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 March 2017: Green

I have to say straight up front - I think this has been my favourite month ever! (I actually love all the scents included this month). "In the first month of Spring we explore the phenomenon green (cut grass and leaves) in perfume and how perfumers go about instilling it in a formula".

Inside the pack this month:

Zoologist Hummingbird EdP (60ml - £125, 1ml - £3)  which is designed to make you "think of a tropical forest and it's lush green vegetation". It has a high level of coumarin which smells of warm hay with green smelling florals. With top notes of apple, cherry, citrus, lilac, muget, plum, rose and violet leaf. A heart of honey, honeysuckle, mimosa, peony, tulip and ylang ylang with a base of amber, coumarin, cream, moss, musks, sandalwood and white woods. 

Huitième Art Aube Pashmina EdP (50ml - £88, 1ml - £2) which is "a straightforward green with a note of tomato leaves propped up by a geranium-basil mix". With notes of basil, currant leaves, geranium, rosemary, satinwood and tomato leaves. This is really fresh with a fruity edge.

.vero.profumo. Mito EdP (50ml - £138, 1ml - £5) which is the "perfect perfume to learn how galbanum smells". "French perfumers call this resin "runner bean in a shoe" - green beans and leather.  Bloom Perfumery say to compare this with Aube Pashmina (synthetic green - tomato leaf) "compared to a carefully built up green created from combining natural materials with a green nuance". With top notes of green leaves a heart of champaca, magnolia grandiflora and tuberose and a base of galbanum and hyacinth.

PG16.1 Bois Naufragé EdP (50ml - £81.50, 1ml - £2) which is new in (a reintroduction) which is formulated with a note of mock fig (carob) which is sweet and leafy. With a top note of fig of Egypt (carob tree), a heart of sea salt and a base of vetiver fraction and ambergris.

Baruti Melkmeisje Extrait de Parfum (30ml - £98, 1ml - £5) which is built around linden absolute (a rare and expensive material). A green floral with powder and honey notes. With notes of honey, iris butter, lilac, linden, musk, pear, sandalwood, vanilla and vetiver.

The final pick this month is by Bloom Bespoke Lab KisKis EdT (50ml - £69.99, 1ml - £2) which is Bloom's own experiment "the fruity green nuance has been created from combining blackcurrant leaves, cucumber and apple accord". With notes of amber, sage, cucumber, granny smith apples, oakmoss, rose, vanilla, blackcurrant leaves, jasmine and raindrops.

Have you tried any of these perfumes? As I said, this month goes down as one of my favourites over the two years of my subscription (I could easily have them all full size - if only!) You also get a code for 10% off any of the bottles this month.

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: January 2017: Exploring Resins

My January Bloom Perfumery Sample Pack arrived on Saturday. This month we are exploring more exotic and rare resins - elemi, Peru and tolu balms.

"Elemi comes from a tree native to the Philippines and smells somewhere between cedarwood and frankincense with a lot of citrus nuance. Peru balsam is much smokier, boozy and vanillic and comes from South America, so does tolu which smells sweet and reminiscent of old library ambiance. All these materials offer perfumers a choice of intense shades of smokey, sweet, spicy or crisp woods depending on what the resins are combined with".

The first perfume which I totally fell for is Angela Ciampagna's Aer EdP (100ml - £160, 50ml - £95, 1ml - £5) which focuses on the citrus green aspect of elemi. It opens with mint, grapefruit and lemon with juniper in it's heart. With top notes of grapefruit, lemon, mint and pink pepper, a heart of jasmine, juniper and magnolia with a base of cashmeran, elemi and patchouli. Love this!

From Parfumerie Generale we have Long-Courrier EdP (100ml - £116, 50ml - £80, 1ml - £2) which is a salty vanilla. It's part of the PG's Cruise Collection which is about travel to remote exotic locations. With notes of cedarwood, cocoa, elemi, musk, orange and salt.  

Meanwhile, PG26 Isparta (100ml - £117.50, 50ml - £81.50, 1ml - £2) is summer roses with a dark side. With top notes of candied fruit and oud, a heart of Isparta (Turkish) rose and patchouli with base notes of ambroxan, benzoin, calamu, frankincense and Peru balsam. We also received this in July's pack.

PG10.1 Bouquet Massai EdP (100ml - £117.50, 50ml - £81.50, 2ml - £2) which we received in November's pack (there has been a few repeats now over the 2 year subscription). Tolu is paired with coffee. It has notes of cashmeran, coffee, karo karounde, magnolia, peach, peony, raindrops, sandalwood and tolu.

From Huitème Art Parfums there is Poudre de Riz EdP (100ml - £115, 50ml - £88, 1ml - £2) which is a floral with powdery sweet notes. With notes of benzoin, cedarwood, coconut, iris, syrupy rose, tiare, sandalwood, tolu, tonka and vanilla.

The final scent this month is New In: From Angela Ciampagna Fauni Extrait de Parfum (100ml - £245, 1ml - £7) which is a leathery gardenia (and is lush!). With top notes of green leaves, a heart of frankincense, gardenia and ylang ylang with base notes of amber, benzoin, musk and tolu.

I've been really enjoying this month's picks, even with the two repeat perfumes. What are your thoughts on the selection?

August Empties

I think this is the smallest amount yet! I threw out some things I used over summer holidays instead of bringing the empty pots/sachets back.

Aromatherapy Associates Renewing Rose Body Wash 40ml - a beautiful rose scented body wash. I have a few in my stash but would buy full size.

Kiss the Moon Love After Dark Bath Oil 5ml - a lush and heady scented bath oil (Rose, Palmarosa, Ylang Ylang and Frankincense). I definitely want the full size of this! See my review HERE.

bodhi & birch Botanical Dew Hand & Body Wash 200ml - this was lovely to use. See my review HERE. Will buy again.

MOA Fortifying Green Bath Potion 100ml - I was really sad to finish this invigorating and de-stressing bath oil. See my review HERE. Another one will be mine when I finish up some other bath products. Loved it.

Aromatherapy Associates Light Relax Bath & Shower Oil 9ml - nice to use. Huge fan of these. Sure to pick up again.

REN Neroli & Grapefruit Body Wash 50ml - there were REN toiletries in Hotel du Vin in Birmingham. This was nice and refreshing on a hot day and after travelling. Would maybe pick up again.

L'Occitane Mer & Mistral Shower Gel 50ml - loved this sea inspired scented shower gel which was very refreshing. Would buy again.

Mio Clean Slate Workout Swipe for Face & Body - a single use large wipe which is great after exercise or travelling. Would buy again.

PG Gardenia Grand Soir EdP sample - which came in my October 2015 Bloom Perfumery sample pack. Loved this and full size is on the wishlist.

Dr Organic Rose Otto Deodorant - I prefer the Pomegranate one so wouldn't pick this up again.

Lucy's Lotions Vitamin E & Grapefruit Body Butter 150ml - this was pleasant to use but was more a cream than a butter. See my review HERE. I wouldn't buy this particular product again but love the lip balm in the range.

Madara Moon Flower Rose Beige Tinting Fluid 50ml - I love using this at weekends or light make up days. It gives the skin a glow with light coverage. Just cracked open a new one.

UrbanVeda Rose+Botanics Reviving Exfoliating Facial Polish 20ml - really nice to use with a gentle scrub. Would buy full size.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer 20ml - this just works. Already opened a new tube.

Therapi Orange Blossom Honey Moisturiser 15ml - this is lovely to use and smells divine. Would buy.

John Masters Organics Lavender & Rosemary Shampoo 30ml - I buy this again and again as my hair loves it. 

Chantecaillie La Creme Riche Anti-Age+ BioLifting Cream+ 10ml - a delicious and truly luxurious cream. Full size is extortionate so won't be buying anytime soon unfortunately!

Skin & Tonic Steam Clean 15ml - this is a staple product for me. I used this one on holiday and finished it up when I got home. Already using another.

Olivine Love+Roses Beauty Mist 8oz - this mist can be used all over the body and hair to refresh. See my review HERE. I'd definitely buy again.

What have you been using up this month?

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?

February: A month of Samples: Perfumes: The Results

Back in February I decided to wear a different perfume each DAY and then report back as to which I'd buy full size.

Here are the keepers (14 in all):

Week 1:

2. 4160Tuesdays Sleep Knot EdP - this is a beautiful blend of jasmine, sandalwood, ylang ylang and black pepper.

5. Miller Harris Fleurs de Sel EdP - I own the very gorgeous Rose Silence by Miller Harris. This one is light with a hint of sea salt, flowers with vetivert, patchouli, oak moss and leather.

Week 2:

9. Ormonde Jayne Sampaquita EdP - I used to wear Ormonde Jayne Frangipani, a beautiful tropical floral scent. Sampaquita is also floral with notes of lychee, bergamot, grass oil and magnolia flowers. Going to pick up the Discovery Set soon.

10. .vero.profumo Rozy EdP - this came in my October Bloom Perfumery Subscription and has notes of honey, damask rose, passionfruit, lilac, peach, honey and sandalwood. It really is lovely.

Week 3:

15. Phaedon Oriban EdT - another one from Bloom Perfumery which came in my December pack. It is quite woody with ambroxan, incense, musk and sandalwood.

17. Le Labo Rose 31 - I adore their Tubereuse 40 (New York) which is hard to find. The Rose 31 is based on Grasse roses with woody notes of cedar, cumin and amber. You can pick this one up at Liberty.

18. 4160Tuesdays Dirty Honey EdP (not in pic have mislaid) - which is a sexy scent with honey and orange blossom.

19. 4160Tuesdays Who Knew EdP (not in pic) - this is beautiful. A heady scent of deep rose, green tea and a splash of smokey Lapsang souchong.

20. Agonist Vanilla Marble EdP - this came in my The Perfume Society Scent with Love Box and is an edible vanilla...so lush. With top notes of vanilla, almond and tiare flowers, a heart of orchid, white fig, amber and patchouli  with a base of sandalwood, vanilla, tonka bean and benzoin.

Week 4:

22. Carner Cuirs EdP (not in pic) - in November Bloom Perfumery mixed up the sample packs and the girls got the one for the boys. This scent by Carner was my favourite in November. It has notes of saffron, gaiac wood, sandalwood, Texas cedar, violet, Amyris wood, oud, patchouli, leather, musk, tonka bean, cistus and nagarmotha.  I also love Tardes by Carner - see my review HERE.

23. Robert Piguet Fracas EdP - a cult classic and a love or hate scent. A heady scent with notes of tuberose, jasmine, jonquil, gardenia, Bulgarian roses, orange flower, sandalwood vetivert and musk. This is an evening time scent for me.

24. L'Artisan Mure et Musc EdT - this was the first perfume I tried from L'Artisan and remains my favourite to this day. A luscious blackberry scent with hints of musk and fruits.

27. 4160Tuesdays Doe in the Snow EdP - a fresh peachy floral with woods. Full size of this is my next buy.

28. PG 15 Ilang Ivohibe - another from Bloom Perfumery subscription. I received this in my first sample pack. It has top notes of lavender and vanilla, a heart of Egyptian jasmine, iris butter, orange and ylang ylang with a base of patchouli.

Do you wear any of these perfumes?

Bloom Perfumery: Yearly Sample Pack: February 2016

My February Bloom Perfumery subscription arrived on the final day in February! I've been enjoying trying out the scents which are spicy, sensual and slightly aphrodisiac.

My absolute favourite this month is Just In: Nanban by Arquiste EdP (1.6ml - £2, 100ml £135) which is smokey and woody. With notes of black pepper, black tea, Chinese osmanthus, coffee, copaiba balm, frankincense, leather, myrrh, saffron and styrax.

My second favourite is the unusual New In: PG10.1 Bouquet Massai by PG EdP (1.6ml - £2, 50ml - £81.50) which has notes of coffee (it gives the floral notes an unusual coffee aroma!), karo karounde, magnolia, cashmeran, peony, tolu balm, peach and sandalwood.

I'm also loving Best Seller: Exclusive: Rubj by EdP .vero.profumo (1.2ml - £5, 50ml - £156) which is a heady lush floral with top notes of bergamot, mandarin, neroli and passionfruit with heart notes of basil, orange blossom and tuberose and a base of cedar, musk and oakmoss.

Best Seller: Embers by Rouge Bunny Rouge Edp (1.6ml - £2, 50ml - £95) is a beautiful sexy smokey scent. With top notes of cloves, nutmeg and pink pepper and heart notes of freesia, jasmine, cistus and incense with a base of styrax, Peru balsam and sandalwood.

Exclusive: Dzari by Phaedon EdT (1.6ml - £2, 100ml - £69) with notes of cashmeran, cedarwood, dates, malaga wine, sandalwood and tonka beans. The drydown is sweet and spicy.

The final perfume this month is Caravelle Epicee by Frapin EdP (1.6ml - £2, 100ml - £98) which is spicy and woody. It has top notes of coriander and nutmeg, a heart of gaiac wood, pepper and thyme and a base of amber, patchouli, sandalwood and tobacco.

I've actually really enjoyed wearing all the perfumes in February's subscription pack.  Do you have any favourites this month or are there any from the selection you fancy trying?