All The Nostalgic Feels With Ghost The Fragrance | AD-Gifted

Ghost was one of the very first fragrances I ever loved, after receiving it in a miniature set for Christmas aged 15, and it soon became my everyday perfume for school, until I finished up my mini bottle. For some reason, I never thought to buy myself a full bottle, until I caught myself thinking about it again recently.

The self-titled Ghost fragrance was launched back in 2000 in an era where fruity florals were aplenty. Despite being named so, Ghost actually only contains a single fruity note, among a cloud of soft florals and base notes, to create an ethereal timeless floral scent. Composed by Michael Almairac, Ghost contains top notes of rose and jasmine, both notes which would usually feature in the heart of a fragrance. Similarly, the heart is fruity, which would typically be in the top notes. This interesting structure challenges the typical fruity/citrus top notes, and floral heart, and I think gives Ghost more of a airy, ethereal quality, with each note merging with the next to create an aura of fragrance.

Ghost opens with rose, which is the dominant note of the fragrance. Despite omitting citrus notes, Ghost still manages to portray a clean feeling, and isn't any way base-heavy. It certainly has a sweetness to it, and does have a Turkish delight element, but unlike many fragrances of recent years, it isn't overly sickly or sugary.  The vanilla gives a gorgeous cuddly soft feel to the floral fragrance, and combined with a soft fuzzy peach, warm amber, sandalwood and musk, it has almost a marshmallow cloud effect. It is soft, delicate, romantic and feminine, qualities which are mirrored by the hourglass shape of the bottle. The scent is distinctive and unique in comparison to rose soliflores, and it offers something a little different if you are looking for a rose-based fragrance.

Overall, Ghost is a pretty everyday fragrance that would be suitable for all ages, from teens wanting their first Fragrance to those who want a lighter alternative to the classic floral scents. It would make for the perfect office scent as it is inoffensive  and not overpowering. That being said, when I wore it recently, I could smell it on my skin for most of the day, like I had a delicious rose-vanilla cloud around me. It's so gorgeous that you don't even need to be a huge floral lover (I'm not at all!) to enjoy this. Ghost fragrances in general are also extremely well priced, and you can almost always find them on offer, so they are well worth picking up!

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Christmas Presents for the Perfumista | Gifted

The ultimate guide, from stocking fillers to scented sets, bath treats and home fragrance...

Scent-sational Stocking Fillers

Whilst personally I've not been overly in love with their newer fragrances this year, there's no denying that Zoella Beauty has some great Christmas sets, particularly if you are a newcomer to the brand. My pick for festive cheer always has to be the delicious Bake My Day, which has an incredibly sweet and true to life gingerbread fragrance. Unfortunately they didn't bring the range back in its entirety, but the Bake My Day body mist is available in the All Four You gift set, (£15) accompanied by the original Blissful Mistful, and this year's new scents Snow'ella and Gelat'eau.

Another brilliant affordable option is So...? Fragrances, who launched their ever expanding body mist line last year. At £3.99 (and currently half price too!), the body mists are a great stocking filler on their own, but they also have some fab sets too, including the So...? Delights set which includes 3 body mists for £8, as well as the So...? Indulgence Musk set, with a body mist, shower gel and body lotion. I've also been really impressed with their more premium eau de parfums, which I reviewed here. Dark Romance* is still a firm favourite with its delicious scent of vanilla and praline, reminiscent of dark chocolate and cherry. The perfect gift for lovers of sweet perfumes, it is available in a set along with a handy body spray here.

The Perfume Society Discovery Boxes are the perfect stocking fillers for fragrance lovers. They contain a selection of perfume samples usually with at least one deluxe sample (around 10ml) as well as a couple of body/skincare bits too. The latest Discovery Box is The Velvet Collection (£15 subscribers, £19 subscribers), which is an edit of fragrances specially selected for the winter months, including Ruth Mastenbroek Firedance and Vince Camuto Amore. This box is great for discovering some of the more niche brands.

You might remember me unboxing the Superdrug Bloom 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar in this video. It introduced the Superdrug Bloom range, and they are also selling some of the scents separately in full size, purse sprays and candles. Being Superdrug, the whole range is really affordable, and it includes some amazing Jo Malone dupes. There's Mandarin & Lime Basil, Bergamot & Cucumber, Berry Cassis & Fig and Citrus Blossom, which dupe (respectively) Lime, Basil & Mandarin, Earl Grey & Cucumber, Wild Fig & Cassis and French Lime Blossom. Although not particularly long-lasting, the Superdrug Bloom perfumes are light and fresh and make the perfect scents for everyday.

Magnificent Minis

Leighton Denny has always been known for their amazing quality nail polishes, but the brand has been one of my best perfume discoveries. I previously tried their Light & Dark Original fragrance (review here) and as lovely as it is, I did find it slightly too strong for everyday wear (but if that's your jam, then you will love it!). Leighton Denny have recently released a solid version, the Light & Dark Touch Up Solid EDP* (£14.50). I've never really been into solid perfume, but this one has a twist-up mechanism so it is really easy to apply and doesn't get all over your fingers. The fragrance is glamorous in a very Chanel-esque way, and the solid version is awesome to pop into your bag to touch up throughout the day. As well as Original, Leighton Denny have three other fragrances (one of which I will talk more about later on), and you can also buy a Discovery Set (£28.50) featuring purse sprays of all 4.

Talking of purse sprays, this Twist & Spritz* fragrance atomiser (£10) is perfect for carrying around your favourite perfume. Unlike other atomisers, it is really easy to fill, simply take out the inner part, pop off the spritzer of your fragrance and pump the perfume into the atomiser. I love the purple shade of this one, but it also comes it tons of other colours, including rose gold, marble and glitter effects. The Twist & Spritz holds 8ml of fragrance, which gives around 100 sprays, and is the perfect gift if you are struggling to pick a specific perfume.

Another amazing gift option in this department is a brand new service from The Fragrance Shop, replacing their Discovery Club (review here). Scentaddict let's you 'Date' fragrances before 'marrying' them, and is a very similar premise to Scentbird in the US. For £12 each month, you will receive an 8ml fragrance refill which slots into an atomiser very much like the Twist & Spritz above. There are over 250 designer fragrances (including Chanel, Guerlain and Tom Ford) which you can add to your subscription and then you will receive one at random each month. You will also receive that £12 off the full size fragrance too! 

And then lastly there's the mini fragrance sets. I remember getting an awesome one from Boots for Christmas years ago, featuring Ghost, Givenchy and more! Designer fragrance lovers are in for a treat this year as there are a lot of options. DKNY is the cheapest with their Be Delicious Deluxe Mini Trio Gift Set (£22), with 3 x 7ml minis of the iconic Be Delicious fragrance, as well as the red Be Desired and pink Be Tempted Eau So Blush. Versace have a gift set (£27.50), with Crystal Noir and Bright Crystal and Eros pour Femme EDP and EDT. Then there is a Giorgio Armani Minis for Her set (£30), with Si EDP and EDT, Aqua Di Gioia and Armani Code. Estée Lauder's Fragrance Treasures Gift Set includes Modern Muse and Modern Muse Le Rouge, as well as Beautiful and Pleasures, priced at £37. Lastly, the most luxe option comes from Hermes at £48, with their Miniature Gift Set containing Jour d'Herme­s, Eau des Marveilles, Un Jardin Sur Le Nil, and the most recent Twilly d'Herm­es.

Scented Sets

Fragrance gift sets are big business at Christmas time, and there also typically a pretty expensive gift. However I've been pleasantly surprised by those from Ghost this year. Ghost The Fragrance was one of the first perfumes I ever fell in love with, with its gorgeous sweet rose scent. It is feminine, inoffensive and versatile, and would suit all ages. Something that never overly excites a gift sets are those that come with body lotions and shower gels, so I love that the Ghost 30ml Gift Set* (£22.99) also comes with a Distant Dreams Bath Oil. I feel like this would be a real treat and the perfect indulgent upgrade to your usual pamper routine, and would be something I would actually use and enjoy. Ghost have a wide range of fragrances to choose from, including the newer launches of Dream and Whitelight.

For something different, this Aqua Manda Gift Set* (£39.99) brings back that classic Aqua Manda scent which was created in 1947 but became a defining scent of the late 60s and early 70s when it was a bestseller. It is based around a mandarin orange note, with spicy notes of ginger, cinnamon, juniper, tarragon, and eucalyptus, as well as lavender and earthy patchouli to create a warm aromatic scent very typical of the 60s. The gift set comes with a 20ml fragrance, soap and talcum powder, and it is the perfect nostalgic gift for mums, aunties and anyone else who may remember the original Aqua Manda first time around. Also available, revived by popular demand, are Goya Black Rose from the 1950s, Aqua Citra, the follow-up to Aqua Manda which launched in the 1970s, Babe from the late 70s and 80s and finally Tribe from the 90s. Fun fact - Tribe sponsored Take That's first tour in 1992!

Fabulous Fragrances

Other than gift sets, individual fragrances also make for fab presents, and at the more affordable end of the scale there are some great options from Next. I've been so impressed with their perfumes, particularly Summer Sun, which is an exact dupe of Estée Lauder's Bronze Goddess! Monsoon Rose Gold* sits somewhere in the middle of drugstore and designer fragrances, being £24 for 30ml, but I've managed to find it for just £10 here, which is an incredible buy! It is a rose-based fragrance, with a deliciously sweet rose and lemon opening, but it moves into a deeper base, being warm and sophisticated. It reminds me a lot of Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely, with a rosy twist, so it would be the perfect gift for lovers of that fragrance!

I mentioned Leighton Denny fragrances previously, and my firm favourite from the range just has to be Light & Dark Delightful*. I reviewed it in full here, but it is an incredibly juicy, fruity scent. Its notes include red apple, watermelon and mango, as well as soft florals and a base of coconut sorbet, musk and vanilla. It is the ultimate fruity scent for me, being light, fun and fresh without any harsh base notes. Fans of Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola! will love this, and it is cheaper than designer options at £43.50 for 70ml. 

Moving onto slightly higher end options, I think Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb (from £52 for 30ml) is one of those crowd-pleaser scents that everyone seems to love. It is sweet and sexy, with a slight spiciness that keeps it from being too young, and it lasts on the skin incredibly well. Flowerbomb is an oriental fragrance, and has notes of citrus, tea, rose, white florals and patchouli. The bottle is beautiful, and their gift sets (from £83) are absolutely stunningly packaged this year! For fans of slightly lighter perfumes, there's also Flowerbomb Bloom which is fresher and more fruity. It's gorgeous! 

Another fragrance that I think would make a wonderful gift is Chloé Love Story* (from £47 for 30ml), especially for floral lovers. The signature Chloé Eau de Parfum is so iconic and recognisable, and as gorgeous as it is, you smell it everywhere. Love Story is a little bit of an undiscovered gem and it's something a little different, while retaining that gorgeous Chloe DNA. Love Story is based around an orange blossom note, combining it with a woody base to create a sophisticated and pretty sweet floral fragrance that lasts really well on the skin without being overpowering. The bottle is inspired by the love locks that were on the Pont Des Arts in Paris, and it is one of my favourite designs, featuring a gold padlock style which looks so luxurious!

Bath & Body

One of the most indulgent gifts to receive is a gorgeously luxurious bath or body product, even better if its something you wouldn't usually treat yourself to. For younger girls, you really can't beat Mad Beauty's range of licenced Disney bath treats.  This Alice in Wonderland Toiletry Gift Set* (£11.99) houses a body wash, hand cream and body lotion in a delicate pear and ginger scent, as well as a gorgeous wash bag and pink puff. The fragrance isn't too strong so it is great for even the sensitive noses, as there's the added bonus of the bag being incredibly useful for trips away or to house the beginnings of a makeup collection. Bath Bombs always make a fun gift, and Bomb Cosmetics have a great range of sets, including this Chocolate Gift Set* (£9.99) which includes 6 bath melts with various delicious fragrances, including chocolate buttercup, mocha, chocolate orange and vanilla. Laden with cocoa and shea butters, these bath melts leave the water feeling silky soft and keep the skin feeling nourished too. 

For bath treats, Sanctuary Spa is always a great bet with their affordable luxury, particularly their Must Have Body Treats Set (£20). This year, they launched their little sister brand, Being and it has a ton of fun scents and products. My personal fave is the Water Lotus & Pomelo Shower Burst* (£7) as it's a super fun foam body wash and the scent is the perfect morning pick-me-up. This Mermaid Showers set (£10) would be awesome as a gift as it contains 4 of their body washes in Hibiscus & Coconut Water, Salted Caramel & Macademia, Cloudberry & Lychee Blossom and Chilli Mango & Tonka Bean, so would be a lovely introduction to the brand. You also can't go wrong with Soap & Glory, and their Spa of Wonder is still the Star Gift until 18th December. It offers £78 worth of product for just £30, and including a range of beauty, bath and skincare products!

For more luxurious options, L'Occitane is always a fabulous choice, and I'm gifting some of their sets this year. Some great options are this Shea Butter Body Bauble (£12), which includes a soap, body lotion and their iconic Shea Butter hand cream, and their Beauty Icons set (£20) which would be great for newcomers to the brand. Nuxe is also one of my favourite body care brands, and their My Dream Gift Set (£20) includes a hand cream and two of my holy grail products, the Reve de Miel Lip Balm and the Huile Prodidieuse Multi-Use Dry Oil. Aromatherapy Associates makes the perfect gifts for those who deserve to relax and treat themselves. The Perfect Partners set (£20) includes two oils, but the Ultimate Wellbeing Time Gift Set (£60) is exactly as it sounds, the ultimate pamper treat, featuring ten 9ml bath oils.

And what do you buy that person who has everything? One easy answer: these Floating Rose Bath Lights* (similar here for £6.99)! Something that I never thought I needed in my life, these colour changing LED roses activate once placed in water. They give such a gorgeous glow to the water, and add a lovely ambience that really makes your pamper session feel so much more luxurious. I'm sure I will be gifting many of these to various family and friends over the next couple of years, they're such a game changer!

Home Fragrances

Lastly I come on to home fragrances, possibly the easiest category of fragrance to gift, and it's something that people might not think to treat themselves to. Both brands I'm mentioning here really have that luxurious feeling, and would be perfect for gifting. Of course I have to mention M&J London, a brand that I have spoken about many a time on this blog. Their Bavarian Winter candle* (from £23) is just the ultimate winter scent, with notes of blackcurrant, cinnamon, clove and vanilla, and is inspired by the scent of traditional Christmas Markets. A fragrance that can be burned all year round is Tbilisi*, inspired by the capital of Georgia. It has notes of pomegranate, tarragon and walnut and is a very unique blend that really comes to life when burned, as the warmth of the walnut really shines through. As soon as I smelt Tbilisi, I immediately thought of it as a great kitchen scent, and it is known as M&J London's entertaining candle. What better gift to bring along if you are going to a dinner party! All of M&J London's candles are soy wax and have ethical luxury in mind, from their packaging to the wicks. They even give a percentage of their profits to UK women's charity nia, so it is the perfect way to give back this season. 

The second home fragrance brand that I wanted to talk about is Noble Isle. Wonderfully luxurious, Noble Isle is a quintessentially British brand, favouring quality ingredients and the finest fragrances to create a range inspired by the natural riches of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales - the Noble Isles. The Shrouds of Splendid Rhubarb Set* (£60) is one of the most indulgent home fragrance sets I've seen, feeling extremely good quality and in beautiful packaging. Of course, even before you unwrap the gift set, you can smell the wonderful aroma of the Rhubarb Rhubarb scent, which has notes of bittersweet rhubarb, juniper and muddled rosemary. It is gorgeously aromatic and fresh, and is very reminiscent of a rhubarb gin and tonic, garnished with rosemary. Definitely one for gin lovers! The set contains a candle and snuffer, as well as a reed diffuser, and it is the perfect fresh scent to burn once the Christmas festivities die down. As well as home fragrance Noble Isle also have a range of unisex bath and body products too, and Fireside is the perfect cosy winter scent, inspired by a country inn. Available in a candle, Bath & Shower Gel and Body Lotion, it has notes of cinnamon, cypress, vanilla and beet extract sourced from Mynwy Valley.

Have you got all your Christmas shopping covered?

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10 Scents You Need In Your Life This Autumn! | Gifted

Add a bit of fall flair to your perfume, home fragrance and shower rituals this season...

I'm an autumn baby, so when the weather turns and the leaves begin to fall off the trees, it has me all kinds of excited and no, not because I can finally get my mitts on a PSL (basic blogger life...). I love everything about autumn, but there's nothing better than the scent of the season, especially when you find the perfect pumpkin candle and realise you can finally bathe in your favourite rich, woodsy fragrances that it was previously too warm to wear. I've narrowed it down to 10 of my favourite candles, perfumes and a few shower-related picks that make me want to don a checked scarf/berry lip combo and go jump in a pile of fallen leaves...

The Perfumes

Diptyque Philosykos has to be one of my all-time favourite fragrances. I instantly fell in love with its fresh, green fig scent mixed with creamy coconut and a woodsy base, which works so well in the cooler months. Karen Walker Runaway* is also a very woody scent, with decadent spices and feels seriously luxe, but if minimal is your joie de vivre, Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 is your gal. It's that fragrance that is said to turn heads like no other, composed of a single molecule of Iso-E-Super. To non-perfume buffs, it has a subtle clean woody scent that works wonders with your body chemistry to create a bespoke scent that reappears throughout the day. Wear alone or combine with other fragrances to add depth and a woody note - the ultimate autumn makeover. My last autumn pick is Alaia Paris Alaia, my signature scent. I couldn't not mention this as it is so cosy and warm, and it's the most gorgeous, comforting thing ever when the scent lingers onto my sweaters and scarves in the cooler months. Think leather and violet, in a scent that is meant to embody cool water hitting hot terracotta tiles.

The Candles

If it's pumpkin spice you're after, look no further than DW Home. Affordable, great quality and available in TK Maxx and Homesense, the brand has so many delicious options this year. I snapped up Salted Pumpkin and it may just be one of the most delicious things I've smelt. Grab them quick because they will sell out! If sickly sweet candles make you want to vom, I've found the perfect option for you. M&J Autumn in New England* is the perfect balance between sweet, woody, crisp and fresh. With notes of cranberry, pumpkin and maple syrup, it reminds me of going on a walk, crunching through rusty autumn leaves. It's the dream! For an all-out woodsy scent, Dragonfly Tea have you sorted with their Explorer's Tea Chest No.1* candle, which is an ultra-luxurious scent reminiscent of a library with a roaring fire. I can't not mention Bath & Body Works, and Sweater Weather is the perfect fresh scent for crisp autumn mornings. With notes of sage, juniper and eucalyptus, it's the best alternative to the sadly discontinued Yankee Candle November Rain. If you love apple scents, then their Autumn candle will be right up your street. Again it is crisp and fresh, with red gala apple, juicy fig, eucalyptus and fir balsam, and it's a seriously strong'un!

The Body Bits

It's getting to that time of the year when the idea of getting in the nuddy gives you more shudders than Fright Night, so having something warming in the shower is the perfect motivation. My all-time favourite autumnal scent is Lush The Olive Branch, which has a gorgeous scent of bergamot and woody notes to emulate a Mediterranean olive tree. It smells so much more luxurious that what you'd expect from Lush, and the olive oil makes it a treat for the skin too. A new discovery this year is a little spicier than The Olive Branch, but Noble Isle Fireside* is equally as gorgeous. Inspired by the idea of a roaring fire in a cosy country inn, Fireside has notes of cinnamon, cypress oil and vanilla, with a bit of a unisex feel, so you'll have to hide it from any men in your life...

What's your favourite autumn scent?

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Art de Parfum: The Fragrance Brand You Need To Try | AD

Art de Parfum is a British perfume house which launched in 2015 with the tagline "French sophistication". Created by Lithuanian-born Ruta Degutyte, the brand has a capsule of 5 core unisex scents: Gin & Tonic Cologne, Signature Wild, Sensual Oud, Sea Foam and Excentrique Moi, all made with highly concentrated perfume oils. No prizes for guessing which one I was the most excited to try... Art de Parfum is heavily influenced by the liberating style and effortless chic of the French Riviera, and so they wanted to create a perfectly balanced range of fragrances that would make the wearer feel sexy for any occasion. Art de Parfum also aims to be kind to both the environment and the wearer, without testing on animals and also being free from nano materials, CMR, GMO and colourants. A couple of weeks ago, I filmed my first impressions and I've never been so wowed by a fragrance brand. I never go into a testing perfume video expecting to like all of them, if any at all, so I was really surprised when consistently they knocked it out of the park. Now that I've had a bit of time to play around with the scents, here's what I think of them...

Signature Wild | The oriental-leather one, perfect for autumn

"Unapologetically dark and wild. This highly addictive fragrance combines a powerful leather accord with the boozy and syrupy davana herb and sweet delicacy of orange blossom". Despite being named as a range of genderless fragrances, Signature Wild* is the brand's more masculine scent, so I was surprised to find it to be one of my favourites on first impressions. Top notes are cinnamon, davana and cardamom, combining with a boozy note to give a sweet, warm and gourmand opening. The edible notes continue with dried fruits, and move into an orange blossom heart with radiant woods. The base is dry and woody, with labdanum, sandalwood, peru balsam and Haitian vetiver, with a spot of leather to add a bit of mystery. Signature Wild is decidedly autumnal, and reminds me of a dishy man in an aged brown leather jacket, drinking a honeyed whisky. Mmm now where's he been hiding all my life? It lacks the classic aftershave scent, so it is wearable to both genders. On me, the sweet cinnamon notes take centre stage (and reminds me a lot of my fave cinnamon honey almonds in the Graze Hot Cross Yum snack) but I'd love to see how this would smell on a man.

Gin & Tonic Cologne | The fresh one, smells exactly like G&T

"A sparkling cocktail of zesty, herbal and bitter notes. An ice-cool gin-tonic accord, brought alive with grapefruit peel, resinous juniper and a slice of fresh-cut cucumber." This green citrussy fragrance opens with notes of juniper berry for that authentic G&T feel, with grapefruit, lemon zest and cucumber giving it a refreshing true-to-life fizz. The heart is a mysterious gin-tonic accord, with a base packed full of botanicals including cardamom and juniper berry oil, as well as an ambergris note, cedarwood, vetiver, white musk and incense. On my skin, Gin & Tonic Cologne* becomes a unique citrussy floral and, although it's more of a summer scent, there's no denying it's a must for gin lovers!

Sea Foam | The marine one, smells like the ocean

"A true splash into the ocean. Iodic notes of seaweed and salt conjure up a purifying seascape. Drift away on a wave of a lactonic sandalwood, fig leaf and weathered woods." Sea Foam* opens with a spicy, almost gingery note of bergamot, mixing with soft marine notes and a heart of creamy guaic wood and fig leaf, giving an almost coconutty feel. It has a base of Haitian vetiver, driftwood accord, ambroxan, sea salt, sandalwood, patchouli and incense, but it is still a very light and fresh fragrance. It is a really interesting scent, and not what you would typically expect from a marine fragrance. It has a real softness to it, which makes it extremely wearable for women and I'm excited to wear this one more!

Excentrique Moi | The floral woody one

"Truly remarkable and unique, just like moi. Rich red fruits blended with flowers and dry tannic tea notes complement the dark woody base of patchouli and guaic wood, ushering in sensuality and depth." Excentrique Moi* has a dry, spicy opening, with notes of pepper, clove and red fruits mixing with black tea notes and woods in the base. Hibiscus provides a floral note lifting the fragrance and adding a little freshness, although the base of patchouli, white musk, cedar and wormwood ensure that Excentrique Moi retains its spicy, woodsy essence. 

Sensual Oud | The floriental one

"Seduction of the finest order. Blending dark woody notes such as cypriol and patchouli with warm spices, rosy geranium leaf and velvety suede for a sexy and sophisticated scent that will take your breath away." Sensual Oud* opens with clove, date and saffron to give the rose note a spicy, Damask Rose feel. It is aromatic, and the geranium leaf adds a little freshness. There is also a hint of Turkish delight to the rose, with a slight syrupy sweet edge. The base adds richness to the fragrance with notes of patchouli, oud, cypriol, jasmine absolute and clove. I'm not usually a Damask Rose lover, but Sensual Oud is really nicely balanced, with a mix of powdery, sweet and fresh notes making it smell more modern. It's heavier feel means that this will be the perfect winter rose perfume! 

It goes without saying that I am really impressed with Art de Parfum as a brand, they have a really solid wardrobe of scents and all are impeccably composed. Whilst not every fragrance is hugely groundbreaking, each fragrance has something a little bit unique about them which I love. In terms of picking a favourite, I'm not 100% sure if any of them are "me", but I'll definitely be playing around with them more over the next couple of weeks and taking full advantage of my samples. I wasn't overly excited by Excentrique Moi, but the rest of the scents really drew me in. Gin & Tonic Cologne really does smell amazing, and I could picture it being a great holiday fragrance, and Sea Foam would also be gorgeous in the summer. In terms of the warmer scents, Signature Wild is such a different scent and the boozy cinnamon tones will be gorgeous for this season as the weather drops. Finally, we have Sensual Oud and I didn't think it would be my favourite because I'm not too much of a fan of Damask Rose but it really surprised me. It is perfectly balanced between being a sweet and musky rose, and it will be gorgeous in the winter!

Which sounds like your kind of scent?

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Foamous Mousse de Parfum: Take Two | AD-Gifted

Giving foam perfume une autre chance...

You might remember a few weeks back I tried perfume in foam form. I picked up two scents (Vanilla Gorilla and Passion Fashion) from kitch and cute French brand, Foamous and was more confused than impressed. It was a fun concept and even though I enjoyed the scents, I found them lacking in oomph and I struggled to see a situation in which you would use a foam perfume over a regular body mist. The owner of the brand kindly sent me a message, offering to pop over a few of their more premium scents, with the promise that I would love them more than the minis. So with that, I gave Foamous a second chance!

I was sent two of their 100ml bottles, which aren't officially out in the UK, but I was able to find them on Amazon. The first was Razz My Berries*, described as being "astoundingly gourmandise, climaxing into the utmost addiction of a powerful woody, ambery trail. Pure glam!". It has top notes of bergamot, and a floral heart including jasmine and osmanthus. The base finishes with patchouli, benzoin, amber and vanilla. On first... pump(?) I was impressed. Not only did the scent smell gorgeous with a great balance of sweet, spicy and florals, it had a decent strength and I actually found the foam base to provide moisture to the skin in a way that I did not find with the 50ml scents. I can see myself wearing this one a lot during the cooler months. Cruising Girl* is more fresh, a mix of soft fruits and florals. It has top notes of lychee, red fruits, green leaves, with a heart of rose and freesia, and a base of musk, amber and cedar. It is a lot less sweet, and is a bit DKNY Be Delicious but still has that same sophistication of Razz My Berries. This could be a nice weekend, casual fragrance as it has more of a relaxed vibe about it.

Pretty instantly, I was won over with the 100ml Foamous scents, and I think if I'd have tried these ones initially, my video would have gone a lot differently. From a company originating from the most respected perfume country in the world, this is what I expected: complex and tasteful scents that offer something a little different from the generic body mist. They offer a soft fragrance at skin level, so it really provides an intimate fragrance. The warm, cozy nature of the two fragrances means I could picture them being worn with a thick cashmere jumper and socks around the house when there's someone to impress, or on a day when you don't want too much of a overpowering fragrance. These certainly are office appropriate, and offer the glamour of french perfumery without being overly strong and obnoxious.

Would you ever try a foam perfume?


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Leighton Denny Light & Dark Delightful | AD-Gifted

The perfume to lift your spirits on drizzly days...

Each year, I greet autumn with open arms for two reasons: a) my birthday, and b) pumpkin spice EVERYTHING. What I don't love quite so much are the dull rainy days, because it's England and sod's law we get more of those than the dreamy crisp and cold days. Without fail, my mood plummets in the cooler months, especially when the nights draw in and things get a bit gloomy, so it's always nice to have something uplifting to remind you of summer. Last year, I tested out the full Leighton Denny Light & Dark range (read about it here) and the scent that was a sure-fire hit and quickly become part of my daily rotation was Light & Dark Delightful* (£43.50 for 70ml).

I adore fruity scents, especially those with a coconut twist, and Delightful hits the nail on the head in that department. Leighton himself said that he "wanted to create a fragrance so juicy, you'll want to squeeze it", and that really is the best way to describe Delightful. It's just so darn juicy! The scent opens with a summery cocktail of watermelon and red apple, adding a tartness that stops the fragrance from being overwhelmingly sweet. Having not worn Delightful in a while due to concentrating on my Project Pan perfume (Flowerbomb), I was smelling it with a new nose, and I really picked up on the crisp red apple and blood orange, which really smells true to life, as well as Ah Ping, which is a variety of mango. Smelling this is like being presented with a fruity cocktail, adorned with a slice of juicy blood orange. I'm only disappointed there's no actual cocktails involved...

The heart of the fragrance brings florals, but they flutter around in the background, allowing the punchy fruits to take centre stage. There is a whisper of jasmine running through the scent, as well as pink lotus, making Delightful feel expansive and airy, with its serene and ethereal qualities. Mirabilis and Pink Violet give a soft feel to the fragrance, and the base notes act to create softness to counteract the juicy opening. Delightful feels gentle and feminine on the skin, with white musk and vanilla, as well as sweet coconut sorbet to continue with the tropical, summery theme. 

Light & Dark Delightful is fun and girly, fruity and uplifting, and it has fast become one of my favourites. I would definitely recommend checking it out, particularly if you want something in the same vein as Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola! I love it because the scent is so true-to-life and unique and a lot more affordable than most designer fragrances at £43.50 for 70ml. There's also the option of a 5ml Purse Spray for £9.50 if you don't want to go full whack and buy the full size, which is perfect for popping in your handbag to freshen up throughout the day.

Are you a lover of fruity scents? What's your fave?

- Post contains PR samples (*) -

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YouTube | Foamous Mousse de Parfum

There's nothing I love more than testing out something weird, wonderful and possibly a bit gimmicky, so when I saw this combine with a perfume-related product, I was all ears. Foamous is a brand hailing from France, who is new to the UK with a small range of products available on Feel Unique. They specialise in foam-based perfume, which is certainly new to my eyes. Foamous' range of Mousse de Parfums claim to offer moisturisation as well as long-lasting scent. I picked up two scents out of the range, Vanilla Gorilla and Passion Fashion (£8.95 each), which I tested out and gave my first impressions in the video below.

What are your thoughts on foam perfume?

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YouTube | Putting New Summer Perfume Launches To The Test!

Every month or so, I put together The Fragrance 411, a round-up of some of the latest and greatest new fragrances to hit the shelves. Some just pass by and I never get around to testing them, and there are some that I just can't not smell. I decided to pick five new launches to put to the test, and see whether they really lived up to the hype. I generally prefer sampling in the comfort of my own home rather than in a store as you can really take your time, so I grabbed my samples from both eBay and the Feel Unique Pic 'n' Mix Sample Service - which you can pick five free samples a month, and just pay £3.95 for the delivery, which is then redeemable against your next purchase. I decided to pick up Missguided Babe Power, Elie Saab Girl of Now, Mugler Aura, Guerlain Mon Guerlain and Kenzo World to put to the test, and you can watch my video below to see my first impressions.

Have you tried any of these?

What's your favourite perfume at the moment?

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New To My Stash | Gifted

New-in beauty, skincare, fragrance and other bits I'm giving the once over...

New To My Stash is exactly what is says on my tin. A kind of haul/blogger mail hybrid that brings an overview of the newest products in my collection. There will be a good mix of PR stuff and things that I've bought: mainly makeup, a bit of skincare, maybe some hair care, and even a few random bits I think you need to know about too. You might have seen these products floating around on my social media channels, but this is the place for my quick first impressions before I really get chance to put things to the test. If I really fall in love with a product, you might see it in a Hall of Fame post [as a Beauty Bargain (under £5), Drugstore Gem, High-end Hero or Luxury Love] which will showcase my ultimate faves and the things you really need in your life. Alternatively, keep an eye on my empties and declutters on YouTube to find out how I got on with them. So without further ado...

The Makeup

Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Lipsticks (£5.99) | The liquid lipstick launch the drugstore has been waiting for! These really impressed me in my first impressions video, and I've been wearing them a ton since. They dry down to a transfer-proof matte finish that isn't too drying on the lips, and they last a decent amount of time too. I'm particularly loving the shades Be My Baby, which is a peachy nude, and Rose & Shine which is a rosy pink. I'm yet to wear Blue Iris out the house because I'm a wuss but I definitely need to pick up more shades, they're such a bargain!  | Rating: 9/10

NYX Suede Lip Liner in On The Beach (£4) | I've been wearing bright corals a lot recently, but they're not the easiest to apply without a lip liner. Unfortunately it's not the most readily available liner colour, but I managed to find this one from NYX, which actually matches their Liquid Suede lip liners. This one is a wooden pencil, so isn't as creamy as some of the other lip liners in my collection, but it certainly fills the coral liner void in my makeup collection. | Rating: 8/10

The Skincare

Boots Botanics Hydration Burst Range | I picked up a couple of products as they were on clearance due to their re-release in updated packaging (and hiked up prices!). I'd been eyeing up their Day Lotion for quite a while, but decided in the end to go for the Day Cream (I paid £4, new RRP £8.99) as I thought it would be more nourishing. When I first opened the tub (which is a let down as it is in really cheap white plastic packaging), I was really surprised at the texture, as it's not really a cream, more so a runny gel-cream kinda situation. I also picked up their Serum (which doesn't appear to have made it into the new range) as it was reduced to £2 as I had almost run out of their All Bright Radiance Serum (Nope, not over the fact that they've upped the price from £2.50 to £8.99!). Again, it gets a thumbs down for the packaging, and the texture wasn't what I expected. It's not the kind of watery texture I'm used to, it is thicker and is a white colour. It sinks into the skin quickly and feels nice, but it feels a bit silicon-y. The same also goes for the moisturiser. It is quite hydrating, but it's the silicone texture I don't love - I can feel it's not doing my skin as much as I'd like and it also has the tendency to ball up on my skin. They're not products I'll continue to use | Rating: 3/10

Nivea Daily Essentials Rich Moisturising Day Cream (£4.09) | I picked this up after being a bit disappointed with the Hydration Burst moisturiser. I used to use the one with the blue lid back in the day and I don't remember it being awful, so when I saw this in my local Bodycare for around £2, I thought I'd give it a go. It has quite a strong powdery scent, but its not too overpowering. The cream is rich and creamy and has a nice soothing quality to it. It feels surprisingly moisturising and it makes my skin feel nice and soft. On first impressions, I really like it, and my Mum's been helping herself to it too! | Rating: 9/10

Fresher Me Mud Mask* (£25/Currently £16.99) | I was really attracted to this natural dead sea mud mask as it has a really clean ingredients list, being all natural and paraben free. I find the packaging a bit basic, but I went in with an open mind and was impressed! It has a very similar scent to the Sanctuary Thermal Detox Mask that I have in my Project Pan, and has quite a thin texture so I think it would be easier to apply with a brush rather than the fingers. It has ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter, apricot kernel oil and aloe vera, which which stops it drying out your skin. I  also found it really easy to rinse off, and left my skin feeling really nice and soft. I like it! | Rating: 8.5/10

The Fragrances

Accessorize Love Lily Gift Set* (RRP £19, currently £10) | This affordable set comes with a 75ml fragrance and a body lotion. It has notes of raspberry, orange, jasmine and musk. To be honest, this isn't really my cup of tea, but I can see a lot of people enjoying this. It reminds me a lot of something like Paco Rabanne Lady Million, so if you're looking for an affordable alternative, I'd definitely recommend checking this out. It has the same bold feel and has a good strength to it.

Next Summer Sun (£8) | My mum spied this as we were wandering around Next as she loves anything coconutty and tropical. As soon as I smelt it I was like "That's a Bronze Goddess dupe!", so it didn't take long before it went into my basket! It's so similar to its high-end counterpart, but is a fraction of the price. I can't get enough of it so expect a full post very soon! | Rating 10/10

The Other Bits

Bondi Sands Self Tan Eraser (£14.99) | Something I picked up after a bit of a fake tan mistake. After seeing so many people sing its praises, I put it to the test. It is a mousse formula, so it feels a bit like shaving foam when you apply it. It does dissolve onto the skin, and it can be hard to know how much to apply. You leave it for 5 minutes before hopping into the shower, armed with an exfoliating glove. To be honest, I was expecting magic, especially for the price. It did remove some of my tan, but I still had to scrub at it. I usually wait until a week before removing my tan and it comes right off with a mitt, but I'm not sure how easy 3 day tan is usually to remove. I definitely wouldn't say it's an essential product. | Rating: 6/10

Batiste Stylist Texturising Spray (£2.99) | I'm forever on the search for the perfect texturising spray, so as my V05 Give Me Volume spray is running out, I decided to pick up the Batiste offering when I saw it on offer. I expected this one to have a bit more hold to it, as I don't like to have to use a hairspray as well, although this would be great if you're after something really lightweight. If anyone has any recommendations for a great dry texturising spray, let me know in the comments! | Rating: 6/10

Graze Protein Bites* (£2.50 for 4) | Individually wrapped, handbag sized bites of flapjack-y goodness (we all know I can't resist a Graze flapjack), with the addition of protein crispies to keep you going 'til lunch. These new snacks from Graze have been well received, being the perfect thing to throw in my bag for a breakfast/mid-morning snack on the go. They are available in three flavours (Banana & Oat, Cocoa Vanilla and Honey & Seed) which are all equally as yummy and are available from supermarkets at £2.50 for a box of 4, which is a great price compared to a lot of healthy snacks. I'm a bit addicted and I'll definitely be stocking up in my weekly shop! | Rating: 10/10

Have you tried any of these products?
What's new to your stash?

- Post contains PR samples (*) and affiliate links -

- This does not affect my views and I will always give my honest opinion of a product -

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Karen Walker Runaway | AD-Gifted

Karen Walker Runaway* (from £60 for 50ml) is the newest fragrance launch from the New Zealand-based fashion brand, and exclusive to Harvey Nichols. Runaway has been created by Veronique Nyberg, who is the brains nose behind the immensely popular Jimmy Choo line of fragrances, as well as Mugler Alien Eau Extraordinaire, Lancome Tresor In Love and Paco Rabanne Invictus, to name a few. Developed with Charabot, the oldest perfume house in the world in Grasse, Runaway is a bold departure from the brand's signature fragrances (A, B and C) and draws its inspiration from the dangerous and unpredictable nature of the forest at night time. The result is a sophisticated woodsy oriental fragrance with a touch of sensual leather, a note that I have really grown to adore over the last year. The bottle mirrors the forest theme, being a heavyweight emerald green glass, adorned with a luxurious golden lid. Very simple, but no less glamorous on your dressing table.

Runaway opens with Italian lemon, black pepper, cinnamon leaf and cardamom, giving a gentle aromatic introduction into the exotic fragrance. The heart contains notes of rose which continues with the almost gourmand theme, making it reminiscent of gorgeous Indian sweets. From here, the scent gets a lot more dark and sensual, starting with heady jasmine sambac, a nod to the mystery and magic of the forest at night. The woodsy notes that make up the leather accord start off dry, with smoky Bourbon Vetiver, warming up with the golden caramel tones. of guaic wood and vanilla. As time goes on, the scent becomes a lot more feminine and soft, and the cardamom makes another appearance mixed with gentle florals and a more subtle woody note.

Runaway ends up being a beautiful warm scent, cosy and feminine whilst still having those leather nuances running through. It makes it feel a little unisex and stops the caramel-esque base from being too heady and sweet. That being said, it certainly is an intense fragrance, and a little really goes a long way. I think it is more suited towards the cooler months - there is definitely a smokey incense element, and reminds me a little of Yankee Candle Mountain Lodge, which instantly makes me think of autumnal months. Personally, I don't quite pick up on the woodland theme when wearing this fragrance, as when it is worn in the warmer weather it gives off a very exotic, Indian Summer/Moroccan vibe and is perfect to wear on steamy summer nights. However, I'm really intrigued to see whether the pine notes are more dominant in the cooler weather.

Karen Walker Runaway is a really interesting scent with unexpected twists and turns. I really appreciate the subtlety of the aromatic top notes - the lemon, the cardamom, the rose and I love it when I can appreciate the transition of the notes on the skin. The unpredictable nature of Runaway means that the top notes re-appear when you least expect it! Runaway to me is a more feminine version of Penhaligon's Endymion Concentré (review), although it certainly could be a unisex fragrance. I love Endymion Concentré for its leather tones, but I find the top notes to be a tad too masculine, so Runaway definitely fills a gap within my collection. On that note, it is definitely consider as a complementary scent to either of the Endymion fragrances - take note if your partner is a fan! That aside, if you love bold, glamorous scents and want something a little different, something that smells niche without going over the £100 mark, Runaway is definitely a gorgeous option, and it will take you right through to the winter. I really see this being worn with an emerald green dress to a Christmas party!

What's your current favourite fragrance?

- Post contains PR samples (*) kindly provided by Harvey Nichols - 

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Secret Scent Box: The Subscription Box for Fragrance Lovers! | AD-Gifted

I've had subscription boxes in the past (*cough* Birchbox), and while I enjoyed them for a while, I began to feel a bit underwhelmed with the contents - tiny samples of products I had no interest in trying and generally not much for the money. Then Secret Scent Box* came to town, a new fragrance subscription box, offering a 30 day supply of three perfume samples each month for £15. The box focuses on designer fragrances, with a mix of new launches and old favourites, so it is great for discovering new and old scents alike. I know I for one am rather intrigued by many scents that launched before I got into fragrance, and I'm keen to try those that I may have missed. There is also a separate box for male scents too, so the men (or those that love masculine scents of course - perfume really should be gender-neutral) need not miss out!

The box is letterbox-friendly, so you won't have the dreaded red slip on your doormat at the end of the day, although I was surprised by just how small it was! It is well presented however, in a black textured box adorned with the Secret Scent Box logo. Simplistic and classy, almost like a jewellery box. When you open the box up, you'll see the insert which says the month which in this case was the "May Edition" and "For Her", and then below that are a series of cards, one for each of the three fragrances in the box, displaying a short description of the scent and the notes. In the May Edition, I was pleased to see three scents that I had not tried. The one that I immediately squealed at, was Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Bloom, a scent that I'd been very intrigued to sample for myself after smelling it in store. Then there is Calvin Klein Eternity Moment, one that's been around for a while, but I'd never really smelt, and Paul Smith Extreme for Her. Again, I've not tried much from Paul Smith, although I'm certainly familiar with this fragrance's jazzy bottle!

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Bloom (rating: 5/5)

Obviously, I immediately spritzed Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Bloom (from £45 for 30ml) all over myself as I'd been desperate to try it and I certainly wasn't disappointed. Lighter and less sweet than the original, Flowerbomb in Bloom is a pretty fruity floral, perfect for spring and summer. It has an exotic fruity opening of mandarin and pomegranate, and there's a real exotic orchid feel to the florals (freesia, rose and jasmine) in the heart. It has a layer of mountain air which gives it an airy, fresh feel, and woody notes which stops it from being too sweet and young. I wasn't expecting it to be quite so different from the original. Even if you think you don't like Flowerbomb, give this a go as it's a completely new scent, despite sharing the name. I think it's bloody gorgeous and I'll continue to use this.

Calvin Klein Eternity Moment (rating: 2/5)

Calvin Klein Eternity Moment (from £27.99 for 30ml) is a bit of an oldie, having launched in 2004. It is inspired by "the eternal moment of two souls meeting, gazing at each other, touching for the first time...", and has top notes of melon, raspberry, lychee and guava, a heart of passion flower, water lily, jasmine and peony and a base of cashmere wood, Brazilian rosewood, musk and sandalwood. Despite the varied note pyramid, all I really get is peony and an aquatic note from the water lily. Although it's a pleasant, pretty and girlie scent, it's not overly groundbreaking, and to be honest if I was looking for a peony scent, I'd choose Prada Candy Florale over this one, as it's a bit overpowering.

Paul Smith Extreme For Her (rating: 3/5) 

Paul Smith Extreme For Her (from £27.50 for 30ml) is another one that's been around for a while, and launched in 2003. Despite seeing it around, it's one that I've never really thought to try, so I was intrigued to see what it was like. It opens with blackcurrant, green tea and bergamot, and the heart of freesia and lily of the valley comes through almost immediately. To be honest, initially it seems like a rather confused scent, but it soon settles down to a pleasant mixture of green tea and blackcurrant, which is soft and powdery. The base is of amber, patchouli, vetiver and cedar, which gives it a touch of woody spice, stopping it from being so sweet. Although I'm not totally keen on the opening, I do like it as it dries down, although I can't really imagine myself reaching for it over any of my other fragrances.

Although I didn't enjoy every single fragrance from this Secret Scent Box, I still think it's a great idea. I adored Flowerbomb Bloom, and the 3ml sample is bigger than the 1ml I would have got had I purchased a sample from eBay. That being said, I was expecting the samples to be bigger, although you can most definitely make them last. I do think £15 is a lot when you compare the box with that of the Perfume Society Discovery Boxes. Their latest Travel Edition box contains 19.45ml of fragrance for £15/£20 (subscribers/non subscribers, inc P+P), compared to 9ml for £15 with the Secret Scent Box. However, I do think Secret Scent Box is great if you're not overly picky with your scents (I'm very choosy with my fragrances) and it would also make a fab gift for someone just getting into fragrance - maybe you could buy them a year's subscription for their birthday or Christmas present, so they'd be able to enjoy new fragrances all year long! 

What do you think of Secret Scent Box?

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