Category Archives: Beauty-Full/Beauté

“Blackberry & Bay”, The New Fragrance of Jo Malone

17:30, finally I arrive

in the gardens of the Museum Van Buuren, in Brussels. I’m terribly late and it rains again! I quickly see some some works of arts and statues scattered here and there in the beautiful gardens. The bucolic setting blends perfectly with the new Jo Malone perfume, Blackberry & Bay. A British elegance and pictures of Jane Austin novel in the lush English countryside, only missing scones!

But the fragrance goes against the clichés: more complex and dense than expected of a cologne composed mostly of red fruits. There are also grapefruit (again, the star ingredient of the moment ), vetiver and cedar wood. Neither female nor male, this fragrance is discreet but recognizable.

During the presentation, I haven’t had this “love at first sight” (I might say “love at the first smell”!) as with Plum Blossom. I really enjoy this amazing light fragrance, I’m addicted! So after few days, I smelled again Blackberry & Bay in a totally different ambiant. This time, I was able to distinguish more subtle notes, like vetiver (the masculine touch) and I started building in my mind, pictures of what the scent expresses to me. And I really wanted to mix it with another cologne, such as Blue & Cocoa Agava.

According to Debbie Wild, the Director of Lifestyle and Perfume Jo Malone, most customers mix different colognes to express their moods and tests. And she recommends playing with scents, to customize your own signature scent. Her advice: put first your favorite perfume, let it dry, then add a second flavor. And of course, ENJOY!

Related posts : BEAUTY  

Shop the creams, soaps and candles of Jo Malone. Click on the pictures below for more details (updated in spring 2015)

Bulgari: Mon Jasmin Noir L’Eau Exquise

MlleLe K Mon Jasmin Noir L'Eau Exquise 2A

Un sillage gai, à peine entêtant sans être volubile 

En ce moment j’ai des envies de fraîcheur, de jardins verdoyants, d’odeurs légères aériennes d’agrumes (en référence à ma toute récente période yuzu, pamplemousse du Japon) et de fleurs blanches. De lumière, soleil filtré par des canisses. D’un sillage gai, à peine entêtant sans être volubile. Tout en finesse comme l’eau de parfum Mon Jasmin Noir L’Eau Exquise : une découverte, mon premier parfum Bulgari.

J’aime le flacon avec ses rondeurs, agréable à toucher, regarder. La couleur légérement verte de L’Eau Exquise m’évoque de l’herbe fraîchement coupée. Dès le premier pschit, j’ai été conquise par ses accents acidulés (pomelo rose) et ses notes de tête, jasmin et thé blanc, réhaussées par le musc blanc. Instantanément j’étais projettée dans ce jardin imaginaire que je décrivai plus haut. Une eau addictive, extrêmement raffinée et sensuelle qui me met de bonne humeur. Insouciante, charmeuse et exquise.

Autres articles : BEAUTE

Leonor Greyl: Excellent Cares For Very Dry Hair

I’ve seriously followed my routine

with four excellent natural hair care products of Leonor Greyl for a month and a half. These products are sodium laureth sulfate free, paraben free, silicone free, eco-friendly and not tested on animals. Without becoming completely organic, the more I try hair or skin products, the more I am interested in their composition and trying to decipher ingredient lists on the back of packaging. I’ve still had a long way: how to identify, know and understand the interactions between different components without taking an advanced course in chemistry? Anyway, I’ve known and used for years Huile de Palme (the Palm Oil) and I recently wanted to discover others products of Leonor Greyl.       

Let’s Start with Shampoing Crème Moelle de Bambou (Cream Shampoo Bamboo Marrow) for long and dry hair… and very dry, plus frizzy or relaxed hair. I finally found a shampoo I enjoy to apply (texture, foam and smell) which untangles my hair making them soft. Remember: whatever your hair type, always choice a shampoo with sodium laureth sulfate free (harmful) and silicone-free, especially if you have a sensitive scalp and lengths that break. A nourishing mask is required after the last rinse of shampoo, with cold water! The Masque à l’Orchidée (the Orchid Mask), softener for frizzy hair, is a pure wonder. I love its perfume! Its whipped creamy texture deeply nourishes, hydrates and softens my hair. Before applying the mask strand by strand, I wrung my hair. Once the mask is applied, I keep it one hour wrapped in a cling film and a hot towel (not really sexy, I know, lol). Then I rinse. My hair is relaxed and so soft that I barely comb (first tips, then roots) to tie in a bun. Naturally they dry and smooth. I never use iron or blow dry at home.

Every morning, I apply a blend of Huile de Palme (the Palm Oil) and Lait Luminescence Bi-phase (the Milk Luminescence Bi-Phase), my favorite product! This milk detangles, protects and scents my hair a discreet veil of coconut. Why mixing it with the Palm Oil? Because dry frizzy or relaxed hair needs lots of hydration (the milk or water-based formulation) and being fed (the oil). As not to burden or grease my hair, I put little. This cocktail makes ​​my hair much less brittle!  Maybe I’ve missed a bit a creamy texture in addition, to treat specifically my very dry hair type. Unfortunately when you have lots of hair, Lait Luminescence Bi-phase and Masque à l’Orchidée  (respectively 150 ml and 200 ml) end quickly! Ditto for the great Huile de Palme (95 ml) that I apply the day before shampooing once a week. Thanks to Leonor Greyl for having been one of the French first brands to offer natural products tailored to the ethnic hair.

Informations

www.leonorgreyl.com 

Related posts : 

 

BEAUTY