Jo Loves.

It started with a love for Jo Malone, it developed into a need to try the latest offerings from the Jo Malone. To inform the uninformed, Jo parted ways with her namesake company in 2006 after selling in 1999 to beauty powerhouse Estée Lauder.  

2011 saw the fragrant phoenix rise from the flames in the form of Jo Loves, a delectable selection of delicious scents. I just had to see what the lady herself had been up to. 

The fragrance that got the whole ball rolling was 'A Shot of Thai Lime Over Mango' - could you think of anything more refreshing to spritz during summer? I couldn't either. Whilst the fresh notes please me, and the delcious list of ingredients that would happily pour into a Taiwanese cocktail (Mango, Kaffir Lime & Mint? Heaven), It's Pomelo that has set my heart racing. Jo describes it like "fresh linen sheets or a glass of bubbling fizzy water with a slice of lime and lots of crushed ice". I couldn't agree more. It's the sharp, zesty kick in the teeth I've needed to truly embrace a citrus summer scent. The grapefruit kick mellows to a almost masculine aroma which is the perfect balance for me. Not too sweet, not too rich, the perfect summer balance. 

Jo Loves. I Love, Lots. 

xx

Pink Friday.

So, before I get to the jist of this post, I digress. Despite a brief foray with a certain scent by Ms Spears, I've never been one for celebrity fragrances. But after receiving a tempting offer of breakfast and Nicki Minaj, who would refuse? Not me, no sir. But, despite my best efforts disaster struck the day before and prevented me from fully immersing myself in Pink Friday Friday. But I just couldn't not talk about what I received in the post a few days ago. 

Enter Pink Friday. 

Shall we get the obvious out of the way. It's a big Nicki Minaj bust. It's a bottle, of her face. Nicki Minaj's face, as a bottle. Yup. I won't pretend I didn't spend a good 10 minutes having a mock conversation between myself and perfume Nicki. "Oh Hi Nicki Minaj, Oh Hi Laura". You get the drift. 

If that wasn't enough, she came with clothing. If the mood takes me, I can add an ice cream hat, pink bustier and tutu to transform my bottle into the Duchess of Pink, I couldn't make this up. It literally brightened up a snowy morning for me. 

So, putting all bells and whistles aside, what does it actually smell like? 

It's fresh, fruity, summery and has hit the teen market right on the head, I like it. It's not mind blowing or unique but for those who like a bit of Viva La Juicy or similar, you can't really go wrong. However, if you're old enough to remember what Impulse O2 smells like, it's a doppelgänger for that scent. Not unpleasant but definitely takes me back to my 14 year old self. 

For a younger audience, this is perfect. It hasn't hit any unique highs or created anything memorable. But Nicki's Barbz will surely but thrilled to have a little bit of Nicki on their dressing table. 

Pink Friday is available from Selfridges. 

xx

*Provided for consideration, honest Abe as always though. 

Molton Brown Valbonne: May Contain Joie de Vivre.

When Molton Brown launched 'Navigations Through Scent' last year, It ticked all the right boxes. Bold but wearable and devilishly exotic. As a committed wearer of the fresh and punchy Alpuldre I was thrilled to find out they were adding another scent to the collection. 

Like all the Navigations Through Scent fragrances, Valbonne takes on its own story and identity. Described as London via Provence, Molton Brown want to evoke...

"Spring, a small château just outside Grasse. A pop of rosé. Air heavy with mimosa. Lazy days, filled with laughter. Tipsy evening linger from sunset to sunrise. Spontaneous. Elegant. Chic."

Ah, le sigh. 

Valbonne is a sumptuous blend with bergamot and orange flower playing at the top, supported by provençal mimosa, rose and deep purple orris and anchored by a base of vetiver and leather. 

Undoubtedly this is a Molton Brown fragrance, the entire range has a similar stream of conciousness running through it which in my opinion, makes for a superb range.

I almost wish Valbonne had been released in mid to late summer, as it evokes the feeling perfectly and would have been even more of a treat to wear as right now, it leaves me slightly mournful for such an evening. At the moment, I'm more drawn towards the spicy Singosari to warm me up as the nights draw in. 

Nevertheless, yet again the perfect cord has been struck to create a lovely unisex fragrance that I will happily wear but could easily see it on a man who wants something slightly out of the box. 

Valbonne does an excellent job of settling into a delectable fragrance on my skin, and once spring comes back around, I can imagine I'll reach for this incessantly.

RRP £65 

Available from HERE.

Laura x

*provided for consideration.

Good Enough to Eat: DKNY Sweet Delicious Creamy Meringue Eau de Parfum

Summer, Summer, Summertimee. Would be the tune that would accompany this delicious fragrance if it could. Despite raving about the delights of Tom Fords dark and oh so brooding Black Orchid recently, you just cannot beat a big wallop of this sweet number in the sunshine. 

If I ever catch a whiff of the original Be Delicious by DNKY I am immediately transported back to my first year of university. This was my staple scent. But like the fickle creature I am, I went off it and haven't ventured back since. 

Until now. 

Apparently DKNY have more to offer nowadays?! There is a large range of 'Delicious' Scents, ranging from  Red, Golden, For Men, Night, Fresh Blossom. Blimey. Now Enter Sweet Delicious. 

There are three in the range, Key Lime Pie, Pink Macaron or Creamy Meringue. 

Who wouldn't like to smell like baked goods?! 

Creamy Meringue is pretty true to life. You are immediately hit with a sweet spun sugar note, that dies down to a light citrus scent that doesn't tip over into sickly.

It's an absolute gem and has received multiple compliments when I've worn it. 

I'm even considering letting Pink Macaron into my life.

If only I could take a bite... 

Explore the fragrances here

Have you tried any of these? 

Laura xx 

Cake Stand - Perfume Stand.

Just a quick Sunday post to showcase my alternative use for a cake stand, as a perfume stand! I was bought this lovely Laura Ashley stand for Christmas, and whilst I'd love to constantly fill it with sweet treats, my waistline says otherwise! I couldn't bare to have it packed up in a kitchen cupboard, so instead it's taken pride of place on my chest of drawers. 

The only problem is some of my favourites are just too tall so I've had to lie them sideways...c'est la vie!

How do you like to store your perfume? 

Laura 

xxx

The Big Perfume Project.

Everybody loves a good fragrance, and I'm definitely guilty of being a bit of a perfume hoarder. 

Enter the Big Perfume Project 2011. 

It's actually become a bit more of challenge than I originally thought, perfume doesn't diminish half as fast as I thought it did...

However, I've cleared through a few favourites and finished up some not so favourites, but it's all in the name of the BPP2011. 

  

So far Jimmy Choo, Nina by Nina Ricci & *ahem* Katie Price Stunning have been all drained. I was loathed to finish Nina as it's my all time favourite perfume, and I'm already missing squirting a bit of Jimmy on a regular basis. I must admit these three feel like the cheaters way out as they were my most used. Now the challenge really begins! 

If I can finish at least another two bottles I'm going to treat myself to something new, I've got my eye (and nose) on Vera Wang's Lovestruck, what do you think? I'm trying to plough through a large bottle of Rock Princess but wouldn't mind branching out. 

I'll keep you updated on the progress and please let me know if you're doing the same! 

Laura xx