Christmas Gift Guide - Perfumes

So we have had Mad Friday and Shopping Saturday, so hopefully by now you have got all of your Christmas presents all sorted right? No, me either.  One gift you can never go wrong with at Christmas time or at any other time, is perfume.  I love perfume and love the discovery of new fragrances and the chance to try ones which have gained cult status that I haven't yet comes across.

I am quite fussy about what perfume I will and won't wear.  Any perfume I try, has to be one I like from the first spritz, it is seldom rare that something will grow on me enough to like it and purchase it.  So here I have 6 perfumes that I absolutely love and am wearing right now, that would make an amazing gift.

YSL Black Opium - From the moment I tried this I wanted it within my collection. Not only does it have a lovely black and pink sparkly bottle, the scent which describes itself as "The hedonistic black coffee note of the original Black Opium scent is transformed into an ultra-luminous green coffee accord with a heart of Jasmine Tea on a sensual base of sensual Patchouli, white woods and musk" and it is just stunning. I find this is one of the longest lasting scents on my skin.  This perfume came into my life via a Klout Perk and is one that is readily available in places such as Boots.

L'Occitane Pamplemousse Rhubarb - This is a scent that captured my attention at a blogger event. It is quite unusual for a scent because it uses the zesty scent of Grapefruit combined with the the green, crisp scent of rhubarb which makes for a really lovely fresh scent which is unisex and smells great on both men and women. Anyone who reads my blog will know that I am a huge fan of L'occitane and if this sounds like a fragrance for you, then you can find it here along with an entire set which comprises of a shower gel, body lotion and soap.

Molecule 01 by Escentric Molecules- Now if you want a scent that makes you go wow, want to ask someone in the street what on earth it is they are wearing (in a good way) or want people to ask you, then Molecule 01 is the scent for you. It isn't pretty to look at, it won't be the obvious choice of gift, but what it loses in looks and cuteness it makes up for in scent. The scent has a subtle, velvety, woody note which will meld with your natural pheromones, vanish, then re-surface after some time, making it totally individual and personalised to the wearer. You will rarely smell this fragrance on yourself, Molecule 01 perfume is more about the effect it has on others.

Lolita Lempecka Sweet - I was lucky enough to win this from a Twitter competition run by Escentual and the bottle which is shaped like a bright red apple, is distinctive and it captures your attention.  The scent is really addictive, it is sweet and fresh at the same time and is described as opening "with the tender and juicy flesh of a cherry, coated in the crisp sugar icing of a candy apple. In the heart, pure, bitter cocoa absolute flirts with angelica, before a seductive base of scandalous musk and warm, sensuous cashmeran envelops all".  

Jo Loves Pomelo - I have reviewed this scent right here and it is just an amazing scent.  Jo described it as being ‘Inspired by memories of summer holidays, fresh linen sheets and sparkling iced water, I surround myself with Pomelo wherever I go. To my joy, it’s the fragrance that makes people stop me in the street to ask what I’m wearing.’ The Pomelo is a large citrus fruit that looks and tastes similar to a grapefruit and when combined with Vetiver, which is quite earthy it creates an amazing scent. Put them together and you have this absolutely stunning fragrance which is citrussy sharp as well as being fresh and clean from the moment it leaves the bottle to a good 6-7 hours later when on the skin. 

Michael Kors White - I knew that I would never hate this scent purely because it has Jasmine as one of its heart notes and the full review can be found right here. I love the big chunky whiteness of the bottle and the scent itself is one of those where one spritz is enough to last the entire day. It is fresh when first spritzed with the Freesia being quite dominant but as it settles and you can detected Gardenia, which is a really lovely scent, this perfume becomes for me all about the tuberose (which is a flower) which is a lovely floral, sweet buttery scent.

As someone who loves perfume, I am more than looking forward to all of the new releases in 2016.

If you had to choose a perfume to receive for Christmas, what would it be?

Top 3 Tips When Buying Through Catalogues That You Need To Know!

Are you thinking about opening a new credit account with a UK catalogue? Before you go any further, there are a few things you need to know. Here are the top 3 tips when buying through catalogues and what you can do to save money on your purchases. 

 1. Find the best interest rates When you open a new credit account with a UK catalogue company, you can spread the cost of your order and pay for your purchase in affordable instalments; however, you will be charged interest on the balance. The amount of interest you pay will vary depending on the retailer so it's a good idea to shop around and find the best deals. A comparison website will enable you to compare different interest rates in one place, saving you time. Some retailers won't charge you any interest if you settle your balance within a certain time frame (for example, if you pay for your order within 28 days). Always read the terms and conditions and find out the interest rate - as well as any penalties for late payment - before you place your order.

 2. Find the best catalogue for you There is a wide range of catalogues to choose from, some of which specialise in particular products like clothing or electronics. Choose a catalogue that best suits you by looking at their products online or finding out more about the retailer. Companies like Jacamo specialise in clothing that you won't always find on the UK high street - including clothes in sizes up to 5x large. 

 3. Decide how you want to repay There are a number of different ways you can make repayments when you place an order with a catalogue company, including pay monthly, pay weekly, and buy now, pay later. Catalogues like Very and Simply Be provide a wide range of repayment options, including pay monthly - where you pay for your order over a period of time by making payments every month. Dial a TV is an example of a pay weekly catalogue, which might suit you better if you get your wages paid on a weekly basis.

Those are some tips.  Do you have any tips to share? Do you use a catalogue to purchase anything?

**Collaboration

My Watch Wishlist

Whenever I am asked to write a Christmas Wishlist so that friends and family can choose from it, I am stumped. I never know what I want or would like and I struggle to come up with anything, only this year there is one item I do quite fancy and it is one piece of jewellery that I have had many times and always end up forgetting to wear (oops), but I am drawn in, like a magpie, to shiny things.

So having had a look around and there are so many ladies watches to choose from and so many decisions to make - design of the face, strap or bracelet, the type of metal, the colour and so on, all before you even get to branding and make. 

From the thousands that I could choose from, ive managed to find 6 that I absolutely love and would be chuffed if Santa sent any one of them my way.

Olivia Burton Watches are pretty much stunning, there are so many to choose from in all different patterns and this one with the Molded Bee on it is literally stunning with the contrasting black strap and rose gold face, it is a steal at £130 and you can see it here.

I bought the Mister an Armani Watch a few years ago and until today have never thought to look at the female versions.  What I love about this watch is the face, again quite feminine and a bit blingy, I think it would look stunning and again a steal at £138 here.

If there is one watch to capture my attention then Skagen have done it.  Just how beautiful is this watch with its dark blue face and mesh strap?  I love that it gives off the minimilistic look as well as being quite classy and for just £135 here it is a bargain.

Thomas Sabo is a brand I really like, I am a huge fan of their bracelets and charms but have never ventured into the rest of their jewellery range.  This Glam and and Soul chronograph watch is quite contemporary looking but still manages to look like a ladies watch and though it is quit pricey at £275 here, I do like it a lot.

If you want something that is totally different to anything else, then Storm Ola from House of Fraser is that something different. With its very slim bracelet, no numbering and large face, for someone like me with very slim wrists, I think would be a perfect match and I just love it.  Storm Ola is priced at £119.99 here.

The final watch I love is by Kenneth Cole and it is the face which caught my attention. I absolutely adore the gorgeous display of exposed mechanics on this watch and again it features a stainless steel strap which is quite contemporary but I love again the contrast between the steel and the rose gold watch hands and numbering on the face. Priced at just £165 you can find it here.

As you can see, I am not a fan of gold, I dont feel it suits me and always tend to opt for Stainless Steel or Platinum when it comes to jewellery anyway as my body hates anything with nickel in it.

Have you got a watch on your wishlist?