PartyLite Candles

If you read this blog regularly you will know that I am a massive fan of candles and now Summer has been and gone and Autumn is drawing ever closer, I will burn a lot of candles.  I usually get home from work, close the curtains to close out the outside world, park myself on the sofa after lighting some candles to relax.  For me this is what candles are all about.  So when I was given the chance to try some from PartyLite, a brand I knew nothing about, I jumped at the chance.

PartyLite are an online store which specialises in home fragrance and decor and they have a really large selection of home fragrance options for you to choose from such as candles, diffusers and wax melts. So I have spent the last few weeks burning these candles to see if they can compare to those well known brands when it comes to burn time and fragrance.

The first candle I tried was the Vanilla Citron Escential Jar by PartyLite which I expected to hate because I am not a Vanilla scent enthusiast, infact it usually gives me a headache.  To look at the candle isn't overly decorative and as soon as the box is open, there is an immediate scent of both vanilla and citrus, neither overpowering the other but both very much present and as soon as it is alight, that scent intensifies quite quickly and fills every room.

Then came the Discovery Trio, which again as soon as the box is opened, not only are you greeted with three lovely bright coloured candles, but the scent is really noticeable.

• Japanese Yuzu is bright orange and has blue fans nicely decorating the glass jar.  The scent is really citrusy, a cross between being an orange and a mandarin and it is an absolute delight on its own or as part of the trio.
• Costa Rican Fruta Dorada which is bright yellow and decorated with sunshine shapes.  As a scent it is much more fruity than the Japanese Yuzu and more like a fresh peach.
• The final candle is Hawaiian Hibiscus which is probably my favourite of the trio. A bright pink candle with a glass decorated with green leaves and flowers. I had expected the scent to be quite floral there is something quite tropical about the scent.  

Together as a trio they smell absolutely divine as you might expect, there is a lovely fresh floral and fruity fragrance which quickly fills whichever room you happen to have them in and even after you have distinguished them, the scent lingers for a good few hours afterwards.  

Overall, I really like these candles and they're definitely comparable to some of the higher end brands I've tried.

Michael Kors White Eau de Parfum

The only item I have ever owned by Michael Kors is some sunglasses which I got from TK Maxx for an absolute bargain.  It used to be all the rage to own rose gold watch and handbag but now, having seen more of the beauty range, there are quite a few products I fancy trying.

At Debenhams, my favourite store on Oxford Street, the Michael Kors beauty range consists of quite a few different Michael Kors fragrances, body products and there are some amazing sunglasses. I was kindly sent the Michael Kors White Eau de Parfum, which is available in three different sizes 30ml, 50ml and 100ml and naturally, the price differs for each size and costs between £39 and £79. Michael Kors White is one of the newer fragrances from the collection and it is my very first fragrance from the brand and I absolutely love it.  For me, this scent is one of those timeless classics and something to be worn on special occasions.

Firstly the bottle, as you would expect with something called White, it most certainly is.  It is huge, chunky and every bit luxurious.  The white bottle featuring the brand and name stands out among its peers with the silver mirrored top and button for spritzing.  It is like no other bottle I own and I like this a lot because it is plain, not too over dramatic and does what it needs too.

As the name suggests, this perfume is based on white flowers.  It has

• Top Notes – Violet Leaves, Freesia, Ylang Ylang and Aldehyde
• Heart Notes – Gardenia, Egyptian Jasmine, Tuberose and White Peony
• Base Notes – White Musk, Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Amber and Cedarwood

With notes such as these, you have to expect a strong fragrance and that is exactly what you get.  One spritz is all you need because once it is on your skin it isn't going anywhere.  White is one of the most long lasting perfumes I have ever owned and it is one I absolutely love, think works well and smells amazing on my skin.  You can literally smell the scent all day long and even if you are out in the evening after work there is no need to re-apply and living in London and getting public transport that is no mean feat.  The scent is so fresh when first spritzed with the Freesia being quite dominant but as it settles and you can detect 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. 

If you like white floral scents, you’ll love this offering from Michael Kors because White is just stunning.

Have you ever tried a Michael Kors perfume?

Look Fantastic Beauty Box - August

The LookFantastic Beauty Box has vastly become one of my favourites since its launch last year. Inside you get a myriad of products for your £15 that it is not only exceptionally good value for money, but you get a great range of products to try. Granted not every box is brilliant, some have been more miss than a hit, but my overall experience has been pretty good. So now my August box has arrived, this is what it had to offer!

The first item to grab my attention is the Rimmel Wonder’full Wake Me Up Mascara (RRP £7.99). I have a love hate relationship with Rimmel Mascaras, I either love them or hate them, there is never an inbetween. This mascara is brand new to Rimmel and boasts vitamins and cucumber extract as two of its main ingredients. With a precision hourglass shaped wand it promises to wrap each and every lash with defined, clump-free volume, lifting & stretching them all the way up for an eye awakening effect!

A full size Bellapierre Cosmetics Shimmer in Snowflake (RRP £12.99). The ultimate all-in-one mineral make up product. Shimmer powder can be combined with moisturiser, lip balm, or even a drop of water to produce a cream eyeshadow, eyeliner to name just a few uses. I like Bellapierre as a brand an this is a lovely shade, perfect for Christmas when everyone needs a bit of sparkle.

Next up is a 1.8ml sample of Omorovicza Queen Of Hungary Mist (value 90p). I am quite saddened that I only got a small sample because as a product it sounds amazing - Refresh and revitalise your skin with the Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Spring Edition. Blended with orange blossom, rose and sage waters to purify and tone and apple pectin to restore hydration, this refreshing spray promises to give instant rejuvenation. The delicate aroma of neroli and rose will give your skin the boost it needs to ensure that it is glowing throughout the day for all the right reasons. This toner has taken inspiration from the Queen of Hungary Water, the first perfume created in the fourteenth century for the Queen at the time. So given the size of my sample, ive used it once and it has all gone and I don't really feel I can give a view on it either way.

In this August box there are two hair care products. The first is by Alterna and it is the Caviar CC Cream (value £8). This is described as being A miracle leave-in product that delivers 10 benefits in 1 easy step, leaving hair perfectly polished. Provides complete: moisture, shine, smoothness, softness, UV protection, manageability, strength, anti-breakage, heat protection and light hold. Can be used alone or as a foundation for the layering of other styling products. Impressively, it is also free of Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates, Synthetic Color, Paraffin, Gluten, DEA/TEA, Mineral Oil & Petrolatum.

The second hair product is a 50ml travel sized Beauty Works Ten-In-One Miracle Spray (value £2.50). Described as being a multi-tasking hair treatment that works to nourish, repair and protect your locks during heat styling. It is fortified with argan and macadamia, the innovative formula replenishes lost oils in the hair and helps to eliminate frizz, restore mirror-like shine and prevent split ends. It is also free from parabens, sulfates, phthalates and synthetic colour and contains no paraffin, gluten, mineral oil or petrolatum.

The final product in this box is the well known Eve Lom Cleanser and there is also a muslin cloth. This cleansing balm is worth around £16.50 and was featured in the November box but I really like this cleansing balm, so am pleased to see it again. This acclaimed cleanser, suitable for all skin types, is a remarkable, multi-purpose product and the basis of the Eve Lom skincare routine. Used with a specially woven muslin cloth, the Cleanser removes daily dirt and impurities while decongesting, exfoliating and toning the skin. Clove Oil's antiseptic properties encourage clear skin, and Eucalyptus Oil helps drain away toxins. Hops Oil tones, and Egyptian Camomile Oil and Cocoa Butter soften and condition the skin. It is an absolute delight to use.

For me, this is a fantastic box which is more than value for money and it includes some fantastic brands and some brilliant products, all of which I have not come across except Eve Lom and that isn't something I would have expected to be saying. My only wish would have been for a bigger sample of the Omorovicza Queen Of Hungary Mist. Maybe next time.

Have you bought a Lookfantastic Beauty Box before? What do you think to this months selection?

My BBQ Essentials

Whilst Steve and I don't have a garden as such, we refer to it as the concrete jungle which is essentially a pathway which leads to our door with some plants in pots, two cat kennels (yes really) and a door mat.  However, we do both love to a BBQ or to be pedantic, I usually wanted Halloumi and I prefer it to be done on the barbeque.  Outside our flat we have a space to do use a BBQ and store it on our terrace, though ours really needs chucking out and replacing.


Having a BBQ makes a nice change to kitchen cooked food for me, I can prep whatever needs to be done and the rest I can leave to him to do. So whilst the weather is still nice, by nice I mean not yet raining, it is something we are still doing.

If you type BBQ Essentials into Google, it throws back around 2.3 million pages for you to peruse at your leisure and having looked through a few of them, I have cobbled together a basic list here of items, a sort of him and her type list that we would both be happy with.

So for the mister there is a huge BBQ which is big enough to cook food on and store extra plates and utensils which are also included and not forgetting the BBQ companion which features over 180 recipes from around the world. For me there is a new pan, a funky apron and some funky looking salt and pepper shakers, which I do need to replace.

Do you BBQ? What do you consider essentials?

This is a sponsored post for House of Fraser; but all opinions and product purchasing are my own