As I sit down to write this blog post, I have nothing. What I mean by ‘nothing’, is my mind is blank. The last 2 days have been crappy (for various reasons), and it almost feels like I have writer’s block at the moment. Crappy days….they come out of nowhere and they give you a swift kick up the ‘you-know-what’ and yet they also make you appreciate the better days. If you’re having a particularly bad day, just remember: Better days are coming, they’re called Saturday and Sunday.
*takes a deep breath*
And to be quite honest, this 35 degree weather isn’t helping matters either… I guess it’s a good excuse to bust out the ol’ Zoku Slush & Shake Maker, I sure could use an ice cold slushie right about now!
Today we’ll be chatting about my favourite fragrances of 2014 – the ones that reeled in the compliments, the ones that turned heads, and the ones that brought a smile to my face. Fragrances can evoke distant memories, excite the mind and tickle the nostrils but finding that special one that’s just right for you can be a bit tricky sometimes – especially because fragrances smell different on different people and a scent can change during the course of the day. One of the reasons for this change of fragrance on each person might be because of the pheromones. The pheromone is the chemical substance released into the environment by an animal–usually a mammal or an insect–that affects the behavior or physiology of others in the same species. Anyway, these 4 fragrances are my tried & true scents and each one is unique in its own special way. I prefer light, fruity & floral fragrances. The heavy, musky & oriental fragrances are the equivalent of nails to a chalk board, for me personally.
Coco Chanel once said that a woman should apply perfume in those areas where she would like to be kissed. While it sounds utterly fab (and utterly French), I don’t suggest spritzing your favourite perfume on the lips, it doesn’t taste as good as it smells. But, I will be giving you my Top Tips extending the longevity of your fragrances at the end of the blog post, so be sure to read to the end.
♥ Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede Cologne (R 1250,00) – I know what you’re thinking…I love this fragrance because it contains peonies. Yes, that’s true. The scent is absolutely breathtaking (I also mentioned it in my August 2014 Favourites blog post)! With a top note of crisp & fruity red apple, heart note of fresh & floral peony and a base note of comforting suede – this is my new signature scent. It’s sophisticated and classic, with a youthful twist.
And here’s the kicker: What I REALLY love about these Jo Malone colognes, is that they can be layered with the other colognes to create a unique scent (almost the equivalent of a mix & match scent wardrobe). I picked up their English Pear & Freesia cologne (the smaller 30ml size) a few months ago and every now and again I like to layer it with Peony & Blush Suede – a match made in heaven!
Jo Malone colognes are available at Jo Malone boutiques, you can take a look at a list of all boutiques in South Africa here.
♥ The Body Shop Honeymania Eau De Toilette (R 150,00) – Gaaaaaah, I love this little perfume so much! I have received so many compliments in the past, thanks to this humble little perfume from The Body Shop. Whenever someone asks me what perfume I’m wearing, I’m always tempted to say: “Perfume? This is my natural scent, darling…” Haha! But I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t even be able to say it with a straight face. I feel a sense of satisfaction when I get to say it’s a little EDT from the Honeymania range (especially because it’s so affordable). I love layering it up with the Honeymania body butter, to make the scent last just a teensy bit longer.
The scent is not as sickly sweet as you would expect, it contains community fair trade honey harvested from thenectar of wild flowers. So your first whiff is a beautiful floral scent and somewhere in the mix the scent of honey lingers. It’s feminine, flirtatious & fresh.
The Body Shop Honeymania range is available at The Body Shop stores & selected Clicks stores.
♥ Crabtree & Evelyn Venetian Violet Flower Water (R 850,00) – Lychee, raspberry, mandarin, italian violet, peach, white peony…now tell me that doesn’t sound heavenly? This is my go-to fragrance on those casual days when I’m in the mood for something fresh and feminine, and I find even though it’s called a ‘flower water’ (which is a fancy name for Eau De Toilette), it lasts quite well throughout the day – I’d say about 5 to 6 hours.
There is something very ‘old Hollywood’ about the glass bottle, very elegant indeed. The bottle features a vintage-inspired spray atomizer that spritzes a fine mist of floral indulgence. I would describe the scent as sweet, floral,slightly powdery, with a fresh & girly flare. You can unscrew the top, so you could refill it with your favourite body mist or you could even create your own flower water if you’re up for a DIY project.
Crabtree & Evelyn products are available in their online store, or at Crabtree & Evelyn stores nationwide (you can take a squiz at the list of stores here).
♥ Giorgio Armani Sì Intense Eau De Parfum (R 920,00 – R 1730,00) – Probably one of the most luxurious fragrancesI have ever owned, and I must confess, I initially didn’t think I would like the scent because the scent is described asrich & sexy. It took me by surprise! Yes, there is definitely something seductive about Sì Intense but it’s also fruity& floral. Fruity, without being sweet; floral, without being overpowering. Top notes include black currant, mandarin,bergamot and freesia, with base notes of patchouli, vanilla and rose.
You’ll definitely be turning heads when wearing this fragrance – it’s my signature ‘date night’ scent. Oh, and I adore the black and gold details on the bottle. Simple, sleek and so glam.
Giorgio Armani Sì Intense Eau De Parfum is available at selected Edgars, Red Square, Stuttafords and Woolworthsstores.
Let’s be real, you don’t need a master’s degree to apply perfume BUT there are a few tricks to help your scent last longer throughout the day without smelling like a human air-freshener. Below are a few tips on storage & how to prolong the wear of your perfume.
Top Tips:
♥ Apply your favourite fragrance to your pulse points, these are locations on the body where the blood vessels are closest to the skin. They emit heat, which will help the fragrance to emanate from your skin into the air around you. Heat intensifies fragrance. Pulse points are on the inner wrists, the base of the throat, behind ear lobes, behind the knees, the small of your back and the inner elbows.
♥ A scent will fade faster when skin is dry, so be sure to apply a fragrance-free moisturiser to your body beforehand.
♥ Layering products from the same range is another way to make your fragrance last. A scented shower gel, body lotion, or butter butter will do the trick.
♥ Avoid rubbing the wrists together after spritzing, to prevent ‘crushing’ the scent. Crushing the fragrance will change the scent.
♥ Misting your hair with a fragrance is a great way to leave a gentle scent in your wake. Remember, though, only apply perfume to freshly-washed hair. The natural oils (on second or third day hair) and any lingering hair styling products might affect the scent otherwise. Perfume contains alcohol, so it can be drying – be sure to apply sparingly and from a distance.
♥ Remember, your nose adjusts to and neutralises a certain scent after several minutes (it’s the same as when you sniff several fragrances in a row and suddenly they all smell alike). Don’t continually reapply your perfumethroughout the day, because chances are…you’ll choke your colleagues. You should be able to catch the occasional whiff, but if you can continuously smell it without taking a deep sniff, you definitely overdid it (and should probably check for a pulse on the people closest to you).
♥ Keep your perfume bottles away from extreme temperatures (hot and cold) and bright light.
♥ Don’t store your perfume bottles in the bathroom. Bathrooms are hot and humid, which makes them the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
♥ Last, but not least – you don’t want to spend all that money on a fragrance, only to find you don’t enjoy the base notes after a couple hours’ wear. Ask for a perfume sample and give the new fragrance a good test run for a few days.
That’s me for today, I’m going to make myself a salad and a slushie now. Salads are all I eat when it’s this hot, I just can’t imagine eating a hot meal right now – is it just me? Neal is at a ‘boys night’ tonight, so I’m off to make dinner, then shower, then bed!
