FATHER'S DAY FRAGRANCES GIFT GUIDE

June 15, 2017 by Mr Luke Christian

A staple gift for any Father figure in your life, is often considered to be a fragrance. With so many choices, and so many different scents, you could be forgiven for feeling slightly overwhelmed. However, with my help and guidance, I am hoping that these fragrances that I have chosen for this Gift Guide, will help put your mind at ease, and steer you into making the right decision for this Father's Day!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RALPH LAUREN - POLO: RED EXTREME

**GUCCI** **GUILTY:** **PLATINUM EDITION**

*Top Notes: Lemon, Lavender*
*Middle Notes: Orange Blossom*
*Base Notes: Cedar, Patchouli*
Gucci are absolutely my go-to brand right now. Anything that they create, I instantly want, and the Guilty fragrance is no exception.
Inspired by the Creative Director; Alessandro Michele, the fragrance is a beautiful blend that is as equally citrusey as it is woody! The opening bursts with the Lemon note, instantly creating a fresh, vibrant feel which after a while, dries down into a spicy, more earthy fragrance.
The longevity of Guilty lasted for up to 6 hours upon my skin, and I would recommend wearing this both during the Summer days and nights. Versatile enough to be worn for any occasion!
You can purchase Guilty - Platinum Edition *here*.

**DAVIDOFF**
**HORIZON EXTREME**

*Top Notes: Grapefruit, Ginger, Rosemary*
*Middle Notes: Cypriol Oil, Cedar, Nutmeg, Leather*
*Base Notes: Amber, Sandalwood*
The opening of Horizon Extreme is a strong, powerful start that begins with a spicy yet fresh beginning. During the dry-down, the fragrance becomes more woody which comes with a rather a loud projection!
Possibly the heaviest fragrance out of my choices for this Gift Guide, with the leather and woody notes blending together. Perhaps this may be better suited to wear towards the end of Summer with the cooler weather beginning to change.
Horizon Extreme lasted for up to 7 hours upon my skin, and is available to purchase *here*.

**MONT BLANC**
**LEGEND**

*Top Notes: Lavender, Bergamot, Lemon Verbena, Pineapple*
*Middle Notes: Coumarin, Oak Moss, Geranium, Rose, Red Apple, Dried Fruits*

*Base Notes: Sandalwood, Tonka Bean*

A sweet and fruity fragrance from Mont Blanc, that opens with the bold Pineapple note than quickly dries down into a cleaner, and spicy scent.
Longevity of Legend was slightly disappointing, and only lasted for up to 4 hours upon my skin and the projection was light to medium. I would recommend wearing Legend throughout the day!
You can purchase Mont Blanc - Legend *here*.

**BOTTEGA VENETA**
**POUR HOMME PARFUM**

*Top Notes: Calabrian Bergamot, Siberian Pine, Juniper*
*Middle Notes: Pimento, Canadian Fir, Clary Sage*
*Base Notes: Labdanum, Leather, Patchouli*
Sophisticated, bold and classic. The opening begins with a refreshing citrusy feel that very quickly dries down into a woody, earthier type of scent. The Juniper and Siberian Pine notes blend perfectly together and add a real masculine touch!
The longevity of Pour Homme lasted for up to 6 hours upon my skin and I feel is definitely worth wearing during a night time as it could be a little overpowering throughout the day. (A little side note, if you like Tom Ford's discontinued Italian Cypress, then you may like this one...)
Pour Homme is available to purchase *here*.

**JOOP - WOW!**

Top Notes: Bergamot, Cardamom, Violet Leaf
Middle Notes: Geranium, Balsam Fir, Vetiver
Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Cashmere Wood
Earlier this year I had the pleasure of attending the Launch of JOOP - WOW! which you can read *here* for more details on the Event and the fragrance itself.
I have included it in this Gift Guide as it is a personal favourite of mine! A loud projection with a sweet opening that takes a creamier direction throughout the dry-down.
You can purchase WOW! *here*.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hope that my Father's Day Fragrance Gift Guide has helped and given you more of an idea of what fragrance to choose for your Father this coming Sunday!

Do you have a favourite from this Gift Guide? If so, which one? Are there any that you have tried out yourself? What did you think? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you, and don't forget to click that 'like' button!

ULTIMATE VALENTINE'S GIFT GUIDE 2017

February 08, 2017 by Mr Luke Christian

With less than a week to go now until Valentine's Day, I have put together a Gift Guide for your special loved one! But if like me you are single, then why not go ahead and treat yourself regardless!?

I have chosen a few of my favourite gifts ranging from fragrances, to food and drink, finishing off with some little treats! I hope you enjoy this Gift Guide, and I hope these inspire you with some ideas!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FRAGRANCE:

FOR HER -

FOR HIM -

Marc Jacobs - Daisy; Eau So Fresh/Kiss

I have lost count with the amount of ladies in my life who are in love with this fragrance! A sweet, yet fruity scent and one that will instantly make you a winner in any girls eyes!

{ Purchase }

Viktor & Rolf - Flowerbomb

Another classic ladies fragrance; Flowerbomb! Similar to the Mens Spicebomb version in the sense that they are both very strong when it comes to sillage.

{ Purchase }

Narcisco Rodriguez - For Her; Fleur Musc

I find that the bottle of this looks like an enlarged, elegant version of nail varnish.. Just me? Anyway! A floral yet musky scent with vibrant notes.

{ Purchase }

Chloé - A Love Story

A clean fragrance that is equally as floral as it is citrusy! Perfect for the upcoming Spring season!

{ Purchase }

Davidoff - Horizon Extreme

A woody, spicy fragrance that has incredible longevity and can give you many compliments!

{ Review || Purchase }

Viktor & Rolf - Spicebomb

My first ever fragrance, and one I will always go back to due to it's stunning scent, and the powerful sillage it leaves behind.

{ Review || Purchase }

Issey Miyake - L'eau D'Issey Pour Homme Noir Ambre

An oriental scent that feels warm and sweet. Perfect for a nighttime, and the bottle is just as stunning as the fragrance!

{ Website }

Tom Ford - Extreme

A strong, solid masculine scent. One I believe should be in Tom Ford's Private Blend Collection, it's that good. A woody, earthy fragrance and one that lasts for hours upon your skin!

{ Purchase }

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOOD AND DRINK:

Hotel Chocolat - The Valentines Pick Me Up

Chocolates from Hotel Chocolat are always a guaranteed way to make somebody feel good! Within this little goody box you get;

Shortbread covered in 50% Milk Chocolate
6 white hearts flavoured with Passion Fruit
A slab of caramel-milk chocolate covered in puddles and florentines
2 hearts, one containing a hint of chilli (my favourite!) and the other, their signature praline

{ Purchase }

Kraken Black Spiced Rum

I had been sent a little sample of Kraken Rum last year from 31Dover.com, and ever since that sample, I have been hooked. Honestly, it is all I ever drink now! It is sublime. I drink this with Coke as I have found it to mix perfectly, although I am looking for new mixers and cocktail suggestions to use Kraken Rum with? Any help?

{ Review }

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GIFTS:

TK Maxx - Stags Head

A gift bought for me a couple of years ago, that I have found instantly grabs peoples attention wherever this is placed within my house. (It is also heavily featured in some of my YouTube videos that you may have seen!) Stunning, slick and bold, a must have for any man after something eye catching for their room!

Now, as with TK Maxx stores only stocking certain items, I have included the link for their website so you're able to find similar options to the stag and I have also found an alternative to the one photographed.

{ Alternative || Website }

Jo Malone - Mens Cologne Collection Gift Set #JustBecause

As a huge fan of all things Jo Malone, I was flattered when I had received their Mens Cologne Collection containing 5 of their miniature fragrances;

Dark Amber & Ginger Lily
Grapefruit
Amber & Lavender
Wood Sage & Sea Salt
Incense & Cedrat

As part of their #JustBecause campaign, in each of their boutiques, they are currently personalising each gift with a special message for your loved one! Your chosen gift will be wrapped with a 'Just Because' ribbon, and will feature your personal message on a gift card. Why? Well, just because!

{ Purchase || Website }

Blossoming Gifts - 50 Red Roses

I love roses, any type of rose, I absolutely love! So when Blossoming Gifts sent over this beautiful bouquet of 50 red roses, I was immediately won over! As a special treat to you, my readers, I can exclusively share with you a discount code of a whopping 33% to ensure your loved one will receive a special bouquet of flowers in time for Valentines!

DISCOUNT CODE: BGIFTS33

I would also like to point out, that I received these flowers on Friday 3rd February, and are still in perfect condition now, on Wednesday 8th February! Blossoming Gifts also offer Next Day Delivery when you order by 9pm.

*Please note that the code does not include those in the 'flowers by post' range, but is included on everything else!*

{ Purchase }

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have you tried any of these gifts mentioned in my Gift Guide? Which is your favourite? Have you any ideas of what you will be getting your loved one this year for Valentines? Perhaps if you're single, will you be treating yourself to anything? Do let me know your thoughts down below, and don't forget to click that like button!

PS. Have a wonderful Valentines whatever your plans are. X

SUMMER '16 FRAGRANCE BATTLE

July 14, 2016 by Mr Luke Christian

I have been extremely fortunate enough to have received quite a few fragrances these past couple of weeks, and I had spent some time on working out on how to review them. I didn't feel as though a simple blog post per fragrance would suffice, and I wanted to mix things up a little! So, I have decided to 'pit them against one another' and determine which fragrance, is best suited for you.

Each fragrance has been worn for 4 days at a time, allowing me to really pick out the different notes, how powerful the sillage was, determine what type of fragrance group they best fit, and to see how long their staying power could last.

The four fragrances that I will be covering are:

ARAMIS: VOYAGER | DAVIDOFF COOL WATER; OCEAN EXTREME

ARMANI CODE: PROFUMO | RALPH LAUREN: POLO BLUE

ARAMIS; VOYAGER

A spicy fragrance, that feels fresh and is rather warm.

Top Notes: Ginger, Juniper Berries, Black Pepper
Middle Notes: Nutmeg, Sage, Lavender
Base Note: Tonka Bean

The initial spray is luxurious, and the spices within the fragrance, make for an interesting Summer fragrance! However, I must admit, I found the longevity of this rather disappointing. I found that when sprayed upon my skin, the scent only lasted 1-2 hours.

The top note of Black Pepper remained prominent throughout, with the base note, Tonka Bean, adding a creamier feel to the fragrance. The sillage of Voyager is light, which is ideal if you're after a light, fresh fragrance!

If you like fragrances that are fresh, and warm, then Aramis Voyager is a fragrance you need to try out! You can purchase this fragrance here.

DAVIDOFF COOL WATER; OCEAN EXTREME

An intense version of the iconic, 'Cool Water', the Ocean Extreme is powerful, and aquatic.

Top Notes: Frozen Mint, Juniper Berries, Rosemary
Middle Notes: Sea Notes, Lavender, Sandalwood, Geranium
Base Notes: Cedar, Crystal Musk, Seaweed

Upon the first spray, this fragrance smells absolutely divine! Initially, when having read the notes, I was unsure as to how the 'Frozen Mint' note would play out, in fear it could smell similar to mouthwash? Well, how wrong was I!? The sillage of Ocean Extreme is heavy, and is instantly distinctive. I was pleasantly surprised at how long this fragrance lasted upon my skin, due to the fresh notes featured within the scent! If you like fragrances that are fresh, yet pack a heavy punch, then Davidoff Cool Water; Ocean Extreme is definitely one to check out! This fragrance is available to purchase in your local drugstore.

RALPH LAUREN; POLO BLUE

A classic fragrance, and one that will never grow old.

Top Notes: Melon, Mandarin Orange, Cucumber
Middle Notes: Basil, Sage, Geranium
Base Notes: Musk, Woodsy Notes, Suede

When first sprayed onto my skin, I am hit by the 'Musk' and 'Suede' notes, which gives a sensual feel to the fragrance. The longevity of Polo Blue stayed upon my skin for up to 6 hours, which I found impressive!

The sillage is heavy, perhaps a little too heavy for the Summer daytime, and best suited for a Summer's night.

If you enjoy timeless fragrances, then Ralph Lauren; Polo Blue is your best bet! You can purchase this here.

ARMANI CODE; PROFUMO

Rich, luxurious and animalistic, a fragrance that is an instant winner.

Top Notes: Green Mandarin, Green Apple, Cardamom
Middle Notes: Orange Blossom, Lavender, Nutmeg
Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Leather, Amber

Admittedly, when I first sprayed this, I felt as though I had smelt this type of fragrance before. Yet, as the different notes came out to play, and the way it smelt on my skin, I came to realise that this fragrance stood out from the others. A really creamy, rich fragrance. One you could imagine wearing at a trendy bar on a warm, Summer's night. The longevity of this lasted for up to 8 hours, and the sillage is medium/heavy.

If you like creamy fragrances, then Armani Code; Profumo is the one for you! You can purchase this fragrance here.

In summary, if you prefer fragrances that are richer, creamier and you want to attract attention, then your best choices are between Aramis; Voyager or Armani Code; Profumo. If you want something fresh for the Summer, then I would choose the Davidoff Cool Water; Ocean Extreme or the Ralph Lauren; Polo Blue.

Which is your favourite fragrance out of these four? Do you have a preference when it comes to the type of fragrance that you wear throughout Summer? Let me know your thoughts down below in the comments box!

DAVIDOFF; HORIZON EVENT

April 03, 2016 by Mr Luke Christian

'Feeling free, you can achieve almost anything.'

I'd been invited by COTY to attend their fragrance launch for Davidoff- Horizon! Of course I was naturally ecstatic to have been asked, this was my first event in London, and my first fragrance launch!

The morning of the event had arrived, and immediately I felt excited, albeit slightly nervous! I'd been out the night before for a 'few drinks' in Soho, and if you follow me on Snapchat, I'm sure you'll have seen exactly what I got up to... No further comment. Anyway!

I was unsure as to what to wear as I didn't really know what to expect. So, I decided to play it safe and I wore a black turtle neck t shirt from ASOS, (I actually wore this t shirt in my latest Street Style shoot!) Some black skinny jeans and a white/cream blazer, both from Topman. I also wore my favourite pair of Jeffery West suede boots! I will be doing a new Street Style shoot featuring this outfit, so be sure to check back for that!

I'd stayed with my friend in Hampstead Heath and I needed to get over to Waterloo. I got on the tube, only to discover I was going the wrong way. You can imagine, sheer panic took over my senses as I kept checking the time and I was frantically rushing around trying to work out what line to get, Northbound or Southbound? How long will it take? What colour does that line mean? AGH! I eventually arrived (early, might I add.. Lord knows how I managed to do that!) at the National Theatre where the event took place, and I was greeted by two lovely ladies.

As we walked up to 'The Deck', I was in absolute awe of the view! 'The Deck' is at the very top of The National Theatre, and overlooks the whole of Southbank and The River Thames. The sun was shining, everybody was immaculately dressed, and the location was stunning. The first thing I saw, was the Davidoff- Horizon fragrance, so I went over to smell it and fell in love with the masculinity of the scent!

Davidoff - Horizon

Top Notes: Grapefruit, Rosemary, Ginger.
Middle Notes: Patchouli, Nutmeg, Cedar Wood.
Base Notes: Cocoa Absolut, Leather Accord, Vetiver.

I'd sprayed this on my skin around 9.45am and it was still just as strong when I smelt it at 5.45pm. The longevity of this is amazing. The first initial spray is light, and refreshing. Perfect for this time of year! The dry-down started to kick in, and that's when I felt the fragrance came to life. The scent became heavier, muskier and more intriguing. Whilst the sillage of this isn't too overpowering, it can still be smelt lingering in the air, even after you've walked away.

Levison Wood gave us a talk on his experiences and who better to en-capture the spirit of this fragrance, than Levison? Everybody was transfixed on Levison as he gave his talk, and one quote he said which seemed to resonate with me was; "Sometimes in life, you don't have to have a reason for doing things. Sometimes things just happen, and things just are." At the end of the speech, I was lucky enough to have been able to have got a photograph with him! We also had all received a goody bag, inside this bag was a bottle of 125ml Davidoff - Horizon and a copy of Levison Wood- 'Walking The Himalayas.'

Overall, it was a perfect morning and one I will always remember as my first event in London! (Hopefully, not my last!) Davidoff - Horizon is available to purchase from any store and comes in 40ml (£34), 75ml (£45) and 125ml (£59). You can purchase this fragrance here.

Have you smelt Davidoff - Horizon yet? What do you think to it? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Oh, also! You can follow me and my travels on Snapchat now, it's: mrlukechristian