Perfumes & Fragrance | Etiket Journal

Fragrance

Perfume Review: Olfactive Studio Selfie Eau de Parfum

April 10, 2016March 4, 2016 by Etiket

Me, myselfie and I! A fragrant play on the self-portrait – version 2.0, Olfactive Studio’s Selfie ...

Me, myselfie and I! A fragrant play on the self-portrait – version 2.0, Olfactive Studio’s Selfie is an ode to today’s egotistical desire to leave one’s trace, be it olfactory or visual.

Modern, urban and unusual with notes of ginger, anise, incense, angelica and elemi all fighting for the spotlight in the top notes. As the confusion settles, an accord of Maple Syrup, cinnamon, lilly, and Cabreuva merge causing a slightly sticky sweet-nutty-green odour which settles oh so nicely into its final phase: an ultra suede-like chypre. See, or smell I should say? Very unusual and difficult to describe really.
Longevity: 5-10 hours.
Sillage: Excellent

Natalie Cola,
The Etiket Insider Beauty Editor

Olfactive Family: Oriental Spicy

Availability: In-store and online.

If you likeOlfactive Studio’s Selfie, you may also like Amouage Epic Woman and Atelier Cologne Blanch Immortelle Cologne Absolue.

CLICK HERE for more details about our Fragrance Sample Program!

Fragrance

Pack it up! Vacation Essentials

March 4, 2016February 29, 2016 by Etiket

Whether you plan to fly south, hit the ski slopes or stay in town, these ...

Whether you plan to fly south, hit the ski slopes or stay in town, these are the must-have beauty essentials for your spring break vacation! From sunscreen to dry shampoo, we’ve rounded up our favourite skin care, makeup and hair styling products for on-the-go beauty!

PROTECTION FACTOR

Planning on spending every day on the slopes or relaxing on the beach? Sun protection is key! We love this weightless, 100% physical sunscreen from SkinCeuticals. Its tinted formula evens out all skin tones, while protecting against harmful
UVA and UVB rays.

SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50

SUPER HYDRATION

Moisturizing cream extraordinaire! Whether you are suffering from dryness and irritation due to wind and cold weather exposure, dehydration from air travel, or too much sun, this special moisturizing cream from Environ will quickly soothe and relieve dry skin conditions.

Environ Super Moisturizer+

DRY CLEANING

Always on the go? Traveling from one destination to the next? Then Dry Shampoo is your best beauty ally! This 100% natural Voluminous Dry Shampoo from Rahua adds volume, cleans and styles hair – all without water!

Rahua Voluminous Dry Shampoo

FROM LIPS TO CHEEKS

We love double duty makeup! Perfect for traveling light and when on-the-go… These Lip2Cheek pots from RMS Beauty contain a unique formula that combines hydration and protection with gorgeous mineral colour for a beautiful, natural finish on both lips and cheeks!

RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek

TRAVEL SCENTS

No matter where you are, a spritz of your favourite fragrance will keep you grounded. This 4ml travel atomizer from Penhaligon’s is an essential perfume accessory, making it possible to take your perfume with you, wherever you go.

Penhaligon’s Travel Atomizer

Fragrance

Perfume Review: Mona Di Orio Violette Fumée Eau de Parfum

April 10, 2016February 26, 2016 by Etiket

A violet scent like no other… Oh how do I find words for this masterpiece? ...

A violet scent like no other… Oh how do I find words for this masterpiece? I find myself seduced by this one. The top notes are both heady and fresh, a velvet blanket of purple powder, trimmed with bergamot and lavender and padded with rose, incense, and opopanax. It lingers soft and veiled, before settling into a soft cloud of smoke. It’s magic!

Mona di Orio Violette Fumée was created for Jeroen Oude Sogtoen and is inspired by his favourite childhood memories, experiences, songs, his favourite colour and favourite movie – Endochine, in particular, the opening scene. An elegant movie that starts on a romantic and poetic note, yet ends quite bitter. Much like Violette Fumée, a transition from light to dark.

Natalie Cola,
The Etiket Insider Beauty Editor

Olfactive Family: Oriental Fougère

Availability: In-store and online.

If you like Mona di Orio Violette Fumée EDP, you may also like Atelier Cologne Silver Iris Cologne Absolue and Histoires de Parfums Blanc Violette EDP.

CLICK HERE for more details about our Fragrance Sample Program!

Fragrance

Perfume Review: HEELEY Parfums Chypre 21 Eau de Parfum

April 10, 2016January 25, 2016 by Etiket

HEELEY Parfums Chypre 21 Eau de Parfum is as they say, “an ode to Parisian chic”. ...

HEELEY Parfums Chypre 21 Eau de Parfum is as they say, “an ode to Parisian chic”. A chypre for the 21st century if you will! If you are unfamiliar with the chypre fragrance family, then sit back and take notes. This is one group you will want to know and, it really should be the start of all fragrant journeys.

Most consider Chypre to be the most sophisticated and beautiful of the fragrance families. The concept is based on an accord of citrus top notes, middle notes of labdanum and mossy-musky base notes. Together they create what is known as the chypre odor impression. Notes of flowers and fruits are sometimes added to the composition.

I am not one who typically wears a Chypre fragrance, as I prefer something a bit more “outside the box”, something a bit more on the modern end of the spectrum. So, naturally I was surprised by my immediate “WOW” reaction to this latest offering from HEELEY. This Chypre is modern, yet classic and simply stunning!

Chypre 21 opens with a cologne-like freshness. So I suppose we could say that this is what initially grabbed my attention. Notes of bergamot and petit grain mingle perfectly. It is flirty, infectious and immediately lifts my mood. The contrast of traditional rose and exotic saffron lends a modern edge strong enough to stand up to the “classic” idea of a Chypre. As base notes of oakmoss and musk come into play, the cologne-like characters of this fragrance seem to dissipate. The typical Chypre anchor settles and pulls the entire composition into order. Patchouli and sandalwood exaggerates the dry wood finish and makes for the perfect Chypre foundation! Longevity: 6-8 hours. Sillage: Average

Natalie Cola,
The Etiket Insider Beauty Editor

Olfactive Family: Chypre

Availability: In-store and online.

If you like HEELEY Chypre 21 EDP, you may also like Histoires de Parfums Noir Patchouli EDP and Atelier Cologne Grand Néroli.

CLICK HERE for more details about our Fragrance Sample Program!

Fragrance

Mona di Orio: Perfume to be worn

January 25, 2016January 21, 2016 by Etiket

I am often asked how I choose which perfume brands I bring into Etiket. I ...

Mona di Orio at Etiket: Perfume to be worn — Mona di Orio at Etiket

I am often asked how I choose which perfume brands I bring into Etiket. I wish I could say there was a formula or a science or it was even a well-studied business decision, but it is never any of those. Very simply I fall in love with the fragrances and the story that is part of those fragrances. Mona di Orio perhaps exemplifies this better than any other collection of perfumes that we have in the store.

Mona di Orio Perfume at Pitti Fragranze 2014 — Mona di Orio Pitti Fragranze 2014 (Photo: Petit Parfum Blog)

I am sure I had heard of Mona di Orio before I went to Pitti Fragranze (the niche perfume show in Florence) in September of 2014, but I had never smelled it. It was not even on my radar as one of the brands I wanted to look at when I was there. I remember so clearly how it happened that I met Jeroen Oude Sogtoen (designer and co-founder of Mona di Orio) and when he walked me through the collection.

The collection was being shown in a booth with other brands and I was looking at another brand from New York when the Mona di Orio bottles caught my eye. I finished sniffing where I was and made my way over to see what the gold bottles with their oval shapes were all about. As I stood there looking at the collection Jeroen came up to me quietly and asked if I had any questions. I introduced myself and asked him to take me through the scents.

A perfume show is a very noisy and animated place. But when Jeroen started to tell me the story of who Mona di Orio was, it seemed as if there was no one there but he and I as he took me on a journey.

The story of Mona di Orio is not a happy one, but it is a beautiful one, in the true sense of how romance in literature is defined. It is like a prose narrative of heroic deeds in an imaginary setting that is not imaginary at all. It is the story of Mona, a woman who by chance falls into perfumery and is trained by a master perfumer, Monsieur Edmond Roudnitska. She finds her true calling and begins her journey into the world of perfume. Through coincidence (or was it?) she meets Jeroen and with his vision for design and her nose they create the fragrance house of Mona di Orio in 2004 and launch their first three fragrances: Lux, Carnation and Nuit Noire.
As Jeroen told me the story and took me through each of the fragrances I was simply moved to tears. The passion of their partnership for what they did together was so strong and so beautiful that it had to come out in the scents that Mona created. Mona’s ability to take experience, emotions and moments from our lives and pour them into a bottle, and Jeroen’s vision of design meld everything into one perfect collection.

Mona passed away in 2011, and Jeroen has continued on the legacy that they had created together. It seems to me pointless to describe these fragrances, words never do justice to anything we smell, you need to experience them yourselves to truly feel and sense the complexity of light and dark and shadow that is the signature of Mona di Orio.

My favourites are Myrh Casati and Nuit Noire but there is not one that I would not wear or suggest depending on my mood or simply the way the light is falling that day. These are fragrances to be worn and enjoyed for their pure and utter ability to make us dream, remember, or make us smile

Simon Tooley
Owner of Etiket

Fragrance

Perfume Review: Mona di Orio Musc Eau de Parfum

April 10, 2016January 10, 2016 by Etiket

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me “What fragrance are you ...

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me “What fragrance are you wearing?!”, I would be a millionaire… or very close to it. I am pretty loyal and quite selective when it comes to the scents I wear and I’m a creature of habit. If I love it, I will wear it for weeks, months and even years – if it fits the season of course.

So, what am I dressing my skin in at the moment? A new love – Mona di Orio Musc. I enjoy ‘clean skin’ musk scents, but those that are a little less on the powdery side. For me, wearing a musk in the winter is heavenly as they tend to be beautifully warm and comforting.

When Mona di Orio arrived at Etiket, I was immediately taken by Tubereuse for its gorgeous green, fresh scent. However, once I took myself through the entire line, one gorgeous flask in particular stood out from the rest – Musc.

The opening is very floral with notes of heliotrope and rose, but these notes dissipate quite quickly and settles into a delicate sweet musk. For me, it smells like lightly scented clean, soapy skin. It’s an understated scent with surprisingly excellent sillage and average longevity. And the compliments keep pouring in!

Natalie Cola,
The Etiket Insider Beauty Editor

Olfactive Family: Oriental Floral

Availability: In-store and online.

If you like Mona di Orio Musc, you may also like ETRO Musk EDT and Tauer Perfumes PHI-une rose de Kandahar

CLICK HERE for more details about our Fragrance Sample Program!

Fragrance

The Latest Passion of Carlos Huber: Arquiste Candles

November 25, 2015 by Etiket

It was a cold January day in New York, at the beginning of last year, ...

It was a cold January day in New York, at the beginning of last year, when I met Carlos for a drink to chat and catch up. We met at a local restaurant near his office and as he sat down, Carlos was so excited to let me smell what would eventually be Nanban, but he was even more excited to talk to me about a new project for Arquiste: candles.

Carlos’s passion for what he does is contagious. I listened as he told me his inspiration and his ideas as to why Arquiste was ready for candles. I forgot about it all until I was contacted about a month ago from an editor wanting to know if we would be carrying them. That goes without saying – anything that Carlos Huber and Arquiste does will be available at Etiket!

The state of my nervous system has deteriorated. During the day, I constantly experienced terrible tension and at night a poor sleep. Dad had cancer with severe pain, often he was unrestrained and rude. Xanax at https://foamcast.org/xanax-alprazolam/ helped me to relax a little, while not reducing my activity.

The candles arrived a few weeks ago and although I love them all, there is something about the candle Carlos created for the St. Regis Hotel. The St. Regis candle called, Caroline’s Four Hundred, makes me stop and smell it each time I am in the store. The candle is inspired by Caroline Astor, the matriarch of the hotel’s founding family and doyenne of New York’s Gilded Age society. Inspired by one of Mrs. Astor’s famous balls, it is a gorgeous mix of exotic woods, beautiful blooms, and there is a touch of champagne that seems to be floating there somewhere.

Caroline_Astor_and_her_guest,_New_York_1902 — Mrs. Caroline Aster at one of her famous balls in New York.

The other three candles also feature fragrances that are inspired by historical places: Art Deco Velvet, Dark Galleon, and Mexican Baroque. These exquisite scents capture the olfactive experiences that set the stage for some of history’s most entrancing moments.

The packaging is perfect and makes a far more interesting gift than a bottle of champagne any day!

Simon Tooley,
Owner Etiket

SHOP ARQUISTE

Fragrance

The Best Fragrance Gifts To Give And Receive This Holiday Season

November 25, 2015November 17, 2015 by Etiket

The gift of fragrance is timeless, luxurious and intimate. We usually buy perfume for someone ...

The gift of fragrance is timeless, luxurious and intimate. We usually buy perfume for someone we feel very close to like family members and very close friends. What makes fragrance such a cherished gift is its ability to defines us by our individual style and influence our mood. For most people, fragrance is not an everyday purchase, so giving the perfect perfume gift can be a very lavish gesture. From our go-to perfumes and gift sets to solid perfumes and discovery sets, you are sure to find something special for any and everyone on your list!

Here are the fragrance gifts that are topping our list this holiday season:

Penhaligon’s Blenheim Bouquet Gift Set: Created in 1902 and taking its name from Blenheim Palace the seat of one of England’s most respected bloodlines, Blenheim Bouquet is a bracing mix of citrus oils, spices and woods. Set includes: Eau de Toilette 50ml, Shave Cream 50ml, Aftershave Balm 50ml.

L’Artisan Parfumeur Discovery Gift Set: Let him or her discover their next signature scent among these six fragrances from an iconic Parisian perfume house.

The discovery set (6x 5ml) includes:

Caligna: luminous and aromatic, this perfume evokes the fragrant landscapes of Grasse, the spiritual home of French perfumery, in the south of France.

La Chasse aux Papillons: imagine chasing butterflies in the French country side, surrounded by white flowers. A floral fragrance reminiscent of childhood memories, perfect for sunny days.

L’Eau d’Ambre Extrême: a mysterious oriental elixir. This rich and velvety fragrance, has delicate wafts of golden amber and spices.

Mûre et Musc Extrême: red fruit notes enfold themselves around the iconic blackberry and musk accord. Elegant and sophisticated, this fragrance embodies Parisian chic.

Rose Privée: sparkling and sophisticated, Rose Privée is a floral fragrance of unusual beauty. It captures the rare and iconic May Rose in a contemporary way.

Timbuktu: this fragrance is inspired by master perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour’s trip to Mali, where he witnessed a Wusulan ritual used by generations of West African women to scent their hair and skin. A mysterious fragrance that embodies the Sahara combined with French savoir faire.

Atelier Cologne Ecrin Voyage Jasmin Angelique (30ml + Soap + Leather Case): Genuine pure perfume, the Cologne Absolue is a cologne of character celebrating the magical freshness and elegance of citruses. Very high concentration of natural essential oils ensures an exceptional lasting power. With Collection “Matières”, Atelier Cologne reinvents the mythical essences of perfumery. Following vanilla, amber, rose, vetiver and patchouli, a new facet of jasmine from Egypt is revealed with the unexpected use of hesperides. Jasmin Angélique tells a new story, the one of a mysterious path to a secret garden where two lovers meet again surrounded by fresh, airy and sensual jasmine in bloom. Set includes: Handcrafted leather cap, refillable Cologne Absolue 30 ml (1 fl.oz) travel spray and vegetable-based hard-milled soap.

Amouage Memoir Body Cream: Containing active ingredients such as algae, glycerin, aloe vera, shea butter and cacao butter, this luxurious body cream is an intensive treatment for the skin, promoting immediate firming. The Body Cream tones and hydrates the entire body and restores lost suppleness, leaving the skin soft , velvety and beautifully scented with the notes of Memoir.
Top notes: Mandarin, Cardamom, Absinth, Pink Pepper
Heart notes: Pepper, Clove Bud, Opulent White Blossoms, Rose, Jasmine, Precious Dark Wood, Frankincense
Base notes: Styrax, Oakmoss, Castoreum, Leather, Labdanum, Fenugreek, Musk

ARQUISTE Parfumeur Caroline’s Four Hundred Candle: Inspired by one of the most splendid balls held by Caroline Astor, the matriarch of the hotel’s founding family and doyenne of New York’s Gilded Age society, Caroline’s Four Hundred takes its name from the 400 notable guests that represented the highest echelons of New York society. The scent captures at once the actual flowers used around her residence, the exotic woods of the ballroom, the potted palms and apple blossoms that lined the hallways, and the light crisp essence of champagne wafting through the crowds. With notes of rich American Beauty roses – her favorite flower – green stems, white lilies and the delicate sweetness of quince, apple and cherry blossom, Caroline’s Four Hundred, embraces all of the blooms that actually adorned her ballroom on that unforgettable evening in 1900.

Caroline’s Four Hundred, the St. Regis fragrance, is featured at all St. Regis hotels and resorts around the world.

Notes include: American Beauty rosses, hyacinth, white lilies, green stems and delicate quince, apple and cherry blossom.

L’Artisan Parfumeur La Boule de Provence: La Boule de Provence is a unique design object and is entirely handcrafted by artisans near to Paris. Fresh and aromatic, and inspired by the nature of Provence, this scent is carried by currents of air and magnified by heat in the room.

Antica Farmacista Black Label Champagne Home Diffuser: The Home Ambiance Fragrances utilize antique inspired apothecary bottles, filled with fragrance, to permeate the air through the bottles’ open neck and white birch reeds that are inserted to further diffuse the scent.

Fragrance: A crisp, citrus infused fragrance evoking sparkle and complexity. Top notes of Satsuma citrus balance with subtle floral notes of muguet. Apricot and passionfruit complement the sweetness of sugared black currant.

SHOP OUR HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Fragrance

Perfume Review: Ex Idolo Ryder EDP

April 10, 2016October 29, 2015 by Etiket

Let’s talk about sex…. appeal. What is sexy to you? For me, it’s the ability ...

Let’s talk about sex…. appeal. What is sexy to you? For me, it’s the ability to be scent-sational. Whether it be a man or a woman, how they carry themselves and how they smell top my list of attractive qualities. If I think back to all of my boyfriends (there are not that many – I tend to go for the long haul when it comes to relationships), I remember their scents, and when I catch a whiff of that scent, I am transported back in time. Ahhh, good memories of my high-school boyfriend and his smell – Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue…. or worse, Malizia Uomo. Ouch! It was a long time ago and we were young. Enough said. The point is, smell plays a huge role in sexual attraction, we all know that.

I tend to gravitate towards colognes, it’s no secret. I love that fresh citrus smell! Clean, sometimes soapy and just incredibly up-lifting. A good cologne can brighten my day and change my mood instantaneously. So, these are the scents that I wear. But what about him? Am I attracted to a man that smells like me? Not so much. I actually prefer something on the other end of the spectrum, a bit sweeter and spicier, for the simple reason that it evokes feelings of warmth and comfort. If a man can make me feel warm and comfortable, he’s in! Oh, and a really good vanilla fragrance on a man (my favourite: ARQUISTE Parfumeur The Architects Club) is simply heaven!

Enter Ex Idolo’s newest fragrance – Ryder. I was very excited about this one, because if it was anything like its predecessor Thirty-Three (a thirty-three year old oud), I would be in love again. Matthew Zhuk (creator and founder of Ex Idolo) was kind enough to send me a sample well before the actual launch. My first thought: Wow! This is a gorgeous follow up to Thirty-Three and definitely easier to wear for me! Slightly resinous, dark and aged, Ryder is exactly what I imagine a members club of days past to smell like. Leather, smoke, booze and dry wood. Sweet pipe tobacco with a side of Cognac gives way to spicy Omani Frankincense, followed by creamy vanilla and amber. This is a spicy, candy-coated, but not overly cloying fragrance that is as deep as it is mysterious. The kind of remarkably complex aromatic tobacco scent that just doesn’t come along very often, and one that is incredibly sexy. Sillage is average and longevity is beyond excellent!

After the divorce I started to experience some sexual problems. There was nobody to get acquainted with and I decided to pick up a girl, but it didn’t work out. She advised me to buy Cialis. I called that girl, she arrived and we had an upper class sex.

Ryder reminds me of Oliban by Keiko Mecheri, which is a scent that an old boyfriend of mine wore… it was magic on him! This was exactly his style – sweet, sexy, a bit rough around the edges and somewhat mysterious. I bet he would love Ryder as much as I do. I will have to send him a “It’s been a while…” text at some point soon. 😉

Natalie Cola,
The Etiket Insider Beauty Editor

Olfactive Family: Woody

Availability: In-store and online.

If you like Ex Idolo Ryder EDP, you may also like ARQUISTE Anima Dulcis and Atelier Cologne Santal Carmin.

CLICK HERE for more details about our Fragrance Sample Program!

Fragrance

Perfume Review: Tauer Perfumes PHI Une rose de Kandahar

April 10, 2016October 23, 2015 by Etiket

Although launched in 2013, Tauer Perfumes PHI-une rose de Kandahar is a new addition ...

Although launched in 2013, Tauer Perfumes PHI-une rose de Kandahar is a new addition to our Tauer collection. The reason is because the rose oil used in this fragrance comes from Afghanistan’s rose region, Nangarhar and is in limited production, making this Tauer fragrance a rare gem and not guaranteed to be available all the time. Luckily we recently received a few bottles and the sample orders for this one have been flying out the door!

Like most Tauer fragrances, this one is unlike anything else you have ever smelled before. If you love rose perfumes, you are in for a real treat because it doesn’t get any better than this! A blend of sweet rose and fruit with a lavish side of tobacco. PHI-une rose de Kandahar is soft, velvety and very well-balanced. There is absolutely no trace of powdery ‘old lady’ rose here. On the contrary, this is a modern and very easy to wear fragrance. At first whiff I can smell true rose, hinted with dried apricots, almond (which smells more like marzipan) and fresh bergamot. As it begins to settle, I can smell spicy tobacco, creamy tonka, vanilla, and refreshing notes of grassy vetiver. Throughout all this, the rose notes remains true and strong to the end, continuously complimented by its surrounding notes. In the drydown we are left with a warm suede-like musk. Super sexy with excellent sillage.

In general, the night was stormy and lasted until the morning). Viagra at https://mckesson.uk/viagra/ is really a great drug! I can’t say anything about the side effects. It’s very individual and depends on the general state of health. You can try it a few times and get both pleasure and joy straight out. Personally, I’ll continue to take it.

With temperatures continuing to drop, I think PHI-une rose de Kandahar makes for the perfect season to wear this masterpiece! Wear it any time of day, but I think it will shine bright in the evening hours.

Natalie Cola,
The Etiket Insider Beauty Editor

Olfactive Family: Floral

HEAD NOTES: Phi starts with a rich fruity line of apricot. An all natural apricot extract with its surprising richness enchants and blends into a cinnamon line and hints of bitter almond, softened by bergamot essential oil.

HEART NOTES: These spices lead over to voluptuous roses in the fragrance heart: Extremely rare rose essential oil with its unique scent of spices, plums and flower petals blends into rose absolute from Bulgaria and hints of Bourbon geranium. The rose petals melt on the skin into a dark tobacco fond, built around an amazing absolute of dried tobacco leaves.

BASE NOTES: The animalic, leathery and woody tobacco opens the ground for a generously dosed layer of patchouli in the base of Phi. Here, woody and gourmand notes melt into hints of animalic lines. Vetiver, vanilla and tonka add richness and brilliance. A generous dose of exclusive musk and amber gris round the body of the fragrance and encircle the roses.

Availability: In-store and online.

If you like Tauer Perfumes PHI-un rose de Kandahar, you may also like Atelier Cologne Rose Anonyme and Amouage Lyric Man and Woman.

CLICK HERE for more details about our Fragrance Sample Program!

Fragrance

LAFCO: Present Perfect!

October 23, 2015October 16, 2015 by Etiket

“Home is where the heart is” they say, and I could not agree more! I ...

“Home is where the heart is” they say, and I could not agree more! I recently purchased my second home after moving back to Montreal from being in Europe for two years. The transition was not easy. I had sold most of my belongings and all furniture before returning to Canada, so I was pretty much starting from scratch. The first few months in my new loft were difficult. Although I loved the space (small, but perfect for me), it felt very empty and impersonal. All the furniture that I had purchased at the time of my closing were on order, and so I had to wait three long months in a virtually empty space. What I did have of course was a bed, and all of my favourite candles, soaps and products. Obviously, I could not go without the essentials!

What amazed me is what a difference a few candles could make in lifting my mood and the mood of my home. Fragrance can be a very emotional thing. Certain scents can bring back comforting memories and create an ambiance that soothes one’s soul. For example, the smell of tobacco and leather might remind you of your father or grandfather, while the scent of vanilla might bring back happy memories of baking your favourite cookies during the holidays. I love burning my scented candles as soon as I get home at the end of the day. The smell and glow creates a warm ambiance and I immediately feel relaxed.

If your home doesn’t have a signature scent, it should! Your guests will remember it at every visit and be reminded of the good times spent in your environment. My signature scent is LAFCO Chamomile Lavender . I have a diffuser at my front door and a candle in my bedroom. This is the candle that I burn daily, and it is my go-to-gift that I keep stocked in my gift closet at all times and for any occasion.

Now, with the holidays fast approaching, I am thrilled that LAFCO has launched their new Present Perfect collection. My gift closet is now over flowing! These luxury candles, soaps, body lotions and hand creams are inspired by the contrasts between classic and contemporary approaches to luxury, and like all LAFCO products, only the rarest and purest natural essential oils are used and hand blended. These perfume grade, natural fragrances make up custom formulas that combine the benefits of nourishing botanicals with innovative technologies. All candles are vegan, soy-based and all body products are free of dyes, silicones, parabens, and synthetics.

From the LAFCO Present Perfect collection, the candles in particular are in my opinion the perfect holiday host/hostess gifts because they are simple, yet elegant and have the ability to make every day luxurious! Team any of the candles with a soap and hand cream, and you have the prefect holiday gift for your favourite neighbour or teacher.

Here are my top pics from the collection:

SHOP all LAFCO Luxury Candles, Soaps, Hand Creams & Body Creams

Natalie Cola,
The Etiket Insider Beauty Editor

Fragrance

Penhaligon’s Grooming: Redefining Tradition For The Modern Gentleman

April 10, 2016October 7, 2015 by Etiket

Penhaligon’s is known for their original and exceptional fragrances, and is considered a favourite brand ...

Penhaligon’s is known for their original and exceptional fragrances, and is considered a favourite brand amongst modern gentlemen. But, did you know that Penhaligon’s also offers a comprehensive grooming and skin care line just for men?

BAYOLEA launched in 2014, is a reformulation of a classic scent from the Penhaligon’s extensive archive. This citrus aromatic fragrance combines notes of mandarin and lemongrass with warm tones of cardamom, sandalwood, cedar, musk and lavender – a trend we are still seeing strong in men’s fragrances right now.

Penhaligon’s extensive collection of men’s grooming products fulfils all the grooming needs of the modern gentleman, from facial scrubs and shaving cream to razors, beard and shave oil, deodorant and travel sets. The BAYOLEA range was created to ensure that every aspect of the male grooming ritual has been catered for and is beautifully scented with a zesty and invigorating aroma.

With such a strong start in men’s grooming, it was only a matter of time before Penhaligon’s would start to offer men’s skin care products. This year we were introduced to a new fragrance No. 33 Cologne, accompanied by a simple complimentary skin care line which includes a cleanser, beard & face scrub, moisturizer and eye cream.

SHOP ALL PENHALIGON’S GROOMING PRODUCTS