A/W FRAGRANCES 2020


Now that we have arrived into the colder, Autumnal months, I have put together a guide to help assist you when it comes to selecting your A/W Fragrance for 2020! A few of these fragrances are newly released so if you’re after something that perhaps not many know about just yet, then stick around… After all, who wants to smell exactly the same as everybody else?

—————————————————————————————————————

AUTUMN/WINTER FRAGRANCES 2020

winterfragrances.jpg

—————————————————————————————————————

winterfragrances.jpg

ATELIER COLOGNE - LOVE OSMANTHUS

  • Top Notes: Italian Lemon

  • Middle Notes: Chinese Osmanthus

  • Base Notes: Cedar

Love Osmanthus opens with a bold, citrusy burst that makes me long for those warm, Summer days again which is why I wanted to include this particular scent in this Autumn/Winter Guide.

I also love that Love Osmanthus has been created using 94% natural ingredients which does away with those ‘synthetic, cheap’ vibes.

The dry-down then begins to feel slightly fruity, almost ‘peach-like’ with the Cedar note then balancing things out making the fragrance feel a little dense.

Admittedly, the silage and projection of Love Osmanthus lasted for around 3-4 hours on my skin which was a little disappointing however, if you’re somebody that enjoys a light, fruity fragrance that brings back Summer memories, this is one definitely worth checking out here!

winterfragrances.jpg

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO - FERRAGAMO

  • Top Notes: Bergamot, Lemon, Sage

  • Middle Notes: Violet Leaf, Leather, Cedar

  • Base Notes: Oakmoss, Vetiver, Musk

Ferragamo is perhaps the fragrance within this Autumn/Winter that feels the most safe, reliable and the go-to scent when you’re looking for something that can be worn every day which isn’t too overpowering yet still interesting enough to garner a compliment or two!

The fragrance opens initially feeling citrusy that then rather quickly dries-down into a much more woodier scent that feels rather creamy.

Perfect for an Autumnal day! The sillage of Ferragamo is medium-heavy and lasted for an impressive 7-8 hours on my skin.

Read more about Salvatore Ferragamo - Ferragamo here.

winterfragrances.jpg

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER - “LE MALE” LE PARFUM INTENSE

  • Top Notes: Cardamom

  • Middle Notes: Lavender, Iris

  • Base Notes: Vanilla, Oriental Notes, Woody Notes

Out of the fragrances within this Guide, Jean Paul Gaultier - Le Male Le Parfum is my own personal favourite… The reason for this is because of how addictive this fragrance is!

Compared against the classic ‘Le Male’ this particular take differs a lot in the sense that it’s much more refined, elegant and darker. The fragrance feels oriental and sweet yet done in a way that isn’t sickly or too dense! The warmth of the Vanilla note leaves this fragrance feeling sensual and dark, ideal for this time of year and is a definite head turner.

Le Male Le Parfum’s sillage is heavy and its longevity lasted an incredible 9-10 hours! I could still smell this faintly on my skin the morning after having sprayed it. Absolute winner for me and you can find out more details here!

winterfragrances.jpg

LACOSTE - MATCH POINT

  • Top Notes: Basil, Pink Pepper, Grapefruit

  • Middle Notes: Gentiana, Clary Sage, Geranium

  • Base Notes: Vetiver, Cashmeran

A fresh yet spicy, powdery opening that slowly dries down into a warmer, woodier kind of fragrance. I found Match Point to be better suited to being worn throughout the day and is similar to the ‘Ferragamo’ fragrance in that it is a ‘safe’ fragrance to wear!

If you’re after something that can be worn easily throughout the day then perhaps Match Point is one to check out, you can find out more details here.

winterfragrances.jpg

ESCENTRIC MOLECULES - 05

  • Top Notes: Bergamot, Orange, Fig Leaf, Fig, Laurels, Juniper, Basil, Rosemary

  • Middle Notes: Cypress, Hedione, Freesia, Iris, Jasmine

  • Base Notes: Cashmeran, Labdanum, Musk, Ambroxan, Mastic or Lentisque, Iso E Super

As a fan of the Escentric Molecules brand and having reviewed their fragrance ‘03’ before, I was keen to try out their latest scent ‘05’ and it certainly didn’t disappoint!

Similar to the Love Osmanthus fragrance as previously mentioned in the sense that this also opens with a fruity, citrusy, fresh burst however, this differs as 05 dries-down into a much more spicy, warm fragrance which lingers around on a cool, autumnal day.

Throughout the journey of 05, the fragrance then starts to feel much more ‘green' with a touch of the floral notes underlying in the background. Overall, 05 is better suited to those who enjoy complex fragrances that have a few twists and turns along the way and in terms of its sillage I’d class this as medium with its longevity lasting around 6-7 hours when sprayed upon my skin.

Find out more about Escentric Molecules here!

winterfragrances.jpg

COACH NEW YORK - BLUE

  • Top Notes: Lime, Absinthe

  • Middle Notes: Ozonic Notes, Black Pepper

  • Base Notes: Amber, Cedar

An incredibly fresh, watery opening of the Lime note blended perfectly with the woody, warm notes of Amber and Cedar during the dry-down lends itself to an interesting fragrance. I wore this on both during the day and evening and found that its performance was better in the evening as the spicy kick of Black Pepper stood out more which felt warm and creamy for this time of year!

Its sillage is light-medium and lasted between 5-6 hours on my skin. If you’re looking for a scent this Autumn/Winter that is refreshing and creamy, then Blue is a good scent to start with! Find out more about the fragrance here.

winterfragrances.jpg

VIKTOR & ROLF - SPICEBOMB NIGHT VISION EAU DE PARFUM

  • Top Notes: Lemon, Grapefruit, Green Apple, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Chilli Pepper, Nutmeg, Cloves

  • Middle Notes: Rosemary, Clary Sage, Coriander, Mastic or Lentisque, Lavender, Mint

  • Base Notes: Nutty Notes, Pistachio, Patchouli, Cedar, Olibanum, Peru Balsam, Balsam Fir, Benzoin, Labdanum

The release of ‘Spicebomb Night Vision Eau De Toilette’ was panned by the fragrance world due to its disappointing performance so when the news of the Night Vision was to be re-released but as a Eau De Parfum, I was intrigued to see how this would differ to the Eau De Toilette version and see if this version would make up for the original and guess what? It did.

It’s a much richer, sensual version and the spiciness really kicks through! Performance wise, its sillage is undoubtedly heavy verging on a little overpowering at times so minimal sprays only with this scent is needed and its longevity lasted between 7-8 hours on my skin.

You can find out more about Spicebomb Night Vision - Eau De Parfum here!

—————————————————————————————————————

I hope that you have enjoyed this Autumn/Winter Fragrance guide and that you’re feeling more inspired when it comes to selecting your fragrance! Let me know which one is your favourite, or perhaps one that you’re not so keen on. Are there any you would recommend that you feel I should try? Follow me on Instagram and Twitter and let’s carry on the conversation!


CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2019


(AD/Gifted)
With just a few days to go until Christmas, I have put together some last minute gift choices to help you when it comes to buying presents for your loved ones, (or yourself, after all, we all deserve a little treat right!?)

mrlukechristian.jpg

—————————————————————————————————————

sachajuanoceanmist.jpg

SACHAJUAN - OCEAN MIST GIFT SET / £50.00

One of my favourite haircare brands; SACHAJUAN!

This Christmas, why not treat a loved one or yourself to their iconic ‘Ocean Mist’ trio gift set?

Available to purchase online here!

hollisterfestivalnite.jpg

HOLLISTER - FESTIVAL NITE GIFT SET / £35.99

Having previously reviewed the Hollister Festival Nite - For Him fragrance here, this would make for the perfect gift for the man who enjoys a fresh, light Summer fragrance!

This gift set contains 100ml Eau De Toilette Spray, 100ml Bodywash and a card holder.

Available to purchase in stores such as Boots, Superdrug, John Lewis and online here!

escentricmoleculesbodywash.jpg

ESCENTRIC MOLECULES - BODY WASH GIFT SET / £20.00 per bottle

‘01’ by Escentric Molecules for me is one of the most complimented fragrances - ever! The scent is based on the enigmatic woody molecule; ISO E Super with fresh lime peel, green jasmine bud, soft balsams and musk.

Within this gift set are 01, 02, 03 and 04. Available to purchase online here!

bewater.jpg

BE WATER - POWER LIBERTY: REUSABLE BOTTLE / £25.95

A gemstone water bottle which is believed to change the structure and taste of water!

The bottles are fully reusable and the Power Liberty bottle is thought to improve circulation and include relief from pain and anxiety.

Available to purchase online here!

laboratoryperfumesatlas.jpg

LABORATORY PERFUMES - ATLAS CANDLE / 200g £45.00

One of my favourite scents from Laboratory Perfumes comes in the form of ‘Atlas’! A spicy scent containing notes such as cinnamon, ginger and black pepper with a hint of fine cognac.

Available to purchase in store such as Yorkshire Soap Co. and online here!

RALPH LAUREN - THE POLO BLACK BEAR EDITION FRAGRANCE.jpg

RALPH LAUREN - THE POLO BLACK BEAR EDITION FRAGRANCE / 125ml £60.00

A fragrance that is bold and sophisticated containing notes such as iced mango, silver armoise and patchouli noir, this would make the perfect gift for the man who likes to feel luxurious and expensive!

Available to purchase in stores such as Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, John Lewis and online here!

—————————————————————————————————————

mrlukechristian.jpg

Have you got all of your Christmas presents sorted, or are you a last minute person like myself? Are there any of your favourites mentioned within this Christmas Gift Guide? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!


SUMMER FRAGRANCES 2019


I have put together 6 of my current favourite Summer Fragrances for 2019. Ranging from spicy to aquatic, to green and earthy, to fruity and woody, there is a fragrance to suit your mood throughout the Summer season!

menssummerfragrances2019.jpg

————————————————————————————————————————————————

creedaventuscologne.jpg

CREED - AVENTUS COLOGNE

  • Top Notes: Pineapple, Green Apple, Mint, Ginger, Mandarin Orange, Pink Pepper

  • Middle Notes: Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vetiver

  • Base Notes: Musk, Styrax, Birch, Tonka Bean

You may have heard of the iconic Aventus fragrance by Creed before, (I even named this my number 1 fragrance for 2015!) and the latest launch of Aventus Cologne slightly differs from the original in the sense that it is fresher and much more lighter on the skin!

I found that the Aventus Cologne seemed to dry down a lot faster than the original and the projection wasn’t as bold. With that being said, if you are a fan of the original Aventus, then the Aventus Cologne is a great fragrance this Summer if you’re after a lighter take on such an iconic scent!

I would recommend wearing this during a hot Summers day and to purchase and find out more, click here.

ulrichlangnewyorkapsu.jpg

ULRICH LANG NEW YORK - APSU

  • Top Notes: Green Leaves, Coriander, Violet Leaf, Bergamot

  • Middle Notes: White Tea, Jasmine, Water Lily, Pink Pepper, Iris

  • Base Notes: White Musk, Cedar, Amber, Olibanum

A unisex fragrance that has a very ‘green’ feel to it with its opening feeling very sharp and spicy. When I say it feels ‘green’ I mean exactly that. It reminds me of freshly cut grass which at this time of year is ideal!

With the fragrance being rather light to give off that fresh scent, unfortunately its sillage is rather weak…

This lasted for up to 2-3 hours on my skin but despite its performance being weak, I still wanted to feature this as if you’re a fan of the ‘freshly cut grass’ scent, then you will enjoy this fragrance!

To purchase, click here.

dieselspiritofthebrave.jpg

DIESEL - SPIRIT OF THE BRAVE

  • Top Notes: Bergamot, Galbanum

  • Middle Notes: Cypress, Fir

  • Base Notes: Labdanum, Tonka Bean

A woody, spicy fragrance that has a linear performance throughout. This lasted for up to 5-6 hours on my skin which was rather impressive given that its sillage was medium!

Out of these fragrances, I would say that this is the most ‘safe’ in my opinion. Perhaps better suited to the daytime!

If you enjoy clean, safe fragrances that aren’t too loud, then I would recommend trying out Spirit Of The Brave.

To purchase and find out more, click here!

escentricmolecules03.jpg

ESCENTRIC MOLECULES - 03

  • Top Notes: Ginger, Lime Peel, Peppercorn

  • Middle Notes: Orris, Egyptian Jasmine, Tea Notes

  • Base Notes: Vetiver, Sandalwood, Cedar, Mellow Balsams, Musk

Possibly the strongest fragrance within this blog post, 03 by Escentric Molecules is bold, spicy and intoxicating.

The opening begins with a woody, earthy feel that then dries down into a more fresh fragrance and if you like the note ‘Vetiver’ then this is sure to be a winner for you!

The note Vetiver is very strong and remains prominent throughout the fragrances performance.

In terms of longevity, 03 stayed on my skin for up to 6 hours and its sillage is medium to heavy. I would recommend wearing this fragrance on a cool, Summer’s evening!

To find out more and purchase, click here.

maisonfranciskurkdjianparismasculinpluriel.jpg

MAISON FRANCIS KURKDJIAN PARIS - MASCULIN PLURIEL

  • Fragrance Notes: Grapefruit, Lemon, Lavender Absolute, Leather Accord, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Vetiver

Masculin Pluriel is a fragrance that is sophisticated, smooth and well rounded!

I’ll be honest, Lavender isn’t one of my favourite scents and I try steer clear from that note in any fragrance however, in this fragrance there is something rather modern about it that gives off a clean feeling.

In terms of its longevity, this is one of the longest lasting fragrances featured! The fragrance lasted for up to 8 hours and left a gorgeous, sweet scent long afterwards.

Its sillage was medium to heavy and I would recommend wearing this on an evening. To purchase, click here.

penhaligonsblastedbloom.jpg

PENHALIGON’S - BLASTED BLOOM

  • Top Notes: Wild Berries, Sea Water, Green Leaves

  • Middle Notes: English Rose, Pink Pepper, Hawthorn

  • Base Notes: Cedar, Moss, Musk

Blasted Bloom by Penhaligon’s is crisp, tart and clean. This fragrance has a real aquatic vibe that transports me to a beach somewhere!

During the dry-down, Blasted Bloom then becomes slightly woody and its performance remains rather linear.

The longevity of Blasted Bloom lasted for between 4-5 hours and although this is a very light scent, I was rather impressed by its longevity.

Its sillage is light-medium and I would recommend wearing this both during the day for a refreshing boost, or at night on a warm Summer’s evening!

To purchase, click here.

————————————————————————————————————————————————

Have you smelt any of these fragrances listed? If so, which ones? Are there any you would like to try out? Which are your favourite fragrances to wear for the Summer season? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

*Please note, some of these fragrances had been gifted to me.


VALENTINE'S FRAGRANCES 2018


Despite being single, Valentine's is always one of my favourite times of the year, perhaps I'm just a romantic at heart, or because I like to see all of the special Limited Edition packaging? Either way, I'm a fan! For this Valentine's Gift Guide I have compiled a few fragrances ranging from luxury to high street and quirky to special! Whether you're single like me, why not treat yourself to one of these? I won't tell if you don't...

Image (3).png

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Image-5.png

JOOP - WOW! // £39

An oriental fragrance that is guaranteed to get you noticed! Featuring notes such as - Orange Blossom, Spiced Cinnamon and Tonka Bean.

Purchase here!

Image-2 (1).png

PROJECT RENEGADES - GEZA SCHOEN // £155

Geza Schoen by Project Renegades is an absolute gem. Designed to be unconventional and proudly different, I can safely say it is exactly that! Designed to create a whole portrait of a tree, it features the notes of Pink Pepper, Lemon, Juniper, Moss, Incense and Sandalwood.

Purchase here!

Image-4.png

CARTIER - DECLARATION // £52

An elegant and sharp fragrance which features notes such as - Bergamot, Artemisia, Coriander and Cumin. Best worn for daytime!

Purchase here!

Image (5).png

JIMMY CHOO - MAN // £64

A woody fragrance which features many notes such as - Lavender, Pink Pepper, Geranium, Suede and Ambery Woods!

Purchase here!

Image-2 (2).png

CALVIN KLEIN - OBSESSED FOR MEN INTENSE // £33   & FOR WOMEN INTENSE // £29.95

One of my personal favourites, a bold and sensual fragrance! Best worn on an evening.

Purchase here for Mens and here for Womens!

 

Image (4).png

ESCENTRIC MOLECULES - 03 // £76

A unisex fragrance in which it has been created around one ingredient: Vetiveryle Acetate. Best worn throughout the daytime! 

Purchase here!

Image-6.png

MONT BLANC - LEGEND // £60

A fragrance designed to evoke strength, tenderness, modernity and tradition. I find this can be worn throughout the daytime and has long lasting power!

Purchase here!

Image (6).png

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have you smelt any of these featured in my Gift Guide? Has this Gift Guide inspired you in any way and introduced you to some new fragrances? What sort of fragrances do you like to wear? Let me know your thoughts as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click the 'like' button below!