Countdown to Christmas - Day 13: Shay & Blue Blood Oranges

Morning Sparkles!

Shay & Blue - Blood Oranges
(M&S Beauty Advent Calendar 2017)

Indeed, no matter how hard you might be finding it to shake off sleep the citrus-y scent offered in today's box will definitely give you a wake-up call!

The 10ml miniature size is worth a hefty £25, and my mini from last year's advent calendar is still on the go as I really loved it but wanted to eek it out throughout the year to really savour it.

This is not a fragrance I ever would have chosen for myself - I'm much more an oriental or floral girl in the scent department, having generally abandoned citrus scents after a foray into CKOne at 13!

That being said, I do really enjoy masculine scents and the dry down on this unisex citrus is heady and something a lot more complex than I might have expected from the simple name of this. Perhaps Jo Malone has trained me to expect single note fabulocity based on names.

Surprisingly, this warm little citrus number could be the surprise hit of the season with me...highly likely to be purchased!

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

Fragrant Friday - Freak by Illmasqua (Week 4 2017)

Evening Sparkles! 


Picking up from the heady theme of last Friday, this week I'm going to surround myself in a floral extravaganza!!! Old time favourite which has been a little hidden in my perfume case of late, I'm revisiting Illamasqua's Freak. It's a dark scent which is still light enough to wear as a daytime scent, albeit it is a fairly dramatic option. 

My lovely friend E had bought me a Davana scented cream from Molton Brown some years ago, which I absolutely adored - although when I bought the matching perfume actually the lasting power was disappointing for the price. 

Fragrant Friday - Jo Malone Cologne Intense Velvet Rose and Oud (Week 3 2017)

Jo Malone Cologne Intense: Velvet Rose & Oud

Evening Sparkles

Tomorrow, to celebrate the end of my first week back in work I'll be wearing something special! Definitely not an every day scent, this is a heady rose and oud combination which stands alone. It also lasts much better than any of the other Jo Malone (intense or standard) colognes I have.

Fragrant Friday - Narciso Rodriguez for Her (Week 2 2017)

Narciso Rodriguez For Her - EdP 100ml and scented body lotion

Evening Sparkles

For tomorrow's delectation I'm sticking with a rose based theme, spritzing on the Narciso Rodriguez. Introduced to me by a former roommate, I absolutely love the smell of this perfume.

Like the Rosie perfume mentioned last week, this is a rose based scent but much more evening type scent given the sandalwood and patchouli base notes. This is less "everyday" scent but still light enough to be able to wear all day while feeling a little more dressed up.

Fragrant Friday - Rosie by M&S Autograph (Week 1 2017)

Evening Sparkles!

Rosie by Autograph - 75ml EdP and travel votive candle

Tomorrow I'll be smelling like a bed of roses....literally, thanks to this little number from the Autograph range at M&S. Based on Rose Centifolia (basically, rose from Provence) this combines both my love of beauty and my Francofilia.

I'm hoping spraying this liberally will inspire me to head back to the books of my French language course from last year's lengthy resolution list ;)

Jo Malone Cologne Intense: Velvet Rose and Oud

Happy Friday afternoon…

What have you guys and gals gotten planned for the weekend? I can't wait to chill out and catch up with some friends - and I'm sure there'll be a tipple or two thrown in there for good measure!

Before leaving the desk and hitting the bar, I'll be spritzing a little of my newest obsession on - Jo Malone's Cologne Intense in Velvet Rose and Oud.

Scents of summer #2…re-living summer nights in September sun

Well, guys and dolls, more summer reminiscing...

We've had a think as to which fragrances make us remember burning sand on our toes and sun on our shoulders, but which fragrances will keep alive the memories of balmy evenings where you didn't need a jacket, skipped home along the beach - tracing the tideline and watching the moon...

For 2014, for me they'll be:

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No 15

This is actually quite a masculine scent - I've discovered by accident in work that it's very similar to Victor & Rolf's Spicebomb.

This one is going to be divisive, but I love it. Despite not liking clove and cinnamon in real life, they mix beautifully with the other extracts here to create a warm, organic scent which lasts all evening.

Opening with fresh, spice notes of pink pepper, cinnamon and bergamot this dries down to a heart of rose, while sandalwood and vanilla bean come out in the base notes.

Scents of summer #1…stretching warmer days to autumn evenings.

Hey guys and gals,

I don't know about you, but there are just certain scents and smells which make me think of summer. Probably picked up from particular holidays, friends or sisters' choices along the way. Some of these I don't wear everyday, as my tastes have changed over the years towards slightly deeper fragrances.

As August draws to a close - and I expect I lie nursing a slight sore head and much more painful feet from my first night on the tiles in Ibiza - I am sure I will be wondering how to make summer stretch out just a few more weeks after my return to London climes. If I can't actually bring the sun back with me, why don't we just bring back memories of sun and the scents that invoke them….

Summer days, for me mean...

L'Eau de Issey by Issey Miyake

I remember first picking this up on a family holiday to the States when I was about 16. It's just such a classic, light perfume but really feminine without being overly floral. I love this one - if the pocketbook won't stretch you can pick up something really similar in Isis from Marks & Spencer.