Jo Malone for Zara

Did you hear? Jo Malone has created scents for Zara! Beside myself I am. I placed a Zara order this week (the kids clothes make incredible presents) and threw in a 40ml perfume in Vetiver Pampelmousse. I can never resist grapefruit.

It cost £15 and it arrived today. I sprayed it on at about 10.30am. It's now 9.20pm and I can still smell it. Actual Jo Malone perfumes don't last like that. I am very impressed. It smells gorgeous, the bottle is lovely. The packaging is nice but a bit over the top in these planet-watching times.

Run don't walk.

Jo Loves

Jo Loves is by Jo Malone. I decided to treat myself after numerous hints for my birthday didn't work. I read about this Graffiti body spray in a magazine and knew I had to try it.

Because I love Grapefruit scented products, I chose that one but it comes in other flavours although the thought of Tuberose or Fig makes me want to heave but whatever floats your boat.

I love this, it's been perfect for this long hot summer and the scent lasts really well. It cools you down as well. I've not used a body spray since my teenage days of Impulse and I'd forgotten how nice they can be for a subtle, all-over saturation of very light fragrance. I can't see me using this in the deep and dark days of winter but for summer and holidays, it's lovely.

I also bought a fragrance paint brush.

I chose White Roses and Lemon Leaves which was nice enough but a bit of an obvious scent to my nose (I ordered these online). I love the portability of this, I took it into work and brushed it on my wrists. I like that you are not obviously applying perfume and choking people around you with a spray.

However, after a week, it stopped working. No more gel was coming out of the brush. I clicked away but to no avail. The customer service was interesting. I sent an email explaining the problem. I got an answer back quickly that I needed to shake it vigorously. I did this, nope, didn't work. I emailed back and explained this. I was told that I needed to pack it up sturdily and they'd send a driver to pick it up on a day I chose. I did all this and driver duly turned up. I then received an email saying, yes it is broken, would I like a new one or a refund? No apology and I didn't like the implication that somehow I had been lying until they had tested it. I asked for a refund because by the point I was annoyed and I wasn't massively into the smell anyway.

Jo Loves is a top-end and luxury retailer. They should have immediately sent me another one when I sent my first email. This is clearly a known problem. It's very disappointing.

Jo Malone

I have rediscovered my love for Jo Malone. I bought the Lime, Basil and Mandarin body and hand wash from someone off the internet for a tenner and have been loving it.

At the airport on my way to Mallorca I bought this.

Which is as lovely as it sounds. Fresh and perfect for a sunny holiday. Then CoverBoy rediscovered the Amber and Lavender cologne and yes, that's divine too.

Then I was shopping at the weekend to buy a leaving present for someone at work. She requested Jo Malone and frankly, who wouldn't? I found myself adding the Grapefruit body and hand wash to my basket for me.

The perfumes I consistently finish are Jo Malone. I mean, I wouldn't want to only have Jo Malone but they are always delicious.

Mary Greenwell Lemon perfume

I trust we all know who Mary Greenwell is? Legendary make-up artist that's who. She launched a perfume or two a few years ago and I love her for not launching a make-up line. I am not sure we need another make-up line, I can barely keep up with it now. But perfume, well, now she's playing to my deepest weak spot.

I bought this from someone on the internet and so it cost me less than half the price of retail for a full bottle. I highly recommend this internet lark you know. It's incredible what you can find out there. Given that I didn't have to pay full price, I felt fully justified in buying this because its been MONTHS since I had a new perfume. The description spoke to me: a fresh citrus floral with a soft chypre dry down. Hello my friend!

It's a very heavy bottle because the lid weighs a ton. Well, not literally but it's really heavy. Not sure why and I guess it's to feel luxurious but I find it ever so slightly annoying. However, this perfume is a dream. It's absolutely gorgeous. It feels refreshing and zesty as you spray and then settles into a much more interesting scent. How I adore a chypre scent. I knew I'd like this because I love Mitsouko and it's not a million miles from that.

I am in love and I like that it's not a typical scent which everyone will wear. I have a huge bottle so I fully expect to wear it on rotation for the summer and beyond.

Jo Malone Mimosa and Cardamon

One of my rules is to buy a new perfume if I am going on holiday. I always get it duty-free and it goes a long to explaining my out of control perfume collection. However, if you do this the perfume gives you such nice memories when you wear it afterwards. I still think of Arizona when I wear Jo Malone's Grapefruit layered with Red Roses. That holiday was eight years ago!

On my way to Lisbon in May, I picked up this. I actually wasn't going to indulge for this little trip but after buying my new sunglasses, I was given a 20% off voucher for anything in duty-free and it would have been criminal not to use it.

This is a creamy, very soft fragrance. It reminds me of what your skin smells like after applying sun tan lotion and lying in hot sun for an hour or so. I think it's perfect for the summer.

Chanel Cristalle

I've not bought a new perfume for months. I've been deliberately trying to use up what I have. Which is a lesson in futility because my perfume will easily outlive me.

Sometimes I look at my collection and still find myself wondering why I don't have quite what I am in the mood for. I have just returned from a work trip to India and I found myself convinced I didn't have the right scent for hot weather. Clearly this is nonsense but once an idea is in my head, it's hard to shift. Coupled with the boring sore shoulder saga, the fact that I had an exhausting schedule ahead of me and duty-free at Terminal 5 Heathrow and my resistance stood no chance.

I now have the wonderful Perfumes book on my Kindle. It comes in handy when you are wandering the endless Duty Free choices thinking, now what is it I wanted to try next? I find myself drawn to the classics these days. New perfumes are never as good as the old masters. I think it's much classier to wear something vintage and two houses do vintage like no other: Guerlain and Chanel. I've tried all the Guerlain I want to try for now. Mitsouko is my go to there. Chanel always entrances me. No 5 is still wonderful but I wanted something lighter. So I tried Cristalle and I fell in love. This is perfect freshness in a bottle that manages to be so much more than an 'air freshener' scent. It's green and light but it has complexity and depth. I bought the parfum because eau de toilette is a waste of time on me.

And I am very happy with it. It will be perfect as we enter Spring. We are entering Spring aren't we? After 10 days of 30 degree weather I am not sure I can cope with much more cold weather.

A walk through my perfume hall of fame

Regular readers will know that I am partial to perfume. I'd give up many beauty products before perfume. It defines you, it cheers you up, it makes a grey day a great day and it's just so much fun. Why have one bottle when you can have 10? That's my motto. It got me to thinking of my journey through perfume. I've always loved it right from wafts of it coming from my mother as she kissed me goodnight.

My first perfume was everyone's first perfume. Anais Anais.

I've not smelt it for years but it's not offensive at all. A rather pretty scent and perfect for teenage girls.

Of course I also had The Body Shop's White Musk. Again, a rite of passage. Smelling this now always transports me back to secondary school.

My first grown up perfume was YSL's Rive Gauche. My mum must have bought me this. 

The packaging is marvellous. I thought I was the height of sophistication wearing this and let's face it, I was! It's still a lovely scent although I can never go back to perfumes, too many memories and makes me feel like I've regressed.

Being an 80s kid, obviously I had some Poison. This is much maligned, it's a lovely perfume as long as you don't drown yourself in it and wear it at night.

Then I discovered Calvin Klein. I was obsessed with Eternity.

I don't know why I loved this so much since I think it's pretty vile now. This reminds me of first and second year at uni. Along with this horror.

Escape, a truly awful perfume. My mother refused to let me in the car if I was wearing it! Then I found my first true love of a scent, the one that felt like me.

Dune is heavenly. I think this is when I really felt the power of a great perfume. People would tell me how wonderful I smelt when I wore this. Random men would stop me in bars and compliment me on my perfume. I can honestly say it was like an Impulse advert without the flowers. I wish I had never stopped wearing it because I can't go back. I feel all wrong wearing it now. But this defined my early 20s and I adored it.

The 90s were very much the Dolce and Gabbana decade and for my first proper job (in advertising), I wore this.

Nobody said to me, "honey, a little much for the office, no?" I must have asphyxiated everyone around me. I loved it though and the my colleagues were largely horrible so who cares? My mother must have hated this on me because I remember her buying me this.

Which is a nice perfume but a little dull for Chanel. I wore it but it never felt like me.

My husband (except he wasn't at the time) got me this and I knew he was a keeper.

It's simply lovely.

I think it was around this time I bought the perfume book that changed my perfume life. And I discovered Guerlain. Mitsouko is my go to perfume for when I mean business.

Mitsouko is suitable for any mood, any day, any season. It's perfection.

The day I realised Chanel's Les Exclusif range was a special one. So many to choose from, all so wonderful. Bois Des Iles was my wedding day perfume and I probably would pick it as my desert island scent.

So chic.

Sometimes you need a nice fresh scent and my go to for this is Jo Malone's Grapefruit. It doesn't last but it's oh so refreshing and zesty.

Dries Van Noten is a real grown up perfume. It's not for every day but it is totally divine and perfect for striding around in heels, owning the world.

Tom Ford perfumes are such a luxury. I find most of them a bit much, too cloying. But this little baby is heavenly. Wear it and feel like you are on the Amalfi coast even if you're commuting on the 7.02 from Hemel Hempstead.

And finally (because I could do this all day and I have to get on with my Sunday), I leave you with the most famous of them all. I think you have to feel like you've really grown up to wear this. I only came to it last year but it's beautiful. Coco, I salute you.

Chanel No 5

This is a perfume you wait for. I have always liked it but never felt it was right for me however the other day I was in Sephora (naturally) looking for a perfume to spray on after work and before I went for cocktails. The choice is overwhelming and I sniffed quite a few but none were working for me. Time was ticking and I was going to be late so I went for the classic. I am so glad I did because I love it. Classics are classics for a reason and this is simply a beautiful scent.

Today I decided to treat myself since it was Monday and I've just had a pay day and well, damn it, I wanted it. So back to Sephora I went (a hardship I know) and I picked up a little bottle (the exact one above in fact). I am now wafting around in a cloud of Chanel No 5 and feeling super classy. It's hard to feel anything but fabulous when you are wearing Chanel. It's not a perfume for when you are 21, it's one to turn to as you get older and begin to realise that your grandmother was actually a bit of a style icon.

Estee Lauder - Modern Muse

Estee Lauder has a new perfume which is front page news. They've not released a new perfume for 10 years and so there is much excitement about this one. I would describe myself as an admirer of Estee Lauder perfume rather than a lover. My mother wore Private Collection and so I will always have a place in my heart for it but I could never wear it myself. I can't stand White Linen but appreciate why others like it. And I really actively dislike Beautiful, the name, the scent, everything about it.

However, Modern Muse sounds intriguing and I can't wait to have a sniff of it. I finished two perfumes this week, it felt almost liberating to actually finish a bottle of perfume and it means that technically there is room for a new purchase.

Nail colour of the week

It's been ages hasn't it? I've been away to South Africa for a few weeks and very busy in the run up to that. But now I am back and the Easter weekend is here so I can relax and catch up on important blogging matters.

Heathrow Terminal 3 let me down - no Marni perfume, nobody had even heard of Marni. I mean, come on. I went with no perfume convinced I'd be able to buy some so I bought Jo Malone Lime, Basil and Mandarin instead. The thought of a holiday without perfume is, frankly, laughable. Lime, Basil and Mandarin is always a winner however I was horrified that Jo Malone had a new range that seemed to be based on sweet food. Read about them here. They were all disgusting. Why on earth would you want to smell like orange and chocolate?

This season nails have gone nude and I decided to dabble with that trend this week. Brooch the Subject by Essie. I wasn't sure but I have a little bit of a tan and my manicurist talked me into it. I do like it, it feels very grown up but this is not a look for white, winter hands. I can just about get away with it but the tan is fading fast in this freezing cold weather.

Two perfumes I need

And I mean need.

I don't think an explanation is necessary.

Experimenting with perfume

Having sold much of my perfume on ebay, decided that I had more than enough and a perfume for every mood, I made the mistake of reading a perfume forum and BANG! The obsession returned with a vengeance.

No matter how much perfume a girl has, it's never enough. My friend had a significant birthday approaching and I decided she needed a Chanel Exclusifs. After much soul searching and spraying, I plumped for 31 Rue Cambon.

I have to admit, I was secretly hoping she wouldn't like it so I could keep it but no, she loved it. And who can blame her? This is like rolling around in cashmere; soft and elegant. It's a total classic and I don't know why Chanel hide it away and push that hideous new Coco they are marketing the hell out of. Although I am quite relieved they are as we don't want everyone wearing this and making it common.

I bought a sample of Rue Cambon at http://surrendertochance.com/ which is a great site. You can buy decants and decide whether or not a perfume really is right for you. While I was there, I obviously had to buy a few more. Keeping to Chanel, I decided to get Pour Monsieur as I am always on the look out for a new scent for Cover Boy.

This is totally gorgeous but not typically masculine at all, it's got that Chanel softness and the dry down is quite sweet. If I was to get a bottle of this, I'd be very happy, although Cover Boy declared it nice but sweet so the search continues.

I've been reading rave reviews of Escentric Molecule 01.

I have to tell you, tread carefully, this is addictive. It smells different on everyone. Don't believe me? Read about it here. It's the most intriguing perfume I've smelt for a long time and it lingers. I really like it. Cool bottle too. I've added it to my Christmas wish list so fingers crossed.

I bought lots of others too but these are the three I can't get enough of.

Liz Earle perfumes

I am having a Liz Earle moment. Having raved about her make-up, I'd like to discuss her perfume. I got a bottle of Botanical Essence No 1 for my birthday and it's absolutely lovely. It's not pushing the envelope in any way as it's very simple however it's delightful and a fragrance I think would suit all. You can read the long list of ingredients here. It's a scent you put on when you don't know what mood you are in. I like it very much.

I went into the Liz Earle shop again yesterday as I wanted to get more of the mascara base (if you don't have this yet, why?) and was planning to just get that but they had an offer where if you bought two make-up items, they gave you a free lip gloss. Naturally I found this irresistible so I picked some eye shadow which I've not tried yet, I'll report back. Then I was given a free Cherry lip gloss.

In addition, you also get to choose a sample. I am very impressed with Liz Earle service, you choose your own sample! Other brands could well take note. I picked the other perfume, Botanical Essence No 15. You can read the list of ingredients here.

I put this on yesterday after my shower and it's completely different to No 1. Much more complex and interesting. I was sniffing my wrist all night long. I don't think I'd get it but only because I have SO MUCH perfume that I have to fall in love completely to buy anything new but it's well worth seeking out. Given how great the service is, they'd probably just give you a sample if you ask nicely.

I can see why Liz Earle has such loyal followers. What she does, she does well with excellent service. Highly recommended.

Max Factor Eye Brightening Mascara

Time to try a new mascara my friends. This one intrigued me, Max Factor Eye Brightening mascara. Apparently it contains light reflecting particles to add a subtle effect. It just looks black to me. Maybe the one for blue or green eyes is less subtle. However, as with all Max Factor mascaras, it has a great brush and does a good job. For £7.99, it's pretty good. It's not a big chunky mascara so it's good for the day. I've just layered up my eyes with it ready for a day of hard shopping.

Talking of shopping, I cleared out a bathroom cupboard yesterday and found five bottles of perfume I don't wear so I am ebaying them. You know, just in case you need some perfume in your life...

Birthday perfumes

Don't ask me where the time goes but another birthday hit me this month. The advantage of getting older is that your friends and family learn your taste. My love of perfume is very well known and I am delighted to say that none of my nearest and dearest would consider getting me something from Duty Free. No, my tastes run a little more exclusive than that darlings.

The award for most attention paid to this blog goes to my two dear friends who scoured, scoured these pages I say, to decide what to get me. I wrote about Tom Ford's Neroli Portofino 15 months ago! That's what I call an eye for detail. I can't even begin to tell you the joy that this perfume gives. It's properly, perfectly wonderful. I've just come back from Mallorca and I do love a perfume you associate with holidays and this will now be one of them. It's perfect for sunny climes. In fact, it's exactly how you expect Portofino to smell like; orange blossom and lemon. It's very sexy, in fact it is unisex and it's complex yet fresh. Worrying CoverBoy took a shine to it so I shall be hiding it obviously.

Speaking of CoverBoy, he got me a very indulgent present.

Bois Des Iles is my desert island fragrance and my wedding scent. I have a 200ml bottle of it which is lovely and all but you can't take it with you anywhere. It's really a bit of a trauma as I know you'll understand. Since the Chanel exclusives are now available in 100ml bottles, I dropped hints. OK, I told him exactly where to go (Selfridges) and lucky me, he trotted off. Since he pretty much hates central London on a Saturday, I call that love.

Finally, my brother and his family got me Liz Earle's perfume. Again, I did ask for this (before I knew I was getting a perfume bonanza!)

I've been wanting this for a while and it's gorgeous. Very summery and I think excellent value as a French house would charge twice as much for it. I also took this to Mallorca (yes, I took two perfumes, what of it?!) and it was perfection. You can read more about it here.

I was also given a bottle of Apres L'Ondee by another dear friend and so I am wafting around in a cloud of scented glory. I don't understand people who don't wear perfume, it really gives me so much pleasure and I genuinely believe you can never have too much of it.

I have plenty more to tell you about too. Givenchy, Opi and Essie nail varnish, St Tropez sun cream, Liz Earle make-up (very exciting), Bliss body scrubs. It's been a big beauty month. Watch this space...

Guerlain - La Petite Robe Noir

I went to Selfridges today (buying a bikini, pity me) and I decided to check out this perfume as I've been wanting to try it for a while. I speak no French but I am clever enough to know this translates as little black dress. Which I think is a great name for a scent.

It's got cherries and roses going on. I sprayed some on my arm and kept sniffing for the next few hours. I so wanted to like this because look at the bottle. It's divine. But unfortunately it's far too sweet for me. CoverBoy took a sniff of my arm when I came home and pronounced it 'chavvy'. This is harsh and not entirely true but it does have a hint of the Angel about it. Not my thing at all.

I expect I shall survive on my perfume stash for now.

Eau de Guerlain

I haven't bought any new perfume for ages and I was getting antsy. I've had my eye on this baby for a while and with spring springing and summer coming, I decided it was time to indulge.

This is the very definition of a light lemony scent and it's very refreshing. I adore it already and I've only had it for one day. It's more complex than it seems and the drydown is really lovely, it lingers more than you might think for something light. It's also a gorgeous bottle.

I had quite a splurge yesterday. I'll be back to report on my other purchases soon.

New Jo Malone scent

I've not been paying much notice to Jo Malone since becoming obsessed with Guerlain scent but it has come to my attention that there is a new perfume and it's Cherry Blossom. I do love me some cherry blossom. And doesn't it look pretty? I must investigate.

It has the word powdery in the description. Oooh, I am convinced I will like it.

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino

I've been wanting to have a sniff of this for a while now and today my opportunity came when I found myself in Selfridges. Some frankly, rather risque advertising; all very Tom Ford. He is so beautiful isn't he? In fact, let's take a look at him.

He's just infinitely stylish. Only gay men seem to look so good.

So, what's the new pong like then? I am here to tell you it's divine. DIVINE. So sexy and fresh. It's definitely more of a masculine but women could wear it. I have been sniffing the back of my hand all day long. It's ruinously expensive though - well north of £100. I resisted. For now.

Exclusives all round

Back in the summer, I splashed out and bought an exclusive Chanel perfume for my wedding. I justified it as being worth it for my wedding, and indeed it was, I absolutely love it still and am only about a third of the way through it. However, there is another Les Exclusif I have wanted for the last six months: No 18. Another bottle of 200ml perfume at £173? I just couldn't bring myself to do it especially since I am not exactly suffering from a lack of perfume in my life.

Then I heard a rumour. Bendel's on Fifth Avenue stock the exclusives in 100ml. Be still my beating heart. So this trip to NY, I hot-footed it to Bendel's and raced up to the Chanel counter. By the way, Bendel's is the nicest department store I've been to. Yes, it's even nicer than Fenwicks on Bond St. I just wanted to move in. But disappointment awaited. Only regular old Chanel perfume at Bendel's. However I was told Bergdorf's had it. Luckily Bergdorf's is right next door so off I went (dragging my poor friend with me) and YES! It was there. All the exclusives in 100ml. For $119 (including tax). At current exchange rate, this is £74. Not bad. So I bought No 18. You can read more about it here. It's not a scent for everyone, it's quite a challenging one but I simply love it. It really grows on you and I can't stop sniffing myself when I wear it. Also, it has a magnetic lid. That's worth it alone, right?

From the sublime to the ridiculous. I bought a new Essie colour in Walgreens called Dive Bar. I didn't think I'd come across it before so I Googled it and it's exclusive to Walmart! That made me laugh. It's a very pretty colour - like a peacock.  You can see a swatch here. I am amazed Essie is doing an exclusive with Walmart but I had heard they had been bought by L'Oreal so maybe that's why.

Also, there was an Essie sale on in another pharmacy I was in - $6 a bottle. That's is so much cheaper than here in the UK. It makes me angry how much we have to pay over here. Anyway, I bought three bottles to celebrate such a bargain.

Finally I bought a packet of Sally Hansen Nail Effects for a friend who asked me for them. They must be the hot ticket in town as they were sold out everywhere. But I am no quitter and I tracked them down for her. She wanted the butterfly ones. You can read more about them here.

I didn't even go into Sephora. Shocking I know.