The Winter Fragrance Line-Up: Jo Malone and YSL

I'm the sort of person who will find a fragrance I like, and hold onto it with both hands. In the past, I've had certain perfumes that I would spritz on month in, month out, without giving the season a second thought. There was a time when Ana Sui's Dolly Girl would see me through the entire calendar, no questions asked, before eventually being replaced with the likes of Escada's Rockin' Rio, and DKNY Be Delicious after that. Of course, I have moved onto some more sophisticated fragrances since the early days, but the basics of what I like in a scent have remained the same. I've always been one for a fruity fragrance - juicy, and just sweet enough, but never sickly or overpowering.

Last winter, I finally treated myself to a perfume I had had my eye on for an age: Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir. I had fallen into the habit of awaiting birthdays or Christmas in order to replenish my fragrance collection, so much so that buying one for myself was almost out of the question. With the exception of duty free shopping, that is but I have never yet stumbled across some of the brands I now tend to gravitate towards when browsing pre-holiday.

Pomegranate Noir was one of those perfumes I just knew I would love, to the point that I was happy to order it online and face the consequences. Thankfully, my judgement had been spot on, and it continues to be my all-time favourite winter scent. The fragrance professes to combine the 'ruby rich juices of pomegranate, raspberry and plum' with pink pepper, Casablanca lily and spicy woods. Now, putting scents and aromas into words has never been my strong point, but Pomegranate Noir certainly does scream rich, juicy winter fruits. In fact, the best way I can describe it is to say that it smells just like mulled wine. You've got the hint of cloves and cinnamon in there, and a subtle woodiness that is reminiscent of November bonfires.  A sophisticated fragrance for all occasions, for me it is simply perfection in a bottle.

More recently, I added another Jo Malone offering to my repertoire of fragrances, and this time, it was Blackberry and Bay that made the cut. Once again, I was confident enough to order online, and once again, my selection didn't disappoint. A 'vibrant and verdant' scent that conjures up images of blackberry picking in the forest, this is tart and juicy, yet simultaneously woody and green. It's a lovely alternative to your typical winter perfumes, but it does have a surprising sweetness about it. Not in the sugary sense, but it is perhaps slightly more floral than I would have expected.

The most recent addition to my shelf, however,  has been the lovely Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium. I must admit, this was not a perfume that had yet appeared on my radar, so it was a complete surprise when I unwrapped it at Christmas after receiving it as a little extra from my husband. Thankfully, though, surprises often lead to the best discoveries, and this was definitely one.

Black Opium is a sweet and spicy vanilla-based fragrance, which is also said to contain hints of black coffee and white florals. Personally, I can't detect the coffee, which is probably a bit of a relief, but there is a certain but very subtle bitterness in there somewhere, concealing itself beneath the ever-so-sweet top notes. This is quite a sugary scent compared to the others, but again, it isn't overpowering and the longevity once applied is excellent. Add to that the beautifully sparkly bottle it comes presented in, and it has to be a winter winner for me.

So there you have it, my winter fragrance line-up in all its glory.  Do you have any favourite perfumes for the colder months?

Have you tried anything from Jo Malone? Let me know which scents are your favourites, as I am forever browsing the website looking for my next 'must have'.

xx

Giveaway: Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Candle

Just a quick reminder for you today that my Jo Malone candle giveaway is still running. I've got a full-size candle up for grabs in the gorgeously fresh, summery scent of Lime Basil & Mandarin, and with thee being worth £40 to buy, it's a great chance to get your hands on one without breaking the bank.

Good luck!

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Summer Giveaway: Win a Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Scented Candle

Hi everyone!  No one likes a Monday, especially when it means going to work on a blazing hot summer's day when you could be on the beach, so today seems like as good a day as any to share a little summer giveaway with you.

Up for grabs, and just because I feel like it, is a full-size Jo Malone scented candle in the fresh and summery fragrance, Lime Basil and Mandarin, worth £40. These don't come cheap, so if you've been looking to get your hands on one for a while but just couldn't justify the price-tag, then now is your chance!

Just pop your details into the Rafflecopter form below and keep your fingers crossed. The giveaway will run until the end of the month, and if you happen to be under 16 then  make sure you have permission from your parents to enter.

I think that's about it - best of luck to you all and have a great week!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xx

Summer Scents: Yankee Candle Fruit-a-licious Collection

I'm a sucker for a scented candle, especially throughout the winter months, but often, when it comes to the warmer I forget all about them, what with spending less and less time indoors, and more and more out in the sunshine.

This time around, however, I've found myself pining for some deliciously summery scents to fragrance my house with - fruity or floral offerings to target the senses and lift the spirits.

Of course, Yankee Candle rarely fail to disappoint on any score, so I was excited to try out these three little treats from the Yankee Candle Fruit-a-licious Collection. I was kindly sent Black Plum Blossom*, 

Orange Splash* and Sweet Apple* to put through their paces, and boy did they hit the spot. My favourite scent  is definitely Black Plum Blossom, but sadly, the one I received arrived without a wick! I must admit, it's quite the tease having it sitting there on my mantlepiece and not being able to light it.

Orange Splash and Sweet Apple are both as deliciously juicy as you might expect, and at times I almost feel as if I'm relaxing in an orchard rather than on the sofa.

What I really love about Yankees is the way that they give off a rich  aroma, without being too overpowering. Where some candles might be that bit too pungent and bring on a headache, or leave you feeling somewhat nauseous, these get it just right, every single time.

Priced at £7.99 each for an impressive 25-40 hours' burn time, the smaller jars are a great way to try out a selection of fragrances in one go, and if you're more of a floral fan then the new Beautiful Blooms collection sounds right up your street.

Do you have a favourite home fragrance for summer? Which candles are you currently burning?

xx

Christmas Lust List

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder  //  Diptyque Eau Moheli Roll-On Cologne  //  Diptyque Philosykos Eau de Toilette  //  Diptyque Figuier Vert Candle  //  Diptyque Classic Candle Set  //  Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin Home Candle

I'm back!!

I know it might have seemed as if I'd abandoned blogland there for a while, but actually it couldn't be further from the truth. It has been a busy (understatement of the year) few weeks for us, getting settled back into the UK, staying with family and finally moving into our own place, and once we did get here we still had to wait another month to get the internet installed! It was finally all sorted this weekend, and I couldn't be happier to be able to resurrect this little slice of the internet and get back into the swing of things!

With Christmas just around the corner, I thought it about time I rounded up all of the little goodies I've had my eye on throughout the year, but just haven't been able to pop into my shopping basket. Christmas is a great opportunity to try out the things you just can't justify buying for yourself - like, for example, expensive candles!! Now, don't get me wrong - it's not that I want other people to spend their money so that I don't have to. It's just that, traditionally I do find that family like to spoil each other at Christmas, and the best gifts are always the ones you've been lusting after for the greatest amount of time!

Diptyque, Hourglass and Jo Malone have long been  brands I have coveted, yet I've never been able to make anything mine - true, I probably could have, but truth be told, there are usually more important things to spend my money on than, say, household fragrances. As much as I'd love to pop a luxury candle on my mantlepiece, or add an expensive face powder to my makeup bag, sometimes I just can't bring myself to part with the cash.

What's on your lust list? Is there anything you've had your eye on all year that you're hoping to finally get your hands on?

It's good to be back!

xx

The Weekly Selection

Hi everyone, hope you're all having a good weekend and that there's a bit of sunshine where you are. It's really hot here today so I'm thinking of getting out in the garden with a good book this afternoon and making the most of it before I come back home to the usual British downpours!

This week saw me shunning my favourite summer blushes (Topshop Flush and Mac Peachykeen, if you're wondering), in favour of an old favourite I found lurking at the bottom of my makeup bag - Nars Deep Throat. It's such a gorgeous, natural peachy-pink shade with ever such a hint of shimmer, and while I'm only to pleased to dot on a pop of colour throughout the summer months, sometimes a subtle glow is far more flattering. I'm talking about those days where you wake up looking pale, drawn, and just plain exhausted - those days where a bright blush only serves to add to these effects, but that Deep Throat will always throw me a lifeline and make me look alive again.

Skincare-wise, it's been all about the Elemental Herbology Cell Food Radiance and Vitality Serum*, mainly because it does exactly what it says on the tin. It absorbs into the skin withing mere seconds, and since I've been including this in my daily routine, I've noticed a dramatic difference in the condition of my skin. It looks healthy and even, with a lovely glow, and as a result it has fast become a daily staple.

It's all about the fruity fragrances at this time of year, so I've been spritzing myself with an old favourite, the Nina Ricci Eau de Toilette. It's subtly sweet without being sickly, and the aroma of apples is so fresh and delicious that I'm only too glad to reinstate it as my signature fragrance throughout the summer months.

Last but not least, it would be rude not to pop a bright colour on your lips to celebrate the sunshine, and this week my weapon of choice has been Mac Impassioned. It's a gorgeous bright, fuchsia pink with a hint of coral, and is enough to liven up any natural, undone look.

What products haven't you been able to live without this week?

xx

Weekend Wishlist

Mac All About Orange Lipsticks in Tart & Trendy and Sweet & Sour, Mac  //  English Pear and Freesia Home Candle, Jo Malone  //  Malin + Goetz Acne Treatment, Space NK  //  Wild Fig & Cassis Cologne, Jo Malone  //  Diptyque Eau Moheli Eau de Toilette, Space NK  //  Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Masque, Cult Beauty  //  Ren Resurfacing AHA Concentrate, Cult Beauty  //  Diptyque Mimosa Scented Candle, Space NK  //  Mac All About Orange Lipstick in Sushi Kiss

It's one of those weeks where beauty products have most definitely monopolised my wish list, and I'd say that's probably for three reasons:
1. The new Mac collection, 'All About Orange', launched this week, and I for one am a little bit over-excited. Every time I go into Mac, I'm left a little bit disappointed that they don't have a wider range of oranges, peaches and corals in their permanent collection, particularly when it comes to lipsticks, so I'm eager to get my hands on most of these new offerings. The ones which stood out to me most when perusing the Mac website were definitely Sweet and Sour (soft peach cream), Tart and Trendy (bright, neutral orange cream) and Sushi Kiss (midtonal coral). I must say, however, that for me Sushi Kiss  is a pretty repulsive name for a lipstick, and that's coming from a fan of sushi - who wants to think about fish when applying your lipstick!?
2. I am all about updating my fragrance collection for summer, and Jo Malone's collection of personal and home fragrances has pretty much blown me away. I mean, Wild Fig and Cassis!? English Pear and Freesia? That's just for starters, and don't they sound just delectable? I'm a huge sucker for anything fresh and fruity, and with a hint of sweetness and a dash of summer gardens thrown in I am well and truly taken in.
Diptyque have also got a lovely new fragrance out, namely Eau Moheli Eau de Toilette,
3. Yep, I'm still suffering with my skin, and yep, I still love my skincare. I must say, it's become far less enjoyable for me now that I've got an actual problem to solve, and I find that I have to be much more careful about what I'm putting onto my skin. Having decided that I need to get this sorted once and for all, I've been back on Caroline Hirons' blog, Beauty Mouth - which is a regular read of mine anyway - sifting through all the comments of her past 'clinic' posts, and have come to the conclusion that the one thing I haven't yet tried is a resurfacing concentrate. Containing AHAs, these are basically chemical exfoliants, which can be used overnight to slough away dead skin and unblock pores, hopefully minimising breakouts as a result. I've had my eye on the Ren AHA concentrate for some time now anyway, so now that I actually have some sort of need for it it's probably time to bite the bullet. However, I've now picked myself up a bottle of the Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Toner, which I am using on a daily basis, so watch this space for an update on how I'm getting on with that. I do also tend to use the Elemental Herbology Facial Glow Radiance Peel on a weekly basis, which does also exfoliate using AHAs, so now it's all about stepping it up a gear and seeing what kind of a difference it can make.
Having said all that, I have now finally come to the conclusion that my contraceptive injection is behind these sudden outbreaks, as I've now noticed other related symptoms popping up alongside them. I'm planning on changing to something else at the end of the month and have got everything crossed that it'll put paid to these ridiculously annoying and frustrating issues!

What's on your wishlist this week?

Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend!

xx