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Top 3 Perfumes

- Vicki Leave a comment
Favourite Diptique Perfume

I was asked recently what my favourite perfumes were, and I knew right away what to say. I absolutely love fragrance and have quite a few that I like and love, but there are always 4/5 that will stand head and shoulders above the rest.

First, I want to talk about the London based perfume house, Miller Harris, founded in 2000 they like to blend British luxury with couture sophisticated fragrance. This is a brand I am always recommending and no matter what perfume I am wearing from them, I always, always get compliments & no-one has heard of them. If you ever get the opportunity to visit a store or a stockist you have to try them, you will not be disappointed.

I have tried a number of their fragrances and have 3 that are my must-haves, Rose Silence is a more subtle, fresh carefree scent, Powdered Veil is a rich, fresh, sexy and warm. Whilst Peau Santal, which is what I will talk more about in this post, is my number one perfume from Miller Harris. It is deep, creamy, woody, and slightly masculine. I adore it!

Diptique Philosykos EDP £140

This has to be one of the most luxurious and iconic beauty brands, their products, and branding are quite Iconic. I have owned a number of their candles (if I won the lottery, I would treat myself to the HUGE 5 wick ones)  and I’m always blown away by how good the quality is and just how intense the scent is. Always worth the price tag. I have also heard good reviews about of their beauty products, although I have yet to try them myself.

Now their perfumes are quite special too, and I like a lot of them, but my go-to most repurchased one has to be their classic fig scent, the iconic Philosykos. It is fresh but intense and sweet all at the same time. I also like that it is quite romantic and earthy too. It has layers of notes that you can smell throughout the day, as it settles. I know most people would associate this perfume with Summer, but I will be wearing it into Autumn & Winter, I think the crispness of the notes make it a nice fresh scent for the colder months too.

When I wear it I feel happy, and I can smell it on myself all day long, this perfume has some serious staying power. It is intense and rich, and luckily a few sprays is all you need (I don’t want it to run out too quickly).

Top Notes – Fig Leaf
Middle Notes – Wood, Coconut
Base Notes – White Cedar

Miller Harris Peau Santal Perfume £140

This is my happiness in a bottle, it smells incredible and so luxurious, it makes me feel amazing whenever I wear it.  It has a rich, warm creamy scent, but you get a hint of fresh, airy crisp notes as it settles. I’m not exaggerating when I say this perfume is the most sophisticated and beautiful perfume I have ever owned, and I love quite a few Miller Harris perfumes, but this one has something special. My lovely husband bought this bottle for my Christmas, but I also own the smaller size just so I can take it when I travel. So I am never without it.

The woody notes add a real touch of warmth and class, whilst the bergamot and cashmere give it creaminess and class. The pink pepper, amber and vanilla make it modern and very sexy.

Top Notes: Bergamot, Pink Pepper and Saffron
Heart Notes: Olibanum, Violet Leaf and Papyrus
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Cashmere Woods, Crisp Amber, Vanilla CO2 Extract and Moss

The bottle is beautiful, and the dusky pink colour gives it a classy feel. The simple gold accents on the font and the lid add a touch of luxury, the bottle is very weighty too and feels so nice in your hand and also looks great on your vanity.

& Other Stories Arabesque Wood £28

This is a gorgeous fragrance, more affordable but equally lovely as the other two scents. This perfume is layers of woody, warm citrus notes that are light but rich. I wear this mostly in the day, as my everyday scent. The rich notes like ginger, citrus and amber make it feel indulgent and luxurious. & Other Stories have a such a wonderful selection of fragrances, they have something to fit everyone’s tastes.

The bottle is dainty but weighty, so it looks minimal and classy on your vanity. These fragrances make incredible gifts and the scents come in a body spray, handwash and hand cream, so you can go wild with your favourite scents!

Top notes: Lemon, Ginger and Watery Notes
Middle notes: Petitgrain and Tangerine
Base notes: Agarwood (Oud), Oakmoss and Amber

What are your favourite, most worn fragrances? Have you tried any of the ones I’ve mentioned.

Lostwithiel Cornwall

- Vicki Leave a comment
visit lstwithiel cornwall

The town of Lostwithiel is just 3 miles from where I live, it has such a rich and vibrant history, and it dates back as far as the 12th century. It is set in the most stunning countryside and is right on the bank of the river Fowey, and at one point in history it was a very busy port, mostly for tin. The river is not as deep as it once was, but is still very popular to swim in and kayak. I love to sit on the river bank and enjoy a picnic in the Summer months.

This small town boasts beautiful country walks, stunning woodlands and lots of places to stop for a coffee/lunch or browse the many antique shops. It even has a castle named Restormel Castle which dates back to 14th century and the views from there are stunning, over the valley and the ancient medieval town of Lostwithiel.

There are so many historical houses, cottages, and buildings dotted around the town. One of my favourite things to do is just walk up and down all the tiny cobbled backstreets to see all the old cottages, medieval passages, and beautiful buildings. I take so many photos every time I go (which is at least once a week).

The main church, St Bartholomew’s has a 13th century steeple, and the stone bridge over the river Fowey is impressive and dates back to the 15th century, but there has been a crossing at this point for centuries. This is a town very rich in history and if you’re there on a day the tiny museum is open (which has free entry) then you have to pop in.

The river bank is a popular place to picnic, and the water is shallow and a nice spot to swim, if you like wild swimming. A lot of people also go to the chippy and get fish &  chips to eat in the evening at the picnic tables along the riverbank. There are also quite a few charming pubs, with great food options. Can’t beat a good pub lunch.

I love the cottages with pretty coloured front doors and windows, I have so many favourites and daydream about what it would be like to live in one. There are so many hidden gems that are just off the main streets, tucked away down small windy lanes. Lostwithiel is quite hilly, but it’s well worth venturing up them to see the views and the pretty buildings.

The Mess Hall is quite a new café in Lostwithiel, they serve lovely coffee. It has a very welcoming feel and the decor is bright and calm. A very enjoyable place for lunch and if you manage to visit on a nice sunny day their outdoor patio area is charming.

I also love to take photos of pretty/intriguing classic cars & Lostwithiel is a great place to do that, the cute Figaro is always parked there and is just so sweet. Cornwall is a Mecca for VW vans, and I do like it when they look like they’ve been used and loved. I also like a business who uses a classic van, and the Morris Minor I spotted was very cute indeed. Also you just can’t beat a nice Land Rover Defender.

In terms of shopping, you might think being a small town it would be lacking, but this is a bustling community and a place well known for its antique shops. Although a few closed after the pandemic, there are still plenty to browse, I always come away with the most random mix of items. There is a fantastic General Store, called Watts Trading, it has a vintage, classic vibe and sells so many lovely food items, local gifts and sustainable home wears. I like to get lots of my Xmas gifts in here as it has so many thoughtful/environmentally friendly items.

Lostwithiel is not short on cafés and places to grab a Cornish pasty or a cream tea. We like to go to Q. Street Coffee, on Queen Street. They do a wonderful selection of Vegan and Gluten Free cakes a well as milk alternatives. I like to have their granola and yoghurt or breakfast or a vegan sausage sandwich. The menu is good, and they use local produce and bake many of their own cakes.

I love to visit Alice In Scandiland who sells beautiful Scandinavian home wear as well as lots of Cornish handmade artisan products too. The stock changes up quite regularly, so if you see something you like in there make sure you snap it up as chances are you will miss out. I guarantee if you pop in you will make a purchase, I have left with the most eclectic selection of products, everything from magazines, candles, handwash to a wooden bench and even a massive bunch of Eucalyptus (at Xmas).

I think some lesser known places in Cornwall are well worth a visit, if you’re staying near Looe, Fowey or heading to the Eden Project then Lostwithiel is close by. If you have a couple of hours to spare, it is a great place for a peaceful walk, coffee, and a browse of the independent shops. Great destination if you want a day away from the beach and the crowds. It is super friendly, a real community feel and compared to many towns, villages in Cornwall there are many people still resident there, so not just Airbnb or holiday lets.

Jurlique Rare Rose Collection

- Vicki Leave a comment
Jurlique rare rose skincare

#Gifted I have been using Jurlique products for almost 15 years now, it is a brand that I always recommend to friends and family because they cater for all skin types, skin concerns and ages and their products are fantastic quality. I also love the brand’s history, their commitment to being sustainable and eco-friendly, and their dedication to harnessing the very best of nature to include in their skincare. I am very excited to try the Rare Rose Collection, especially Jurlique’s first ever facial oil, what a treat!

I always like to switch up my skincare, especially during Summer and Winter, and starting a New Year also feels like the perfect time to add a few fresh products into your routine. So that is what I have done, my skincare for 2023 is all about radiance and hydration and the Jurlique Rare Rose Collection targets those skin concerns (and more). I am 44 now and my skin needs have changed, I look for nourishing, rich products that are going to give me long term results.

‘The Rare Rose range helps elevate your self-care and skincare ritual, providing nourishing all-day hydration for soft, smooth and naturally glowing skin. Powered by Jurlique’s exclusive Rose Extract and potent botanicals extracts, Rare Rose’s glow-boosting face oil, skin serum, lotion and cream provide the ultimate hydration ritual for nourished and radiant skin.’

The Rare Rose Collection has these three ingredients at its core.

Jurlique Rose – has been shown to improve the skin barrier function, helping to retain essential moisture levels within the skin for a dewy, smooth look, restoring skin radiance and smoothness.

Calendula – known for its bright yellow and orange flowers, Calendula has intense soothing properties and has been used to rebalance sensitivity on the skin and throughout the body.

Lavender – has a hydrating and calming effect when used in skin care and aromatherapy. It is used to rebalance dryness on the skin, leaving it feeling refreshed and hydrated.

Jurlique Rare Rose Lotion £41

What a treat this is for the skin, you apply it before your serum to sooth and boost radiance. It is lightweight in texture, but manages to feel very rich and luxurious on the skin. It is that perfect balance without being greasy or heavy. Ideal if you like to layer your skincare, it makes your skin feel smooth and ready for your serum.

Jurlique Rare Rose Serum £51

Serum has to be my favourite skincare step (or at least one of them) it can be such a game changer, if you get the right one. The Rare Rose Serum is a very good all rounder, one that can be used by all ages. The key ingredients target quiet broad skin concerns, that most people would benefit from using. Like dull, dehydrated skin, this is, 10000% my skin over the colder, dry months. It is a gentle serum so easy to introduce into your routine and one that will boost hydration, help with moisture loss, keep your skin plump whist also refreshing your natural glow. It is a lovely, lovely product.

It is small but pretty mighty, packed full of some superpower ingredients like Jurlique Rose & Dwarf Lilyturf Root extract to protect against moisture loss while helping you to really get your glow on.

Jurlique Rare Rose Cream £41

This beautiful moisturiser has the brand’s signature Rose Scent. This product, to my surprise, has an almost water like texture which gently glides over the skin and instantly soothes and smooths skin’s texture. It wears so well under makeup, providing a nourished and non-greasy base for your makeup to sit on top of. Don’t think that because it is lightweight that it isn’t very nourishing, because you would be wrong, this is a rich cream that deeply hydrates and slowly releases moisture over 24 hours. Perfect cream for the Winter months!

It helps revive dull skin, giving you dewy, radiant, and supple skin that is also protected against environmental polluters. Cupuacu Butter deeply nourishes and adds a healthy, moisturised glow. Then, the Senna Seed Polysaccharide Extract adds a protective layer on the skin that locks in and intensifies the moisture. A very good daily moisturiser to add to your morning routine.

Jurlique Rare Rose Face Oil £41

I can not tell you how excited I am to add this to my skincare routine, I love oils, they’re incredibly nourishing and this new offering from Jurlique sounds right up my street. Of course, it smells divine, that classic rose scent, soothing and luxurious. This lightweight oil will be a welcomed addition to my evening skincare routine as it promises to restore suppleness, elasticity, and the skin’s natural glow, while the oil’s beautiful rose scent helps relieve stress, looking after mind & body, love that!

‘Its subtle scent also helps to lower cortisol levels, helping to reduce the negative effects of stress on both body and mind’

It has so many powerful skin benefiting ingredients, this oil has the Jurlique exclusive farm-grown Jurlique Rose at its core, elevated with the green and clean Supercritical CO2 extraction method that helps capture additional plant components. It is also infused with antioxidant Vitamin E, Olive, Jojoba, Soybean, Carrot & Castor oils and Squalane to help moisturise, balance and reveal a more luminous complexion. So a wonderful mix of ingredients, so your skin is in good hands.

Jurlique also say you can also use this product as a multi-purpose oil when in need of hydration, radiance or to reduce stress. Perfect for day or night care, or as a glow-boosting oil by adding a few drops in your cream.

In a nutshell, this Rare Rose Collection is the perfect way to beat the Winter skincare blues, keep your complexion smooth, lock in moisture and boost radiance all whilst helping reduce stress in both your skin and mind! What is not to love.

Jurlique Rare Rose Collection is available at www.jurlique.co.uk

TEMPLESPA Christmas Gifting

- Vicki Leave a comment
temple spa gifting ideas

Gifted.

TEMPLESPA are a British brand with Mediterranean influences, which started 22 years ago, their award winning products have become well known for their quality and results. Thats why, I think they make fantastic Christmas gifts, for both loved ones, or as a treat to yourself. They have gifts, ranging from makeup and skincare stocking fillers to luxurious Truffle skincare routines and the ultimate relaxation rituals. If someone you know deserves a pamper this Christmas, then a gift from TEMPLESPA will be perfect.

Their Christmas collection this year is called ‘Spread Your Wings And Fly’ inspired by the colours, textures, and structure of feathers, as they’re symbols of hope, strength, and freedom.

I have been trying out their luxurious Time To Glow Gift Set, a 4-piece skincare set with a velvet headband. This gift set is perfect for anyone who is looking for radiant, glowing skin, it contains TEMPLESPA’S most powerful glow-giving skincare heroes. The Time To Glow Set gives you a skincare routine in 4 steps.

The Most Revealing resurfacing, peel cleanser is a powerhouse of ingredients to help achieve that healthy skin glow! From rich vitamin c to a cocktail of glycolic, malic, lactic, citric and hydroxy acids which all work together to say goodbye to dull skin. Whilst botanical extracts of apple, kiwi, and chamomile soothe and vitamins A & E nourish to help keep skin look rejuvenated, calm and healthy. The Glowcolic toner sweeps away dead skin with its natural glycolic acid, whilst Mediterranean extracts of grape, apple, lemon and orange, rich in natural acids and vitamin c lifts away impurities

Next up in this set you have the Let’s Concentrate, this is one of my favourite skincare products, this serum has the most invigorating zesty scent and is a great way to wake up your natural glow. This powerful serum helps deliver a daily dose of vitamin C, plus potent alpha arbutin which together help eve out skin tone and the appearance of scaring. It also helps reduce blemishes with, antioxidant rich zinc and magnesium. This serum is a boost for your complexion and is very nourishing and a great way to help your skin look its very best.

MOST REVEALING 50ml – Oxygenating bubble peel powerfully transforms your complexion from lacklustre to positively glowing.

GLOWCOLIC 50ml – Resurfacing toner to nourish and balance your skin.

LET’S CONCENTRATE 10ml – Vitamin C skin serum to give your skin a smooth, toned and glowing finish.

SMOOTH TALK 15g – Exfoliating lip scrub to polish your lips in a new delicious orange flavour.

Candles are always a welcomed gift at Christmas. If you are unsure what to buy someone, but want to get them a thoughtful gift, then a candle is great. They’re often a luxury you dont treat yourself too, they make your home smell incredible and are a nice way to make a space cosy and festive, The TEMPLESPA Rise Up Aromatic Christmas Candle, has the most beautiful scent. It has a very sophisticated festive scent, think aromas of a festive Mediterranean garland! Vibrant citrus notes are balanced with rich plum, leather, and a hint of delicate florals, rose and jasmine, while base notes of oakmoss and tonka bean. It is rich, warming and a luxurious take on a Christmas scent. I love anything with notes of Tonka Bean or leather, so this candle is a little bit of me.

Both of the TEMPLESPA Gifts I have arrived beautifully packaged and would make the most thoughtful Christmas gifts. Let me know which TEMPLESPA treats you would most like to unwrap on Christmas Day, or what you are gifting to someone special this year.

You can browse their full seasonal gifting collection via their online shop, www.templespa.com