Thursday 30 November 2017

My Top Six Candles For Christmas 2017

Christmas and candles seem to go hand in hand which is why many companies release a limited edition during November and December. Not all of these special releases hit the mark though and shoppers often fall back on their tried and trusted favourites. The gentle flicker of a flame accompanied by a delicious aroma is the perfect pairing, but a candle also makes a great gift. To help you navigate the minefield I’ve chosen six candles that have impressed me during 2017 and, hold on to your hats, it includes three Christmas stunners. So, grab the matches and a glass of port as I introduce you to my top six candles for 2017.

Monday 27 November 2017

Beard Maintenance by Pall Mall Barbers

November 30th marks an important date for many men with the decision having to be made on what to do with that Movember moustache. Does it stay, does it go, or is it time to add on the accompanying beard? A lot of “Natural”, “Imperial” and “Handlebar” moustaches will make a hasty departure on the 1st December but for those wanting to keep them, or increase them, there are a few tricks and tips to help maintain their healthy luster. Erin of Pall Mall Barbers talked me through the required maintenance as we set about taming my own unruly beard, and she also showed me a new way to use scent.

Thursday 23 November 2017

Perfume's "Them and Us"

When you spray on your favourite fragrance in the morning or even reapply in the evening you are choosing to wear a scent that makes you feel happy, contented, confident, protected, the list is endless. Our perfume choices are very personal and that is exactly why there are so many to choose from. What I find appealing in a scent might fill you with horror, and vice versa, but both of our opinions are just as valid as each other’s. You don’t need to be trained in fragrance to know if you like the smell of something so why are the words “general public” applied to the majority of the world's perfume purchasers?

Monday 20 November 2017

ORCHARD BLOSSOM by Bronnley

Now that the first frosts have really fallen on the British countryside there are two things that are forefront in everyone's minds. Firstly, the sprouts that you buy will be slightly sweeter in taste (my mother always swore that the frosts did this to these divisive greens) and secondly, people will begin reaching for their “winter” scents in ernest. However, for those ladies that prefer a fresher scent during the colder months, because they long for the warmth that Spring promised, help is at hand in the form of this year's release from Bronnley, in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society. Say hello to Orchard Blossom.

Monday 13 November 2017

MANDARINE BASILIC by Guerlain

He’s arguably Britain’s most famous bear and, even after fifty-nine years, has once again managed to awaken the child in us all. Paddington Bear may not be the first character that you think about pairing with a fragrance but that’s exactly what I did after seeing his latest film, “Paddington 2”. A bear from “darkest Peru” could make you think of deep animalic scents or the feeling of soft fur, but for me it was something a little more playful. Paddington’s most famous attribute, besides his wellington boots and blue jacket, has to be his love of marmalade, and to my mind that instantly conjured up Mandarine Basilic by Guerlain.


Monday 6 November 2017

THE DARK HEART OF OLD HAVANA by 4160 Tuesdays

I’ve said before that the constant quest for “newness” means that many perfumes are overlooked in favour of the latest, the biggest, the brightest and the loudest new releases. Companies have fragrances that gather loyal followers but sometimes these scents get overlooked in later years. One of these is Dark Heart Of Old Havana by 4160 Tuesdays. Roullier White described the company as putting “the fun and the feeling back into British perfume” and, with a whirlwind of a founder at the helm, this is a perfect description. So, four years after it launched, let’s revisit the dangerously seductive Dark Heart Of Old Havana.