JO MALONE LONDON - VETIVER & GOLDEN VANILLA

February 04, 2020 by Mr Luke Christian

(AD/Gifted)

Jo Malone’s latest offering to their ‘Cologne Intense’ range comes in the form of Vetiver & Golden Vanilla! A creamy, sensual fragrance that makes for the perfect transitional fragrance as we move from Winter into the upcoming Spring months.

Top Note: Cardamom
Middle Notes: Vetiver Bourbon
Base Notes: Vanilla Bourbon

Vetiver & Golden Vanilla opens up with a blast of the Cardamom note that feels both spicy and rich and soon afterwards, the creaminess of the Vanilla Bourbon note makes the fragrance feel well rounded and strong. The Vetiver Bourbon note gives this an underlying earthy tone that isn’t too overpowering nor is it too subtle, and when blended with the Vanilla Bourbon note, this makes it feel a little sweet.

For me personally, I found Vetiver & Golden Vanilla’s longevity a little disappointing as the scent lasted on my skin for up to 3 hours which when compared to my other favourites from the ‘Cologne Intense’ range, they tend to last on my skin in the region of 6-8 hours, so much longer in comparison. That being said, Vetiver & Golden Vanilla gained me compliments and I found its silage to be medium-light.

Vetiver & Golden Vanilla is available in both 50ml (£78) and 100ml (£122) and more details on the fragrance can be found here.

For more of my Jo Malone London reviews, check below!

FRAGRANCE: Bronze Wood & Leather, English Fields, English Oak & Redcurrant, Tobacco & Mandarin, Dark Amber & Ginger Lily, Myrrh & Tonka

EVENTS: Christmas 2016, Christmas 2017, Christmas 2018, Poptastic, The Bloomsbury Set

SKINCARE: Geranium & Walnut Hand Cream, Myrrh & Tonka Shower Oil

Have you smelt Vetiver & Golden Vanilla? What are your thoughts? I would love to hear from you so leave a comment below and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

EASYHOTEL - LIVERPOOL

January 21, 2020 by Mr Luke Christian

I had recently been invited to try out an overnight stay at easyHotel in a location of my choice. With so many different easyHotel locations to choose from such as:

Belfast
Birmingham
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Ipswich
Leeds
Liverpool
London
Manchester
Milton Keynes
Newcastle
Reading
Sheffield

I was spoilt for choice! In the end, I opted for their Liverpool location as I hadn’t been back to Liverpool in over 7 years and I felt that it was a good opportunity for me to visit Liverpool again and to go exploring.

Prior to my visit, I had explained that I am deaf and one of the things that worries me whenever I visit somewhere new, especially in a hotel overnight, is what if there’s an emergency and I am unable to hear what is going on? (For those that might be confused by this, I take my hearing aids out to sleep due to comfort and plus, who wants to hear whistling sounds all through the night!?) I was reassured that the staff at the hotel would be made aware of this and was pleasantly surprised when I arrived…

I began my journey from Leeds to Liverpool and took the train and was in Liverpool Lime Street station in around 90 or so minutes? Not too bad! One thing that I remembered from my previous visit to Liverpool was that it was cold. Very cold. This visit was no exception! I made my way from Liverpool Lime Street station and followed my maps app and decided to walk to easyHotel so that I could take in the sights and get familiar with my surroundings. I arrived at the hotel roughly 15 minutes later so in terms of the distance from the station, the location is perfect! easyHotel is set in the heart of Liverpool with many iconic features such as The Royal Liver Building, Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool ONE and the Cavern Club which is a historic piece in Liverpool’s history and is famed for kickstarting The Beatles career! Also, the Cavern Club is just 1 block away from easyHotel so no excuse not to go visit!

I arrived at easyHotel a little after 3pm which is their check-in time and was shown up to my room where I had been given a ‘DeafGard’. Now, this was the first time I had ever come across a device like this but the lovely host explained what it was and how these devices are linked up to the fire alarm so that if a fire ever did occur, the DeafGard would make a very loud siren and would also flash very brightly. She also mentioned that my room was the first on the list to evacuate should a fire occur or any emergencies happen and this was incredibly reassuring. I am lucky to be able to travel around for my blog but this was the first time that I had ever had a device like this and the reassurance to know that they would come to me first. It might not be a big deal to some, but for a deaf person like myself and many others out there, this is absolutely what is needed to make an overnight stay completely relaxing!

My room itself was small but cosy, minimal but functional, basic but fuss-free but most importantly, the bed was comfortable. The rooms at easyHotel also come with a TV at an additional cost, an en-suite shower room, and fitted with air-conditioning/heating.

Once I had unpacked I then explored a slice of what Liverpool had to offer and made my way over to Liverpool ONE (this is a shopping centre for those of you who aren’t familiar and was about 2 minutes down the road from the hotel!), took a stroll over to Albert Dock and then walked along the River Mersey. I will be honest, it was absolutely throwing it down so I wasn’t able to explore as much as I had hoped given that it was so dull and dark! However, with that being said, it was refreshing and exciting to be in a place where I hadn’t been before in so long and made me question why I had left it so long to go back…

The following morning, I checked out at around 9.30am with their check-out time being 10am, however, can be extended to 1pm in some locations at an additional cost, to head back home to work. The checking in and checking out process was incredibly easy and quick and overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay! A big thank you to easyHotel for my gifted stay and for also accommodating to my deaf needs, I really appreciated it!

If you’re thinking of visiting a location mentioned earlier, why not book with easyHotel? Click here for more!

Have you stayed with easyHotel before? If so, which location? Do you have any overnight stays or trips coming up? Let me know as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button below!

LUMITY'S MALE SUPPLEMENTS

January 14, 2020 by Mr Luke Christian

(AD/Sponsored)

Over the past couple of weeks, I had been trying out Lumity’s male food supplements which have taken inspiration from their award-winning female supplements. Having learnt a little more about Lumity and what they offer, I was rather intrigued and keen to try these out as I am all for being the healthiest that I can be, (albeit with minimal effort), and as the New Year has just begun, what better excuse to use than ‘New Year, New Me!’

Lumity Morning & Night Male Food Supplements

‘Lumity for Men is a two-step morning and night daily food supplement that works around the clock so that you don’t have to. An advanced, scientifically-formulated team of ingredients that work together to ensure that you’re getting the right nutrients at the right time. Maximum results, minimum effort!’

With so many food supplements out there and not knowing what’s good for you and what could potentially be quite dangerous, with Lumity you don’t have anything to worry about on that front as the supplements are free from;

Sugar
Caffeine
Gluten
Artificial Flavours
Parabens
Melatonin
Petrochemicals
Preservatives
Sulphates

and instead contain a blend of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, plus three additional key ingredients -

L-Citrulline
Pumpkin Seed Oil
Taurine

which are aimed to specifically enhance men’s health, endurance and vitality!

I’ll be honest, prior to taking Lumity, I hadn’t taken many food supplements before as I had never fully researched into them nor had I thought it was worth it. With that being said, I treated Lumity with an open mind as I do with any new products that I try out and I have to say, I’m impressed!

As previously mentioned, I always strive to be healthy and what I liked about Lumity’s Male Supplements was that it was simple and straight forward. There were no complicated timings involved, nor was there a strict routine to follow, just simply take 4 soft gels with water in the morning (orange coloured) and 4 soft gels with water at night (black coloured).

Admittedly at first, I found taking 4 soft gels in one go quite hard to swallow, so to speak, but having said that, it wasn’t the size of the soft gels, I think it was just because I hadn’t been used to taking as many tablets/food supplements in one go before. Once I got used to taking the supplements however, I found them much easier to swallow and they very quickly became part of my morning and nighttime routine!

The first couple of days I wouldn’t say that I noticed a change in terms of my mood or energy levels at this point, but around the 5/6 day mark, I began to notice that I didn’t feel as sluggish or lethargic during the late afternoon like I usually do. I also found that I was able to focus on things slightly longer than normal (I get distracted very easily…)

Overall, Lumity for Men was a great introduction into the world of food supplements and I felt confident and at ease knowing that I was taking supplements that were free of many additives and I found that the benefits were well worth doing! If you’re a newbie to food supplements then I would say that Lumity is a great food supplement to try out and don’t be put off at first by taking 4 soft gels/tablets all in one go, stick with it and it will come naturally! As I have only been taking these supplements for the past 3 weeks or so, I plan on coming back to this blog post once my supplements have run out to see what other changes I have noticed and to give you all a further update on this.

To find out more about Lumity, click here and to purchase and try out for yourself, click here!

Have you tried Lumity for Men before? If so, what are your thoughts? Did you find them beneficial? Do you take food supplements? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

BYREDO - CUIR OBSCUR

January 07, 2020 by Mr Luke Christian

I first came across the Cuir Obscur fragrance by Byredo back in 2016 in Harrods (Cuir Obscur is a Harrods exclusive after all) and I immediately knew that I had to have it. There was something very mysterious about the scent that kept making me go back for more and not only did I find it mysterious, but I also found it incredibly striking, sophisticated and sensual…

BYREDO - CUIR OBSCUR

Top Notes: Amaretto, Nutmeg
Middle Notes: Ylang-Ylang, Rose
Base Notes: Leather, Patchouli, Musk

Cuir Obscur opens with a smooth and sweet creaminess from the Amaretto note and shortly afterwards, a rush of the spicy notes come through which is when Cuir Obscur comes to life! The fragrance to me is very sharp and bold, and has now become my signature scent. No matter where or when I wear it, somebody will always compliment me on this fragrance and I have found that since wearing it all year round, its performance is still just as stunning the cold, fresh Autumn/Winter months as it is in the hot, breezy Spring/Summer months.

(I say ‘hot’ very loosely given that I reside in the United Kingdom…)

If I were to describe Cuir Obscur to somebody who perhaps hasn’t smelt it before, I would say it is like wearing the finest, jet black silk shirt that feels incredibly smooth against the body! In terms of longevity, Cuir Obscur lasts for up to 6 hours on my skin, a little longer during the Summer months and its projection is sharp, sensual, bold and creamy. Perfection!

Cuir Obscur is a Harrods Exclusive as previously mentioned and is available only in the 100ml size and can be purchased here. Be sure to check out my other reviews on Byredo such as:

Byredo Leather Collection / Gypsy Water Fragrance / Baudelaire Fragrance / Bibliotheque Fragrance and Home Scent / Seven Veils Fragrance / Ambre Japonais Home Scent / Chai Home Scent

Have you smelt Byredo - Cuir Obscur before? If so, what are your thoughts? Are you as much as in love with it as I am? Or perhaps this isn’t your cup of tea? Do let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2019

December 22, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

(AD/Gifted)
With just a few days to go until Christmas, I have put together some last minute gift choices to help you when it comes to buying presents for your loved ones, (or yourself, after all, we all deserve a little treat right!?)

—————————————————————————————————————

SACHAJUAN - OCEAN MIST GIFT SET / £50.00

One of my favourite haircare brands; SACHAJUAN!

This Christmas, why not treat a loved one or yourself to their iconic ‘Ocean Mist’ trio gift set?

Available to purchase online here!

HOLLISTER - FESTIVAL NITE GIFT SET / £35.99

Having previously reviewed the Hollister Festival Nite - For Him fragrance here, this would make for the perfect gift for the man who enjoys a fresh, light Summer fragrance!

This gift set contains 100ml Eau De Toilette Spray, 100ml Bodywash and a card holder.

Available to purchase in stores such as Boots, Superdrug, John Lewis and online here!

ESCENTRIC MOLECULES - BODY WASH GIFT SET / £20.00 per bottle

‘01’ by Escentric Molecules for me is one of the most complimented fragrances - ever! The scent is based on the enigmatic woody molecule; ISO E Super with fresh lime peel, green jasmine bud, soft balsams and musk.

Within this gift set are 01, 02, 03 and 04. Available to purchase online here!

BE WATER - POWER LIBERTY: REUSABLE BOTTLE / £25.95

A gemstone water bottle which is believed to change the structure and taste of water!

The bottles are fully reusable and the Power Liberty bottle is thought to improve circulation and include relief from pain and anxiety.

Available to purchase online here!

LABORATORY PERFUMES - ATLAS CANDLE / 200g £45.00

One of my favourite scents from Laboratory Perfumes comes in the form of ‘Atlas’! A spicy scent containing notes such as cinnamon, ginger and black pepper with a hint of fine cognac.

Available to purchase in store such as Yorkshire Soap Co. and online here!

RALPH LAUREN - THE POLO BLACK BEAR EDITION FRAGRANCE.jpg

RALPH LAUREN - THE POLO BLACK BEAR EDITION FRAGRANCE / 125ml £60.00

A fragrance that is bold and sophisticated containing notes such as iced mango, silver armoise and patchouli noir, this would make the perfect gift for the man who likes to feel luxurious and expensive!

Available to purchase in stores such as Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, John Lewis and online here!

—————————————————————————————————————

Have you got all of your Christmas presents sorted, or are you a last minute person like myself? Are there any of your favourites mentioned within this Christmas Gift Guide? Let me know your thoughts below as I would love to hear from you and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

CREED CHRISTMAS 2019

December 13, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

(AD/Gifted)

I have made no secret of my love for the iconic fragrance brand that is, Creed, and with Christmas just 12 days away (I know, how are we so close already!?) I wanted to put together 3 of my favourite Creed fragrances and divulge a little on why these would make for incredible Christmas Gifts!

————————————————————————————————————————————————————

CREED - AVENTUS

Top Notes: Blackcurrant, Betgamot, Apple, Pineapple
Middle Notes: Rose, Dry Birch, Moroccan Jasmine, Patchouli
Base Notes: Oak Moss, Musk, Ambergris, Vanilla

When it comes to fragrances, Creed - Aventus is possibly one of the most iconic scents out there. I first came across this masterpiece back in 2015 and wore it so much over the course of Summer that it now brings back all of those memories in abundance when I now smell the fragrance.

Arguably, Aventus is the fragrance that gets me the most compliments and for this Christmas, this will make for the most perfect gift for those who are strong, confident and sure of themselves without appearing too overbearing. To read my review in full, click here and to purchase and find out more, click here!

CREED - ORIGINAL SANTAL

Top Notes: Coriander, Juniper Berries, Cinnamon, Sandalwood
Middle Notes: Rosemary, Ginger, Lavender, Petitgrain
Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Vanilla

Original Santal is a fragrance that has a warm, spicy yet crisp feeling to it and one that contradicts itself throughout its performance. Opening as a rather light scent that quickly takes a more woody turn, the fragrance that becomes richer with the Tonka Bean and Vanilla notes finishing this off with a creamy undertone.

The ideal gift for the man who likes to smell expensive… For my full review of Original Santal, click here and to purchase, click here!

CREED - AVENTUS COLOGNE

Top Notes: Pineapple, Green Apple, Mint, Ginger, Mandarin Orange, Pink Pepper
Middle Notes: Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vetiver
Base Notes: Musk, Styrax, Birch, Tonka Bean

A woody and citrusy take on the original leather, spicy ‘Aventus’ in the sense that this Aventus Cologne feels lighter on the skin and unfortunately doesn’t last as long as ‘Aventus’ does. However, this is the perfect alternative for those who find the original ‘Aventus’ a little powerful at times and I would recommend wearing the Aventus Cologne during the daytime in Spring/Summer!

Aventus Cologne would make the perfect present for the man who likes scents that feel lighter on the skin and to read my review in full, click here and to purchase, click here.

————————————————————————————————————————————————————

I hope you have enjoyed this mini Creed Gift Guide and I would love to know your thoughts! Do you have any favourites that should be mentioned here? Any you think I should try? Let me know your thoughts below and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!

DIPTYQUE CHRISTMAS COLLECTION 2019

December 03, 2019 by Mr Luke Christian

(AD/Gifted)

For this Festive season, the inspiration behind each of the Limited Edition Christmas Collection scents was that they all represent a ‘Lucky Charm’. Each carrying a special wish for the New Year;

Protection
Luck
Harmony

The trio consists of:

Protective Pine - The guardian of the home.
I love how earthy and woody this is yet still has a slight creaminess to it and although being a mini, this certainly packs a punch when lit in any area!
Lucky Flowers - Brings good luck.
Perhaps a little too floral and bold for me, but that’s down to personal taste!
Blissful Amber - Restores harmony.
A rich, gorgeous scent that feels cosy and subtle yet when I leave the area, it is only when I return that I notice its projection. Blissful Amber is also my favourite out of the trio!

Overall, yet another stunning Christmas Collection from Diptyque this year and I particularly love the design of the packaging and artwork by artist: Olaf Hajek. Colourful, fun and festive!

To find out more from Diptyque this Christmas, click here and to purchase this three candles coffret, click here.

Have you smelt any of these Christmas scents this year? If so, do you have any favourites? Have you smelt any Diptyque candles before? If so, which ones? I would love to hear from you down below and don’t forget to click the ‘like’ button!