The Library Of Fragrance - Peony - Review

I first mentioned The Library Of Fragrance in this post just before their launch in the UK. I have been involved in some of their research before the big launch and I was asked things such as; fragrances I'd like to see, what the bottle should look like and offers that would most likely entice us to buy the products. This is a launch I'm very excited about as it allows us to be creative and create personal scents at affordable prices. 

The Library Of Fragrance is a New York based perfumery called Demeter Fragrance Library but they have decided on a new name for their UK launch this September. Demeter Fragrance Library was established in 1996 with an iconic capsule collection of three scents - Grass, Tomato and Dirt (all of which are still available today!) The mission is to capture all of the beautiful scents that surround us everyday and with over 300 scents under their belt, I'd say they've done a damn good job! 

Currently, The Library Of Fragrance has a pretty extensive collection of 101 fragrances which are available at www.thelibraryoffragrance.com. I'm pretty sure they will continue to expand on this considering the USA have over 300! A capsule collection of 28 of the brand's best selling scents will be available in most Boots stores and via www.boots.com. 

The Library Of Fragrance presents scents that are real and familiar and can be chosen to reflect the preferences of you, the wearer. The simplicity of the concept, allows wearers to layer scents which is not a new concept but definitely a more affordable one. The most basic rule of thumb, according to the brand, is if things smell good together in real life, they will smell good on you. The brand suggest recommendations on their social media but the overriding message is that wearers should be as creative as they like. 

The price for a 30ml bottle is £15 and there is an exclusive 2 for £25 promotion in Boots stores. That should encourage you to layer scents and find a personalised scent. 

I was kindly sent Peony to review as the lovely ladies at their PR office knew it's my favourite flower which was included in my bouquet when I got married. 

Peony is a beautiful scent which floods my mind with amazing memories from Friday 1st August 2014, my wedding day. It captures the scent of peonies so well and I'm looking forward to adding to my collection and creating beautiful combinations of scents. Unfortunately, Peony isn't available via Boots so you'll have to go through the website for this beauty.

You can view the 28 fragrances which will be available at Boots at www.boots.com and you can view the entire collection at www.thelibraryoffragrance.com. 

Which fragrances do you like the sound of? Are there any fragrances which aren't available that you'd like to see in the future?

Rachel x

My Wedding Perfume - Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede Cologne

Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede Cologne

"The essence of charm. Peonies in voluptuous bloom, exquisitely fragile. Flirtatious with the juicy bite of red apple and the opulence of jasmine, rose and gillyflower. Mingling with the sensuality of soft, blush suede. Luxurious and seductive."

Back in October 2013, during Vogue Fashion's Night Out in Manchester, I stepped into Harvey Nichols' Jo Malone department. That was the first time I experienced the Peony & Blush Suede Cologne. Peonies have been my favourite flower for as long as I can remember and I knew I wanted to include them in my bridal bouquet as I walked down the aisle. (Also, my new surname is Maloney!) I had recently read an article (or a blog post) about choosing a new perfume for your wedding day as smell holds the biggest memory. As soon as I smelt Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede, I knew it was my wedding fragrance.

In April 2014, I went on my hen do to Tenerife. As I was in Manchester Airport, I popped into Jo Malone and I couldn't resist the 20% off! I managed to get the perfume for £31.20 instead of the usual £39 for 30ml. I kept it in its box and bag in my cupboard and resisted all the urges to spray until Friday 1st August 2014! I didn't know I had that much self control! 

Throughout my wedding day, I went into our bridal suite to freshen up. When I did, I added another spritz to keep the fragrance strong to make sure that I would associate the scent with my wedding day. I haven't used the perfume since the day as I don't want to ruin the memory. I'm going to test the theory and use the scent in a few months. A good test will be on my husband, and see if he recognises the smell. 

I would love to keep the bottle on display in my bedroom but I know it will last longer if I keep it hidden away in a dark place. Then the memory of our magical day will last longer. (Or I could use it and buy a new one every wedding anniversary or better still Rory could!)

Rachel x

Diptyque L'ombre Dans L'eau Eau de Toilette - Review

Diptyque L'ombre Dans L'eau Eau de Toilette

For Christmas, I received a little bit of money. I had never bought anything from the online sales on Christmas Day or Boxing Day so this year I thought I would have a browse and see if I could find any goodies. From last year, I remember everyone raving about the Space NK sale so that's the first place I looked. I wasn't that impressed to be honest but I bought a couple of things. I couldn't resist adding this to my basket for £34! I have never smelt any Diptyque perfumes before so I bought it completely on a whim, using the description alone to help me decide which scent to go for. After about half an hour of reading descriptions, I settled for L'ombre Dans L'eau Eau de Toilette.

I wouldn't like to even attempt to describe the scent so here is what Space NK say "Like a glorious green riverside English garden, L'Ombre Dans L'eau is fresh and delicate, yet luscious, too. Amid the rustling of petals and fruit trees, roses blend with blackcurrant leaves in a bouquet that is heady, sensual and sophisticated. From the legendary French perfume house, Diptyque, L'Ombre Dans L'eau is worn and adored by both women and men. This warm and captivating fragrance is ideal for evening wear."

I absolutely love this perfume. It has quickly become one of my favourites. As it's an Eau de Toilette, it doesn't last long so I add a couple of sprays throughout the day to top up the scent. Rory has even commented that he likes the scent on me, although I'm not sure he would wear it himself. I would say it's too floral and feminine for men to wear but they can definitely adore it on women.

Diptyque have redesigned the bottles to a sleeker rounder design which is beautiful but as I bought this for half the price, I'm not bothered what the bottle looks like. L'ombre Dans L'eau translates to The Shadow in the Water which is actually a really pretty name for perfume and makes me want to find out what all the other Diptyque perfume names translate to. There's no way I can afford a Diptyque perfume at the full price so I may start a new tradition and buy one every year in the half price sale. That way I can slowly build up my collection!

Do you own any Diptyque perfumes? Which scents do you recommend?

Rachel x
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Knickers & Nail Polish Guest Post - Summer Scents (Duty Free Edition)

I am on holiday from 17th August until 24th August so I have arranged for some guest posts from some fabulous bloggers. Next is the lovely Sarah. We have actually done a guest post swap so if you head over to her blog, you should be able to see a post written by me! I hope you enjoy this post.

Rachel x

Hi, I'm Sarah & I normally blog over at Knickers & Nail Polish. Thank you to Rachel for letting me loose over here today whilst she’s away.

 So the time has come to head off onto holibobs for some sun and that means hitting up the Duty Free! I get a new perfume every time I go through Duty Free as it’s so much cheaper, meaning I can get the fragrances what I want. These are a few of my go to summer scents that you should check out next time that you’re in Duty Free.

Daisy by Marc Jacobs – This one screams summer to me. It’s really fruity and girly, with lots of sweet smelling layers. If you are a girly girl, then this is the bottle for you, plus it’s a gorgeous bottle! A great perfume for a fun daytime trip with the girlies. 

Cool Water by Davidoff – Another great daytime scent, this one is a lot cleaner and subtle than Daisy. A very fresh scent, more floral than fruity. This is a great one for throwing on in the morning when it’s a bit cooler as when it starts to heat up, you notice the vanilla. I like this one when it’s cooler in the summer, especially if I'm meeting up with friends for lunch or heading into London. 

Inspiration by Lacoste – This one’s a cheapy but a goody. I love how fresh this one is, great if you’re planning a lazy day as it’s not full on, but it’s a good little perfume. I like this one for throwing in my bag when I go out for the day as I can spray it on and top it up later on. 

Chloe by Chloe – Oh summer evening, I love you like I love this perfume. It’s an iconic scent, which is warm and fruity, perfect for summer evening BBQs and late night meals by the sea. It has notes of Musk which are really nice in the evening, plus the bottle looks super cute on the dressing table. 

Covert Pure Bloom by Sarah-Jessica Parker – Another oldie but well worth picking up. This is my go to holiday scent, especially in the evening. I love the size of this bottle as well as the smell. A very floral fragrance, it has coconut and jasmine and smells amazing! I think this one is a must to pick up, this is my second bottle. 

So there you have it, a range of perfumes for a range of prices, perfect for picking up in Duty Free. Which one would you pick? 

Sarah Xx 

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Blog: http://knickersandnailpolish.blogspot.co.uk/ 

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June Empties

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser / Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic / Simple Eye Make Up Remover / Percy & Reed Splendidly Silky Moisturising Conditioner /Avon Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil Mask / Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer / Liz Earle Lash Definition Smudgeproof Mascara / Impulse Tease Body Fragrance Spray / Gucci Rush 2 Eau De Toilette 75ml

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - Another month, another Cleanse & Polish! I actually ran out of this and didn't have a back up, nightmare! I had to use another cleanser and I broke out like crazy. Liz Earle for life! You can read what I think in more detail here. 

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic - This has been amazing recently. When I wake up at 6am for work, my eyes and whole face is so puffy. (Thanks hayfever!) I just soak a cotton wool pad and sweep over all of my face and it does a fantastic job of waking me up and refreshing my puffy face! Read my full review here. 

Simple Eye Make Up Remover - Another regular part of my skin care routine. This is the only make up remover that doesn't sting my eyes straight away. It only does if I don't cleanse straight away. I have been using Micellar Water to remove my make up before cleansing but I haven't had the confidence to try it on my eyes yet. I'm just worried it will sting. One day, I will give it a try!

Percy & Reed Splendidly Silky Moisturising Conditioner - This was a magazine freebie from Glamour. I think it was actually from last year but I only got round to using it recently. I'm not sure of the smell, I recognise it but I can't put my finger on what else smells similar. It's a very thick conditioner but it doesn't make my hair greasy or weigh it down. However, I have dry, thick hair so it may be a different story if your hair is the opposite to mine. 

Avon Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil Mask - At first, I was impressed with Avon Moroccan Argan Oil hair care but since using a variety of other shampoo and conditioner brands, mainly ones that are SLS free and learning more about sulphates, I have noticed a difference with the texture of my hair. So I will not be repurchasing again and I am not going to purchase anymore hair care with sulphates in. I still have some products left which contain sulphates, so I am going to use up those first. I don't want to waste them.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - If you haven't tried this concealer, where have you been and why not? It's £4.19 worth of amazingness! I always make sure I have at least one back up for when I run out. Usually I have two or three back ups because it can be difficult to find my shade so when I do find it, I go crazy! It works really well at covering up my blemishes but as I've said before, I find it too thick for under my eyes. However some beauty bloggers do use it under their eyes. You can read what I think in depth here.

Liz Earle Lash Definition Smudgeproof Mascara - When I made my usual Liz Earle order back in December, I received this as a free gift. It is honestly the best mascara I have ever used. Mascara doesn't have a great shelf life and I know people only use them for 2/3 months but it did have 6 months on and it hasn't ran out or dried up so I continued to use it for six months because it is that good! It's fairly pricey compared to my usual Rimmel mascara but when my current back ups have ran out, I may have to repurchase it because I am missing it already! 

Impulse Tease Body Fragrance Spray - I don't need to tell you again that this is my favourite body spray fragrance. I use it for work as I work in a school and I don't want to use perfume. Body spray is a nice alternative to perfume when the occasion just doesn't warrant wasting my perfume! I always keep one in my handbag so I can smell nice at all times. Does anyone else use body spray on a day to day basis but perfume for special occasions/evening? 

Gucci Rush 2 Eau De Toilette 75ml - I bought this in September with some birthday money from Debenhams. I got the 75ml bottle as it was half price so it actually worked out cheaper than the 30ml bottle! (Don't you love it when that happens?!) I absolutely love the smell of this perfume and it's perfect for summer days as it's light and refreshing. At the moment I have four other perfumes so I don't currently need a new one. But I do have lots and lots of Boots points so I'm thinking about using them for a perfume. But there are so many different perfumes, I don't know where to start! I currently own Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, Dior Miss Dior Cherie, Armarni Diamonds and Hugo Boss Orange. I absolutely love all of those so based on them do you have any recommendations? 

Which products have you used up this month? Have you been loving any of these products?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick