Category Archive: Escentual

New Escentual Post: This is Zadig & Voltaire

This is Them!
This is Them!

I was introduced to the debut fragrances from Parisian fashion house Zadig & Voltaire this week and I was so darn impressed, I simply had to write about them for my Escentual column. Dubbed This is Her! and This is Him! Zadig & Voltaire’s fragrances offer up unique twists on familiar themes, making for fun, free-spirited and fashionable fragrances that stand out from the norm. This is Her! is a nutty, hairspray floral with sandalwood, and This is Him! is a sexy, smoky vanilla with woody and leather nuances. Both smell really good! Click here to check out my full review.

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New Escentual Post: The Legend of Shalimar

The Legend of Shalimar
The Legend of Shalimar

“Shalimar” – just the utterance of its name sends shivers down my spine. Whenever I feel tired of overwhelmed with the onslaught of perfumery today, I often spritz on a touch of Shalimar to recalibrate. It refreshes my nose and reminds me of what ‘great’ smells like. But what makes Shalimar so wonderful? What makes it more than a classic – a legend? Well, for my Escentual column this week I’ve written about The Legend of Shalimar to coincide with the launch of the Shalimar Holiday Makeup Collection, which is currently Exclusive to Escentual for two weeks. To read my column click here, but also don’t forget to check out Emma’s piece on the swatches from the collection and Ceryn’s on the collection’s look.

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New Escentual Post: Jean Paul Gaultier Classique & Le Mâle Essence de Parfum

A Modern Power Couple
A Modern Power Couple

It’s hard to think of a ‘his ‘n’ hers’ perfume duo more iconic than Jean Paul Gaultier’s flagship masculine and feminine fragrances, Le Mâle and Classique. Together they capture the cheeky, sexually-charged and contemporary spirit of fashion’s naughties designed. They changed the way we think about perfume presentation and have managed to remain undated, despite their ever-so-90s aesthetic. Today our fragrant power couple have gone under the knife with olfactory surgeons Daphne Bugey (Classique Essence de Parfum) and Quentin Bisch (Le Mâle Essence de Parfum) to be fitted with an entirely new look, and smell. Click here to check out my full review of the Jean Paul Gaultier Essence de Parfums over at Escentual.

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New Escentual Post: YSL Cinéma

From the Archives: YSL Cinéma
From the Archives: YSL Cinéma

I’ve embarked on a new series within my weekly Escentual column. It’s called ‘From the Archives’ and it aims to shine a spotlight on hidden gems – those fragrances that are neither new or iconic, but are still pretty damn good. My first dip into the archives is a modern curiosity: YSL’s Cinéma. Cinéma interests me because it’s a classic case of subverting expectations. It serves Hollywood glamour, yes, but it’s far from a noisy blockbuster, in fact Cinéma celebrates an unconventional screen siren in the form of mimosa. Click here to read my full review.

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New Escentual Post: Prada La Femme & L’Homme

prada-la-femme-prada-and-lhomme-prada-1
The Hottest Couple in Town: La Femme Prada & L’Homme Prada

I do like a bit of Prada, it’s true. Their fragrances are so in synch with their brand, offering modern luxury, innovation and often a splash of humour, right from the elegant Infusions all the way to the mischievous Candy. In fact, one of my current summer obsessions has been their Infusion de Cedre, which is that rare thing: an aldehydic floral for men. Anyway, I digress. Prada have just launched two new pillar fragrances: La Femme Prada and L’Homme. The Femme is a wonderfully voluptuous white floral in a golden sheen, whilst the masculine is much softer, warmer and greyer. Click here to head on over to Escentual to read my full review.

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New Escentual Post: Exploring Montblanc Legend

The Montblanc Legend Trio
The Montblanc Legend Trio

For my column this week, Escentual asked me to delve into the world of Montblanc Legend, a fragrance created to capture the illustrious spirit of the Montblanc brand. I was also tasked with sniffing the two flankers in the series; Legend Intense and Legend Spirit. All three are well-composed masculines that throw in a few intriguing twists, especially Spirit which has a wonderful fresh banana note! Click here to head on over to Escentual to read my full review.

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New Escentual Post: Serge Lutens Baptême du Feu

Baptême du Feu
Baptême du Feu

One can always count on Serge Lutens to create something interesting. Year-on-year he offers up thought-provoking fragrances that push the boundaries of conventional perfumery. They are often orientals, gourmands and florals that smell otherworldly and are paired with poetic descriptions filled with riddles. This year’s addition to the collection is Baptême du Feu, a battle-inspired fragrance that takes cues from the fairgrounds and gun ranges M. Lutens frequented as a child. To find out my thoughts on this latest instalment in the Serge Lutens saga, click here to read my review at Escentual.com.

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New Escentual Post: Salvatore Ferragamo Uomo

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Uomo by Salvatore Ferragamo

‘Uomo’ is easily becoming the new ‘Homme’ with each Italian designer brand rocking their own version. So far Valentino has one, Roberto Cavalli has one and now, Salvatore Ferragamo has their very own Uomo too. Ferragamo’s Uomo is a wonderfully versatile masculine that is soft & creamy enough to rock with jersey athleisurewear and suave & deep enough to pair with a black bow tie. In essence, it’s a scent for any man, any time and any place. Click here to head on over to Escentual to read my full review of Salvatore Ferragamo’s Uomo.

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New Escentual Post: Acqua di Parma Peonia Nobile

Acqua di Parma Peonia Nobile
Acqua di Parma Peonia Nobile

You may remember that one of my favourite fragrances from 2014 (a little while ago, I know) was Acqua di Parma’s Rosa Nobile. In fact, in The Candies that year, Rosa Nobile was one of my honourable mentions for Best Mainstream Feminine and it also found its way into my Guide to Rose as the ‘Straight-Up Rose’. Why? Well it presents a glassy pink rose in its most pure and perfect form, not to mention that fact that it simply smells so darn pretty I want to marry it.

This year, Acqua di Parma are continuing their Nobile Collection with the launch of Peonia Nobile – yet another ode to one beautiful flower. Without giving too much away, this noble peony is just as gorgeous as its rosy sister and it serves as further proof that Acqua di Parma really do know how to take the simplest of things and present them with a beautiful flourish. Click here to head on over to Escentual to read my full review of Peonia Nobile.

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