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

The Weekly Selection

I've really been limiting myself when it comes to beauty purchases of late, and it's quite surprising to think how long it's been since I last had a real splurge. I have, however, been picking up the odd 'essential' here and there, and these four treats have most definitely been floating my boat this week.

First up, the Ren Resurfacing AHA Concentrate is back for another slice of the limelight. For those of you who missed it, I'll link my recent review of this skincare must-have at the end of the post - it has made such a huge difference to the feel and texture of my skin, and I can always count on it to revive my complexion, leaving it soft, smooth and radiant.

It took me a while to get into primers - initially I think I saw them as something of a gimmick. The trouble with these 'extra' beauty steps is that once you have a taste and realise they do have a purpose, you keep wanting to go back for more, inevitably upping the cost of your daily face. Until recently, I'd only dabbled, with a couple of swipes of Benefit The Porefessional or Revlon Photo-ready here and there - neither of which had exactly blown me away. But after a recent charity event at my local Boots, I walked away with a goodie bag which just so happened to contain a sample pot of the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. After working it into my routine for a few days and finding myself marveling at how long my makeup was staying put throughout, I was more than ready to part with the pennies and get myself a full-size tube. Of course, what I didn't bargain for was the sheer number of options I was presented with, and in the end I walked away with the Smashbox Photo Finish Luminizing Primer. A peachy, shimmery offering, this sits nicely underneath my Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation, giving off a subtle, radiant glow. This would be a fantastic choice for a night out, as it adds a glamorous edge to any look. However, I wouldn't say it increases the longevity of makeup to quite the extent that the standard Photo Finish does, so I'll be picking one of those up soon to keep in my everyday makeup kit.

I love a good, dark lip in winter, but having seen Topshop Lips in Beguiled on more than one occasion, I wondered if it would perhaps be a step too far for my pale complexion. However, a quick swatch revealed this to be nonsense - applied with a light hand, it translates onto the lips as a gorgeously wearable berry shade, and can be layered up to achieve a darker, more dramatic effect.  It's love.

Fragrance-wise, you'll probably have heard me banging on about the Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne when I reviewed it earlier this week (link below). If you're interested in finding out more about this delightful winter scent then do pop over and have a read - if you like the smell of mulled wine, then you'll love this.

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne Review

Ren Resurfacing AHA Concentrate Review

What have been your favourite beauty treats this week?

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend!

XX

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne

Now that the sun has started to peek out from behind the clouds at long last, I'm wishing I had shared this winter delight with you sooner. The Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Cologne ( £39 for 30ml), is a rich, almost festive winter fragrance, very much reminiscent of hot mulled wine and open fires, and has seen me happily through the colder months, so much so that I've been reaching for it every day without fail since it first dropped through my letterbox. It's often difficult to do a fragrance justice using the written word alone, but I think Jo has done a great job at summing this one up: 

'The sensuality of a daring red dress. Ruby-rich juices of pomegranate, raspberry and plum are spiked with pink pepper and laced with Casablanca lily and spicy woods. A dark and enigmatic fragrance'.

I'd still go with the mulled wine if you find it impossible to imagine such a complex combination - rich, purple fruit and spices  are very much the overall impression this one gives off. 

All in all, it's been an absolute pleasure, and this 30ml size is ideal for slinging in your handbag for top-ups on the go. However, if, like me, it's love at first spray, then you can always go for the 100ml version, at a slightly hefty £78. Personally, I can see myself making the investment come next October, but now that the sun is shining I'm hankering to switch this one up for one of Jo's more spring-like offerings - top of my list are both English Pear & Freesia and Wild Fig & Cassis.

What has your favourite fragrance been this winter, and have you got your eye on anything for the warmer months?

xx