All about Perfume and Beauty

In perfume, there are the classic ingredients that create constant scents- rose and jasmine, vanilla and tonka beans, cedar and cinnamon. But there are also notes that stand out as a bit stranger, a little more farfetched, that nonetheless make fantastic fragrances for anyone to try. From food to beverages to minerals, these are some of the strangest ingredients that have made some of the most wearable fragrances.

I’ve had my fair share of skin troubles; dry patches, oily t-zones and bursts of break-outs that come and go with the season. The different concoctions of skincare over the years could sometimes leave my skin feeling attacked and irritated, and in need of something to help heal it. For skin that is struggling, as mine was, the L’Oreal Clay Masks might do the trick in healing your skin.

Like all things, perfume has history. Some of this history came to life in 2019, when archeologists from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa were able to recreate the ‘Chanel No5 of ancient Egypt’. This perfume, from around the same time as the famous pharaoh Cleopatra, was found as residue in ancient bottles from an archaeological dig in North-East Egypt. Chemical testing was able to determine the ingredients, which included myrrh, cardamom, olive oil and cinnamon for a thick scented paste that produced a strong, spicy, and slightly musky fragrance. However, if you want to be able to scent history, you need not put in so much effort.

Before you are an expert, you are inevitably a beginner. Picking up a new hobby or skill is filled with questions and unawareness that often makes things feel too fraught and complicated to even start. This is the same with makeup. While there has been a rise in recent years of online makeup artists, either on YouTube or their own websites, they don’t always break down the absolute basics- the tools you need. I’m going to list the most important beauty tools and describe how best to use them.

With the warmer weather finally retreating, it is time to put away the fresh and cool fragrances and try to find something that will push us through the winter months. While I can’t say I’m a fan of dry lips, itchy jumpers and cold toes, I do like winter fragrances. To combat the dreary weather, winter fragrances are warm, full of spice and wood and often a touch of vanilla, some of my favourite notes. To help you find something to get you through the cold days, I have put together a list of winter fragrances for this year. Some new, some more classic with a little something for everyone.

We all want a bit of glamour in our lives; we eagerly scroll Instagram to see MET gala looks and can spend hours searching eBay for bargains on good brands. Celebrities seem to have notices our desire for the lights of Hollywood and have created fragrances to give us a little touch of stardom.

I have always liked MOR. I enjoy nourishing body products that help to heal and protect the skin, especially as I get older, and MOR is great as far as healing goes. They go beyond body care into perfumes and home goods as well, which are just as popular as their creams and scrubs. MOR is best known for their Marshmallow range. I personally prefer stronger fragrances with more musk woods or sweetness.

If you are after something a bit different this winter season, prepare to take a trip into the dark, mysterious woods with MOR’s Wild Sage range. MOR is a forever-popular home and body brand, known for its nourishing creams and unique, long-lasting scents. The Wild Sage range is not any different. A top note of sage, with middle notes of vetiver and pine leaf to create a herby-woody scent that would not be out of place in a forest. The base notes of musk and ambergris complete this deep, heady aroma.

Flashy skin-care has been getting popular on social-media platforms lately. There are dermatologists on TikTok dancing to skin products, people exhibiting their routines, and no small amount of poking, prodding, and squeezing of blackheads. Popular YouTube videos made famous for squeezing blackheads among other skin ailments has even gotten our attention in recent years.

Since the Embrace line from Vera Wang was first introduced in 2015, I believe that it has gotten limited attention, which is sad as they are some of my favourite fragrances. Each perfume in the range is inspired by intimacy and emotion and constructed with natural, light notes. There is something that will appeal to everyone in the five different fragrances, from sweet and warm to light and calming.

As winter winds approach, promising dry skin and redness, we look for ways to keep our skin healthy and comfortable throughout the colder months. For more mature ladies and men looking for something that helps to nourish, maintain and tighten your skin, you don’t have to spend the whole season looking for something that works. Philosophy have released a new range of skin care, their ‘Ultimate Miracle Worker Fix’, specifically formulated to help tighten and care for more mature skin.

With Easter almost upon us, why not put a twist on chocolate and try a sweet yet irresistible gourmand scent. These types of fragrances and are designed to smell dessert-like.

February is upon us and that can only mean one thing and whether you’ve been together for two months, two years or two decades Cosmetics Fragrance Direct has something to make the Valentines Day special for your girlfriend, wife or other special woman in your life.

It feels as if every year, it gets harder and harder to come up with creative gift ideas for friends and family. So, I've racked my brains to think of some super solutions for these tricky friends and family. Below are some of my tops picks for gifts to buy when the person you're buying for has everything.

Teenage girls are hard to buy for as they’ve outgrown many of the easy go to gifts typically bought for children, but are not quite ready for more mature and practical presents. A perfume or fragrance is the perfect gift idea as it is practical, but can be used everyday and comes beautifully packaged.

It feels as if every year it gets harder to Christmas shop for teenagers; especially boys! Toys and games are great for kids, but teenagers have often outgrown these types of gifts and aren’t quite old enough for conventional adult presents. While it can be difficult to determine what's alluring to boys, a cologne can be a fantastic Christmas gift idea for a teenage boy who is beginning to forge their own identity

I'm just going to call it now; every single person needs a red lipstick in their collection. Hear me out ...

Kristina, Assistant Manager of our DFO, South Wharf Store shares her must have products right now.

Whatever your plans for New Year's Eve a spritz of fragrance will put the finishing touch on your outfit. The right fragrance is one that suites the event you are attending so wearing a suitable fragrance will help you feel your best and sparkle this silly season.

Exercising is a popular choice for New Year's resolutions, but it is one of the most difficult to maintain. For all of those gym junkies who are aiming to continue their healthy habits, or, if keeping fit is a top priority for 2013, why not make it as easy as possible for yourself. Before heading off to work up a sweat, make sure you have all of the essentials in your gym bag to avoid tricky and ah... sticky, situations.