 85 percent of Random House's legal costs.

Faberge Egg fetches record breaking $18.5 mil at London auction

The exquisitely formed and first commissioned by Russian Czar Alexander III commissioned elaborate egg from craftsman Peter Carl Faberge as an Easter gift for his wife, Empress Maria Fedorovnahas has fetched the record breaking princely sum of $18.5 million at a London auction Wednesday. The rare enamel-and-gold Faberge egg had been a keepsake for the Rothschild banking family for more than a century. The Rothschild Faberge Egg is one of no more than 12 such pieces known to have been made to imperial standards for private clients, Christie's said.

The Faberge Egg which is a translucent pink egg topped with a diamond-studded cockerel is also now famous for breaking the previous record for a Faberge work of art, Christie's auction house said. The price also broke the record for Russian artwork, excluding paintings, easily beating the $9.6 million paid for a Faberge egg in New York in 2002, Christie's said.

On Screen 007 Creates Real Life MI6 Recruitment Dilemmas

The deliciously hot and amply capable of filing any previous 'BOND" 007 star’s shoes, Daniel Craig wowed movie goers with his stunning portrayal of James Bond last year. It is not surprising that recruitment to the real life MI6 also known as the British Secret Intelligence Service has been given a run for their money with applicant’s submission on the up and up. These applicants are not always of the caliber required for such a prestigious and commanding post to say the least. Apparently, the MI6 greatest dilemma with recruitment is that too many want to join MI6, but not for all the right reasons.

"I think it gives people a false impression of what working for the organization is actually like," the head of MI6 recruitment -- named only as "Mark" -- told BBC Radio One's Newsbeat program on Monday. "So it does tend to turn up quite a lot of thrill seekers and fantasists and we're really not interested in them."

It appears the success of the British Secret Intelligence Service will hinge on just how well they manage to adequately dispel the James Bond 007 myths. For starters the myth about the “license to kill” appears to be a good place to begin according to Mark, "We don't have a license to kill -- we don't carry Berettas -- that's simply not true."

The Art of Shopping Cyber Monday Style

The popular belief is the best time and place to save on shopping for the Holiday's is in fact that which also works out to be the most economical all around and you do not even have to leave your home or office to get started. You simply have to point, click, and shop. That is shopping online, of course. The saving adds up in no time at all. This can be tricky if shopping is attempted while at work, but as the internet is open for business long after all the shops have closed there are just about enough hours in the day to get the job done nicely. Shopping today will give you maximum chances then all year to really hit the jack pot in saving on the gifts and items you want.

Bergdorf Goodman and Ron Herman are among the high-end retailers offering discounts. For example, Berdgorf Goodman, is offering 65 percent off men's fall apparel, including Giorgio Armani sport coats and Ermenegildo ties. While, Ron Herman is offering online shoppers 30 percent off fall women's wear. Online retailers are even offering shoppers free shipping to entice business today. Other online retailers like Sephora.com and LLBean.com have offered to pay shipping charges on any purchases starting Nov. 26.

So, get online and see what amazing Cyber Monday steals you come up with today too.

Green is definitely the new black

Green is the new black everywhere you look. The message of the green evolution and global warming is hit home for many of us now more than ever. The green movement has infiltrated all aspects of our lives. This must comes at the relief of those like Al Gore who have been loudly sounding the alarms for several years. The environmental changes that must be made by all are way less painful a transition then first anticipated. Now we can all do our part and even go green in style and on a budget. Global warming is not only impacting the climate and the environment, but also making a great impact on customers across the board through clothes and fashion too, according to design and retail experts.

The Los Angeles Auto Show Preview has arrived

The Los Angeles Auto Show Preview has arrived with a green car themed vengeance. Green innovation has taken center stage at this year’s automotive show. This marks the unofficial start of the 2008 auto show season. Famously noted by journalist around the world, the Los Angeles Auto Show is considered the most favorite for all auto journalists and enthusiasts alike.

The panel of judges included Jay Leno, Jean-Michel Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society. Green Car Journal, a leading automotive environmental magazine, narrowed the list of finalists to 5 vehicles: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, Mazda Tribute Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, and Saturn Aura Hybrid. The well-regarded panel of judges somehow managed to make the final decision and the 2008 Green Car of the Year Award was presented at the start of this year’s show. Take a look at some of the auto shows highlights you can expect to see this week.

Music and fashion heavy weights team up for worthy cause

Music and fashion heavy weights team up for a worthy charity cause. Madonna and Gucci have joined forces to raise funds for orphans in Malawi. Madonna just last year set out to adopt a child legally from the impoverished southern African nation. Instead of simply taking a child from the struggling nation she has done so much more for the millions of orphans and people still living in poverty and impoverish lives.

I respect her greatly for the latter. Apparently, any donkey with money can take an African child, but it takes a rightful heart to give a damn about the millions left behind. My hat tips to her for her selfless efforts to provide a better way of life for those in Malawi and also treating them with dignity and re-enforcing their sense of pride as an African people.

Madonna has respectfully kept her adopted African son discreetly from the media circus that is so embraced by lesser celebrities who appear to use the African adoption claim as if some sort of humanitarian act amongst other dismaying claims. She has also both honored and treated with respect the living biological father of the African boy which is to say the least very commendable.

Madonna has come a long way from the days of rebellion and calamity to be in her own right a woman of example and strength. She stands alone proudly as co-founder of the Raising Malawi rather than as part of some over exposed and sadly flaunted Hollywood bs coupling which in itself distracts distastefully from any humanitarian cause if not puts people off all together.

Guy Richie is "REALLY" her man and not party to some sad frantic entrapment of the man as some others have publicly resorted to ridiculously. Madonna and Gucci will host a fund-raising event with dinner, a musical performance and a party on February 6 next year to mark the opening of Gucci's largest store in the world, on New York's Fifth Avenue.

Her co-founded Raising Malawi charity focuses on trying to end the poverty and hardship suffered by Malawi's 1 million orphans, many of whose parents died of AIDS.

"I am grateful that Gucci is joining forces with me to bring attention to a country with millions of children in desperate need of our help," Madonna said in a statement.

"Raising Malawi has already done tremendous work in helping these children. But we have much more to do and this event will surely bring us closer to our goal."