You think shaving is easy? Ask any guy, and he’ll tell you about the time he accidentally nicked himself and came out of the bathroom looking like an extra in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Well, moon face or not, we all know having a good razor makes a huge difference, but using the right shaving cream makes the process even smoother. Hair today, gone tomorrow.
Thanks to Niven Morgan’s new men’s line, Man Made, shaving can be achieved with ease. The Dallas-based fragrance designer noted, “I created a men’s line that I wanted to use. Shave smoother with more comfort. It’s simple, smart shaving.”
The exclusive collection comprises a range of fragrance-free men’s shaving products that are carefully manufactured with natural and calming botanical ingredients. Dudes are going to love the Prime Time Pre-Shave Cream because it’s made from aloe vera, natural extracts and essential oils, the vitamin-enriched pre-shave cream enables smoother shaving and and it will make the experience as enjoyable as sitting on the couch and watching the Giants suck.
The Razor Made Shave Cream contains a nice blend of aloe vera, shea butter and calming botanicals. The natural oils help condition and prepare the skin for a more comfortable shave.
Apart from the shaving creams, the new line also includes the Daily Dose Face Moisturizer and the Double Play Cleanser and Exfoliator. Women aren’t the only ones that should be concerned about skincare. It’s important that guys take care of themeselves. And it’s your fricken’ face. What do girls care about? Well, while dudes think boobs and ass, girls think face, nice smile, facial hair — well, most of the time. The Double Play Cleanser makes cleansing and exfoliating super simple (for you dumb fellas). It combines good ingredients like glycerin, natural extracts and exfoliating jojoba beads that result in a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser, leading to a visibly brighter and healthier complexion.
Don’t forget to moisturize, especially with the drop in temperature across the city and with the new girl in your life you’ve been having sleep over. Equipped with anti-aging elements, vitamins and natural extracts, the Daily Dose Face Moisturizer nourishes your skin and combats aging.
Niven Morgan also proudly introduces RUE 1807, a fragrance for men that encapsulates the richness of New Orleans. This deep, musky scent captures the soul of one of America’s most interesting cities in a bottle. It’s a strong blend of absinthe and bourbon (okay, they totally know their audience), cypress and moss, vetiver and incense. RUE 1807 is best described as dark and exotic, a fragrance designed to exemplify the seductive southern charm of New Orleans.
Morgan has constructed a growing empire of aromatic candles, soaps, lotions and home scents. Most of his inspiration stems from his international travels and childhood memories on his family’s farm in Louisiana. RUE 1807 and Man Made caters to guys’ comfort and contentment, making this the ideal product line for men. — Carissa Gan
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Photo by Graciela Cattarossi
Indagare Insider Pamela Murdock gives us a summer dispatch from one of the Caribbean’s most romantic islands, Mustique.
One of the Caribbean’s great secrets is Mustique in the summer. Though I love being there during “the season,” summer is even more relaxed and just as fun. But whenever I go, my journey starts the minute I consider which house to rent, as the island features such a diversity of architectural styles and locations. We constantly stay in different houses to enjoy new views, décor and moods.
Every year there’s something new, and this summer was no exception. The Mustique Company inaugurated its first ever drive-in movie theater, with the film The Commitments. People arrived with picnic suppers or bought hot dogs from the food tent. In true Mustique fashion, the entire evening was charming and very entertaining. Adding to the amusement was the Activities Director’s dog, Stump, who howled along with several songs. The rest of the summer’s line-up includes The Godfather, Blues Brothers, Identity, Grease and The Rocky Horror Picture Show (along with a party, for which guests have been told “costumes are highly recommended”).
In addition to sailing, tennis, riding and soccer camps, The Mustique Company has whipped up quite a few new activities perfect for entertaining children and some houseguests. Our household was content with lounging by the pool or beach but for those who need a bit more action, instructors for dance, yoga, paddleboard, kite surfing and several types of exercise programs are available. There are also special barbeques and cocktail parties, children’s movies and theme parties like a treasure hunt, which takes place all around the island, and Full Moon Lagoon Parties. Another addition is that Firefly, a guesthouse, will now deliver pizzas to your house, ideal for a quiet movie night at home.
I was also delighted to find special Mustique products like shampoo and conditioner, body wash, and lotion in our bathrooms. They smell lovely and are terrific and can even be purchased online as part of Niven Morgan’s Mustique 1958 collection (1958 refers to the year Colin Tennant bought the island).
The island of Mustique located in south Caribbean is known as part of the Grenadines, a private and resort villa founded in 1958 by Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner. Today, it is privately owned and managed up to an upmost caliber. It has perfect climate for all season touring and getaways for those that seek privacy and quiet relaxation. Some of the island animals you might come across are tortoises and herons roaming freely on the crystal clear beaches. Celebrities and royal families are some of the more notable individuals seen on the island. Mustique is an island of luxury and true paradise for full relaxation.
To capture everything about the island and more, Niven Morgan has presented the line Mustique 1958. The line makes you feel the sea breeze and island like climate along with floral essences. For the line, the scent is so smooth and fresh to the nose because of the bit of woodiness mixed in with citrus. The sparkling citrus scent reminds me of champagne and the breeze from the islands on Hawaii (even though we are talking about Mustique).
Starting off with the hand products, Niven Morgan has a set of hand soap and lotion that is made to smell not only nice and clean, there is also a richness to the silky hand lotion.
The hand soap provides a quick and easy wash for the hands, where it leaves them squeaky clean with a nice refreshing scent. Even though it turns your hands into completely squeaky clean, it isn’t drying. Just apply a pump or two and lather up then rinse. Afterwards, nourish the hands with the hand lotion where it contains a non-greasy formula that’s light but ulta hydrating. It leaves the hands flawlessly smooth like silk with a protective thin layer of cream. You could actually feel it!
Let’s talk about the products for the body now. For showering, there is a body wash from the line that provides an extremely rich foaming gel where if you use a pouf , you will know what I mean. Anyways, if you smell bad after a long day or if you’re tired, this stuff is like mojo where it will anew you after use almost instantaneously.
In the shampoo, there is an infusion of aloe vera, willow bark, and sugar cane. YES SUGAR CANE! It left my hair silky smooth and cleansed. I was surprised when I first used this because I never tried sugar cane in shampoos. As moisturizing as the shampoo is, the conditioner adds an extra layer of richness giving hair protein (soy) what it needs from the root to the tip. You can use this conditioner everyday and it is color safe too!
As nourishing and luxurious the body lotion is, it has high quality ingredients that are organically grown. There is aloe vera, shea butter, cucumber, and algae. The body lotion absorbs quite quickly and refreshes the skin. I think the cucumber is such a nice ingredient in contrast with everything else. Your body will become smooth and soft with the lotion. After use, you will notice that it doesn’t leave any traces of those pesky like stickiness at all. The absorption is phenomenal.
Finally, here is the Eau de Parfum which has a nice citrusy scent laced with woodiness to it. The pleasant scent will leave you awake the entire day. I sprayed it around my neck and wrist, it lasted a good 3 hours before the scent started waning down a bit.
Mustique’s scent and the whole line are a lot different than any others from Niven Morgan. It gives a pure sense of luxury and resort like feeling. The hand soap and lotion feel especially nice leaving hard working hands super soft and moisturized. Also, whether you’re in the shower or out of the shower, you can feel just as great with the rest of the products.
Trumpets blast, drums pound and heads turn. A marching band is stomping up Canal Street in New Orleans. The pavement is wet with rain, but that doesn’t slow down their leader, wobbling along on a pair of stilts. It’s just another Wednesday night in the French Quarter. The band, presumably practicing for Mardi Gras, incites a mini flash-mob of followers as it parades past the buttoned-up Ritz-Carlton to stop directly in front of the Ritz’s adjacent neighbor: The Saint hotel, open less than two weeks on this night.
The hotel’s two Dallas-based owners, Mark Wyant and his mother, Jana, could hardly have scripted a better showcase for their new property. The 103-year-old building rises eight stories into the air, still crowned by its original beaux arts stone scrollwork.
Inside the soaring lobby, the look is anything but period. Clear “Ghost” chairs go toe-to-toe with baroque banquets and mod chandeliers. A niche above the front doors houses a mirror-mosaic mannequin, hands on hips, that owner Mark bought as-is at Dallas Market Center. (In rustic contrast, a pair of carved-wood angels above the reception desk was a flea-market find in Forney, Texas.) The voluminous entry hall feels ethereal with sheer white drapes dangling 22 feet from ceiling to floor. Seem familiar? It’s a direct nod to designer Philippe Starck and his infamous, now-shuttered Starck Club in Dallas.
“I’ve been obsessed with the Starck ever since I first walked through the door in 1984,” says Mark, clad in a black turtleneck and jeans. His fixations grew over the years from dance clubs to exotic sports cars (still a thing) to jet airplanes. He’s been a pilot since 1990 for American Airlines.
Mark’s other defining passion is hotels. He’s third-generation in the business, which began when his late grandfather first opened a place in East Texas. Since the ’70s, Mark and his mother have owned and operated more than a dozen hotels in Texas and the Southwest, and he still owns the Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort on the Galveston coast. But his dream was always a boutique property.
Everything fell into place in 2010 when bad weather forced him to cut a family vacation short and land his private plane in New Orleans for a layover.
Mark went for a walk with his wife, Lorenda, and stumbled onto the historic
Audubon Building at the corner of Canal and Burgundy. It happened to be for sale. Built in 1909, the property had mostly served as an office building. Investors once tried to convert it into a Hilton, but Hurricane Katrina put a stop to that in 2005 and it had sat abandoned since. Poking around out front, Mark saw plywood covering the doorways and broken glass everywhere, but the proverbial bones were intact. He called his mother back in Dallas and told her to get on the next plane.
Jana, a whirlwind of energy in her 70s with a mod haircut and perfectly done makeup, still recalls her reaction the first time she saw the place: “I stood inside the doorway and looked around at the most ugly, gross, stinky thing you ever saw. Oh, and all of that space. I looked at Mark and said, ‘What in God’s world are we going to do with all of that space?’”
Turns out, quite a bit.
The Wyants spent a year and a staggering $40 million-plus on renovations. Mark hired architects for the heavy lifting — former offices were reconfigured into guest rooms; bathrooms had to be built into each one — but tackled all of the finish-out and interior design himself. (And talk about a family affair: Mark’s well-manicured wife painted most of the pressed-tin tiles underneath the building’s reconstructed iron awning.) The hotel’s 166 rooms are now furnished with sleek, white-lacquered furniture and jumbo-graphic-print carpets. The ceilings are slathered in indigo paint because, as a pilot, Mark says you should “keep the blue side up and the brown side down.” Many of the rooms also have original exposed-brick walls. Every bathroom is stocked with lotions, potions and spa robes by Dallas scent prince Niven Morgan. (Morgan was a natural choice since he’s also a Louisiana native.)
Mark is working to finish dressing the building’s eighth floor, where he’s adorning the hallways with historic photos of Dallas and John F. Kennedy from 1963.
The reason? Mark discovered while researching the building with the Library of Congress that Lee Harvey Oswald was once interviewed on the eighth floor by an anti-communist group that officed there.
In fact, the property is even named in the legendary Warren Report.
For The Saint’s signature restaurant, Mark partnered with celeb New Orleans chef Michael Stoltzfus of Coquette in the Garden District to open Sweet Olive near the main entrance. The best way to order here is the four-course tasting menu, which
pairs dishes such as Louisiana crab meat with quail eggs and pickled Gulf shrimp with the perfect wine. (If you’re with a group, try to snag the marble banquette table in the front window for the best people-watching.) Across the lobby is a cozy space dressed in scarlet Venetian chandeliers, dubbed the Burgundy Lounge (pronounce it like a local: bur-GUN-dee), which serves up cocktails from a menu organized by “Seven Godly Virtues” or “Seven Deadly Sins.” This spring, you can get more libations on the hotel’s coming rooftop lounge, Halo.
“The whole idea is the saint and sinner. Good and evil. Naughty and nice,” says Mark. “We’re trying to present a playful atmosphere that relates back to the city. The food is excellent and rich, maybe a little more than you should eat. And, of course, everyone knows about Bourbon Street.”
Mark even tried to infuse that NOLA atmosphere into the music. He created a hotel playlist that, from 6 to 10 each night, is composed of vintage jazz tunes by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, who grew up two blocks away. Later at night, expect to hear more eclectic tracks, including bands lifted from Starck Club days: Vicious Pink, Book of Love.
According to Mark, a hotel is theater. “Like a Broadway play, all of the piece have to be in place: music, sound, smell, sight.
This is about having an experience.”
Everyday we have grown accustomed to washing our hands with soap and nourishing them with lotion. It’s like a ritual that we do each and everyday especially when we are trying to get rid of germs and toxins. Sometimes we hate washing our hands because the harshness the soap brings. I know I hate harsh soaps, I get cracked skin and it hurts! Niven Morgan brings a set of soap and lotion that can make washing hands and nurturing them a whole lot easier and more.
Niven Morgan hand soaps are truly a masterpiece. The soaps are rich in foam and cleanse the hands in one wash. Each soap comes with a rich aroma that leaves your hands smelling nice and fresh.
Tarocco Orange & Lavender gives you a scent of fresh sweet oranges with a subtle scent of soothing lavender. The scent is a must have for any orange lovers. I myself have grown to love this scent because I love drinking orange juice.
Orange Flower & Olive is a blast of floral with orange flowers. There is also a scent in the background which is olive. You could think of it as olive oil in one way or another. When I first used this it came across to me as olive oil with infused floral scents. The scent stuck that way because I had once purchased a floral scented bottle of olive oil for cooking.
Moving on to the hand lotions. The lotions complementing the soaps are said to be able to sooth, soften, and moisturize your hands because of the Aloe Vera, Shea Butter, Sunflower Oil, Cucumbers, and much more! When I used the lotion after washing my hands, I did find it to be cooling and relaxing to the skin. It doesn’t have a thick texture instead a silkier smooth absorbing build. Nourishing and moisturizing as it may be, it comes with a wonderful scent.
Niven Morgan is probably one of the best makers of combining relaxation / calming techniques with simple everyday bathing use products. Each time I use their products, I feel my shoulder softening up from tension and my neck softening up from hardness. If you haven’t seen the wonderful things they put out check out their other line which is the Gold Scent. Today, I want to show you their Shampoo from the Blue Scent line. It is something even my daughter’s Bear in a Duck Boat feels cleansed after use.
This bottle of shampoo comes in at 11 fl oz and will be available at www.nivenmorgan.com. Bear in the Duck Boat toy not included!
Once opened, the bottle of shampoo gives off a very calming scent. The scent I immediately sensed was like the big ocean by the beach with citrus infusion. It’s not only this product though, most of Niven Morgan’s scents are found to be very refreshingly nice. A little description on the site can be found about this product.
A fresh, intoxicating fragrance, Niven Morgan’s Blue evokes visual stimuli: a perfect sky reflected in the melted sapphire of a calm sea, these primary blues expressed in an elixir that blends exotic tropical woods and warm amber spiced with mandarin, bergamot and the bright tang of lemon. For men and women.
The top notes to this scent are Amber and Sandalwood while the middle notes include Lemon and Mandarin. Finally, Bergamont is the bottom note.
This shampoo comes in a gel like texture form that is rather rich in ingredients. A few scrubs here and there bring up the foam and bubbly action. Rinsing off is a piece of cake without much effort. But the end result is your hair feeling smooth and happy while it feels cleansed.
Niven Morgan Blue Scent Shampoo is a really moisturizing shampoo that comes very easy to use right out of the box. The scent itself is not only calming, it relieves stress and pain by making you feel relaxed. It is one bottle of love that can be shared in the whole house. When ladies appreciate the rich buttery foam and silky smooth hair, guys will be drawn by the fresh relaxing scent and squeaky clean feel.
As always, Mr. Morgan himself is a lover of animals, so animal testing is non-existent within the brand.
As an accessory connoisseur, Little Miss Muffin carries some of my favorite vendors--- Abigails, Vagabond House, Seda France, Niven Morgan, Aidan Gray, Allison Evans, Currey & Co., Thymes and unique finds from many locals including Oysteria, Toodle Lou Design acrylic paintings, NOLA Tawk pillows, Peter Briant watercolors, Heather McFarlaine watermeter designs, pewter graphic glassware, and Melissa Brownlow hand-painted art.
Having Niven Morgan around the house is like creating the perfect setting for extreme relaxation. That means loosening up the muscles and joints while filling your mind with calm soothing scents. Niven Morgan has different lines of scent, and today I will be featuring 4 items from the Gold Scent series.
Who doesn’t like bath salt when it comes to wrapping yourself in warm water? I know I do! I especially like to close my eyes. But while I do so I must have 2 or 3 scoops of bath salt while I am at it. Why? It’s like soaking yourself for maximum rejuvenation while your senses are also being stimulated. Niven Morgan’s Floral Amber Bath Soak helps me achieve that and more because of both the ingredients and the dreamy signature scent. The product itself retails for $28.00 and comes in at 22 fl oz.
The bath salt isn’t your ordinary sea salt that can be bought everyday. It comes with precious sea salt for the Dead Sea! If you don’t know what the Dead Sea is, it is a salt lake bordering Jordan and Israel. It is known to be one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world! But that is not my real point… The real point is that the body of water there is known to cure multiple illnesses and disorders. Hence, the quality of this bath salt is superb! Besides the sea salt there is Vitamin E, Green Tea, and Sunflower Oil.
Besides bathing in Sea Salt, I occasionally want to be living like a kid again. That is why I also play with bubbles. I absolutely hate bubbles that don’t last for a while and have scents of artificial fragrance in them. It just irks me! When I saw Niven Morgan’s Gold Bubble Bath, I didn’t believe that the bubbles would last a long time. I had to put it to a test. The bottle is 18 fl oz in size and retails for $24.00.
When you let the water flow into the tub, make sure to only squeeze once or twice because the formula is amazingly bubbly. It is like reliving a day like a kid again. I picture that all the time because whenever my kids are taking a bath they are always smiling and screaming with joy. Back to the bubble bath, it is blended with Vitamins C, E, and Chamomile for skin benefits. Also, I am not joking, the bubbles lasted a long time, the water almost turned cold.
By now, you probably want to know what this scent is all about. The scent is quite refined and opulent. It smells very natural. The scents all blend in so well that it is the work of a true artisan.
Sophisticated and sexy, Niven Morgan’s dreamy signature fragrance stirs sweet longings and fond memories with its warm top notes of vanilla and floral amber rising from a bouquet of rich Egyptian neroli and Italian bergamot blended in lusciously subtle aromas of sandalwood and musk. For the sensualist.
You gotta love soap and lotion sets especially having them in an uniformed scent. The last item(s), I am going to show you is the Niven Morgan Floral Amber Hand Soap & Hand Lotion set. It comes beautifully wrapped in a white organza draw string bag ready to go. After unwrapping the bag you will find that both bottles come in at 9.5 fl oz each and retails altogether at $34.00.
After using the hand soap I was quite amazed with the amount of bubbles. It was just like a miniature sized bubble bath but for hands! best of all, it was easily rinsed off along with the germs. One of the things that I noticed was there wasn’t a real need for the lotion because the soap is really gentle and rather soothing and moisturizing. It doesn’t dry out the skin. A quick glance at the back of the bottle tells me that there are Aloe Vera, White Tea, and Vitamins A, C, and E.
The other item inside the white organza draw string bag is the match hand lotion. A single pump of the lotion gives your hands a lightweight and quick absorption. The lotion is very refreshing and non-greasy while it holds Aloe Vera, Amica, Shea Butter, and Algae.
Here is a quick glance at the lotion applied on the back of my hand.
You can safely enjoy all Niven Morgan products without the fear or Paraben or Animal Testing. Hence the picture of the man with the horse, cat, and dog in perfect harmony.
Niven Morgan makes high quality products that you can enjoy at the comfort of your own home without going to the spa. Heck! Niven Morgan is SPA Grade quality. The products are like flowing with gold inside the bottles because of how soothing and relaxing it brings to the mind and soul. For Valentine’s, this would actually be the perfect present to share with your loved ones. Who doesn’t want to feel relaxed and pampered?
Britney's Big Day
By Michelle Tauber
Happy Tears and Talk of Babies: Britney Spears and Kevin Federline Open Up About Their Surprise Nuptials
PERSONAL TOUCHES
"The two of them wanted to plan everything together," says Alyson Fox, who coordinated the wedding along with her mom, Diane Levine. Guests—who tossed rose petals (right) after the ceremony—received a photo frame and a keychain (above) along with a candle from Niven Morgan.
D210 TV and Takiyah Wallace celebrated the launch of the new Niven Morgan Collection Mustique and benefit the Clayton Dabney Foundation for Kids with Cancer.
]]>Scent-sational Scoop...Paris by Niven Morgan
Anyone who knows me well knows that I love a great candle. As soon as I get home, one of the first things I do is light a candle or two in the parlor, or the den, or the kitchen. Yes! I am a candle-aholic. Now, I said it. I own it.
I have an entire antique bureau at the top of my stairs filled to the limits with candles I enjoy for every season. I buy many, but luckily I am gifted with these gems as well.
Each week on this blog, I hope to feature one candle that I am presently enjoying or have enjoyed in the past.
This week's candle was a holiday host gift I received from BFF Sal (S).
The candle I am presently burning in my parlor and den is Paris from the Doors Collection by Dallas-based fragrance designer Niven Morgan (who was born and raised in good ole Louisiana). The candle Paris smells of blue cypress and absinthe. It is simply amazing. Paris "transports you to the intimate Hemingway bar in the Ritz, where you sip absinthe, eavesdrop on conversation in a half-dozen languages, and fall in love with Paris all over again." Wow! Doesn't that description sound inviting? Sounds like an experience I'd love.
I hope you will enjoy my weekly candle features. Please share your favorites with me. I am always in the market for one or three.
Candles are scent-sational! Enjoy (and always be safe)!
fdluxe.com | 39 "Download PDF Version 1.7MB"
Escape: New Orleans
EASY GOING
Professional sybarite Niven Morgan shares his formula for the perfect New Orleans weekend
By Brittany Edwards
Born on the bayou: Tour guide Niven Morgan
At least once a month, Niven Morgan closes the door on his Dallas-based bath, body and home fragrance business and catches a Fridaymorning Southwest Airlines flight out of Love Field.
Destination: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
“I visited New Orleans for the first time in the eighth grade,” says Morgan, who was born and raised in Shreveport. “I was in Catholic school, and they let us run loose on Bourbon Street. I’ve been in love with the city ever since.”
For the past three decades, Morgan has visited the Big Easy more times than he can count, for pleasure and for business. Six years ago, he gave up his favorite suite at the Ritz-Carlton (one of half a dozen New Orleans spots that sell his products) and rented a cozy French Quarter pied-a`-terre complete with fern-filled courtyard. Although he keeps a tight grip on his Southern roots, Morgan has come a long way from his humble childhood roaming Shreveport’s sleepy bayous and the family farm. Today, his 10-yearold line covers the country and has a celeb-studded clientele that includes fellow Louisianan Britney Spears, who gave his candles as party favors at her nuptials to Kevin Federline.
This spring, Morgan rolls out two new lines: a culinary-inspired kitchen collection that includes velvety soaps and lotions, and a luxury candle collection based on his travels. Among the tributes — to Paris, London, Marrakesh, San Miguel — is a gardenia-and-jasmine- scented homage to his beloved New Orleans. Next month comes the Jean Baptiste 1717 collection, named for the city’s founding father.
Could there be a better tour guide?
8:15 a.m. Arrive on the 6:55 a.m. Southwest Airlines flight out of Love Field. If traffic goes your way, a 25-minute drive from Louis Armstrong International Airport will get you to the historic French Quarter.
10 a.m. Drop off your bags. Morgan is a big fan of the pet-friendly Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans (921 Canal St., 504-524-1331; ritzcarlton.com). Expect true Southern hospitality, especially if you splurge on a Concierge Level suite, which includes complimentary appetizers and Champagne around the clock. Looking for something luxe, but a tad more boutique? Hole up in the darling Soniat House (1133 Chartres St., 800-544-8808; soniathouse.com), with period antiques, cozy private courtyards and a friendly resident cat named Clarice.
11:30 a.m.Toast your arrival New Orleans-style at Galatoire’s (209 Bourbon St., 504-525-2021; galatoires.com). Scoring a table for Friday lunch is as difficult as bagging an Hermès Birkin. Instead, hike the stairs to the second-floor bar and order an aperitif. (Morgan likes the Bloody Mary.) Plan to stand, as there won’t be an empty seat in the house.
1 p.m. For lunch, hit Mr. B’s Bistro (201 Royal St., 504-523-2078; mrbsbistro.com), a traditional Creole eatery famous for the best barbecue shrimp in town. Don’t skip the complimentary warm French baguette served in a paper bag with a side of salty butter for starters.
2:30 p.m. Walk off lunch (well, maybe just the baguette) with a French Quarter shopping spree. Morgan starts at the Michalopoulos Gallery (617 Bienville St., 504-558-0505; michalopoulos.com). New Orleans-themed works by artist-owner James Michalopoulos that used to go for $100 to $200 on the street now bring in five figures. Morgan was lucky enough to score a piece during the early days, and hangs the prize in his pied-à-terre. Believe in witchcraft? Even if you don’t, swoop into Marie Laveau (739 Bourbon St., 504-581-3751), named for New Orleans’ infamous “Queen of Voodoo.” The place is packed with superstitious wares; there’s even a tarot-card reader tucked in the back room. Morgan recently took home a rosary that now dangles from his front doorknob for good luck. Feel like an insider at hidden-gem home shop Nadine Blake (1036 Royal St., 504-529-4913, nadineblake.com). Morgan scored a vintage turquoise glass lamp and navy-and-white striped pillow for his master bedroom here. Uncover unique antique treasures — brass jewelry boxes, hand-painted ceramic dishes — along with whimsical stationery and Les Indiennes bedding handmade in India. n Get a jump on Mardi Gras at Fifi Mahony’s (934 Royal St., 504-525-4343; fifi-mahony.com), one of the city’s most fabulous dress-up shops. From a fake-eyelash bar to costume jewelry and an impressive wig boutique in back, there’s something for every diva. Niven Morgan rarely visits town without popping into Tommy’s Flowers (933 Royal St., 504-522-6563) for an armload of hydrangeas to decorate his digs. The glass decanters, birdcage candleholders, ceramic vases and blue-and-white Chinese planters are worth the visit — not to mention the intoxicating aroma of stargazer lilies that greets you at the door. Before freshening up for dinner, swing by Hotel Monteleone (214 Royal St., 504-523-3341; hotelmonteleone.com) for cocktails at the revolving, circus-themed Carousel Bar. If the decor doesn’t make your head spin, a Southern Belle — Southern Comfort, peach puree, Champagne and black raspberry liquer — should do the trick.
7:30 p.m. Leave your heels at the hotel and head to Adolfo’s (611 Frenchmen St., 504-948-3800). The cash-only, Faubourg Marigny district eatery serves no-frills Italian, including a couple of mean cannelloni dishes. Don’t mind the gritty atmosphere, advises Morgan, “That’s part of its charm.”
9:30 p.m. Not ready to call it a night? Morgan loves to put back a Pimm’s Cup at 200-year-old landmark bar Napoleon House (500 Chartres St., 504-524-9752; napoleonhouse.com). Another favorite is the legendary Café du Monde (800 Decatur St., 504-525-4544; cafedumonde.com) for the requisite café au lait and beignets.
10:30 p.m. Wired on caffeine? Get another kind of buzz at the Old Absinthe House (240 Bourbon St., 504-523-3181; oldabsinthehouse.com), which serves absinthe cocktails with baskets of free buttery popcorn. If you’re not a fan of the liquor’s anise flavor, the blueberry option does a good job of masking the bitter taste, if not the green fairy effect. Tout sweet: a Lilette dessert by pastry chef and SMU grad Beth Biundo After a celebratory cocktail at Galatoire’s (above), Morgan gets a Creole cooking fix at Mr. B’s Bistro (left). Post-lunch shopping kicks off at Michalopoulos Gallery (below).
9 a.m. Work off a fraction of last night’s sins at the New Orleans Athletic Club (222 N. Rampart St., 504-525-2375; neworleans athleticclub.com). A $20 multiple-access day pass grants admission to the historic landmark’s indoor marble pool, ballroom yoga classes, boxing ring and cardio rooms, still outfitted with the original crown moldings, Venetian plaster, vintage fireplaces and chandeliers. Even if you’re not in the mood to sweat, a tour (don’t miss the full-service bar, barber shop and impressive library) is worth the visit.
11 a.m. Indulge your senses with a formal jazz brunch at Commander’s Palace (1403 Washington Ave., 504-899-8221; commanders palace.com), which serves wicked butter-drenched garlic toast for starters. Morgan never leaves without ordering the house’s famous turtle soup (“so good it makes my hair stand up”), and requesting a side of “You Are My Sunshine” and “Jambalaya” from the Joe Simon jazz trio. Try to score a table in the second-floor Garden Room, with views of the manicured courtyard.
Tip: No jeans allowed. Not in the mood for fancy fare? Hit Theo’s (4218 Magazine St., 504-894-8554; theospizza.com) for an early lunch instead. The neighborhood joint is known for its thin-crust pizza and Greek salad with homemade Romano cheese dressing. Antique treasures at Magazine Street’s Bremermann Designs Commander’s Palace serves brunch with a side of jazz. Artisan tarts at Sucré 42 | fdluxe.com | May 2009
12:30 p.m. If you have the will to skip dessert at Commander’s, satisfy your sweet tooth at Lilette (3637 Magazine St., 504-895-1636; liletterestaurant.com), a charming French bistro in the heart of Magazine Street’s antique district. In-house pastry chef and SMU grad Beth Biundo dishes a heavenly Nutella custard, as well as beautiful artisan ice creams, which are Morgan’s favorite. Locals stop in for her famous double-chocolate
cookies, too.
1 p.m. Spend the afternoon exploring Magazine Street, which packs nearly 300 shops into a six-mile stretch from Canal Street to the meandering Mississippi River. There’s no right way to scour the shops, but here are some suggestions starting at the eastern end. Tip: Sidewalks are wobbly, so wear walking shoes. n Home shop Source (2103 Magazine St., 504-561-7558; sourcenola.com) is a survivor. After opening the same weekend Hurricane Gustav hit last August, it’s moved full speed ahead. Locals flock here for upscale Swedish antiques, on-trend home accessories, abstract artwork by co-owner Evie Clinton and, yes, Niven Morgan candles. Inexpensive glassware, contemporary table linens and Moroccan cookware are abundant at Quince (2115 Magazine St., 504-556-9668), where the display cases and messy concrete floors are as cool as the unique merchandise. From gift items to big home purchases, Perch Home (2844 Magazine St., 504-899-2122; perch-home.com) has a leg to stand on. The six-room shop with soaring ceilings brims with unique finds, including reworked vintage furniture, Missoni chairs by Kartell, iron chandeliers, salvaged doors and pretty paper goods. Take five at Sucré (3025 Magazine St., 504-520-8311; shopsucre.com), an artisan bakery and gelato boutique known for its macaroons and signature “Tiffany” chocolate and raspberry mousse dessert. Morgan’s crazy for the orange and vanilla Dreamsicle gelato. Although most of Magazine is hopping with home shops, Style Lab for Men (3326 Magazine St., 504-304-5072; stylelabformen.com) caters to gents with looks by, among others, John Varvatos, Paul Smith and Jack Spade. Leontine Linens (3806 Magazine St., 504-899-7833; leontinelinens.com) serves Southern hospitality at its best. The cut- and sewn-to-order linens are a staple in these parts for their unparalleled quality and impeccable monograms. Morgan rarely visits the Big Easy without hitting Bremermann Designs (3943 Magazine St., 504-891-7763; bremermanndesigns.com), an exquisite antiques shop that can also be found on 1stdibs.com, the online retailer for collectibles from around the globe. The authentic furnishings and chandeliers put this place on the map both locally and internationally. Stop by sleek apothecary Bamboo (4112 Magazine St., 504-895-1664; bambooapothecary.com) for trendy makeup, skincare, and bath and body products, as well as a relaxing manicure or pedicure. Hazelnut (5515 Magazine St., 504-891-2424; hazelnutneworleans.com) home accessories and small furnishings shop is co-owned by Mad Men star and New Orleans native Bryan Batt. Morgan frequents for gift items, which include crystal book ends, Jonathan Adler ceramics and chic coffee-table hardbacks. If your schedule has room for only a couple of shops, make one Pied Nu (5521 Magazine St., 504-899-4118; piednuneworleans.com). The boutique’s front half is dedicated to chic home curiosities such as vintage Kantha shams, tea glasses, fashionable barware, metallic Moroccan poufs and sheepskin rugs from Kenya. Under-the-radar women’s clothing labels and jewelry dazzle in the pretty back room.
7 p.m. Stash the shopping bags and dress for dinner at Stella (1032 Chartres St., 504-587-0091; restaurantstella.com). Actress Anne Hathawaywas recently spotted at the intimate fine-dining establishment with cozy corner fireplace. Morgan adores it for the exquisite global-modern dishes and impressive wine list. For a more casual dinner, try laid-back neighborhood bistro Clancy’s Restaurant (6100 Annunciation St., 504-895-1111), which dishes innovative twists on traditional Creole cuisine. Request a bistro table in the front living room for prime people-watching.
10 p.m. Whether or not you stay at the Ritz-Carlton, the hotel’s live jazz music by Jeremy Davenport from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. is a must. The cutie crooner fills the dance floor with his Rat Pack-flavored tunes. Jazz not your thing? Morgan advises checking out the entertainment schedule at Harrah’s (4 Canal St., 504-533-6000; harrahsneworleans.com), too. Work up a sweat (and appetite) in the New Orleans Athletic Club’s ballroom gym. Bourbon-lacquered Mississippi quail at Commander’s Aromatherapy at the Ritz-Carlton spa Adonkey-drawncarriage ride
8 a.m. Morgan starts Sundays with café au lait and The Times-Picayune newspaper at Community Coffee House, a.k.a. CCs (communitycoffee.com for multiple locations). Afterward, he likes to roam the French Quarter while it’s slowly waking.
10 a.m. To miss brunch at Cafe Amelie (912 Royal St., 504-412-8965; neworleansrestaurants.com/cafe amelie) would be a sin, Morgan says. Request a white-linen-covered table on the patio, which he praises as the prettiest in town. Nothing disappoints on the seasonal menu, especially the beet salad with goat cheese, and velvety rich coffee poured from an antique silver pot.
Noon Visit with locals at Jackson Square (Decatur Street in front of the St. Louis Cathedral; jackson-square.com), where a mix of artists, street performers, musicians and tarot readers hang. Bring cash; many vendors don’t take credit cards. If there’s time, jump over to the historic French Market (1008 N. Peter’s St., 504-522-2621; frenchmarket.org) at the banks of the Mississippi River. Dubbed America’s oldest public market, the rows of offerings include cheap costume jewelry, hand-knitted hammocks and wooden African masks. Pre-flightWould you believe Popeyes? Morgan never departs New Orleans before downing a plate of fried shrimp, red beans, rice and biscuits from the Louisiana-based fast food joint inside the airport terminal. “Don’t forget the tartar sauce!”
4:20 p.m. Takeoff time. Enjoy one St. Louis Cathedral rises behind a street musician in Jackson Square. last look back at New Orleans. The courtyard entry to Morgan’s French Quarter apartment Cocktails chez Morgan
A rendering of a guest room in the new Saint Hotel, 931 Canal St.
The 2.3 ounce toiletries are from Morgan’s “Blue” line, scented with bergamot and amber.
A Shreveport native, Dallas resident and adoptive son of New Orleans (he travels here almost monthly); Morgan has been expanding his presence in luxury resorts. His candles, lotions and bath goodies are sold at the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans gift shop and stocked in the villas of Mustique, a small private Caribbean island that caters to the types of visitors accustomed to traveling with a staff in tow.
As for the Saint, its choice in guest toiletries is in keeping with other Louisiana-centric touches scattered about the hotel. Historic black and white photos of New Orleans will hang in the lobby, French Quarter-based Bevelo Gas & Electric Lights made the lanterns at the entrance, and 42-inch televisions near the elevators will play a continuous video loop of Elvis Presley in “King Creole” and performances by Louis Armstrong.
Best Scents: Niven Morgan
We remember a time when Dallas entrepreneur Niven Morgan was relatively unknown and we thought we were so cool to have discovered his Oak Moss candles. Flash forward 10 years. Niven Morgan is a household name, and while the genteel Louisiana-born gentleman now makes a complete line of home fragrances and skin and body care in myriad scents—white grapefruit and lime hand lotion and blue cypress and absinthe candles are new favorites from the spring collection—we still feel so cool to know him. And we’re still burning those Oak Moss candles. Available at Stanley Korshak and Nuvo.
Dallas: Niven Morgan concept store
Geez, guys, I'm sorry for not posting for so long. My computer crashed last week (tears. lots of tears) and I've been working non-stop trying to re-write all kinds of stuff that was lost. I'm done. I'm back. I'm ready to let you in on a little something: Niven Morgan's concept store at Cebolla.
Last Friday, Morgan took me on a tour his new bath and body spot on the second floor of the Lovers Lane flower shop and I must say, I kind of flipped out.
It's filled with every kind of luxe item you'd ever want for your bathroom - woven leather waste basket with matching tray and tissue holder, anyone? - plus all of Morgan's incredible lines.
I bought a slew of candles - Jasmine and Moss is my new favorite - along with some crazy good budget-friendly teachers gifts for C & P to give out on the last day of school.
Merch is still rolling into the store, but you must stop by in the meantime. Those teachers gifts I told you about: I bought a few of these delicate and just plain pretty glass containers and had them filled with Morgan's bath salts. Total cost for each one: about $14. Can you believe? The glass looks and feels just like Juliska.
In the coming weeks there will be a full-on bath salts bar (you chose the scent and container for the ultimate personalized gift) and you'll also be able to buy containers that can work as bubble bath bottles or flower vases. How much do you love the versatility of that?
Niven Morgan Candles from $28
My absolute favorite is the Lavender Mint. It smells divine!!! A friend gave me this scent a few years ago for my birthday & now I’m addicted. So addicted in fact, that we now carry them at our store, IBB Design Fine Furnishings. “Gold” is their holiday fragrance, but I also like to give “Spicy Patchouli” for holiday gifts. I also love the colorful designs on their city themed candles. New Orleans comes in a bright lavender votive & smells like Jasmine & Gardenia. Can you say fabuleux??? They make wonderful hostess gifts for all of your holiday soirees.
I love these candles so much, that I want one lucky blog reader to enjoy one too! Just leave a comment anywhere on the blog between now & next Friday 12/10. One winner will be randomly selected & the winner will be announced on Friday 12/10 at 5:00 PM.
Happy Holidays my design devotees!!!
xoxo
Shay
Photo: CARTER ROSE
We’re still out of breath from shadowing Dallas’ multitasking lotion, potion and candle guru Niven Morgan for an April FD Luxe profile. Since then, the Louisiana-born charmer has added yet another venture to his creature-comfort empire: NIVEN MORGAN AT CEBOLLA. The bijoux retail space sits atop the stairs at the Lovers Lane outpost of Cebolla Fine Flowers (4415 Lovers Lane, Dallas, 214-369-7673, cebollafineflowers.com). Morgan’s focus here is “bath and body, stuff for the home, stuff for the pool house … basically, anything to do with water.” Staples include his sexy trademark candles and body lotions, plus bath accoutrements — tissue boxes, waste baskets, soap dispensers — in materials such as woven leather and faux snake. (For the record: A candle box clad in real python is an $800 special order.) Woven baskets are perfect for fluffy towels, and the flame-free outdoor L.E.D. candles are a surprise hit. But our favorite play station is the DIY bath-salt bar where, for about $8 a scoop, pretty glass vessels are ready to be filled with salts in three classic Morgan scents: Gold, Lavender-Mint and Jean Baptiste. Coming soon? Morgan has sourced oversize pillows from Africa that he’s stuffing to become lounge-worthy bean bags. “Lordy, it’s a lot to juggle.”
Christopher Wynn
Niven Morgan Candles
GLOBAL SCENTSATION: Taking a vacation can be an amazing experience; getting stuck in a stuffy hotel room can put a damper on the romance. Solve the problem by popping a Niven Morgan candle into your suitcase. A variety of scents (each named after a different city across the globe) will leave a room smelling like a spa. Even if traveling is not in your immediate future, the luscious scents make a great addition to any room, no matter what country you light it in. GET IT: $30-$41; Online at Niven Morgan.
Last night Tootsie’s in Dallas was the setting for the launch party for Niven Morgan’s Mustique Collection. The pretty people were out in abundance nibbling on tasty treats generously provided by Central Market of Dallas and cooling their palates with liberally-poured cocktails by Belvedere Vodka. The evening was not just about rubbing elbows and sampling Niven’s latest creation, however. Tootsie’s contributed 15% of the evening’s proceeds to the Clayton Dabney Foundation for Kids with Cancer. I know of no better reason to satisfy your urge for a new pair of fall boots than when part of your purchase goes towards a worthy cause.
Niven, a Louisiana native, has built quite a name for himself in these parts through his luxury bath, body and home products. I have wanted to meet him, being a Louisiana gal myself and a fan of his sexy “Gold” perfume for years. Finally I met the man himself yesterday evening, and he was kind enough to pause briefly for a photo with me. The night would not have been complete without taking home my very own Niven Morgan “Silver” bubble bath – sudsy luxury in a bottle. So much for Calgon! This girl is sold on Niven Morgan bath products.
My hat is off to everyone who made the party a smashing success, including Courtney Edwards of Where Wear in the City and the evening’s hostesses: Brooke Hortenstine, Kristie Ramirez, Capera Ryan. Have you chosen a signature scent for fall? If not, consider one by Niven Morgan. Hope to see you out and about next time!
Niven Morgan, the founder of the successful home fragrance company, has released a remarkable high-end collection of scented candles. These candles never disappoint because all of the scents are amazing. They make the perfect gift for candle lovers, because they come in pretty black vessels and are beautifully wrapped in gift boxes with bows.
The Niven Morgan Blue Signature Candle boasts a fresh invigorating scent that few other superior scented candles can stand up to.
The Niven Morgan Gold Signature Candle has a classy but flirty scent with recognizable notes of sweet flowers mixed with sweet vanilla.
The Niven Morgan Lavender Mint Signature Candle is for the person who loves to unwind in the bathtub with the relaxing smell of a soothing candle scent.
The Niven Morgan Oak Moss and Myrrh Signature Candle has the mysterious and sacred aroma that was treasured as gold in ancient times.
The Niven Morgan Silver Signature Candle emits a citrus aroma with hints of ginger lily and sandalwood. It will fill the room with an ambiance of romance.
The Niven Morgan Winter Fig Signature Candle is ideal for every season of the year. The airy scent of fern needles mixed with clove and fresh fig provides a serene scent that is like no other.
The Niven Morgan Jasmine and Moss Signature Candle has the classic scent of Jasmine blended with notes of spicy moss which generates a peaceful feeling.
The Niven Morgan Rainwater Signature Candle is my favorite of this collection. It has the fresh scent of a flower garden after a light rain.
The Niven Morgan Spicy Patchouli Signature Candle has a robust but appealing aroma of zesty oranges.
The line, which sells for $16 to $32, offers body lotion, body wash, conditioner, hand lotion, hand soap and shampoo. The scent is a blend of citron, whitewood, patchouli, amber, bergamot, frangipani, spearmint and orange.
In 1717, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville discovered a crescent bend in the Mississippi River and decided it looked like a high-and-dry spot to build a city.
Nearly three centuries later, it’s easy to wonder if he’d pick the same spot today to settle New Orleans.
Coastal erosion and subsidence, we all know, is changing the shape of Louisiana’s boot. And that was before the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico started threatening South Louisiana's ecology and economy.
The America’s Wetland Foundation, a nonprofit that works to bring coastal issues to Congressional and public attention, estimates the state loses a football field of land every 50 minutes.
That disturbing stat, and now concern about the longtime repercussions of the oil spill, spurred Niven Morgan to donate a portion of proceeds this month from sales of his new Jean Baptiste 1717 collection to the foundation’s efforts.
Jean Baptiste, named for New Orleans’ founding father, is the newest addition to Morgan’s eponymous line of divinely scented bubble bath, candles, soaps and lotions.
Born in Shreveport, Morgan lives in Dallas, but he keeps an apartment in the Crescent City. For Jean Baptiste, he blended a sultry Southern mix of water hyacinth and jasmine with hints of wild rose and wood. The floral fragrance is surprisingly light and soft.
In launching the collection this spring, Morgan said he wanted to give back to the place that inspired it. “Just think of the pelicans and other wildlife along the coast. We need to do what we can to protect it before it’s gone.”
A portion of proceeds this month from the Jean Baptiste 1717 collection will benefit the America’s Wetland Foundation.
Just thinking of lavender brings feelings of relaxation. It's scent has been used for centuries as a way to calm the senses. I get the same effect from the color lavender. I'm so thrilled to bring you images from the uber-talented Jamie Drake. He has been kind enough to lend his thoughts on the color too. And for fun, I've included my favorite lavender items out in the marketplace. Prepare to be charmed!
1 Calm to Your Senses Lavender & Vanilla Body Souffle by Origins
2 Lavender Mint Signature Square Candle by Niven Morgan
3 Lavender Exfoliating Body Scrub by Kiehls
4 Lavender Grid & Dots Necktie by Brioni
5 Lavender Shea Soap by L’Occitane
6 One Shoulder Chiffon Dress by BCBG Max Azria
7 Lavender Classic High Back Rocking Chair by Hayneedle
A light summer fragrant lotion:
Jean Baptiste 1717 Velveting Body Lotion by Niven Morgan. Retails at $32
Jean Baptiste 1717 velveting body lotion by Niven Morgan has all the components: great smell, great coverage and not greasy. The scent is amazing: a clean summer smell. Niven Morgan also sells this scent in a hand lotion, body wash, bubble bath and candle. The bottle is the best part with the red wax seal (reminds me of Makers Mark). Sold at Neiman Marcus, www.neimanmarcus.com. Free shipping for the entire month of June with code JUNENM.