The Body Shop White Musk Smoky Rose Collection: Prepare your Noses for Smoky Roses

Admittedly The Body Shop's White Musk of yesteryear was my Sis' ultimate scent, I was more of a Fuzzy Peach kinda gal. This years addition to the White Musk line though has change my mind and how. Made with man made, cruelty free musk, the White Musk Smoky Rose collection is exactly the kind of scent that puts me in mind of Autumn/Winter - spiced, musky and darkly floral. 

Priced exceptionally well for such an expensive smelling scent, the entire collection can be picked up for less than €50 and once you catch a sniff of this darkly delicious scent, I guarantee you'll think that's a bargain too.

Top notes are bergamot, pink pepper and black currant; middle notes are tobacco blossom, black rose, orange blossom and immortelle; base notes are olibanum and white musk. 

My Mam has already wrestled the EDT from my reluctant paws as when driving me to my last four doctor's appointments, every single time I sat into the car she inhaled deeply and looked at me forlornly like only an Irish Mammy can. I'll be replacing it this week to go alongside the richly perfumed body wash (heaven with scrubby gloves) and the thick, moisturising body lotion (that lingers on the skin for hours). 

You'll find the White Musk Smoky Rose collection here online or in The Body Shop stores now. I'm recommending you give it a whirl real soon. 

Marc Jacobs Honey: A Must Have Summer Scent

Marc Jacobs has been knocking it out of the park when it comes to seriously pretty, dressing table decoration perfume bottles for years now. Think Daisy, think Lola, think Dot, then forget every one of 'em because Honey is about to blow their cute little lids off with not only stunning packaging but a scent that will have strangers stop you as you pass. 

Truth be told it was the bottle that halted me in my tracks as I hared about my business a couple of weeks back. I've usually found Mr Jacob's scents a little to sweet for my musk loving schnozz but in all honesty, one whiff of this and it was love. 

'Could I BEE any cuter?' 

You know those scents that have you sniffing your arms for hours after you've applied them? Honey is one o' those. It's sunny, it's light and it's bright but it stops short of being sweet: the woody basenotes see to that and it's what makes it a winner for me. 

I'm not a big describer of scents so for those of you in the know, who know what you like and where, Honeys notes break down like this: 

Top: Pear, Juicy Mandarin
Heart: Orange Blossom, Peach, Honeysuckle (my favourite flower of all time)
Base: Honey, Vanilla, Woods

This little bottle has been a huge hit in the office with the girls and it was interesting to see that they each smelled something different from the ingredients. I've been stopped several times, including by the chef in the canteen, to ask what I'm wearing so it would seem Honey sure is a crowd pleaser too. 

If not just for the adorable bottle (which is sat on my PC in work (WHILE I'M THERE) to gaze at) I'd urge you to spritz Marc Jacobs Honey when you're next passing a counter and I defy you not to fall in love. 

Introducing Lancôme's Newest Fragrance - La Vie Est Belle

La Vie Est Belle is the newest Lancôme fragrance, set to hit counters on September 1st 2012 and is based on a 'concept' according to Anne Flipo, one of the three master perfumers responsible for the scents creation ( the other two being Oliver Polge and Dominique Ropion)

The concept of this fragrance is centered on the idea of natural and simple beauty, freedom from conventions and the choice of one's own vision of happiness. The fragrance is a kind of outlook on life, inspired by joy and pleasure in small things.

Over three years in creation with approximately 5000 attempts at the perfect scent, La Vie Est Belle is bottled in the heavy weight glass creation of Armand Petitjean from 1949, its grey chiffon ribbon reminiscent of an elegant silk scarf blowing in the wind.

La Vie Est Belle - The redesigned classic Lancôme 1949 bottle is said to represent the curvature of a woman's smile

Containing just 63 ingredients, such as black currant, pear, orange blossoms, iris and jasmine. There's an almost nutty element to the scent due to tonka bean, praline, patchouli and vanilla. To my nose there's a sweet powdery finish that stays on the skin long after the scent has dissipated.

Priced at 30ml: €47, 50 ml: €65 and 75ml: €80 for the EDP, there will also be a body lotion for €34 and a shower gel for €32. BTs in Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Galway have, once again, secured a worldwide exclusive with this scent and will launch on August 1st, preceding worldwide availability on September 1st.

Looking forward to a spritz?

Viva La Juicy - Solid Perfume

Following my Estée Lauder post, we all know I'm a Sensuous Gal, right? That doesn't mean I can't be swayed from time to time. Emporio for example or Aqua di Gio for the summer months. But, until recently, I hadn't the slightest inclination to venture to into Juicy territory. Loud packaging just puts me off. Right off. 

Now when someone wants to send me a sample of loud packaged gorgeousness, now that's another matter entirely. I received this little beauty a few weeks back from Debenhams. And I'm more than grateful to them for converting me to the waild side.

Its a heavy weight, gold compact, that would fit in the palm of your hand and comes in this really dinky bright pink satin case.

What do Juicy have to say about the scent, you ask?

'Viva La Juicy consists of refreshing wild berries and juicy mandarin with a sophisticated heart of honeysuckle, gardenia, and jasmine The base of amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood and praline provides a sexy feeling to this irresistible fragrance'

Sounds a little saccharin sweet, right? Wrong. Wrong-o.

The scent is subtle and long lasting. Honeysuckle is one of my all time favourite flowers and I can detect that more than any other note in this. I've been using this on and off for the past fortnight or so and it just makes me happy. I dab some on mah pulse points (Like a laydee) and it lasts the whole day through. Love.