Category Archive: Escentual

New Escentual Post: DIOR Fahrenheit Le Parfum Perfume Review

Fahrenheit Le Parfum by DIOR
Fahrenheit Le Parfum by DIOR

DIOR seem to be in a phase of reinvention at the moment, having revamped a significant number of their classics. Over the last few years they have introduced a fair degree of flankers (reinterpretations) of some of their most iconic scents and for 2014 they have launched both Hypnotic Poison (see my review here) and Fahrenheit in richer and more intense concentrations.

Few masculine fragrances are more iconic than DIOR’s 1988 scent Fahrenheit and this new concentration – Fahrenheit Le Parfum – is a worthy purveyor of the name. For Le Parfum, the original’s blend of fresh greens and off-kilter tar has been expertly tinkered with by DIOR’s in-house perfumer Francois Demachy to create a more up-to-date and warmer version of Fahrenheit. Click here to head on over to Escentual and read my review.

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New Escentual Post: A Guide to Fougère

 

A Guide to Fougère
A Guide to Fougère

In a continuation of my bite size fragrance family guides on Escentual, my column this week takes a look at the dapper, debonair and definitely manly world of the fern-esque Fougère. Despite my love for all things feminine, floral and ridiculously over-the-top I do happen to quite like a good Fougère, whether it be something as abstract as Guerlain’s Jicky or a scent as handsome as Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fleur du Mâle. In my world the Fougère is the best kind of masculine.

This Guide to Fougère takes a whistle stop tour of the genre, taking a look at three key examples; one classic, one modern and one contemporary. Amongst these interpretations one will find something elegant, something rebellious and something altogether more brooding. If you fancy reading the piece (and topping up on your Fougère fix) please click here to head on over to Escentual. Don’t forget to let me know what your favourite Fougères are whilst you’re there!

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New Escentual Post: A Gift of Roses

A Gift of Roses for Valentine's Day
A Gift of Roses for Valentine’s Day

So if you’re just recovering from Christmas Day and New Year (personally, I’m still trying to shed that darn turkey-weight) you’ll be shocked to know that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. That’s right, you blinked and missed January so now it’s time to think about showering that special someone in your life with lots of lovely gifts to say those important three words.

Of course you don’t have to give gifts to say “I love you” and you don’t need one special day in the year to do so – I for one try to make an effort to profess my undying adoration for my beau at least once a day (normally just after I’ve been served dinner). But if you’re looking for a little token for your love, then what better way to show your love than with the gift of perfume?

Roses are the traditional flower to gift on the day of Saint Valentine, so for my Escentual column this week I have pieced together a veritable bouquet of beautiful rose scents for you to give as lovely fragrant gifts. They range from the straight-up photorealistic rose to the hedonistic oriental rose via a brief stop at the raunchy bedroom rose. So, please click here to head on over to the Escentual blog and read ‘A Gift of Roses’.

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New Escentual Post: Hypnotic Poison Eau de Parfum (2014) Perfume Review

Hypnotic Poison Eau de Parfum (2014)

I adore Dior’s Hypnotic Poison something rotten. Out of the entire Poison series it is the most unusual and approaches the idea of a deadly/venomous perfume in a surprisingly un-vampish way. What makes this interpretation of Dior’s Poison theme so interesting is that it wants to cuddle just as much as it wants to coil it’s evil little fingers around your heart. It is nothing short of a modern marvel of perfumery.

For my Escentual column this week, I am reviewing the newly launched Eau de Parfum concentration of my old faithful Hypnotic Poison. This version promises to be more ‘delicious’ than the original and its bottle made from molten lava (well, molten lava-esque glass) suggests something much deeper and darker than the original. Does it deliver on these promises? Well, you’ll have to click here to find out…

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New Escentual Post: M is for Mugler

M is for Mugler…

It’s been a little while since I last created an entry for my Escentual A-Z of Fragrance and it felt about the right time to further explore the alphabet of perfume with a look at an iconic perfume house. In the A-Z we’ve taken a look at esteemed perfume brands such as Amouage, Dior and Guerlain, but the one I was really looking forward to sinking my teeth into was the house of Thierry Mugler. I was so excited in fact, that I couldn’t even wait until we got to the letter ‘T’!

In my Escentual column this week the letter of the moment is ‘M’ for Mugler. I take a brief look at the history of the house and talk about the house’s five unique, high-fashion and downright weird perfumes; Angel, A*Men, Cologne, Alien and Womanity. So please hop on your Battlestar Muglactica and head over to the Escentual blog (by simply clicking the image above) to explore the world of Mugler. Don’t forget to tell me which Mugler scent floats your boat whilst you’re there!

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New Escentual Post: Acqua di Parma Colonia Review and Giveaway

Acqua di Parma Colonia, Colonia Asoluta, Colonia Essenza and Colonia Intensa Reviews

January may not be the month in which one spritzes on a light cologne, but it is a good time to dream of summer, and what better summers to lust after than those spent in the Italian countryside? One brand that perfectly captures the essence and sophistication of Italy is Acqua di Parma and they have four Eau de Colognes in their stable; Colonia, Colonia Assoluta, Colonia Essenza and Colonia Intensa, all of which I’ve reviewed on the Escentual blog for your pleasure today.

What’s more, Escentual are having a little giveaway where you can win a 100ml spray bottle of Colonia (the original), plus a signature bath coffret including Colonia Bath and Shower Gel, Hair Conditioner and Body Lotion (40ml each). All you have to do is head over to the Escentual blog by clicking the image above, letting me know how you take your ‘Colonia’.

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Escentual’s #FragranceAmnesty

Escentual's #FragranceAmnesty
Escentual’s #FragranceAmnesty

How’s this for a good idea? For the second year in a row Escentual is running a #FragranceAmnesty, where you can name and shame those unwanted fragrant gifts or misguided perfume purchases that have been plaguing your wardrobe since Christmas. The amnesty runs from 13 January-31 January 2014 and allows you to donate unwanted perfume to a good cause in exchange for money off something new. I told you it was a pretty nifty idea…

The process is simple. All you need do is tweet a picture of your unwanted perfume to @Escentual, ncluding the hashtag #FragranceAmnesty and detailing the scents (or type of scents) that you usually wear. The Escentual team (including myself) will then recommend a suitable alternative for you and you’ll also get a £3 voucher towards your new scent for good measure!

If you’re feeling super-generous (and I’m hoping that you are), you can send your unwanted fragrance to Escentual at their freepost address. Escentual will then donate your scent to Give and Make Up, a charity working with Women’s Aid and Refuge that provides essential toiletries and make up to women and children that need them. What’s more, once you have donated your scent, your voucher will be increased to £7.

To read the T&Cs and more details about Escentual’s #FragranceAmnesty, including how to donate unwanted perfume to Give and Make Up, head on over to the Escentual Beauty Buzz.

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New Escentual Post: Winter Fragrance Guide for Him

Winter Warmers 'Pour Homme'
Winter Warmers ‘Pour Homme’

For my Escentual column this week I was tasked with selecting some of my favourite ‘winter warmers’ for men and with the weather being as turbulent and dreadful as it is, I was definitely up for the challenge! My picks include; a new classic from Amouage, a wild card from Dior and a severely underrated scent from Jean Paul Gaultier – to name just a few.

So boys and girls (because, unsurprisingly, the list is pretty unisex), if you’re in the mood for some olfactory comfort blankets, head on over to Escentual by clicking the image above to read all about my favourite manly fragrances for winter. Don’t forget to tell me what winter warmers you’ll be rocking this season, too!

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New Escentual Post: Red, Green and Gold – The Fragrant Colours of Christmas

Red, Green and Gold

I’m finishing this week as I started with another Christmas post. For my Escentual column this week I thought about the colours of the festive season (red, green and gold) and perfumes that captured these hues in unique ways that were in keeping with the spirit of the yuletide season. These 6 perfumes represent all that is Christmas from the rouge of winter spices to the golden gleam of bejeweled gifts. Please click on the image above to read.

I’ll be back next week with one or two more reviews and the 2013 edition of ‘The Candies’ – my annual perfume awards.

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New Escentual Post: Christmas Fragrance Gift Guide

My Christmas Gift Guide for Escentual
My Christmas Gift Guide for Escentual

Christmas is round the corner, lurking dangerously in the shadows, poised to jump out and catch you unprepared at the very last minute. OK that may be somewhat of an over dramatisation (drama queen? Moi? Never!) but it is true that the number of shopping days before Christmas are rapidly depleting!

This week’s Escentual post is a Christmas Fragrance Gift Guide to help you make the most of the remaining shopping days and pick a wonderfully scented gift for your loved ones, whether they be party girls or boys, rebels or lovely parents. Please click on the image above to head on over to Escentual to read the guide, and don’t forget to leave me a comment saying what some of your favourite fragrant gifts are.

I have also contributed three items on my personal wish list for Escentual’s #EscentualWish campaign. Tweet @escentual with the link of the Escentual product you most want for Christmas with the hash tag #EscentualWish and you could be in with a chance of having your wish granted. Escentual will be granting one wish per day and you can read the full info (including my wishes) and T&Cs here.

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