Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: My To-Buys

My Bloom Perfumery perfume subscription finished in June and I decided not to re-subscribe (I'd had a subscription for two years at this point) and as well as being pricey (but lovely) I was beginning to get a few repeats (some which I loved, some not so).

I've decided to let you know my stand out favourites which are firmly on the want list (I loved a lot but realistically I'm only picking the ones I might buy at some point).

July 2015 - Summer Florals

My favourite was the beautiful TARDES by Carner EdP 50ml (£85) - see my review HERE.

September 2015 - Autumn Scents

I totally fell for the glorious Coeur de Noir by Beaufort EdP 50ml (£95) which is quite unlike anything in my collection. It's a beautiful blend of ginger, ink, rum, leather, paper, vanillin with a base of cedar, tobacco and birch tar.

November 2015 - Male sample pack

In November, Bloom Perfumery mixed the sample packs up and the girls got the guys one and vice versa! I was initially a bit surprised by found I absolutely adored Cuirs by Carner EdP 50ml (£85) which is a smokey oud with leather and woods.

March 2016 - Iris 

I totally fell for the gorgeous Boszporousz by Nishane Extrait de Parfum (which is no longer stocked by Bloom Perfumery). It has notes of cypress, galbanum, sage, seaweed, gardenia, jasmine, amber, musk, oakmoss and patchouli

April 2016 - Citrus Breeze

My top pick is Phaedon's Verveine Figuier EdT 100ml (£69) a stunning fig perfume with verbena notes which is perfect for summer.

May 2016 - Sea, Sand & Sun Lotion

I think Carner is a brand I love! My top pick for May '16 is Costarela EdP 50ml (£85) which captures a Mediterranean breeze. It has notes of bergamot, saffron, hot sand accord, sea spray accord, ambrozan and Virginia cedar.

July 2016 - Continental Roses

PG13 Brulure de Rose EdP 50ml (£81.50) portrays the life cycle of a rose - from the bud to full bloom. It has notes of rosewood, rose, amber, musk, raspberry and sandalwood.

October 2016 - Exploring Labdanum

My favourite is again from a perfume house I love Beaufort - Fathom V EdP 50ml (£95) which has top notes of  juniper berry, tangerine, blackcurrant, green leaf and earth, with a heart of thyme, lily, jasmine, ylang ylang, ginger, black pepper and mimosa with a base of patchouli, vetiver, moss, salt, frankincense, Atlas cedar and amber.

April 2017 - Violets

I absolutely adored Violet Disguise EdP by Imaginary Authors 50ml (£90) which is a bon-bon violet flower interpretation with notes of plum, violet, dried fruit, balsam and amber.

May 2016 - Fragrant Travel

I've got to have two picks this month! My first is Palo Santo EdP by Carner 50ml (£85) which is simply beautiful. A creamy and lush woody blend with rich notes. It has top notes of Indian davana and rum accord, a heart of warm milk, Paraguayan guaiac and Venezuelan tonka beans with a base of Moroccan cedarwood, vetyver from Haiti and Dominican Republican amyris.

My second pick is Melodie de L'Amour by Dusita Extrait de Parfum 50ml - £250 (gulp) with top notes of gardenia, honey and tuberose, a heart of broom, Indian jasmine, lily of the valley and peach with base notes of cedar and musk.

So there you have it! My to-buy over my 2 year subscription (11) are any of these in your collection or on your wishlist?

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: September 2016

My Bloom Perfumery September sample pack arrived yesterday and this month it's #LucaTurinApproved - Perfume writer and co-author of the perfume lover's bible "Perfumes: The A-Z Guide" of which I have an early edition and which has given me hours and hours of reading pleasure.

Onto the perfumes this month which have all recently featured on Luca's blog:

Baruti Berlin in Winter (Indigo RMX) Extrait de Parfum (30ml - £80, 1ml - £5) which has notes of amber, cassis, coffee, frankincense, iris, lavender, leather, mastic, myrrh, plum, rose and whisky. I initially didn't like this scent but it's definitely growing on me. 

AEON 001 Extrait de Parfum (65ml - £200, 1.2ml - £10) which was the one which initially jumped out at me. With notes of tobacco and vetiver. Luca says "the best vetiver in a long time". It is blended with a distinct note of honey and white flowers with a touch of smoke and resin. Love!

Angela Ciampagna Liquo EdP (50ml - £95, 1.6ml - £5) which is really unusual and has a distinct liquorice aroma making it quite mouthwatering. With top notes of lavandin, violet and lemon with a heart of anise, licorice, straw and coumarin with a base of incense, vetiver and tonka beans. 

.vero.profumo. Mito EdP (50ml - £138, 1.2ml - £5) with top notes of green leaves, a heart of champaca, magnolia grandiflora and tuberose with a base of galbanum and hyacinth. It opens with a green freshness developing into a creamy heady floral with a woody base. Like this one a lot.

Nishane Sultan Vetiver Extrait de Parfum (50ml - £120, 1ml - £5) which is a mix of vetivers from all over the world - Java, Brazil, Haiti and Bourbon) and is heady and exotic. It has top notes of absinthe, Java vetiver, bergamot and Peruvian pepper a heart of Bourbon vetiver, neroli, Haiti vetiver and tonka beans with a base of amber, Brazil vetiver and leather. Huge fan of this perfume house, my favourite being Boszporusz.

Just landed is Brocard Queen of Spades Modern EdP 1.5ml (which I can't actually find online yet!) It has top notes of citruses and mango, a heart of jasmine, orange blossom and white rose and a base of patchouli, vanilla, marshmallow and white musk and is very fruity and sweetly edible.

What are your thoughts on this month's selection?

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: August 2016: Jasmine

My Bloom Perfumery August sample pack landed yesterday. This month the theme is Jasmine.

"A flower with several different scent facets, the jasmine can smell green and airy or it can feel heavier, more narcotic, indolic and animal. It's a material that's regarded as an essential component in modern perfumery, even though natural floral extracts are so rare and scarce nowadays that some cost more than the price of gold".

The first one I tried is Nishane's Hundred Silent Ways (50ml Extrait de Parfum - £120, 1ml - £5) which is a floral gourmand and simply stunning. It has top notes of Mandarin, Peach and Tuberose, a heart of Gardenia, Iris butter and Jasmine and a base of Sandalwood, Vanilla and Vetivert.

Just Landed: Phaedon's Sable & Soleil EdP (100ml - £95, 1.6ml - £2) is "an ode to a tropical Eden resplendent with sandy beaches, exotic flowers and crystal clear shimmering azure waters" (got me sold already!) With top notes of Lemon, a heart of Coconut milk, Geranium and Jasmine with a base of Sandalwood, Vanilla, Tonka beans and White Musk.

Jazmin Sarai's How you Love EdP (50ml - £72, 1.6ml - £2) which is inspired my Sade's "It's only love that gets you through" and has notes of Cardamon Absoute, Grapefruit, Jasmine Absolute, Rose oil, Beeswax Absolute, Sandalwood and Musk.

PG's Drama Nuui EdP (100ml - £117.50, 1.6ml - £2) is very floral with rich heady hues. With notes of French Jasmine, Gaiac wood, Musk, Petigrain, Sandalwood and spices.

Next up is Just Landed: Brocard's Modern Classic EdP which is very, very reasonably priced (100ml - £21, 1.6ml - 80p) which has notes of Pear, Praline, Blackcurrant, White Musk, Orange Blossom and Vanilla.

Finally, Grossmith's Shem-El-Nessim EdP (50ml - £170, 1.6ml - £5). This one is just not to my taste as I find it too heavy and a bit powdery for my liking. It has top notes of Bergamot and Neroli, a heart of Geranium, Rose, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang and Orris with base notes of Musk, Cedarwood, Heliotrope and Vanilla.

What's your favourite Jasmine scent?

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: April to June Favourites

Here's my final favourites from my first year of the Yearly Sample Pack Subscription and I'm super excited to say I've signed up for another year!

In April I loved them all (apart from one) but I have to say I simply loved Art de Parfum's Sensual Oud (Extrait de Parfum - 50ml - £88). See my thoughts HERE.

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May saw me fall for Carner's stunning Costerela EdP (50ml - £85) which has costal notes and summer freshness. See my thoughts HERE.

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Finally in June my favourite was Wūlóng Chá by Nishane (Extrait de Parfum - 50ml - £110). See my thoughts HERE.

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You can see my favourites for the rest of the year below:

The 1st Four Months - July, August, September & October

November to March Favourites

I know I'll definitely buy these perfumes at some point as they just wowed me:

Tardes by Carner EdP

Coeur de Noir by Beaufort London EdP

Boszporusz by Nishane Extrait de Parfum

Sensual Oud by Art de Parfum Extrait de Parfum

Costarela by Carner EdP

What's your favourite perfumes from Bloom Perfumery?

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: June 2016

This is my final pack from my Bloom Perfumery yearly subscription (but I recently signed up for another year as I love it so much!)

This month the samples are "exploring Ambroxan" which is "an isolated ingredient that perfumers often refer to as a wonder molecule. It's a natural ingredient which comes from clary sage".  "It's an ingredient that universally, almost everyone likes the scent of". "In a blend ambroxan extends fleeting ingredients whilst also acting as an olfactive magnifying glass, glazing over top notes and making them shine whilst also rounding out the overall punch of a perfume".

Bloom Perfumery have included a 1% solution of ambroxan to identify the molecule's unique and projective properties.

My favourite perfume this month is Wūlóng Chá by Nishane (50ml Extrait de Parfum £110, 1ml Extrait de Parfum £5) which has top notes of bergamot, mandarin, litsea and orange with a heart of nutmeg and oolong tea and base notes of fig tree fruit and musk. It's the perfect summer scent.

I'm also loving Etat Libre d'Orange's Bendelirious (50ml EdP £70) which is a fun loving scent with notes of champagne, cherry lollipop, iris absolute, leather, tonka beans, violet leaf absolute, grapefruit, musk and vetiver.

Phaedon Paris's Rue de Lilas (100ml EdT £69, 1.6ml £2) has just landed and has notes of lily-of-the-valley, opponax, rain drops, musk, palisander and white lilac.

Grossmith's Floral Veil (50ml EdP £170, 1.6ml £5) with top notes of cassis, green leaves and lemon with a heart of geranium, tuberose, ylang ylang, rose and vanilla and a base of amber, cashmeran and musk. 

I've loved all the Nishane perfumes I've tried via the subscription but unfortunately I found Rose Turca (50ml Extrait de Parfum £120, 1ml Extrait de Parfum £5) just a little powdery and heady for my tastes. It has top notes of Isparta rose essence and ylang ylang, a heart of Egyptian jasmine and Sardinian jasmine with a base of Isparta rose absolute and musk.

The final perfume this month is NEW IN: Paul Schütze Cirebon (50ml EdP £135, 1.6ml £2) and is a bold citrus. With notes of bergamot, cedar, orange blossom, sandalwood, bigarade orange, magnolia, petitgrain and vetiver. I kind of like this one.

See my reviews of the rest of the year:

2016: May, April, March, February, January 

2015: December, November, October, September, August, July

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: April 2016

My Bloom Perfumery April samples arrived on Saturday and this month the theme is "Citrus Breeze". The picks are fresh and citrus (and there's only one in the pack which doesn't make me swoon!)

I've had a sample before of Phaedon's Verveine Figuier EdT (£69 - 100ml, £2 - 1.6ml) and I loved its refreshing verbena and earthy fig notes. With notes of benzoin, fig tree leaves, licorice, musk, ooakmoss, Texas cedar and Verbena. It's the perfect scent for spring and summer.

I am totally smitten with NEW IN: Art de Parfum's Sensual Oud Extrait de Parfum (£88 - 50ml, £2 - 1.6ml) and I'd say it's up there with TARDES by Carner as one of my favourites from the whole year. It has notes of rose, leather, cloves, cypress, jasmine absolute, patchouli and geranium.

From Olfactive Studio we have Flash Back EdP (£74 - 50ml, £2 - 1.6ml) which is sweet and tangy with top notes of grapefruit, orange and rhubarb, a heart of Granny Smith apples and pink pepper with base notes of amber, musk and vetivert.

Spice Bazaar Extrait de Parfum from Nishane (£110 - 50ml, £5 - 1ml) is spicy and woody with top notes of ginger, juniper, rosemary and yuzu with a heart of cedar, cinnamon and cumin and base notes of black pepper, saffron and vanilla. I also loved their Boszporusz scent.

Arquiste's L'Etrog Acqua EdP (£135 - 100ml, £2 - 1.6ml) is woody and citrussy and has notes of bergamot, cedrat, labdanum, mandarin, myrtle, petit grain and vetivert.

I find Arquiste's Fleur de Louis EdP (£125 - 55ml, £2 - 1.6ml) a little too powdery for my tastes. With top notes of bergamot, cypress, galbanum and neroli, a heart of clove, jasmine, orange blossom and rose and a base of amber, cedarwood, Italian iris root, labdanum and vetivert.

What do you think of this month's picks?

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: November to March Favourites

I've now only a few months left of my Bloom Perfumery subscription. I've absolutely loved it and it has introduced me to loads of perfumes I'd never normally have tried which are now firmly on the wishlist. You can see my favourites for July, August, September and October HERE.

These are my favourites from November - March:

In November, Bloom Perfumery switched it up and gave the girls the guys selection and vice versa. Initially I was a bit surprised but ended up really loving one of the scents (for me, rather than hubby).

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CUIRS by Carner EdP (£81 - 50ml) totally stole my heart. It has notes of oud and leather with saffron, gaiac wood, sandalwood, Texas cedar, violet, Amyris wood, patchouli, musk, tonka beans, cistus and nagarmotha. I also adore TARDES by Carner (review).

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In December my favourite was Esprit Divin EdP by Paul Emilien (£140 - 100ml) a spicy, woody and floral scent with top notes of clove, ginger, grapefruit, frankincense, nutmeg, rose saffron, vanilla, amber and cardamon with a heart of musk, nagarmotha, patchouli, rosewood, sandalwood and violet leaf with a base of amber, labdnum, musk, spices, tobacco and Turkish rose.

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January saw me fall for Foudre by Parfumerie Generale EdP (£80 - 50ml) a floral and woody scent with a hint of freshness which has notes of black tea, champaca, pepper, cashmeran, musk and vetivert.

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In February I loved Nanban by Arquiste EdP (£135 - 100ml) which is smokey and woody and has notes of black pepper, black tea, Chinese osmanthus, coffee, copaiba balm, frankincense, leather, myrrh, saffron and styrax.

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Last month I just loved Boszporusz by Nishane Extrait de Parfum (£110 - 50ml) a breezy sea inspired scent with notes of cypress, galbanum, sage, seaweed, gardenia, jasmine, amber, musk, oakmoss and patchouli.

Sign up to a Bloom Perfumery Yearly Sample Pack Subscription HERE. It costs £120 for the year and monthly you get 5 x 1.6ml samples, a promocode for 10% off that month's selection and a 1.6ml sample of a recent launch.

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: March 2016

My March Bloom Perfumery Sample Pack arrived on Friday and this month to commemorate the first flowers of spring iris is a note used in all the scents.

"the scent of iris is derived from the root of the plant so the sensation of its smell can often be a little misleading when people think of it as a flower".

"Considered powdery and earthy, Iris also smells aqueous, as if it's bursting with a violet like freshness. On it's own it can smell like warm, sunned skin or as a natural musk, but in tandem with other ingredients it's effect is startlingly individual. It can inject a dry streak into a floral perfume or soften an oriental composition".

My absolute favourite this month is Nishane's Boszporousz Extrait de Parfum 1.2ml (50ml - £110, 1ml - £5). It has just landed at Bloom and is Exclusive and is simply gorgeous. It has top notes of cypress, galbanum, sage and seaweed with a heart of gardenia and jasmine and a base of amber, musk, oakmoss and patchouli. A pretty floral with salt, sage and seagrass notes reminiscent of the Bosphorous strait shores.

Next to capture my heart is PG's 21 Felanilla EdP 1.6ml (50ml - £81.50, 1.6ml - £2) which is a best seller at Bloom Perfumery. "This is vanilla for grown-ups" and has top notes of saffron, vanilla with a heart of hay and iris absolute and a base of amber.

The final four are Etat Libre d'Orange Benderelious EdP 1.6ml (50ml - £70) which has notes of champagne, cherry lollipop, grapefruit, iris absolu, iris butter, leather, musk tonka bean, vetiver and violet leaf absolute.

Exclusive to Bloom Perfumery .vero.profumo. Mito EdP 1.2ml (50ml - £138, 1.2ml - £5) with top notes of green leaves, a heart of champaca, magnolia grandiflora and tuberose with a base of galbanum and hyacinth

Grossmith's Diamond Jubilee Bouquet EdP 1.4ml (50ml - £195, 1.6ml - £5) which was created to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. The heart is a powder iris.  It has top notes of lemon, lily of the valley, narcissus and orange with a heart of carnation, iris, jasmine, rose, vetiver and violet with a base of amber, hawthorn, tonka beans and vanilla.

New In The Merchant of Venice's Ottoman Amber EdP 1.6ml (100ml - £120, 1.6ml - £2) which has notes of labdanum, myrrh, oud accord, patchouli and vanilla.

What are your thoughts on this month's selection?

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack - December 2015

My December Bloom Perfumery Sample Pack arrived on Tuesday and this month the fragrances feature notes such as myrrh, frankincense and benzoin. Samples are also included of raw materials to give an idea of what they smell like before perfumers work on them in their perfumes.

Bloom Perfumery also gave us an extra gift this month of Hyalomiel Hand Gel with Organic honey and rose to moisturise and leave hands velvety soft - thanks Bloom Perfumery!

Inside this month is:

New In: Habanita - Molinard EdP (30ml - £47, 1.6ml - £2) which has top notes of lemon and petigrain, heart notes of heliotrope, mimosa, rose, virginia cedar, jasmine, nutmeg, vetivert and ylang ylang with a base of amber, patchouli, vanilla, oakmoss and sandalwood. It's a little bit powdery for my tastes.

Exclusive: Lye by Gabriella Chieffo EdP (100ml - £110, 1.6ml - £2) I like this one! It has top notes of bergamot and lemon, a heart of frankincense and iris with bases notes of leather, opponax, patchouli and vanilla.

Bestseller, Just Landed, Exclusive: Mūsīqá Oud by Nishane Extrait de Parfum (50ml - £150, 1ml - £5) a rich and heady scent. With top notes of amyris, wood, cypriol, grapefruit a heart of amber, oud and saffron with a base of gaiac wood, oakmoss and sandalwood. This is unlike anything I've ever worn before.

Myrrhiad by Huitieme Art EdP (50ml - £88, 1.6ml £2) a warm and sensual scent which is also gourmand, balsamic and woody. With notes of black tea, licorice, myrrh and vanilla.

Exclusive: Oliban by Phaedon Paris EdT (100ml - £69, 1.6ml £2) with woody, fruity incense notes of ambroxan, musk, incense and sandalwood.

Exclusive, Best Seller: Esprit Divin by Paul Emilien EdP (100ml - £140, 1.6ml £2) This is my favourite this month. A spicy chypre with top notes of clove, ginger, grapefruit, frankincense, nutmeg, rose saffron, vanilla, amber and cardamon with heart notes of musk, nagarmotha, patchouli, rosewood, sandalwood and violet leaf with base notes of amber, labdnum, musk, spices, tobacco and Turkish rose.

Extra: Exclusive: Hyalomiel Gel (50ml - £9.50) a luxe jelly which moisturises, soothes and refreshes the hands. Scented with honey and rose.

What do you think of the choices this month?

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: October 2015

Saturday was a good day for parcels and one of them was my October Bloom Perfumery sample pack.

This month it's evening scents - luxe floral formulas "olfactive equivalents of tiaras and mink stoles".

I'm finding I'm loving the perfumes from Parfumerie Générale - this month it's Gardenia Grand Soir EdP (50ml - £81.50, 1.6ml sample - £2) - A lush green Gardenia with top notes of Bergamot and Green Accord, heart notes of Gardenia and Sandalwood with a base of Musk.

My second favourite is Rozy EdP (.vero.profumo.) (50ml - £138, 1.2ml - £5) - a delicious fruity honey rose with top notes of Damask Rose and Passion Fruit, a heart of Lilac and Peach with base notes of Honey and Sandalwood.

Next up is Jasmin et Cigarette EdP (Etat Libre D'Orange) (50ml - £70) - "a reference to old Hollywood chic" with notes of Jasmine Absolute, tobacco, Apricot, Tonka Beans, Curcuma, Amber, Cedarwood and Musk.

New in is Shermine EdP (Huitieme) (50ml - £88, 1.6ml - £2) - "a rich powdery perfume with a fantasy ermine note". With Argentinian Lemon and Iris-Ermine accord.

Classic Dali EdP (Salvador Dali) (50ml - £49, 1.6ml - £5) - "an absolute classic". It has top notes of Bergamot, Violet Leaf and Clove with heart notes of Rose, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang and Mimosa with a base of Sandalwood, Oakmoss, Patchouli and Musk. This is quite powdery which I usually avoid - but I quite like this one!

Just landed Duftbluten by Nishane (50ml extrait de Parfum - £120, 1ml - £5) - is a "musky woody floral". It has top notes of Gardenia and Magnolia with heart notes of Osmanthus and Patchouli with a base of Frankincense and Oakmoss.

Introducing Photoshop Oil (Ami lyok) - a moisturising body oil with a little bit of shimmer and Monoi Tiare flower oil, shea butter and tocopherol - which is a lovely extra!

What are your thoughts as to this month's selection?

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: August 2015

I've had my Bloom Perfumery August sample pack a couple of weeks now and already have a few firm favourites.  As you know I'm on a spending ban but I'm planning on picking up the perfume I've loved most in the (July - December period) after my ban as a little treat.  You can see what I received in July HERE.

This month the samples come in plastic vials (exactly the same if you buy a sample online).

Inside the package is 5 x 1.6ml samples - and this month includes fruit, honey and patisserie inspired fragrances. There is also a 1 x 1.6ml of a recent launch and a promo code for 10% off one of the perfumes included in this month's selection.

My absolute favourite this month is Parfumerie Generale PG16 Jardins de Kerylos (50ml - £81.50) which is a delicious fig scent perfect for summer. In fact it is a "summer fruity best seller". Inspired by a fruit orchard on a cliff in Cote d'Azure and has top notes of Fig tree fruit, heart notes of Peach and Sycamore with base notes of Musk and Tuberose. Love!

Ciel D'Airain (Huiteme Art) (50ml - £88) is a woody and fruity scent. It is "a study of a pear" and includes fruit notes, bark, leaves, ambergris and olive tree twigs. It is quite unlike anything I've worn before but I really like it.

The all year round best seller among the fruity scents is 1270 (Frapin) (100ml - £98). The perfume is a tribute to the year the Frapin family started making Cognac in the Grand Champagne region in France. This is fruity and sweet with notes of Cocoa, Coffee, Pineapple, Prunes, Raisins, Grape Blossom, Immortelle, Linden, Pepper, Gaiac Wood, Honey and Vanilla.

Like This (Etat Libre d'Orange) (50ml - £70) - a gourmand edible scent which is rich and sweet. With notes of Ginger, Heliotrope, Immortelle, Musk, Neroli, Pumpkin, Rose, Spices, Tangerine and Vetiver.

This best-seller PG03 Cuir Venenum (Parfumerie Generale) (50ml - £81.50) is my second favourite this month. It has top notes of Orange Blossom, a heart of Leather and Tamanu Oil with base notes of Atlas Cedar, Honey, Musk and Myrrh. I love it's leathery scent with floral and honey notes.

The final sample is new-in Pasion Choco (Nishane) (50ml - £110) - which is sweet and comforting with notes of Passionfruit, coffee, carmelised Grapefruit, dark Chocolate, Orchid, Coriander, Vanilla, Benzoin, Patchouli and Dark Musk.

What do you think of the choices this month?