Tag Archives: scent

It’s all in the scent…

Posted in Beauty by
Cacharel Yes I Am perfume

When Yes I Am Eau de Parfum from Cacharel arrived at my doorstep, even before I smelt it, I was flooded with teenage memories.

Why, you ask? Well, Lou Lou, a Cacharel late 80s/90s classic, was my staple for years. Many years.

No wonder I warmed up to Yes I Am straight away, and heart-eyes really appeared when I saw the gorgeous lipstick shaped bottle. I was in.

Cacharel Yes I Am perfume

The fragrance is distinctive, and as expected from the brand, it is strong and powerful. Its strong oriental notes are balanced by the fresh florals and it develops into a delightful creamy scent that I’ve been wearing almost everyday since I got it.

The top notes are mandarin, raspberry and cardamon, with ginger flowers, jasmine and gardenia at its heart (what a beautiful heart it is) and sandalwood and milk to form the base.

Cacharel Yes I Am perfume

A fragrance that is meant to produce the power of the perfect red lipstick, but making it clear it is NOT a lipstick – my interpretation is that it is not just how it looks on the outside, but about the woman’s inner beauty being highlighted; it speaks to daring, independent, and powerful women. When asked if you are any of the above, the answer should be: Yes I Am!

I used to be quite loyal to a fragrance, but as years gone by, not only I started to reach out to different fragrances to suit my mood (yes, I became perfume-promiscuous), but the type of fragrance I like has changed a bit too.

Cacharel Yes I Am perfume

Thought this post was quite fitting to go out this week, given the concept behind the fragrance, to follow up from my feelings about international women’s day: let’s build each other up, let’s empower each other, and be kind.

Sometimes all it takes to help unleash inner confidence (on others and ourselves), is a word, a lipstick, a shift in posture, the knowledge someone’s got your back.

Yes I am Eau de Parfum is priced from £35 (30ml; 50ml is £60 and 75ml is £78) and is available from major retailers nationwide, including Boots.

written by Dani

You know the drill, but I’ll say anyway: this is an AD (GIFTED), as post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Flowers all around me

Posted in Beauty by
Floral Street ylang ylang espresso eau de parfum

When I was invited for Floral Street’s scent school I wasn’t too sure what to expect, but I was sure excited to get to know another brand. 

Floral Street has a beautiful shop in, well, Floral Street in London Covent Garden and they are a little bit different: inspired by the streets of London and the women in it, and created to break with tradition and follow  the beauty world evolution towards a younger audience. 

I started my fragrance wardrobe with something quite different from what I go for, but that suited my mood on the day and certainly did not disappoint: ylang ylang espresso eau de parfum is magnetic; a powerful, deep and strong fragrance that’s more me than I ever thought. 

Floral Street ylang ylang espresso eau de parfum

As Floral Street labels it, ylang ylang espresso is “for the spirited, fearless, mystical and audacious. For the rebels. The thinkers. And the leaders: a powerful fragrance with it’s own electric current.” And I cannot disagree one bit.

It’s so modern and different from anything I smelt before. Instead of floating to my usual lifetime favourite notes, this alluring scent pulled me in and now I cannot have enough. 

Blending traditional fresh red rose, ylang ylang and jasmine crossed with slightly less traditional coffee, cream and pepper notes, it also has Sichuan pepper, tangerine, tiramisu(!), patchouli, cocoa beans and guaicwood. In a way, it’s easy to see why I was drawn to it: jasmine, coffee, cocoa and tiramisu. 

Floral Street ylang ylang espresso eau de parfum

However, it’s the rest that actually made my decision. Decision was hard and I was so close from picking wild vanilla orchid which is the day “pairing” of ylang ylang espresso. And I am so glad I did – there’s no going back from it. And it may have been highly praised by a boy.

The Scent School experience (£20) was a great help as it breaks down the notes, all over a glass or two of prosecco! 

Floral Street has 8 fabulous unisex scents, including my absolute favourite ylang ylang espresso, which retail at £55 for 50ml. You can also get a handy 10ml version for £22, and for Christmas, they also have the 10ml in “bauble” version. 

Floral Street ylang ylang espresso eau de parfum

Apart from that, Floral Street also has discovery sets and exploration kits, and a beautiful range of home fragrance with candles and diffusers, and body creams and washes. Even stationery. Needless to say, all gorgeously scented. 

The Christmas collection is beautiful, with the baubles and gifts sets of eau de parfum, candles and diffusers, well worth a look (empower set, I am looking at you). 

And the packaging is just stunning – with amazing prints and sustainable. 

For more information on Scent School, the brand and the amazing products, go to their website, their boutique in Covent Garden’s Floral Street or their pop up in Westfield London.

written by Dani

You know the drill, but I’ll say again: this post contains GIFTED PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

On being a WOMAN

Posted in Beauty, Lifestyle by

There was a time when I was faithful to one fragrance. As I got older and embraced the multitude of facets of my personality and moods, I started wearing perfumes to suit – and depict – them.

A very personal choice, it is always a delight when I come across a fragrance I can add to my “mood portfolio” and WOMAN by Ralph Lauren fits right in.

And what mood is that? The strong, yet feminine woman. The one to wear when I want to lead like a woman (say, like everyday, right?)

Matching Ralph Lauren’s concept of designing womenswear with menswear sensibility, the perfume comes in a hip flask shaped bottle and is the perfect shape to carry on the go.

For me, it’s a great fragrance to wear day or night with its contrasting bold florals and rich woods, with top notes of blackcurrant, pear and rhubarb, then tuberose, orange blossom and Turkish rose at its heart, and a base of sandalwood, hazelnut and woods.

Alluring, strong and deep, it has a great staying power, especially on the hair.; its modern femininity concoction of notes crafted by Master Perfumer Anne Flipo.

WOMAN also introduces Lead Like A Woman, an initiative to spark dialogue around closing the leadership gap between women and men.

There are three short films produced by an all-female cast and crew and starring Jessica Chastain, in partnership with Women in Film (to which the brand also donated to) to support its cause – use the power of media to advocate parity.

We all have inspirational leading women in our lives – right, left and centre – and we should always strive to support other women to reach their full potential. Quoting Nadine Baggott, who, at the launch event quoted Madeline Albright, I wholeheartedly agree that “there is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women“.

So many women throughout history and today have sacrificed so much to fight for rights we have now, I cannot quite believe when women, who know how hard it still is to be a woman, want to take their peers down. So ladies, look out for each other: support, encourage and compliment honestly. Individually we are much stronger than we think, but together, we are invincible.

And all the love and recognition to my mum, a very young mother who raised me to be my own person, always supportive, loving and a real example. Thank you.

WOMAN is available exclusively at Boots until the 11th September, then nationwide at major retailers and sells for £49 (30ml), £69 (50ml, seen here) and £89 (100ml), all RRP.

To find out more about Ralph Lauren fragrances, visit their site. And of course, check out the Lead Like a Woman initiative.

written by Dani

You know the drill, but I’ll say again: this post contains a GIFTED PR sample. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them. Laters!

When one scent is not enough…

Posted in Beauty, Body, Lifestyle by

Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal from scentaddict by the Fragrance ShopUntil a few years ago, I stuck to the same fragrance. It was my thing, my signature.

Then, something happened. Maybe I started realising I was one and many a person… maybe I just got lured by the many scents on the market, bombarding my senses. Who knows?

Enter scentaddict by the Fragrance Shop celebrates the need to change fragrances ever so often, with little guilt. In fact, it lets you “date” it for a while, before deciding if you want to commit.

I don’t know about you, but usually the very base notes on fragrances are the one I do not like, do to know I really like a perfume, I need to wear it for a while, see how it develops on my skin and how it lasts throughout the day.

The deal

atomiser - scentaddict by the Fragrance Shop

With scentaddict you can do just that. For a monthly subscription of £12 you get 30 days (8ml) of your chosen fragrance, including luxurious, expensive ones, to try in a lovely refillable atomiser.

To start with, you add up to 12 fragrances to your account and the first one will be with you in about 2 weeks. You can choose to receive the another fragrance you selected the following month or the same one.

Should you really fall in love with a scent and decide that’s the one for you (you know, it an happen), you can redeem the£12 towards the cost of a full bottle.

As it’s a subscription service you can pick a different scent every month until you find the one! It’s a really a discovery service and you can stop at any time.

The one for me 

I got Scandal, a delicious John Paul Gaultier fragrance which has the most relatable pin-up legs up – if you cannot make up the relation to me, have a scroll through my Instagram. It might become apparent.

Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal from scentaddict by the Fragrance ShopThe top notes are citric (blood orange and grapefruit), and I am not a citrus fragrance person. Having said that, the opening is rather sweet and crisp.

However, it was the delicious heart of honey and gardenia that really hooked me in, offering a mellow, sweet smell finished with a strong patchouli base. It’s a world away from the classic JPG that is not quite my cup of tea.

Plus, those heeled legs? I mean, what’s not to love?

You can get all the info on scentaddict by the Fragrance Shop on their website, where you can subscribe and start flirting with a plethora of scents – there are more than 100 to try!

written by Dani

You know the drill, but I’ll say anyway: this post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Fierce and feminine: the new Ghost Girl fragrance

Posted in Beauty, Body by

ghost_girl - 1Not long ago I attended the fabulous launch of this feisty new fragrance fro Ghost: Ghost Girl.

 

Starting with the packaging, it all scream girly fun. I love the colourful writing around it and the darker pink gives it an edge; this is feminine, but by no means sugary.

Its opening notes contain pomegranate, pear, raspberry and bergamot; the middle are orange blossom, tuberose and almond blossom on a base of amber and cedar wood notes.

ghostgirl - 1It is fresh and not too sweet; it’s flowery-frutal, so very light and good for the summer. It develops and lasts quite well.

It’s aimed at girls and women in their teens and twenties, and I do feel it is bang on the audience. It a young and fun scent, with a decent price tag.

The contradictions between sweet florals and muskiness embodies the scent feisty spirit rather well.

ghost_girl - 2For my personal taste, at first instance, it lacks a little bit of depth and warmth; this is how I like my fragrances; I’ve never been a fresh, fruity perfume person. The opening and base notes I really like.

 

Having said that, it is not something I would not wear. In fact, I’ve been using quite a lot, it is a reliable day scent and it grew on me to become my holiday pick for the beach!

And that’s me having all the fun at the launch party!

Ghost Girl is available in 30ml (£25), 50ml (£34) and 100ml (£46.50) and is available from retailers nationwide.

signature1

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion on them.