Countdown to Christmas with me!

Hey Sparkles

After yet another long hiatus from the blog this year, I thought the M&S beauty advent calendar would give an awesome opportunity to Countdown to Christmas with you all. 'Tis the Season of giving and all that.

Which beauty advent calendar did you get this year? I had to restrain myself from some of the beautiful but slightly (ahem!) excessive options around this year - such as Jo Malone and Diptyque. Very jealous for all you ladies or chaps who managed to snag one of those!

Christmas kisses and wishes

xx Josephine xx

Fragrant Friday - Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Fragrant Water(Week 8 2017)

Evening Sparkles!

Sticking with the theme of lighter fragrances, and as spring creeps ever closer I'm enjoying Roger & Gallet's Fleur de Figuier Fragrant Water. I first discovered fragrant waters in a Paris pharmacy a few years ago - not having a clue what they were but picking up one which was white flower based and absolutely delicious!

Essentially a grown up version of the Body Shop Dewberry / White Musk classics we'll have all had growing up through the early 90s (apologies for the Oldie reference for any younger readers!) These give you a scent which is lighter than an EdT but still has some depth without being overly saccharine and cloying.

Fragrant Friday - Nuxe Prodigieux Le Parfum (Week 7 2017)

Evening Sparkles


Following on from all the Valentine's fun and walk down memory lane courtesy of my long time favourite Autograph New York, I'm changing it up for something a little lighter (willing spring to come, albeit March is rarely the most enjoyable of months in the UK for weather!)

A light floral fragrance, I find this one calming and much more refreshing than a lot of the perfumes that I tend to wear - particularly in the winter months. It was launched in 2012 and for me replicates the scent of some of my favourite Nuxe products like their body cream.

Fragrant Friday - Autograph New York from Marks & Spencer (Week 6 2017)

Evening Sparkles!

Keeping up with the heady tones of last week's entry (Obsession - how Child of the 1980s of me!) this week I shall be switching it up to an old favourite. My tried and tested scent, which has probably been a signature smell for about ten years off and on.

Autograph New York was probably the first Oriental fragrance that I ever tried and was my first step away from the clean lines of perfumes such as Issey Miyake - or it's excellent, affordable cousin Isis from Marks and Spencers. There are a lot of affordable imitation fragrances out there, hence my love affair with most perfumes M&S, Next or Avon produce!

With a woody, vanilla base and middle notes of rose and jasmine looking up the details on this one have made me realise perhaps I had a prejudice against rose and "granny" perfumes in my head which my nose was merrily ignoring for years!! :) Top notes are fruity and light flowers.

I wear this one happily day to evening and have included a picture here with the box because I didn't pay quite enough attention last year and picked up bottle of Autograph New York New York, which is a lot sweeter, lighter and (for me) quite a large disappointment given what I was expecting.

That version comes in a white box so it should be easily enough identified when you're popping in to see them. Just watch out that you test the right version if you're going in for a sniff so you buy what you intend to smell like!!

Fragrantia rate this 3.86 out of 5 here.

Currently on sale for £18 for 100ml EdT (but it's as little as £5 for a 10ml purse spray if you just wanted to try it out). You can buy it on the M&S website here.

Til next time kitty kats - love, hugs and intercontinental kisses

xx Josephine xx