The Perfume Society: Try Before You Fly Discovery Box

I absolutely love The Perfume Society Discovery Boxes. Their latest one is "Try Before You Fly" and is stuffed full of perfume samples, a trial size scent and suntan goodies. 

Retailing at £12.50 plus P&P for VIP subscribers and £15 plus P&P for everyone else. You can become a subscriber HERE (it costs £25 per year - you receive an introductory box and subsequent boxes discounted as well as 8 editions of the Scented Letter (downloadable magazine).

Inside is:

A luxe trial size of Prada's Candy Kiss EdP 7ml (which is the perfect size to pop in your hand luggage). It's from the Oriential fragrance family and has top notes of musk, a heart of musk and orange blossom and a base of musk and vanilla. It's a gourmand scent with a sensual note. It's absolutely beautiful and would be great to wear on sunny, balmy evenings. Love this!

I've previously enjoyed perfumes by Agonist, a Swedish perfume house and in the box is Blue North 2ml from the Woody fragrance family. With top notes of cardamon, rosemary and spearmint a heart of orris, mint, ginger root and helitrope with a base of white cedar, sandalwood, vanilla and musk. It's fresh, cooling and quite unlike anything I own and I absolutely love it!

I'd been wanting to try Miu Miu EdP for a while. It's from the Floral family and has top notes of lily of the valley, lemon and bergamot with a heart of peach, blackcurrant, rose, green notes and jasmine with a base of white musk and akigalawood. It's fruity with a floral green note and is quite mouthwatering and is simply stunning (I'd also love the full size bottle to display on my dressing table!)

L'Artisan's Bucoliques de Provence EdP 1.5ml is from the Fresh family and has top notes of juniper berries, a heart of lavender and a base of leather and iris. I find this one aromatic and quite different.

Illicit Flower EdT 2ml by Jimmy Choo is from the Floral family and has top notes of apricot, mandarin and freesia with a heart of rose, grapefruit blossom and jasmine. It has base notes of musk, sandalwood and cashmeran. A fruity/floral run-of-the mill sort of scent.

The Merchant of Venice's Rose Moceniga EdP 2ml is from the Floral family and has top notes of green lemon, blackcurrant leaves and rose with a heart of magnolia, lotus flower and rose absolute. With base notes of vanilla, musk, white cedar and amber crystal. 

Les Cocottes de Paris Melle Cleo EdP 2ml is also from the Floral family. With top notes of rosewood, bergamot and lychee, a heart of night-blooming cereus, ylang ylang and rose with a base of cotton flower and lichen. It's quite a powerful and heady scent.

Barbour for Her EdT 1.5ml is from the Floral family and has top notes of redcurrant and pink pepper, a heart of rose, jasmine and blush peony with a base of musk, vanilla and vetiver. This is the debut fragrance from Barbour and it's absolutely stunning.

The final three items are perfect for your trip abroad or staycation and are in generous sizes:

Lancaster Tax Maximiser 50ml which helps to prolong your suntan while caring for your skin and a 3ml Velvet Touch Cream SPF30 along with a 25ml Ultrasun Face Anti-Age SPF30.

A really great box I think. What are your thoughts?

Spending Ban: Update & Wants #2

I had a teeny tiny spend in Sephora Paris. But I'd factored that in to my Spending ban rules. It would have been easy to buy up the shop! haha - next time!

As I've been away I've not really been tempted by any online deals (whew) but I do have a few wants which I'll be adding to the wishlist - I'll come back to them at the end of my ban and see if I still really do want them. You can see my initial post about the ban HERE.

Here's what I would have bought this week:

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G Baldwin & Co Revitalising Bath Salts (310g - £7.49) - these revitalising salts are enriched with Lavender, Peppermint and Lemon Essential Oils to revive and awaken both the mind and body. 

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OA Face Oil by PLANT (9.5fl oz - £26.95) - I adore facial oils with Sea Buckthorn in them. This oil is suitable for Normal/Combination skins and you can pick it up at a beautiful world. 

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Savon Stories Rose & Geranium with Rose Petals Castile Soap (£9) - I first became aware of these beautiful soaps when Galina over at A Curious Russian in London tweeted about them. They look super gorgeous and if I'm honest I want them all! See the full range available here.

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African Botanics Neroli Infused Marula Oil (£60 - 60ml) - a luxe facial treatment scented with Neroli which helps balance, brighten and restore. Bet this smells gorgeous!

Look out for my further updates and shopping my stash posts. Have you tried any of the above products?

The Perfume Society: Beautiful Blossoms Discovery Box

I can never resist the fab discovery boxes from The Perfume Society. The latest one, Beautiful Blossoms is stuffed full of really great samples and a 50ml tube of Elemis's British Botanical Shower Cream. The box costs £15 or £10 for members.

Ruth Mastenbroek Amorosa 1.5ml EDP

Floriental

This is a beautiful scent with notes of watermelon, green leaves, violet leaf, galbanum, tuberose, white flowers, tiare flowers, jasmine, Ylang Ylang and base notes of amber, ambergris, patchouli, woody amber accord, vetivert and maltol.

Miller Harris Coeur de Jardin 2ml EDP

Floral

This is really lovely and one of my favourites in the box. With notes of bergamot, lemon, hesperidin, pear, peach, Turkish rose, jasmine, tuberose, white orris butter, amber musk, moss and patchouli. I'd buy.

Jimmy Choo Blossom 2ml EDP

Floral

I love this gorgeous floral scent. It has notes of red berries, citrus, sweet pea, rose and white musk and sandalwood. I've been wearing this since I got the box and full size is on the wishlist!

La Perla Peony Blossom 1.2ml EDT

Floral

With notes of pear, white peach, blackcurrant, orange blossom, peony, jasmine blossom, violet, patchouli, vanilla and sweet musk. A pretty floral.

Fragonard Jasmin 2ml EDT

Floral

This scent has notes of bergamot, orange leaf, Grasse Jasmine, Indian Jasmine, Egyptian Jasmine and Amber. Again I really like!

Agonist ISIS 2ml

Oriental

I'd say this is my least favourite. Its a unisex fragrance but I find it smells more masculine on my skin.  It has notes of citrus, green tangerine, ylang ylang, black pepper, ginger, anise, peach, caramel, heliotrope, nutmeg, amber, musk, benzoin, vanilla absolute, labdanum and lorenox.

Philosophy Amazing Grace 1.5ml EDT
Floral
I've never really tried any of Philosophy's scents much before but this seems quite nice. With notes of bergamot, mandarin, yuzu, grapefruit, muguet blossom, rose, jasmine and musk. 

Chloe Love Story 1.2ml EDP
Floral
I love the notes this perfume contains but it smells quite powdery on my skin which I'm not keen on. It has notes of neroli, orange blossom, jasmine and cedar.

Yardley Contemporary Classics 1.5ml EDT x 4
Floral
English Lavender - with notes of bergamot, clary sage, English lavender, eucalyptus, geranium, jasmine, chamomile, violet, woods, vanilla and patchouli. English Rose - with notes of citrus, rose, tea accord, rose bud, magnolia, violet, cassis, woods, patchouli, musk.  Lily of the Valley - with notes of pear accord, lily of the valley, freesia and musk and April Violets - violet leaves, citrus, orris, mimosa, rose, white peach, sandalwood, vanilla and powdery notes.  I like all of these.

Elemis British Botanical Shower Cream 50ml
Floral
The scent of this shower cream was inspired by a traditional English garden and contains notes of lavender, chamomile, geranium, palmarosa and rosemary.

Did you pick up one of these discovery boxes?

February Empties

Therapie Himalayan Detox Salts 100g - a staple for me. I need these in my life! I buy these again and again as they just work.

Yours Truly Organics Balancing Toner 150ml* - I loved this and would buy. See my review here.

TEWC Virgin Coconut & Lime Body Butter sample - I'm a huge fan of this body butter and I'd buy it again.  See my review here.

White & Elm Chamomile Balancing Facial Toner 30ml - this was a delight to use and I'll definitely buy again. See my review here.

Bodhi & Birch Siam Ginger Vitalising Bath & Shower Therapy 200ml - one of my favourites from Bodhi & Birch. See my review here. I've got a mini still to use but it's one I'd buy again.

Blue Labelle Ylang Ylang and Frankincense Body Oil 100ml - this is a staple for me now! I've already got another one in my stash. See my review here.

Bodhi Mint The Refreshing Bath & Shower Therapy 250ml - this is my favourite Bodhi & Birch Shower Gel. Will definitely buy again.

Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deep Moisture Shampoo 60ml - this was nice to use and I'd buy again.

Lyonsleaf Calendula Cream 15ml - I loved this for dry rough patches of skin. Sure to buy full size soon.

Jimmy Choo EDP 50ml - I've not finished a bottle of perfume for ages! I really like this fruity sweet floral. Sure to buy again. This is my 3rd bottle of this scent.

Shropshire Lavender Bath & Shower Gel 30ml - this was nice to use with a gentle lavender scent. Would buy again.

Dr Bronner's 18-in-1 Hemp Eucalyptus Pure Castile Soap 237ml - I wasn't blown away with the scent of this so wouldn't buy again. Love the Peppermint version.

Kneipp Sweet Dreams Herbal Bath Valerian & Hops 20ml* - loved the effects of this bath oil. Great to use before bed for a restful night's sleep. Didn't love the scent of it but would buy. Kneipp Pure Bliss Herbal Bath Red Poppy & Hemp 20ml* - this was gorgeous! Would buy full size and Kneipp Balancing Lavender Herbal Bath 20ml* - again lovely to use before bed. Super impressed with all of these.

Dr Organic Pomegranate Deodorant 50ml - a staple. Have already bought again.

John Masters Organics Rosemary & Peppermint Detangler 60ml - I loved this. It left my hair super shiny and nourished. Will buy again.

pai Geranium & Thistle Balancing Day Cream 15ml - this came in a weekender travel kit which I'd buy again.

Blue Labelle Hand Oil 10ml - this was lovely. See my review here. Would buy again.

Rachel's Plan Bee Body Oil 112ml - I just loved this body oil. See my review here. Will buy again.

Dr Organic Rose Otto Bath Oil 100ml - this is a great dupe for REN's Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil at a fraction of the price and just as nice. Sure to buy again.

S W Basics Cleanser trial size - this was nice to use and have another in my stash. Would maybe buy again.

SAMPLES - Melvita Bio-Excellence Youthful Serum 2ml* - this serum was a bit runnier than I expected. Absorbed quickly and smelt really nice. Would maybe buy full size.

Cowshed Perfecting Night Serum 2ml - this was nice to use and I got a few uses out the sachet. One to add to the wishlist I think.

What have you been using up this month?

*PR samples

Travelling Light

I'm just back from an amazing trip to London (a post about what I got up to will follow). Here's the beauty products I took with me & the hotel ones that I acquired! 

The Cowshed sachets came from July's Love Lula box and were lovely to use. I've definitely got some favourites - I'll be picking up Grumpy Cow Uplifting Bath & Shower Gel and Wild Cow Invigorating Body Lotion at some point.

I also packed the pai travel kit - see my review here. I'm a huge fan of all three products and I enjoyed using them.

I love the John Masters Organics sachets which you can pick up at a low cost from Naturisimo or free with order from Love Lula (subject to availability).  I also packed a Lavera rose repair shampoo sachet - I'm keen to try this full size. I also popped in JMO citrus & neroli detangler and a sachet of Argan Dew's Replenising Hair Mask.  My final hair item was John Frieda's Flyaway Tamer Smoothing Wand which is fantastic for these pesky flyaway hairs.

Scent wise my beloved kai perfume oil and a sample vial of Jimmy Choo came with me and I couldn't travel without the very fab Schmidt's natural deodorant* - See my review here.

I can't go anywhere without a lip balm. I've been testing Portland Bee Balm* in Oregon Mint flavour which is super moisturising on the lips - a review to follow shortly!

I packed a couple of eye care samples - Oskia's Eye Wonder eye serum and Kahina's Eye Serum. I only used the Oskia one.

Nourish's Illuminating Golden Glow Face Shimmer is one of my most favourite products ever! See my review here. I also tucked in a sachet of Madara's fab Moon Flower Rose Beige Tinting Fluid.

Make up wise my liquids (we only took hand luggage) were Dermalogica primer, Better than Sex mascara, 3 x Bite Beauty Glosses, BareMinerals Bareskin Foundation and Armani concealer.

I always pack Aromatherapy Associates Support Breathe Essence* which is great for destressing and calming - see my review here.  

At St James' Court Hotel the plentiful toiletries were by a company I haven't heard of before - Plantation London in Darjeeling scent - an aromatic scent with lemongrass, lemon, nutmeg and tea tree. The products are free from parabens, sulphates and artificial colours.  

When we nipped across town to watch the Dolphins v Raiders at Wembley we stayed at the Hilton London Wembley.  The toiletries provided were by Peter Thomas Roth, a brand I've heard of before but haven't tried.

I think in the end I took too much. Are you able to travel light when it comes to beauty products?

*PR samples

YOU Beauty Discovery Box - Summer Essentials - August

I resubscribed to YOU Beauty Discovery this month as I thought the choices were excellent. The box costs an incredible £6.95 including P&P.

I'd hoped to pick up the Gazelli Skincare duo as one of my items but they sold out really quickly.

I was pleased to pick Just Be Botanicals Hydrating Serum 10ml which is worth £14.50!  I'm a huge fan of Gail's products having reviewed Just Be Nourished Body Butter here, Just Be Radiant Botanical Blend Tea here and Just Be Tranquil Body & Massage Oil here.  I have also had the wonderful Just Be Anti-Ageing and Just Be Fresh Faced facials.

The serum hydrates, firms and improves elasticity. Scented with Orange Blossom (divine) it is a natural toner and balances the emotions.  Apply a couple of drops to cleansed skin AM and PM.  Looking forward to trying this.

The second item I chose was the Louise Galvin Masque 100ml - I've used the shampoo & conditioner before so looking forward to trying out the masque. It is free from SLS, PEGs, Parabens, Silicone, Petrochemicals, Polymers and Synthetic fragrances. It will leave the hair hydrated, shiny, full of body and nourished.

Extra Treats - Jimmy Choo EDP & new Jimmy Choo MAN sample vials. I'm a huge fan of the woman's scent so this will be ideal for popping in my handbag, a four way nail buffer and a sachet of FaceD 3-LURONICS Instant Effect Cream Serum.

What did you chose?

YOU Beauty Discovery Box: December

My December YOU Beauty Discovery Box arrived on Monday night. It's Party Prep box and is fab. This box costs £6.95 per month including P&P making it the best value beauty box out there! Join up here.  You pick two items and YOU Beauty add two samples.

I chose Magnifibres Brush on Lashes (full size - 0.9g worth £20!) I'm looking forward to trying this out! To use - apply one coat of mascara then apply the Magnifibres when mascara is still wet then wait 30-60 seconds and apply a second coat of mascara to cover the white fibres.

My second item is a duo - Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Hydrocream Whip (70ml) and Awapuhi Wild Ginger Hydromist Blow-out Spray (25ml) The hydrocream whip is a styling cream which lightly conditions and gives a smooth finish. the blow-out spray gives hair body and smoothes down frizz.

Extras this month are a mini Green & Black's Raisin & Hazelnut chocolate bar and a sample vial of Flash by Jimmy Choo.

Did you get this month's box? What did you pick?

Spending Ban - Update 2

I am actually finding the spending ban not too bad although in week 2 I found  I was tempted by things..  Grace's Blog Sale caught my eye and I especially wanted the Aromatherapy Associates Rose Exfoliating Cleanser and the Nourish Toner grrr...

Here is how my week has been...mid-week is definitely snacking day!

I am really making lots of use of my beautiful paperblanks* journal.  So handy for jotting down my spending/wants.

Here are my wants for week 2 -

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint minis - I read about these on The Sunday Girl blog and they sound amazing!

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Jimmy Choo Flash EDP - absolutely hate the name but know I will love this scent because I adore tuberose & gardenia notes.

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Nourish Radiance Body Treats Set - I've not tried any nourish products yet but this body set appeals - shower gel, flannel, hand lotion and body butter.

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Melvita Rose Nectar Milky Cleansing Oil - just read about this recently and so want to try!  Generally love Melvita products (and rose scents).

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The Alpha-H set from WIMH was an absolute killer - so wanted to buy it - but restrained! It is now sold out!

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Not beauty but a book I really want to read by Maggie O'Farrell is out in February (fingers crossed for amazon vouchers at my birthday!). I've read her other books and they are all amazing!

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Are you on the spending ban? How are you doing?  What things are you "wanting" this week?

*complimentary sample

My Perfume Collection

From going to having one signature scent - Chanel Sycamore as reviewed here my collection has suddenly grown! (although I also was using Jimmy Choo EDP also at the time - I'm now on my third bottle of it since its launch in February 2011).

I am also loving Tom Ford Santal Blush as reviewed here. I adore this (and gulp... I am over half way through it having worn it every day until I got Prada Candy at Christmas).  It's one which is always going to be on my wishlist.

I also love the Annick Goutal Mandragore EDT from the Feel Unique December box.

From the Advent Calendar I'm loving using Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb and Armani Code.

I also love Diptyque Philosykos and I've got it in a perfumed roll-on at the moment - its one I always come back to as I love the figgy, green fresh scent which reminds me of balmy summer evenings.

A friend gave me a atomizer filled with Estee Lauder Sensuous Nude EDP a while ago and its another I really like, a cosy wearable scent although I'm not sure I'd buy a bottle.  

I also love Lush Ginger Solid Perfume.

I have also got loads of sample vials/mini bottles - Fracas, Visa, Calypso, Pivoine Floral, Le Labo - Tubereuse 40 and Rose 31 (a review will follow on these), Trish McEvoy, Liz Earle, assorted Avon vials, Jo Malone - Wild Bluebell and Grapefruit, Jo Wood, Acorelle, Paestum Rose, Orla Kiely and Korres to name a few!

November Empties

It's official! I am addicted to beauty products!  Here are my November empties.

Bareminerals Purifying Facial Cleanser and Purely Nourishing Moisturiser double sachet - for combination skin -  I really loved the moisturiser and may purchase this at some point.

Korres Lemon Body Milk - from the last Boudoir Prive box - loved this would re-purchase.

Vaseline Intensive Care Deodorant - like the fact that this one doesn't sting and a neutral scent.

Deep Steep Foaming Handwash - Tangerine & Melon 249ml - quite a nice handwash, a foam rather than a gel took a bit of getting used to but it smelt lovely and fruity (had just about finished this by end October).

Sanctuary Spa Relax Warming Body Oil 15ml x 1 - supposedly single use - this lasted me twice.  Would probably repurchase as nice product (and good gift - comes in set of five).

John Masters Organics Blood Orange & Vanilla Body Milk 30ml - this was part of a travel set of four (shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body milk).  Nice product would re-purchase.

REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil 110ml - my most favourite bath oil in the world!  Will definitely re-purchase.

Morroccanoil for fine & light coloured hair 25ml - bought the smaller size to try, loved it and have bought the full size since.  I'll keep the little bottle to decant from the larger one for travel.

Garnier BB Cream sachet - light - fab sample - love this product - will purchase full size at some point (when I finish up other foundations/tinted moisturisers).

Jimmy Choo Perfumed Shower Gel 150ml - lush product with the gorgeous scent of Jimmy Choo.  Was a birthday gift - would re-purchase (I also got the body lotion which was gorgeous too but finished it before I started blogging).

Elemis Pro-Collagen Lifting Treatment for Neck and Bust 15ml - this was from the Breast Cancer Awareness Set in October - love this product.

Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel 125ml - quite liked this product though it was a pain you can't use it on the eye area.  For this reason alone I probably wouldn't re-purchase, but other than that a really good product.

Dr Organic Rose Otto Body Wash 250ml - nice product with good scent (I love rose scents) and lather will re-purchase.  Dr Organic range can be bought at Holland & Barratt, in a range of scents.

Origins Incredible Spreadable Ginger Body Scrub 100ml - love this, its always on my Christmas Wish List - it smells divine.  Although I think this one was free with Grazia magazine.

Cetuem SCR Gold Creme de Lite 5ml - from Boudoir Prive - okay cream and smelt nice but didn't wow me.  Wouldn't purchase.


Molton Brown Parasdisiac Pink Peppercorn Bath and Shower Gel 100ml - love Molton Brown products (usually scent of choice is Heavenly Gingerlily) but decided to try another - okay scent but wouldn't repurchase though great quality product.

Giorgio Armani Regenessence Multi-corrective Rejuvenating Cream 3ml - lovely product but mega bucks.  £75 full size.  Smells amazing though and really feels like it works.

Body Shop Morroccan Rose Shower Gel 60ml/Body Lotion 60ml - lovely scent, would re-purchase.

Elemis Quiet Mind Relaxing Bath Elixir - De-stress Bath Soak 100ml - really nice product would re-purchase full size. Smells great and really relaxing after a stressful day.

Caudalie Cleansing Water 50ml - this was quite a nice product - would be good for holidays (and kept in the fridge).

Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Body Oil 1.2ml sample - I'd always wanted to try this but wasn't really impressed, was ok product, scent was of lilies and I didn't really like it.  Though I'd like to try the lip balm in this range.

Elemis Skin Nourishing Milk Bath 125ml - love this for use in the bath or neat as a body moisturiser for dry skin areas.  Normally pick this in GWP deals.

Palmolive Milk & Honey Handwash 300ml - picked this up in the supermarket for 60p - nice product.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 15ml - love, love, love this cream!

Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel 75ml - a good cleanser would probably re-purchase.


I also finished the Prada Candy EDP sample from Feel Unique box - a full size bottle is on my Christmas wish list, a Bamford Organics mini soap in Rose - smells beautiful and creates lots of lather.  What products have you been using up this month? x