My Top 3 Perfumes

My taste in perfume has changed quite a lot over the years - and while I don’t dislike any of those that I once wore, I’m now drawn to a completely different type of scent. I once had two distinct types: rich, leathery orientals like Jo Malone Dark Ginger and Amber Lily or D&G (Red); and skin scents, like Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Liquid Nude or Laura Mercier Fresh Fig (there are LOTS more, but we could be here all day).

Fresher, brighter fragrances seem to be my thing these days and while I always love to try new ones, I can’t resist the allure of Diptyque Philosykos, Narciso Rodriguez ‘Narciso’, and Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay. Here’s why…

 

DIPTYQUE PHILOSYKOS

If I could only wear one perfume forevermore, Diptyque Philosykos would be it. I’ve known this perfume for many years as my sister and close friend both wore it and obsessed over it, but I didn’t get it until I bought my own. Even then it wasn’t instant love… at first I liked it, but soon grew to love it. Philosykos is a fig based scent and to my nose, is juicy-sweet, woody and fresh in equal parts. Uplifting, calming and invigorating all at once… how can that even be possible? 18months on, it’s love at every single spritz and I can’t imagine ever tiring of it. FYI that’s a long-term perfume relationship for me as I’m very fickle, get bored with/ go off scents easily and usually love to switch them up a lot. I’m curious to try another Diptyque scent now and have lost so much time sniffing them in the corner of Space NK, so would love any recs you might have.

Diptyque Philosykos £58 (NB mine is in the old bottle shape - new one is even prettier)

 

JO MALONE BLACKBERRY & BAY

Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay is not a million miles from Philosykos. It’s less sweet and skin-like, but has that uber authentic outdoor air about it that I love. The bay comes through strongly at first - in a gorgeous herbal hit that’s unlike anything else I’ve tried. I chose this for a Christmas gift and have just noticed that I’m halfway through the *bottle; seriously regretting that I didn’t get the larger size at the time (I did choose to get the smaller one AND a coat instead so really not complaining!). The blackberry notes contrast beautifully with the bay and this is a feel-good perfume that evokes  a sense of freedom and memories of countryside walks.

(*I photographed these in Feb, it really is half empty now!)

Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay £40

 

NARCISO RODRIGUEZ NARCISO EAU DE PARFUM

I’m a huge fan of Narciso Rodriguez scents for both men and women - and hoped I’d love Narciso Eau de Parfum as soon as I saw pics of the bottle online. I mean, look at it.  Here’s another look…

It’s like an ornamental piece of sculpture, suspended in glass. Very different from my other two favourites, this is more of an original me scent, with a modern twist. Warm, sensual and intoxicating, this is my evening perfume, though I did love wearing it on the coldest Winter days and imagine it will also work well in the Summer heat. It starts out as a heady floral (gardenia and rose) but settles to an elegant sweet, musky wood - of the grown up variety. No surprises that it contains some of my favourite notes: vetiver, white musk, amber and cedar. This is really something special and I’m very grateful to my lovely sister for treating me as she knew how much I wanted it (thank you if you’re reading P! xx).

Narciso Rodriguez Narciso Eau de Parfum £32 (15% off)

What’s your favourite scent at the moment? Please leave me a comment below! You can read about more of mine by clicking on the Fragrance tab at the top of this page.

 

I’ve just received details of an event that any Ireland-based perfume lovers out there might be interested in - a one-day perfume-making event where you can learn about what goes into perfumes and make your own scent to take home! It’s happening on Saturday 9th May in Dublin, hosted by perfumenotes.ie with Sarah McCartney of 4160 Tuesdays.

July Beauty Favourites: make-up / hair & body / extras

A rather belated July favourites but here we go - lots of products to include, so I’ve divided them into make-up, hair & body and extras.

MAKE-UP

 

Starting with base, two formulas stood out in July, depending on my skin’s behaviour and the occasion. Laura Mercier bases are my long term favourites and I think they do a formula that suits everyone. I’ve had Silk Crème in Beige Ivory since Christmas (thanks sis!) but it’s come into its own this Summer. For me, the key to this is less is more & blend, blend, blend! Silk Crème has been my go to for special occasions or rubbish skin days when I want more coverage (I’d describe it as medium to full). On good skin or ‘no make-up’ days, I’ve been using Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser in the shade Nude. This gives very light coverage and is great for anyone who really likes to look as if they’re wearing zero make-up - a proper barely there number. I’d never suggest that anyone purchases two different formulas just to mix them (find one that suits you best), but if you do have both of these, a combination offers a lovely light to medium, glowy base.

Both available at Blow Ltd (ps £10 off first order if you sign up to their newsletter!)

Another brand duo (neither intentional, just genuine favourites) is this Pur Minerals coral pairing. Kinky powder blush is very reminiscent of NARS Orgasm - pinky peach with gold shimmer and Lovestruck lipgloss is just the prettiest creamy coral… a perfect Summer combo! I veer between these and Clinique Chubby Stick for Cheeks (review here) in Robust Rhubarb, which I’ve discovered doubles up beautifully as a matte lip and looks gorgeous topped with the above gloss!

Pur Minerals is available at M&S. 

I recently confessed on Instagram that I’d purchased my first MAC eye shadow (slow starter, I know). MAC Patina - light taupe with delicate gold shimmer - has graced my eyes daily since purchasing - a perfect everyday shade that can be smoked up for evening. I love to pair it with Bourjois Contour Clubbing in Up & Brown and lashings of Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. This stuff is da bomb and I’ll be picking up the full size pronto - see a one done: one undone pic on my Instagram for evidence of its powers! 

EXTRAS

It’s been almost a year since I treated myself to Diptyque Philosykos and only the past few months that I’ve truly fallen for it. I love the balance of comforting woods and fresh fig - like dousing myself in the strength to face the day. I’m properly attached to this scent. Bioderma’s Moisturising Mattifying Fluid is a recent addition and a Summer-only choice for a dehydrated face like mine. This has been a T-zone saviour on hot weather days, when my based needed every little bit of help to stop it melting off! If you’re combination or oily, this is definitely worth checking out -on offer until Thursday at Escentual. As ever, I have a few hand creams on rotation, but don’t think I’ve ever gone through one as fast as Neal’s Yard Geranium & Orange. This lives next to my bed and is applied in a thick layer every night - I love how it nourishes my hands and have come to associate the gentle scent with sleep (I don’t like a strongly perfumed one when I’m sleeping).

HAIR & BODY

I’ve used Julien Farel Vitamin Shampoo and conditioner for a couple of months and really enjoyed the products. Designed for coloured or chemically treated hair, I find these very gentle and non-stripping as they treat my hair with strengthening vitamins and antioxidants. Joico has been on my radar for a while - and although it’s only been a few weeks, so far I’m really impressed with Joico K-Pak Color Therapy… I love the salon-scent and softening effect, plus these minis are a great size for testing or weekends away!

Clinique Sparkle Skin is an exhilarating peppermint scented exfoliator, a real treat if you’re a fan of superfine, gentle grains like me. Great for removing the last traces of last-legs self tan, this provides the perfect smooth base for a fresh application. I like to follow exfoliating with body wash and the uber fruity-fragranced Passion Fruit & Grapefruit by Kneipp is really uplifting and non-drying. I’ve recently written an entire ode to Mio Future Proof Body Butter - now on its last legs and a hard act to follow.

Which one product has been your most used lately?