Scentaddict by The Fragrance Shop

If, like me you are a huge fan of fragrances and have a never ending list of perfumes you want to try, but are not sure they will suit you, The Fragrance Shop have a brand new subscription service that might just tickle your fancy.

Scentaddict is a service which is aimed at offering you, the consumer, a chance to try new and classic fragrances with no commitment for just £12 a month and that includes postage and packaging. Scentaddict was developed as a result of customer feedback and taking into account that 55% of consumers tend to change their fragrance daily and adding the success of other subscription services such as Netflix, and Beauty Boxes, Scentaddict was born and I can see it being quite the service.  As I said, I have a list as long as my arm of fragrances, new and old, that I really want to try - J'adore Chanel No.5, Tom Ford Velvet Orchid and the list goes on.  I am not the kind of person who walks into a department store and tries a perfume and then buys it. I like to see how it reacts to my skin for a good few hours before I decide whether or not it is something I want. 

The Fragrance Shop has over 200 fragrances to be tired and tested and this for me, is a bit of fun but also an affordable solution for working my way through my fragrance wishlist.  So how does it work? Firstly you need to go along to Scentaddict and follow the on screen steps. You can add up to 12 of your most wanted scents to your account and then set up your account as well as your subscription, which is £12 per month. You can stick with the same scent for those 12 months, or add it for a few more months later in the year to see how it works with seasonal change for example and you can change any of your selections up to 48 hours before dispatch.  

Once you have made your selection a team of experts will carefully fill your luxury reusable 8ml travel sized scentaddict atomiser, from which you get approximately 100 sprays, before packaging it up and sending it off to you, you only get one atomiser for your first month, the following months you will be sent an 8ml refill to put into your atomiser.  If that isn't enough to tempt you, each month you will also be sent a voucher for £12 to use against the price of a full sized bottle of the fragrance you have just been using.  You can cancel your membership at any time you feel the need too and there is no minimum contract.

That is all there is to it.  I think it is a great idea and I am slightly shocked that no one else has thought of doing this before now. I would love to know what you think to this service and whether or not you feel that this is a service you would be interested in trying?.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Moschino Pink Fresh Couture EDT

Whoever came up with the idea of making a perfume look like a bottle of Windex is nothing short of a genius, the man in question of course is one Jeremy Scott, a designer who is known for his outlandish and cartoonish designs and one who was appointed creative director of Moschino in 2013.

Moschino introduced Fresh Couture, my social media went mad for the fragrance and this year with the launch of Pink Fresh Couture, the very same thing happened and it comes with the following description: 

The story of the now world-famous 'cleaning spray' bottle moves on to the next chapter, with the captivating irony of the design continuing to cause a stir. Moschino pink fresh couture is the new, fresh floral fragrance for her. A brand new object of desire by moschino that interprets the original essence in a delightful and refreshing way.

Slightly humorous, ironic but every bit amazing, Pink Fresh Couture is incredibly pink and everything about it is amazing. How could anyone not want to have this within their collection?

The scent itself very much sits within the Fruity Floral group, my favourite and I am not sure anyone would have been expecting the scent to be as good as it is, infact I prefer it to the original. Opening up with top of of pink grapefruit alongside Cassis and Lily of the Valley which already are an incredible mix together, though the Cassis which is a deep dark scent of wild blackcurrants and blackberries for me are the notable opening scent. With the heart notes as the scent settles we have Pomegranate, Wild Rose and Pink Hyacinth which for me allows the wild rose and Pomegranate to dominate before the base notes of Cedar Wood, Ambrox and Musk which are much lighter than expected but it gives a great fresh scent which for me works really well. After around 15 minutes on the skin, for me this is when the Pink Grapefruit and the Musk, they are both incredible together and it is without question a very feminine fragrance.

Thankfully for me the mister also likes the scent which is always a good thing when I douse myself in it. Even though it is an eau de toilette it has a really strong scent and amazing lasting power to the point that I can spray this in a morning and still catch a whiff some 7-8 hours later.  A 30ml bottle retails for around £30 and a 50ml costs in the region of £42 here

A really lovely, quirky and beautiful scent that is one you will remember for years to come!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Ghost Dream Eau De Parfam

I am quite new to Ghost fragrances even though I am a perfume addict and shockingly even though the brand has been around for almost 20 years and there are over 10 fragrances within the range. Their latest is GHOST Dream Eau de Parfum.  

The description reads:

GHOST Dream is a captivating and enigmatic floral oriental scent created for young women who embrace their femininity and independence. Deliciously transparent; light yet complex, Dream encapsulates the pink clouds of a hazy sunset, the play of light on rippling water. 

A multifaceted, floral fragrance with a subtle depth. The scent opens with delicate 100% natural Rose Essential and fragrant Moroccan orange flower. A floral heart of heady Egyptian jasmine and pretty violet dev elops to reveal a sensual base of woody notes, ambroxan musks and patchouli.

Central to the fragrance is the unique Aquaflora note creating a delicate aqueous floral scent to interpret a transcendental reality.

This really is an all round pretty fragrance. The packaging is incredible and really works with the description above when it says 'the play of light on rippling water' because this is exactly the effect the box gives as it twinkles in the sunlight. Inside that box comes a really beautiful bottle. not quite like any I have seen of late. It is what can best be described as a multifaceted multicoloured design which is quite chunky but in the light you can see the colour of lilac and blue which really do stand out and again, I am drawn back to that rippling effect on the water and more so with the metallic lid which is slightly lilac toned plays its part.

For me, this perfume sits within the Oriental Florals and it is quite a clean crisp scent. It has quite a few floral notes with Rose Essential and Aquaflora making up the top notes and that scent of Rose being the very first I can detect, to the middle notes of Violet, Heliotrope, Moroccan Orange Flower and Egyptian Jasmine which in themselves would make an incredible scent but Ghost Dream settles with its base notes with Ambroxan, Musks and Patchouli and whilst they all quite beautiful, it is still the scent of Heliotrope that I can most detect and it is that which gives the fresh, clean scent but with a hint of flowers.

On the skin, I find that just a few spritzes is enough to detect it and it does have a really good lastability, I found that having applied it around 9am, I could still smell it some 7 hours later before I needed to re-apply.  You can also see what Annie over at Musingsofamakeupjunkie also thought of Ghost Dream too.

Ghost Dream retails from £25 at Superdrug, Boots and The Perfume Shop  

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page

Ghost Sweetheart Forever EDT

The latest fragrance from Ghost is called Sweetheart Forever and I have received so many compliments when wearing it because it is just beautiful. An Oriental Floral fragrance or Floriental if you prefer, Sweetheart Forever is described as being a "fragrance that touches the spirit of today's modern, romantic woman" and evokes the spirit, adventure and optimism of those tender sweet first days of a fledgling romance.

The slimline bottle is opaque in design and comes housed inside a beautiful blush pink box which is adorned with hints of rose gold. The fragrance is described as being 'Bursting with blooms' and has the following notes:

• Top notes: Cassis, Lychee, Orange
• Heart notes: Rose, White Flower
• Base notes: Patchouli, Vanilla, Wood

For me, these notes would usually resemble a very sweet fragrance, one that might be too sweet with the addition of vanilla, thankfully, however, it isn't a dominant note of the fragrance. You only need one or two spritzes of this fragrance because it is strong and it opens with quite a fruity punch coming from the Lychee and the Orange before the Cassis which to most is a Blackberry scent takes over. As the fragrance begins to settle on the skin the floral notes of Rose and White Flower come up through the middle before Patchouli, Vanilla and Wood bring the scent down to a beautiful musky scent which still allows for the fruit and floral scent to come through.

On the skin, despite Sweetheart Forever being as EDT, it has incredible lastability and is one of those scents which lasts all day, slowly fading with no need to re-apply during the day and depending upon how strong you like your scent, you won't need to re-apply it in the evening. However, different scents do last differently on people.

Ghost Sweetheart Forever is available in two sizes from Boots -  30ml and 50ml right here.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise. Please see my Disclaimer page here for more info.

Victor&Rolf Flowerbomb Bloom Perfume

If you are a fan of perfumes as much as I am, then each new release causes a little stir of excitement. Victor &Rolf Flowerbomb Bloom is a scent I have pretty worn for the last few weeks on a daily basis and it is just incredible. Flowerbomb Bloom is an updated of the iconic Flowerbomb scent which was released back in 2005 (feeling old right now) and it is every bit as beautiful perhaps even more so, than its older sister.

Arriving in a similar bottle to the original design, this one is a slightly more elgonated diamond shaped bottle but it is just as pretty and again the logo themed wax stamp is also present and for me, it does add a little extra to the packaging and then again to the bottle.

I love that this fragrance comes with a mantra and it is "to turn the impossible to the possible and celebrate going from winter into spring when flowers start to bloom".  There was no doubt that I would adore this perfume as I am already a fan of the original and anything with Jasmine as a note within a fragrance always gets the thumbs up.  Sitting firmly in the floriental category, Flowerbomb Bloom has top notes of pomegranate accord, Bergamot and Mandarin and as an opener to a perfume, this is really quite stunning because it is strong and fruity but soon settles as the heart notes of Rose, Jasmine, Freesia and Pure Air Molecule which is an intriguing note but as whole, they bring together the beautiful floral notes to the scent which then lead to the base notes of Musk, Vanilla and Patchouli which add a sort of powdery scent to what is an incredible scent which is just perfect for Spring.

On the skin, Flowerbomb Blooms last such an incredible amount of time and it is one of those scents which when applied in a morning you can still smell it in an evening. Available from £45 you can find this perfume in most stores such as Boots, House of Fraser, Debenhams and John Lewis to name a few, you need to try it.

*this post contains PR samples/Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise

Yardley London Launches Royal Pink Diamond

Yardley London have been experts in high quality floral fragrances since 1770, a fact which still wows me every time I see it mentioned. Recently added to their signature collection is Royal Pink Diamond, the exclusive new fragrance.

Presented in a really cute contemporary glass bottle which features a really pretty pale pink lid in the shape of a pink rose, something which is synonymous with the Yardley London brand. What I didnt know about this fragrance is that it compliments the successful Royal Diamond fragrance which was originally launched back in 2012.

Yardley London  Royal Pink Diamond is described as being a sophisticated and sheer romantic floral scent, it opens with a hit of a really fresh fruity note and it is no surprised given that the top notes are Mandarin, Pear, Peach and Cassis.  As the middle notes of Pink Pepper, Peony, Rose and Orange Flower water spring to live, the scent takes on a floral scent which is stunningly beautiful before settling with the notes of Sandalwood, Cedar Wood and Musk which give it a warm, sensual woody scent.

I knew I would like this scent from the top notes, I like a fragrance which takes on both the fruits and the florals, it just works with my skin and this is a scent that is perfect for right now, be it just for day wear, date night or even just because and at £19.99 it isn't going to break the bank.

Are you a fan of Yardley scents?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Lola James Harper Perfume - 26 Together Is Always Better

Lola James Harper is not a brand I am familiar with, but it is a fragrance and lifestyle brand founded by Rami Mekdachi who is not only a Photographer and Musician but the Creative Director for major luxury brands including Hotel Costes, Chloé, Lacoste, and Roger Vivier. With such a portfolio to the name, it comes as no surprise that the fragrance I have in my hands - 26 Together Is Always Better is not only exquisite in every way, but it has the most incredible scent.

The outer packaging is quite plain, simple and straightforward, nothing stands out particularly and this is because I think everything you need to see is hidden inside the box. Wrapped around the bottle is a piece of paper which is almost like a thank you note from the Lola James Harper team, a special touch which I really liked and the part which stood out for me is the following:

The most important thing to keep in mind is to wear your Eau de Toilette during moments you cherish, with the people you love, to add to Lola James Harper fragrances your own memories and state of mind.

For me perfume is just one of those items that for me always signify something special and remind me of events, celebrations and so on. The bottle itself brings about the phrase 'less is always more' and I just love the elongated design which leads itself to a heavy glass bottle that is sturdy and very chic.

This scent, 26 Together Is Always Better by Lola James Harper is a Aromatic Green fragrance for women and men. With notes of Green Tea, Jasmine, Rosemary, Violet , Gaiac Wood and Cinnamon. From those notes you get a lovely earthy green freshness from Green Tea, Jasmine, Rosemary and then comes the scent of Violet which offers a touch of sweetness with the scent of violets before the notes of Cinnamon and Gaiac Wood come through to add some warmth to the scent.  From the first spritz this scent is just beautiful, like that perfect Spring day in a bottle as the scent of flowers, grass, freshly dug earth and I absolutely adore it in case you hadn't guessed and it is one I am not sharing.

A 100ml bottle of 26 Together Is Always Better is priced at £100 right here from Selfridges and if you are looking for an extra special gift, this is most definitely it.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

L’Occitane Terre de Lumiere

One thing L'Occitane do very well are fragrances and I have yet to come across one that I haven't loved immediately. The release of Terre De Lumiere, which translates to mean 'Land of Light' is quite simply Summer in a bottle it as been inspired by the light of Provence. The description "capturing the intense sensoriality of a walk through the fields of Provence at the golden hour" quite literally has you imagining that perfect French sunset.

Terre de Lumière is the first Gourmand Aromatic fragrance by L'OCCITANE. In that sense, it means a perfume which consists primarily of synthetic edible (gourmand) which in this case includes ingredients such as honey and almond.  The bottle is an interesting shape and with it comes an interesting description.  The cap is described as being 'aglow with light, as if it had soaked up the smouldering colours of the sky' and the bottle which has this rounded almost unusual shape was designed to express all the power of Provence, simply elegant and iconic, it is said to 'showcase the vibrant golden hues of the land with its unique light'. For me, the bottle fits perfectly in my hand when I come to use it and with a handy flat bottom, it makes it ideal for standing on my bedside table. 

I love this scent. I wasn't expecting too when I saw some of the notes, in fact, I expected to really dislike it, so for me to not only like but love it, even now still shocks me.  With top notes are bergamot, ambrette seed, and pink pepper you get a bold zesty aromatic opening which I just loved immediately. The Bergamot most definitely noticeable for me. Then as the heart note of Lavender Honey comes to life, said to be reminiscent of the fields of Provence, the perfume develops to bring a floral side to the zesty scent. Finally, the base notes of Acacia Flower, Bitter Almond Essence, Tonka Bean and White Musk really add a whole new dimension to this for me. It is soft, warm and incredibly fresh scented, the musk sitting in the background. 

As this is a gourmand scent, less is definitely more.  One spritz on your pulse points is more than enough and this scent once applied lasts for hours and hours.  You apply it in the morning and you can still catch a whiff on your way home some 7 hours later, admittedly not as strong but it is still there.

Available in both a 50ml and 90ml bottle, they are priced at £58 and £78 respectively and they are available right here alongside a Gentle Shower Gel and Beautifying Body Lotion from the same range.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Shay & Blue London Dandelion Fig

If you read this blog regularly, then you will know that I am obsessed with fragrances and have over the past few years moved away from my comfort zone and have found a whole load of scents that I just find incredible. I like to think a fragrance can be chosen to suit your mood, complement your outfit or and very often in my case, you wear for the memories that it recreates and evokes in your mind.

Shay & Blue is a new brand to me, I have never tried any of their products before but I know a few of my blogger friends are simply devoted to the brand. Their newest fragrance, which hits the shelves this March is called Dandelion & Fig and I adored it from the very first spritz. 

Dandelion & Fig is a unisex fragrance which is unusual, eclectic and is fresh and just stunning.

• The top notes open with Dandelion Leaf which gives it that fresh greenness scent which when mixed with lemongrass to give it a touch a heat come together to create a scent which is so different to anything else I have tried and nothing to compare it to, it is that authentic to me.
• The Heart Notes have a combination of Tomato Vine which again gives a hint of greenness to the scent and it is followed by Juniper which is zingy and hits you quickly before settling down.
• The base note is all about the fig scent which is as it dries down gives such an earthy tone it grabs hold of the juniper, the Tomato Vine, the Dandelion Leaf and brings them all together so you have the earthy tones intermixed with lemongrass and juniper and it is just incredible.

For me this is a spring scent and I just absolutely adore it and cannot wait to wear it and I am secretly hoping BeautykingUK won't like it so I don't have to fight him for the bottle! Dandelion & Fig is definitely daring and different but so stunning.

The fragrance will be available from Shay & Blue Marleybone Boutique, Harvey Nichols, John Lewis or M&S in March 2017 and will be priced at £53 for 100ml or £30 for a portable 30ml size.

*this post contains PR samples/Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise

Gift sets you need this Christmas!

If you love a brand and they do a gift set, chances are you will want it or want to buy it for someone who you also want to love it. As well as stocking fillers, there is sometimes gift sets which make buying that gift all the more easier and here are some you definitely need.

Vintage Cosmetics Company Girls Night In Tin - I am a fan of this cute and kitsch brand. I love that everything is pink and floral and just so very me. This gift tin is described as being the answer to all your pampering needs, this cute love heart tin has everything you need for a pamper session. 

Inside you will find Dolly Bow Make-Up Headband, Floral Slanted Tweezers, 4 Way Nail Buffer, Pink Toe Separators, Floral Nail Scissors and Fantail Brush. Priced at just £27.50 from John Lewis, cute and kitsch it definitely is.

Omorovicza The Miracle Facial Set. If there is one brand which is going to capture your attention, it is Omorovicza, or Oh - more - o - veet - za as the kind lady at the Liberty counter taught me how to say. Inspired by tradition, guided by nature and spearheading the concept of Mineral Cosmetology, the Omorovicza skincare range has a rich, romantic heritage. It was founded by a young couple, Stephen and Margaret de Heinrich de Omorovicza, who met in Budapest. 

This spoiling set comprises a trio of sweet-smelling products to tone, refresh, hydrate and nourish the skin: the Queen of Hungary Mist (30ml), the Illuminating Moisturiser (30ml) and the Miracle Facial Oil (30ml). I am already obsessed with both the mist and the oil and really want to get my hands on the Ultramoor Mud Mask. Priced at £80 which is a saving of £60, this is a great introduction to a beautiful brand.

Michael Buble By Invitation Gift Set. I hadnt expected to like this fragrance at all (reviewed here) but I did and much more so than I had expected. By Invitation is by description a crisp oriental floral scent which has notes of Bergamot, Jasmine, Peony, Sandalwood Musks and Vanilla Praline which come together to create a scent which lingers, lasts and is displayed in a stunning bottle which is suspended in a golden bracelet making it stand right out amongst its peers.

The gift set is also really quite special with a 100ml fragrance and 150ml body lotion at £55 it isn't going to break the bank.

Blank Canvas is a brand that might not have caught your attention yet but it should. Right now you can build and customise your very own box, whether for you or a friend. Inside my box are two palettes and two brushes.

The Master Series Palette One which I reviewed here, The Pippa Palette which Blank Canvas Cosmetics collaborated with Pippa O'Connor Ormond (a Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle blogger from Ireland) to create the gorgeous Pippa palettewhich holds six eyeshadows, a highlighter, blush and bronzer. The F20 is a Buffer Brush and it is ideal for applying liquid, cream or powder products. The bristles are incredibly soft on the skin and with a hot pink handle, what's not to love. The E32 is a Tapered Crease Blender and is great for eyeshadow application and blending with both cream and powder products.

Tigi is brand I use more for their styling products than the shampoo and conditoner, so these two kits are pretty good. The first one is called Bed Head Bigged Up Volumiser and it features Superstar 'Queen for a Day' which is a body-boosting spray and Oh Bee Hive! which is a dry shampoo and together they work in tandem to create luscious locks. I absolutely love the Christmas themed gift box that it is presented in. This set is currently on offer with LookFantastic for just £13.25. 

The second kit is TIGI's Catwalk Haute Volumiser; a kit that works to volumise, lift and hold hair in place, leaving you party-ready. With Root Boost Spray which takes care of those limp locks which lifts hair from the root for added body and bounce and Session Series Hairspray which delivers strong yet flexible hold. Again, it is presented in a festive gift box. Worth £31 this set is also available on Lookfantastic for just £13.95 here.

Liz Earle Botanist Cabinet - If you read my blog regularly then you will know I have this already but it is just such amazing value for money you need to grab it quick. The Botanist Cabinet features 8 drawers which each contain a Liz Earle product and you can expect to find a full sized Cleanse and Polish of course. 

At just £30, reduced from £60 it would make a fantastic gift for yourself, your mum, your best friend, your beauty blogger pal or even just because. Find it here exclusive to Boots.

Benefit Defined and Refined Brows comes in this really cute and handy tin.  Benefit known for their Brows have these fantastic kits and this one contains Benefit BROWVO! conditioning primer 1.0 ml, Benefit precisely my brow pencil 0.08g and Benefit high brow pencil 2.8 g and custom mapping tool to help you create the ideal brow shape for your face.

You can find kits like these in most highstreet stores such as John Lewis and in Boots there is usually an associated offer! Priced at £28.50 this is a great gift

Alpha-H Liquid Laser without the downtime - If you love Alpha-H Liquid Gold but haven't strayed too far away and discovered other products from the brand then this kit is one to look at. 

Designed to be an anti-ageing kit, this trio features Liquid Laser Cleansing Oil, Liquid Laser Concentrate and Liquid Laser Super Anti-Ageing Balm. Together, the Liquid Laser Collection has been specifically designed to target the effects of intrinsic ageing, helping to soften the appearance of fine lines, and improve skin texture, tone and moisture content. You'll find this set on QVC for £47.

Dermalogica Skin Brightening Duo is housed in a cute little christmas box featuring two products inside to give you that eliminate dullness, purify skin and unveil a natural luminosity. 

The Daily Microfoliant® is perhaps one of the most known products from Dermalogica and this unique Rice-based enzyme powder microfoliates dulling debris and instantly leaves skin noticeably smoother and brighter. The second product is the precleanse which is a lightweight Olive and Apricot Kernel-based cleansing oil, which gently liquefies sebum and oil-based debris from the skin’s surface, melts away makeup and leaves your skin feelng incredible soft and smooth to the touch. Priced around £53 with LookFantastic this has a huge saving of over £20.

L'Occitane have the most amazing Christmas gifts this year and they have something for every budget. Whether you want a huge hamper packed full of gifts, a box of your favourite products or a travel size tin, there will be something for you. 

The Arlésienne Travel Collection which comes packaged inside this beautiful tin is more than worth its £20 price. Inside you will find three products which are all scented with the Arlesienne scent and it is one I absolutely adore - A 50g Arlésienne Scented Soap, a 12ml Arlésienne Lip Balm and a 30ml Arlésienne Hand Cream.

Moving on to makeup with Sleek and this is a brand I absolutely love. The makeup kits are just amazing value for money and I have Secretly Spellbound Glitz & Glam gift set which at £28 in Boots should be snapped up.

The gift contains seven full sized products from the range which includes - All Night Long i-Divine Palette which features a gorgeous cocktail of rich smokey nudes, sultry beiges, eye-catching golds and shimmering bronzes. Dip It Liquid Eyeliner In Black, Eyebrow Stylist In Medium, Contour Brush, Face Form In Medium, this is a contour kit which houses a highlighter, bronzer and a blusher. The final two items are Twist Up Lip Pencil In Sugared Apple and Lip Vip Lipstick In Nightspot which is a bright vibrant shade of red.

Now I think this has been a gift guide that covers every possible need for this time of year and for a range of different budgets and needs, there are some real beauties to uncover and enjoy.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise