It all makes perfect scents...

With the perfume market more saturated than ever, it's easy to stick to our signature scents and  be reluctant to try something new.  The major brands seem to be churning out new fragrances constantly, resulting in my opinion in an industry flooded with samey smells and a high chance of disappointment, which sticks in the throat when you've spent nearly £50.00 on something you won't use. I have my favourites, Lolita Lempicka being my go-to, as I love the liquorice and aniseed combination and the fact it's not a well known. 

La Petite Robe Noire - Guerlain

           

I was instantly won over with this the minute I saw it - beautiful bottle, especially the stopper and curved top, which is a replica of the classic Guerlain bottles (think L'Heure Bleue). I literally want to eat it. The top notes include black cherry, almond, berries and bergamot. The middle notes are dominated by roses (Bulgarian and Turkish), alongside liquorice and smoked black tea. Rich, classic base notes such as tonka bean, patchouli, vanilla and iris finish this off perfectly. The branding is too powerful for Paris loving, style obsessed women to resist. If you like black cherry this belongs on your dressing table.

Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 75 ml Eau de Parfum.
Price: £42.00, £60.00, £86.00
Offers: 30ml gift set with body lotion - £27.99 - Boots and online http://bit.ly/RU28IR

Lolita Lempicka

My all time favourite, the marketing and branding is perfect and ethereal, the bottle is quirky, fairytale like and unique, and the scent is distinctive and different. Released in 1997 by the French fashion designer of the same name, this was the first fragrance which soon outsold the whole fashion line. This gourmand scent has distinctive base notes of liquorice and sweet praline, so not necessarily for everyone (liquorice is a bit like Marmite, I think)! The success of the first fragrance led to many more limited editions being added to the collection, which I'm going to blog about separately later.

Sizes: 30ml, 50ml, 100ml EDT and EDP

Price: £34.00, £46.00, £60.00
Deals: Big discounts at cheapsmells.com (save up to 50% on RRP)

Chanel Noir

      

It's generally hard for me to be persuaded not to go for Mademoiselle if I'm anywhere near the Chanel stand,  but they really have come up trumps with this. Chanel don't churn out new fragrances willy-nilly, so you know that a lot of time, effort and research has gone into it. Citrusy topnotes of grapefruit and bergamot, a predominantly rose heart, with obvious base notes of sandalwood, vanilla and tonka bean. It's a bit too easy nowadays to stick "noir" on the end of anything to evoke mystery and seduction. For those wanting something a bit more hard-hitting than Mademoiselle and not as overpowering as No.5 - this could be your new signature scent.

Sizes: 50ml

Price: £75.00
www.chanel.com

Dahlia Noir - Givenchy

        

My sister wants this for Christmas so I had to do my research! I love Givenchy's male fragrances so had high hopes for this. I really like the simple elegance of the bottle, a refreshing change from some of the garish offerings available this year. The branding is very classic and appeals to women who want to project mystery, danger and excitement.

Being a floral chypre, some people might find it a little too powdery. Top notes include mandarin, pink pepper and mimosa, which lead to an intense core of iris, patchouli and rose.The base contains classic notes of tonka bean, sandalwood and vanilla. I'm wearing it now and it is POWDERY - think Agent Provocateur or Prada. For some reason it makes me feel cosy and it seems especially suitable for winter, you would need the eau de toilette in the summer.

Sizes: 30ml, 50ml EDP, 30ml, 75 ml EDT

PrIce: £42.00, £61.00/£35.50, £61.50
Offers: Gift set 50ml EDP, 75ml skin dew, perfumed candle £40.66 (£60.00 RRP) 
Boots - http://bit.ly/VjQoye

Tom Ford - Jasmin Rouge

I think Tom Ford has knocked Chanel from the top spot for me as best prestige fragrance. The blends are just to die for and always are guaranteed compliments.They evoke far away exotic places, luxury and class. Jasmin Rouge is a spicy floral which is ideal for the Christmas period. With top notes of cinnamon, ginger and cardomom, Sambic jasmine at the heart and a leather, wood and amber base if it's spicy and exuberant you're looking for, you've come to the right place.

Sizes: 50 ml, 250 ml EDP
Price: £125 for 50ml
http://bit.ly/10mWphc - Selfridges

Wear your Christmas scent with a smile and grab some bargains - you can never have enough in my opinion!