Thursday 25 February 2021

KISS IN RIO by Jonathan Ward

One of the challenges that I always face when writing for this website is keeping a varied selection of products and fragrances. It would be very easy to just feature everything that drops through the letterbox, and there are many reviewers that do, but I will only ever recommend what I like. I’m never paid to promote anything and certainly never “encouraged” to post on social media. The reason that I’m saying this is because today’s review is for a brand that I’ve featured many times, and I don’t want that fact to detract from this outstanding creation. I’m talking about Kiss in Rio from Jonathan Ward Candles.

Monday 22 February 2021

STEPHAN'S SIX - EGLIJA VAITKEVICE


Studying 'Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics' in Lithuania is certainly not the start that many perfumers take, but that is what Eglija Vaitkevice specialised in before retraining at the Grasse Institute of Perfumery. Her Exaltatum London collection of fragrances display an incredible skill at conjuring specific emotive moments in time, but what of the perfumer herself? I thought it was time to discover her scented memories during “Stephan’s Six”.

Thursday 18 February 2021

ACQUA DI GENOVA - An Italian Masterpiece

I think we can all agree that February is usually a month filled with thoughts of where we’ll be going on holiday during the summer or, if we’re lucky, locations for that quick escape over the Easter break. There are obviously still some pretty big hurdles to get over before there’s any chance of retreating to a sandy oasis of calm this year, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t close our eyes and indulge in a little bit of well deserved armchair travel. As we come out of the winter fragrance season there are plenty of sunny scents that can be reached for to simulate sunshine, and one of the finest is surely Acqua di Genova.

Monday 15 February 2021

HALSTON by Bernard Chant

The term “best seller” is one that gets thrown around with ease these days. Everything seems to qualify for the description, from fragrances through to books, so you often wonder what they’re actually being compared with? The days of the true “international best seller” are long gone, because customers demand constant variety and novelty, but it wasn’t always that way. Forty-six years ago a perfume was released by Max Factor that truly took the world by storm and, excusing a few reformulations, is still in production. Familiar to many, but possibly new to some, it’s time to rediscover the legend that is Halston by Bernard Chant.

Thursday 11 February 2021

MACHINE SHOP by Ankermade

There’s always been heated discussion over whether perfume should be classified as art. It stems from a basic disagreement over whether “fragranced frippery” is in the same league as a renaissance painter. Whichever camp you side with, the topic of “perfumed art” tends to accompany the release of scents that are deemed “challenging” (which may translate as unwearable) or those created specifically for an art installation or exhibition. However, the undisputed artistic skill of a perfumer is to translate a concept into a finished fragrance, and that is definitely on display with the finely tuned Machine Shop from Ankermade.

Monday 8 February 2021

COLLEGE GREEN - The Quintet of Bath Soaks

If there is one thing that I’ve relied on over the past twelve months then it’s surely been my bathtub. I would happily spend all day in there if I could, reading book after book, because it helps me to switch off, to escape, and to flip the metaphorical sign that says “do not disturb”. It’s also the perfect place to enjoy fragrance, and I’m not just talking about the many candles that have recently appeared. With over a third of the UK now favouring a bath over a shower, what goes into the water has never been more important. So, whether you want to be energised or calmed, College Green is guaranteed to have something for everyone.

Thursday 4 February 2021

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD by Sarah Baker Perfumes

The idea of being transported to another place and time is one that's often used when describing fragrance. The way it locks onto our innermost memories, almost making them come alive again, can be a wonderful experience. I get this same feeling of disappearing into a different world from reading, and there’s been no shortage of time for that recently. So, when a literary classic is the inspiration for a fragrance then you're guaranteed my undivided attention. Far From The Madding Crowd by Sarah Baker Perfumes is one such example, and there’s never been a better time to experience some nineteenth century swordsmanship.

Monday 1 February 2021

LOVE STORY by Vines House Parfum

Apparently there is nothing that says “I love you” more than a bouquet of red roses. Well, that’s what the florists would have you believe as we approach Valentine's Day. As a distinct alternative, my undying affection can always be bought with a bottle of Moet, and Odette Toilette has told me in the past that she’s anyone’s for a Toblerone! However, if you are choosing to go down the roses route, fragrance is also a popular choice. A lot of these floral scents can end up being cloying in the extreme, but there is help at hand. Combining passion with perfume, Love Story from Vines House Parfum is deliciously desirable.