Beyoncé
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Beyonce Knowles gets turned off by men who wear too much aftershave. The singer-and-actress - who is married to hip-hop superstar Jay-Z - says it's much sexier if a man has a subtle scent rather than something that is overbearing. She said: "A man should never be too overbearing with his scent. I've been in too many elevators next to too many men with strong aftershave and it's a total turn-off. With men, a scent should be subtle, clean and fresh, and just make you want to lean in to smell more. That's sexy." Beyonce has just launched her second fragrance, Heat Rush, and says Jay-Z was involved in the creative process because she will only wear perfumes he approves of. She told Britain's Cosmopolitan magazine: "One of the most important aspects of my perfume is that they get his seal of approval. When you wear a perfume, you want your man to love it. He loves my scents because he was part of the decision-making process. I wouldn't wear a scent if he didn't like it."

There are few women who embody celebrity as perfectly as Beyoncé Knowles. She had hearts all around the world "Jumpin' Jumpin'" as the leading lady of Destiny's Child, and then we fell "Crazy in Love" when she embarked on her solo career, only to watch her finally claim her rightful position as a full-fledged "Diva" shortly thereafter. With 16 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award-winning film, a fashion line (not to mention the highest honor of all - a Teen Vogue cover!) on her stellar résumé, one might say that Miss Knowles has done it all. Who could blame her if she decided to take an extended break from work? But let's be serious. This is Beyoncé we're talking about. The songstress delighted beauty editors and fans alike early last year with the launch of her first fragrance, Heat: a warm, fruity concoction with subtle hints of spice. And now, she's gearing up for the highly-anticipated release of Heat Rush, a fresher, lighter take on the original scent. We got the chance to ask B a couple of questions about her newest fragrance, career moves, body image, and the lovely Tom Ford. Check out what she had to say!

You were selected as the celebrity with the Best Body Image by Teen Vogue readers in 2010. Do you have any words of wisdom for girls who are struggling with their image?

That was very nice and I am flattered. Thank you Teen Vogue readers. The best thing I can say to young ladies is accept the body you're in. If you have curves, love your curves. The thing to strive for is to have the best healthy body you can have. It's really not about being skinny or being curvy. What matters is that you love yourself and you are taking care of your health.

Beyonce has defended her controversial perfume commercials after they were deemed too sexy for U.K. TV, insisting she has no regrets over the advertisements. The steamy clip for Beyonce's Heat fragrance, which features the singer lying in a bathtub and seductively stroking her chest, was banned by officials at the Advertising Standards Authority in November (10). But the Crazy in Love hitmaker is unfazed by viewers' complaints, admitting she found the furore "funny". She tells Britain's Cosmopolitan magazine, "I wasn't annoyed, I thought it was funny. Personally, I don't think my ad was any more crazy sexy than other ads out there - I loved it, despite whatever anyone else thought. "It was based on a really hot George Michael video and yes, it was sexy, but then you have to think about what you're doing. It was for my fragrance and I believe a wonderful fragrance brings out the sex appeal in a woman. That was what I was trying to express. I don't regret it."

Beyoncé has revealed that she created her perfume Heat Rush for women who want to feel "sensuality". The singer explained that she wants female fans to feel sexy when they are wearing the scent. She said in a statement: "I created Heat Rush to bring the feeling of warmth and sensuality to every woman who wears it. It's feminine and sexy, fresh and beautiful." The perfume follows on from her debut fragrance, which the 29-year-old said "empowered" her. She added: "I wanted this to be something that made you feel like you could conquer anything, and take over the world. "Strength was something important, because a lot of my songs I write for my women, to empower them. When I spray it I feel feminine, I feel like a woman. I can leave a lasting impression."

Beyoncé's advertisement for her new perfume, Heat, has been banned from daytime TV for being 'too sexy.' According to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the raunchy clip which shows Queen B wearing a low-cut red dress and touching her breasts, cannot be broadcasted before 7.30pm. The ASA received 14 complaints from the public claiming that the Single Ladies singer's ad was 'offensive and unsuitable for children' and although they rejected that the advert was offensive, they noted that it shouldn't be shown in the middle of the day. In a statement, the ASA said: "Although we considered that the ad was unlikely to be harmful to adults or older children, we considered that Beyoncé's body movements and the camera's prolonged focus on shots of her dress slipping away to partially expose her breasts created a sexually provocative ad that was unsuitable to be seen by young children." They added: "We considered that the ad should not have been shown before 19.30 due to the sexually provocative nature of the imagery." Fragrance company, Coty, who makes Beyoncé's scent has defend the advert, claiming that it was not 'overtly graphic or sexual' and that Knowles was 'not naked' at any point. Despite the company's best efforts, the ASA has ruled the advert must not air again before 7.30pm in it's current form.

Just under a year after warming up the fragrance arena with her first scent, Heat, Beyoncé Knowles is headed back into the market with Heat Rush, due in February. A sister scent to the fragrance Knowles launched with Coty in February, Heat Rush will be sold in the U.S. in about 3,000 department and specialty store doors, including Macy’s, at launch, then roll out to about 50,000 doors worldwide in May. While Heat is billed as an overtly sexy fragrance, Heat Rush is intended to be more of a daytime fragrance, noted Steve Mormoris, senior vice president of global marketing for Coty Beauty. And make no mistake: there are many more facets of Knowles to come. “It is our intent to continue building this brand,” said Mormoris. “We see Beyoncé as a pillar of our fragrance business.” A boudoir-themed elixir of Heat is just hitting counters now. According to NPD, Knowles’ first scent, Heat, was in the top 10 of overall women’s fragrances at launch and number two among new launches after Chanel’s Chance Eau Tendre. By the second quarter, it was in the top 20, and is ranked 21, as of June year-to-date, according to Karen Grant, senior vice president and global industry analyst at NPD. That pattern is considered typical of celebrity fragrances. Industry sources calculated that by yearend 2011 the Beyoncé fragrance franchise could be generating worldwide retail sales of $150 million. The Jennifer Lopez fragrance franchise, which encompasses more scents, is said to have peaked at $150 million in worldwide retail sales last year. A big part of Knowles’ success comes from her close attention to detail, noted Mormoris. “She approaches creating a fragrance like writing a song,” he said. As for age targets, Marsha Brooks, vice president of global marketing, fragrances, for Coty Beauty, noted Knowles’ first scent, Heat, has had a multigenerational response. “We know going in that Beyoncé has huge appeal to women 18 to 24 years old, but we expect it to be bought by both younger and older women,” she said, noting that women from 15 to 35 are expected to buy the fragrance. “This is a young, fresh, less-serious scent.” The scent, by Firmenich’s Honorine Blanc, has top notes of passion fruit sorbet, blood orange and Brazilian cherry; a heart of yellow tiger orchid, mango blossom and orange hibiscus, and a drydown of teak wood, honey amber and Rio sunset musk. Eaux de toilette in four sizes will be sold: 0.5 oz. for $24, 1 oz. for $39, 1.7 oz. for $49 and 3.4 oz. for $59. Two ancillaries will also be produced: a 6.7 oz. shimmering body cream, $24, and a 6.7 oz. shower gel, also $24. Print advertising, shot by Michael Thompson, features a back-lit Knowles in a tangerine-hued dress. TV advertising is also planned; Coty will take the TV spot shot for Heat, and add a piece to the end, said Jerome Dujoux, global marketing director, fragrance division, for Coty Beauty. While Coty executives refused to discuss advertising spending, industry sources estimated that at least $10 million would be spent in the U.S. to promote the scent in its first year on counter. Like the first scent, Heat Rush will also have an intricate social-media strategy, with a dedicated Web site and a Facebook campaign. Knowles currently has more than 7.5 million Facebook fans, said Dujoux.

R&B star Beyonce Knowles is being sued by clothing firm Abercrombie and Fitch over an upcoming perfume line. The Single Ladies singer recently signed with the world's largest fragrance company, Coty, to launch a line of perfumes in 2010. Abercrombie said it was worried the line from Beyonce, who uses the alter ego Sasha Fierce, would infringe on its own Fierce fragrance brand. But Coty said it had no plans to use the Sasha Fierce name in its branding. According to legal papers filed in Columbus, Ohio, Abercrombie has held a trademark for the word "fierce" since 2003. The company claims Beyonce, whose most recent album is called I Am... Sasha Fierce, would unfairly benefit from the reputation Abercrombie had built for the scent and could confuse or deceive customers into thinking it was associated with her fragrance. Abercrombie said such confusion could deprive it of control over its trademark and perhaps cost it sales. The legal action seeks to halt potential trademark infringement, unfair competition and deceptive trade practices. "The terms Fierce and Sasha Fierce are not being used as names of a Beyonce fragrance," Coty said. "Details related to the fragrance, including the official name, will be revealed prior to the launch in early 2010," it added. Abercrombie sells Fierce at more than 350 retail stores, typically for $40 (£24) to $70 (£42). It has sold more than $190m (£115m) worth of the fragrance since it was launched in 2002, and expects $64m (£39m) of sales in 2009.

Coty have today announced the signing of international recording artist and actress Beyonce. The two parties will work together to create a Beyonce fragrance, which is due to launch in early 2010. "We welcome Beyonce as a well-respected and esteemed partner of the Coty family. She is a star who brings a combination of power and femininity that will only further inspire the creative process as she works with Coty," commented Bernd Beetz, Chief Executive Officer, Coty Inc. "Modern and highly influential, Beyonce has truly touched the lives of her fans and will continue to reach new heights in her career with the launch of her own signature fragrance. We are thrilled she has partnered with Coty to embark on this new adventure, one of vast potential." "For me, fragrance reflects a woman's attitude and unique sense of style," said Beyonce. "While I love various perfumes, I haven't found a scent that truly personifies me as a woman. Working with Coty, I was able to turn my ideal fragrance into a reality by creating an alluring and sophisticated fragrance; one that's reflective of my inner power. It's a true privilege to be working with Coty and I can't wait to share this personal side of me with fans all across the world." The new line is scheduled to launch in early 2010 in North and South America with subsequent plans to launch in Europe and key markets throughout the world later that year. "A name recognized around the globe, Beyonce holds a unique cross-generational and cross-continental appeal that is a perfect fit for a new global Coty fragrance," remarked Renato Semerari, President, Coty Beauty. "With her powerful ability to capture the attention of the world - a testament to her strength and beauty - she is a role model for women of all ages. We at Coty look forward to building the Beyonce fragrance house." Marketing plans for the highly anticipated fragrance are currently in development. Additional information will be announced closer to the launch.