It is a well known fact that nature bestows beauty upon its creations in an innately uncomplicated way. However beauty enhancers like cosmetics and other products have ruled the roost in the cosmetics industry, since ages. A majority of the populace across the globe are lapping up beauty products with an uncanny ease that would take you by surprise. Among the most loved beauty products of all time, is the Perfume.

Latest Beauty Products:

Perfumes

Deodorants

Cosmetic Hampers

Ever imagined food without aroma or household products lacking the fragrance which almost justify their purpose? What would a bathing soap smell like without the characteristic perfume? Would you like to use a floor cleaner devoid of any fragrance? You can well imagine the importance of fragrance when it concerns self grooming.

Perfume therefore has become an integral part of our lives and its origin according to research dates back to 1000BC when the Egyptians incorporated it into their culture. This was followed by the Chinese, Hindus, Carthaginians, Arabs, Greeks, and Romans.

Depending on the composition of fragrances, they are classified as:

• Perfume
• Eau de Parfum
• Eau de Toilette
• Eau de Cologne
  

The costliest form of fragrance is perfume, with 22% of essential oils and the least expensive is the Eau de Cologne with a meager 4% of essential oils.

Perfumes not only constitute the beauty enhancing component but have been used as an accessory, a mood enhancer and its therapeutic utility dates back to the twentieth century. Aroma therapy has since emerged as a new age healing technology.

The most famous luxury brands of fragrances are Elizabeth Arden, Calvin Klein, Eau De Cartier and Nina Ricci. If you are looking for affordable brands then perfumes/deodorants from Nike, Adidas, Revlon, Omani, Jovan Musk and certain fragrances endorsed by stars are a must have. Perfumes and deodorants endorsed by celebrities are in vogue especially among the youth.

In the Indian market, the highly affordable deodorants have an edge over perfumes, due to novelty, better consumption, changing trends, affordability and diverse branding that is innate to cost effective perfumes. Perfumes are indeed accessories that speak volumes about a person's tastes. Lately it has become a criterion for the assessment of an individual's style quotient.

Latest Beauty Products:

Hair Care

Skin Care

Body Care

You may procure the perfume of your choice at a physical store. But e-shopping is certainly the most convenient and sought after process for procuring commodities. A shopper gets to see a wide array of perfumes, deodorants and cologne sprays, all within the same site. The collection ranges from customary, regular wear perfumes, to exotic designer perfumes, you name it and you are bound to find it here. Apart from buying these exotic fragrances for self, one could also procure them as gifts for several occasions.

The next time you want to purchase a bottle of perfume, and wish to compare the prices for the diverse brands available, trust online marts. You may end up getting best buys at astonishingly discounted rates. Wish to procure perfume as a gift? No points for guessing the best place to shop.

By: Amrith K.A.

I'm reading: Beauty Enhanced - The Fragrant Way!

The month of December indicates that Christmas is round the corner and so is New Year's Eve. At the onset of the festive season, Infibeam.com launches the Christmas & New Year gifts store. Exclusive decorative items and a wide range of Christmas & New Year gifts that adorn the product catalog, is bound to make it a one stop shop for Christmas.

Send Christmas Gifts to India:

Christmas Decorations

Christmas Tree

Christmas Candles

Speaking at its launch, Mr. Vishal Mehta said "Christmas Gifts Store is profuse with Christmas & New Year gifts to brighten up the festive season." He added "various cream of the crop gifts, are so articulately displayed that shopping for Christmas gifts is bound to be a gratifying experience".

The Christmas gifts store has the finest collection of Christmas trees, curios, and much more. The various combo gifts include an assortment of chocolates, Christmas cakes, flower bouquets, and a bottle of wine. The most integral part of Christmas, the Christmas tree is available as a combo gift, complemented with a soft toy, cake or both.

Send New Year Gifts to India:

New Year Wine

Planner - Diary

New Year Cake

Christmas is incomplete without cakes and there is a wide array of Christmas cakes available at the store. Christmas cakes, chocolates and soft toys are accompanied with a sophisticated variety of Christmas candles. Decorative items like bells and other ornaments add zing to the combo gifts.

In addition to Christmas gifts, the product catalogue includes gifts for 2009 New Year as well. Exotic cakes and exclusive combo gifts comprising wine, bunch of flowers with a New Year message, and New Year greeting cards are available at the store. Customized photo calendars for the year 2009, are resourceful New Year gifts.

Besides the gifts found at the special store for Christmas & New Year, there are gift vouchers and electronic gadgets available at Infibeam.com. They make apposite corporate gifts and special gifts for loved ones. Customers may avail the international shipping option to send Christmas gifts to India. Shopping for gifts this festive season is indeed made easy, with an all comprising product bouquet of the Christmas & New Year gifts store, at Infibeam.com.

About Infibeam.com:
Infibeam.com is a wonderful and exciting new destination online. The company focuses on selling a variety of products via internet, which includes new and used cars and bikes, mobiles and accessories, books, cameras, watches, gifts, and a lot more at guaranteed lowest prices.

Choose the product and leave the rest to Infibeam.com. The company has a special team dedicated to provide the lowest prices, excellent selection, and a really cool experience found no where else online.

I'm reading: Ultimate Christmas & New Year Gifts Now at Infibeam.com

Artifacts crafted using hands, without the help of complex tools and machinery is the simplest way to describe handicrafts. Pottery is one of the oldest known handicrafts, and apart from having archaeological significance it has influenced the socio economic set up of the society, since its inception. Costs involved are low. Pottery items are well known for their ambidextrous function, of being a decorative as well as an item of utility.

For a brief historic background of its inception, let us go back to the early 6000BC, when near the beginning of the Neolithic era, it was first made as a crude object. It was used to hold things like twigs, leaves etc. Various studies were conducted in order to compare pottery, crafted around the same period in different regions. Even the slightest similarity suggested a social co- relation, between the two geographies.

Pottery is largely classified as follows:

• Earthenware
• Stoneware
• Ceramic ware

Earthenware is the least sophisticated, owing to the procedures followed in making them. Stoneware was slightly more advanced and ceramic ware is certainly the most sophisticated earthenware.

Pottery making in India is a much sought after vocation and art form, commonly seen in rustic India. Potters wheel evolved into small industries and the existing industries are being revolutionized with scientific intervention. Sir S. Deb ran the first pottery unit in India at Calcutta. It was successful in establishing high class pottery from local clay. In the first decade of the 20th century, porcelain factories were set up in Gwalior and Calcutta. And today, India is ranked among the top 5 tile manufactures globally.

Depending on the feature, pottery can be classified as black pottery, blue pottery, semitransparent pottery and terracotta. The two main categories however are the glazed and unglazed variety. They are made beautiful by adding suitable color and designs.

The state of Uttar Pradesh also has a distinctive artifact namely the Khurja, which looks enchanting with warm shades of autumnal colors like orange, brown, and light red. The background has floral patterns in sky blue color and is by and large used as table ware, dinner-set or as a flower vase. The blue pottery from Delhi and the famous hand painted blue pottery of Jaipur are noted for their delicate designs and exquisite painting. The paint brush used is made of squirrel's hair. Rampur 'surahis' or 'waterpots' are noted for their green blue glazes. White pottery made of white clay is found in Kutch.

Pottery in South India is unique as well. Apart from being a host to thousands of tourists throughout the year, and enthralling them with an unsurpassed picturesque grandeur, Goa also boasts of rich handicraft. Goan earthenware has a deep rich velvety surface. Chillum which is a clay pipe used for smoking is also an artifact down south. Vellore, Usilampatti in Madurai, Karigari pottery in Andhra Pradesh, Arcot of Tamil Nadu and Khanapur in Belgaum district of Karnataka are the places famous for its production. Moving on to the most popular form of pottery the 'terracotta' of west Bengal is multifaceted in function. It is used as a tile for flooring, sometimes in the ceiling and also as ethnic wall decor. Home decor with a touch of terracotta is truly enchanting.

The art of pottery may undoubtedly be the oldest handicraft known, but is definitely not one that has not witnessed resurgence. Since the use of the potter's wheel in the early Bronze Age, the art of making pottery has come a long way. Adding effervescence to the multicultural facet of India and the world, pottery has truly enticed mankind.

By: Amrith K.A

Best Selling Handicrafts Gifts

Paintings	Photo Frames	Showpieces
Vases	Jewellery Box	Pooja Items

I'm reading: Pottery - An Ethereal Art

Leading online retailer Infibeam.com has acquired Bangalore based photo printing and customized gifts company Picsquare.com. Picsquare was founded in 2005 and continues to be the most preferred online destination for gifts during special occasions like birthdays, weddings and festival season. The founders Manish Agrawal and Kartik Jain are both alumni of IIT Mumbai and will continue with Infibeam post acquisition.

With this acquisition, Infibeam.com will offer the largest selection of retail and customized goods at most attractive prices for consuming India. The Founder & CEO of Infibeam.com Mr. Vishal Mehta said "The acquisition of Picsquare.com will perfectly complement our existing product lines like cameras and gift stores. Choose a gift product and you can add a personal touch to it by adding a photo picture, designs or words that reflect your emotions." He further added "Picsquare will continue as a stand-alone website and customers can expect many more innovative products and features in coming weeks".

"Now with the support of Infibeam, we'll be able to devote more of our time to expanding product selection and improving product features" said Manish Agarwal, co-founder and CEO of Picsquare.com. He added "Infibeam.com has always put the customer at the center of everything it does, and we look forward to making Picsquare.com even better for our customers in weeks to come".

About Infibeam.com & Picsquare.com:
Infibeam.com is an exciting new shopping destination online. With innovative search and navigation, detailed product descriptions, crisp images and best customer service, the team at Infibeam.com is dedicated to providing customers with an unparalleled shopping experience right at your doorstep. Choose the product you want and leave the rest to Infibeam.com.

Picsquare.com is a market leader in online photo printing and customized gifts. Personalized products such as photo greeting cards, collage posters, photo-books, t-shirts from Picsquare are ideal gifts for special events such as birthdays and festivals.

http://www.infibeam.com/
http://www.picsquare.com/

I'm reading: Infibeam.com acquires Picsquare.com

Online retail major, Infibeam.com has recently launched Home Appliance Store to cater to needs of modern home management. The new store has products a wide variety of collection ranging from kitchen appliances to cleaning equipments. The products in the store include Toasters, Grills, Tea Maker, Coffee Maker, Cooker, Iron, Food Processor, and Vacuum Cleaner among many others that are designed for an enhanced lifestyle.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vishal Mehta, founder and CEO of Infibeam.com said, "With nuclear families and both partners working, life has become very fast paced specially in urban India. Our Home Appliances Store comes with a wide array of products that go into making life much easier at home." He further added, "The idea behind the launch of Home Appliances Store is to offer user friendly and energy saving products online."

A visitor to the Home Appliance Store can choose from six main product categories viz; Toaster / Grill, Tea / Coffee Maker, Cooker, Iron, Food Processor, Vacuum Cleaner. All the categories have their respective products with different price and feature ranges tailored to suit individual needs. The USP of all the products lies in efficiency, style and portability that would tempt a visitor to add them to his/her easy-to-use Home Appliances.

The product catalog is appropriately designed so as to make the search easy. The whole buying process involves a few minutes of search and a series of simple clicks through its cool navigation features.

A visitor can also zero in on his/her preferred home appliance by consulting our customer service experts through Infibeam.com Live Chat option, to know about the latest arrivals and their added features. The chat option can be used for any queries related to the products and services of Infibeam.com.

And what's more, all the products in the Home Appliance Store come with attractive discounts available till limited stocks lasts. The sleek and trendy Home Appliances available at the store not only make smart buys for personal use but also make excellent gifts.

Individuals living abroad can opt for free shipping options to send Home Appliances to India. And to top it, Infibeam.com also has a variety of time specific shipping options like scheduled date delivery, same day deliver, midnight delivery, or international shipping to countries like US, UK, Canada, and New Zealand etc.

About Infibeam.com:
Infibeam.com is a wonderful and exciting new destination online. The company focuses on selling a variety of products via internet, which includes new and used automobiles, mobiles and accessories, books, cameras, watches, gifts, toys, home appliances and a lot more at guaranteed lowest prices.

Choose the product and leave the rest to Infibeam.com. The company has a special team dedicated to provide the lowest prices, excellent selection, and a really cool experience found no where else online.

Send Gifts to India - Infibeam.com is an exciting new online destination and community that focuses on selling latest Mobiles, Watches, Gifts, Home Decor, Toys, Jewellery, Cameras and Home Appliances at guaranteed lowest price.

Top Selling Home Appliances

Toasters / Grills	Tea/Coffee Maker	Cooker
Iron	Food Processor	Vacuum Cleaner

I'm reading: Everyday life made easy with home appliances from Infibeam.com

One of the most important days in our lives is when we have a new home which we can call our own. The day is even more special when you have some one to share it with. A new home is something that we all look forward to have. India is a land of ceremonies and before one actually starts living in a house various pujas are performed and guests invited. This ceremony is known as the house warming ceremony.

As a ritual people gather for the puja, sit through it and disperse for a sumptuous meal. Before they leave, they give presents to the host. The gifts may be personal or an item of utility for their new home. It may be your friend's home or an acquaintance's, make sure to choose the appropriate gift for their new abode.

Housewarming gifts may be varied. You could pick up gift items like vases, showpieces, paintings, handicraft items and wall hangings to be used as decorative items. It is also customary and considered auspicious to gift utensils. Utensils today come in different forms from 'cook and serve lit ware' to the very Indian copper bottom utensils. Conventional copper jug, copper steel handi and copper kalash make excellent housewarming gifts.

Besides this you could also gift jewelry box, brass minakari bowl, gem stone key holder, Ganesha idol and items of utility like a wall timepiece. Handcrafted paintings on marble and metal embossed wall hangings also make artistic housewarming gifts. Diwan set; set of cushion covers, exquisite bed sheets, quilts and other Egyptian cotton bed sheet sets are well thought out gift options for a new home.

No home is complete without a puja room .Various puja items like puja thali, authentic Peacock Divi, Lakshmi arti, brass lamp, vaastu good luck Ganesha and Brass two step Divi could be gifted. If you know that the host believes in 'Feng Shui' then you may buy gifts like the good luck bamboo plant, Feng Shui coins and wind chimes.

For those living abroad you may send housewarming gifts to India by availing the online shopping options. If you have family living abroad and you cannot make it to their housewarming ceremony send gifts to U.S. Canada and other countries through these online marts.

It is often said that 'its better late than never' hence if you know that someone close to you is setting up their new home, do not be the last one to send gifts to India for a new house. Browse through the product category and choose the gift of your choice. You will find yourself beaming when you see the host's face radiant with joy at your thoughtfulness!

By: Amrith K.A.

I'm reading: Appropriate Housewarming Gifts to warm up New Home

The festival of lights has been celebrated in Guyana since 1853 and supposedly by indentured people from India. The place was more popularly known as British Guiana and the festival of lights is celebrated as per the Hindu Solar calendar. Hindus of Indian origin constitute about 33% of the total population.

The traditions include cleaning the house and preparing Diwali sweets like mithai, pera, barfi, and kheer. Buying new apparel is also a custom and Indian clothing is available on several online marts. After bath new clothes are worn and people of Guyana believe that this is a symbol of healthy soul in a healthy body. Besides apparel people spruce up for Diwali by refurbishing their home and buying new home decoration items.

Laxmi Puja is ceremoniously performed and Prasad is distributed. At dusk the surroundings are illuminated with rows of light to welcome Goddess Laxmi into their homes. Usually friends are invited and the specially prepared Diwali sweets are distributed. Exchanging Diwali greetings is a well thought out custom which denotes the goodwill of one another.

For Indians living away from their homeland it becomes all the more important to send Diwali gifts to India for their kith and kin. Diwali gains prominence despite the influx of varied cultures. The true spirit of the festival is seldom lost and is undeniably the most popular Indian festival.

Diwali Gifts - Top Selling:

Sweets	Puja Thalis	Flowers
Cakes	Chocolates	Coins

I'm reading: Diwali Celebrations in Guyana

Ever wondered if Diwali was celebrated with as much zeal as it is here in India? We are aware of the fact that Diwali is celebrated with enthusiasm in the US, Canada and a few other Asian countries. The former British colonies are not to be left behind. Colonies of Kenya and Tanzania have about 1000 Indians residing there. This constitutes about 1% of the total population.

This 1% of the population lives in close knit communities and cannot be left behind in the ethnic festivities. Diwali is one such festival which is celebrated with much gusto in Kenya and Tanzania. The traditions are similar to that seen in India with lighting of lamps, preparing Diwali sweets and exchanging Diwali gifts.

The customs and belief related to the festival are also the same. Laxmi puja is performed and friends are invited over for a meal. Diwali gifts are exchanged between family and friends. With the boom in online marts it is now possible to send Diwali gifts to India. For people living outside India buying authentic Diwali mithai and other Diwali decoration items has never been easier with the online marts.

Irrespective of the distances and cultural barriers surrounding you, the true essence of Diwali is kept alive by Indians living abroad. The togetherness and vivacity that is innate to the festival of lights cannot be missed even in foreign grounds.

Best Selling Diwali Gifts:

Sweets	Puja Thalis	Flowers
Cakes	Chocolates	Diyas

I'm reading: Diwali Celebrations in Kenya & Tanzania

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere. It comprises of the mainland of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania and numerous other islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Since the last many centuries, many Indians have either visited India as students or settled there permanently as citizens. A majority of the Indian population in the island country are Hindus. And hence the Diwali festival is an important religious and cultural event in the annual calendar of Sydney's, festivals and fairs. Sydney is the most important and populous city in Australia.

Every year, the Hindu Council of Australia organizes a 'Diwali Mela', which is participated by thousands of Indians living in Australia. Apart from Indians, Diwali is also celebrated by the migrants from Bali, Fiji, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Kenya and South Africa in Australia.

The day is marked by gaily dressed Hindus offering pujas to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Laxmi, the god and goddesses of prosperity and wealth respectively. A huge stage is prepared for the purpose which is decorated with flowers and rangoli. This is followed by engrossing classical and modern Indian dances. People come to the venue dressed in traditional apparels and have a great time making new friends and mingling with the old. Infact, this is the perfect place for social networking for nostalgic expatriates.

Towards evening, people enjoy a spectacular show of fireworks and firecrackers that make it one of the most memorable moments of their lives.

The fair also have stalls which showcase Indian apparels, crockery products, Diwali gifts, traditional Diwali sweets and other savories.

Many use the fair and auspicious time in the Hindu calendar to launch their new products and companies. The festival usually concludes with an effigy of Ravana going up in flames. For many children born in Australia, it was an introduction to the demon God and the triumph of good over evil.

Like in India, lightening of lamps and diyas at individual homes and commercial establishments on Diwali is a common practice in Australia.

Send Diwali Gifts to India:

Sweets	Puja Thalis	Flowers
Cakes	Chocolates	Decoratives

I'm reading: Diwali Celebrations in Australia

Mauritius, officially the Republic of Mauritius, is a beautiful island nation off the coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about 900 kilometers east of Madagascar.

Mauritian society includes people from many different ethnic groups. A majority of the republic's residents are the descendants of people from the Indian subcontinent. Mauritius also contains about 63% of the total population from India. And of these 80% are Hindus. Needless to say, the Diwali festival is celebrated with great fanfare in this Island since many years.

The festival of lights in this Island is marked with lighting of traditional diyas/lamps in the individual households and commercial establishments. Rows of twinkling candles, lamps and colorful electric bulbs of all sorts transform the island into another realm of fairytales.

The festival here represents the triumph of good over evil in Lord Rama's victory over Ravana and Lord Krishna's destruction of the demon Narakasura. People here celebrate Diwali for a new beginning and exorcising the darkness of evil from their lives as well as the society. And lighting lamps and feasting is symbolic of this phenomenon.

The Diwali day in Mauritius is especially significant for the Hindu business community, as it is considered the account closing day of the year. These people on this day close their accounts and balances for the previous year, and go unburdened into the next. In the morning, people pray to their revered gods and goddesses. The female members of the household perform aarti with pooja thalis in hand and all the family members seek the blessings of the almighty for a healthy and prosperous year. They then visit their relatives and fellow Indians and share greetings and Diwali gifts.

The custom of distributing Diwali sweets to friends, and neighbors of all faith has made Diwali a popular festival in Mauritius. Those missing close ones back home during the festive occasion send Diwali Gifts to India to show their love and affection for them.

Celebrating Diwali in Mauritius truly represents its unique the multicultural spirit that has made the place heaven on earth.

Best Selling Diwali Gifts:

Sweets	Puja Thalis	Flowers
Cakes	Chocolates	Decoratives

I'm reading: Celebrating Diwali in Mauritius