Jo Malone’s New Veggies Collection

Posted on June 18, 2026 by Henna

About 5 years ago, we started to see the first few garden-inspired scents, and now the trend is becoming more mainstream thanks to Jo Malone’s latest collection. I mean, as people move away from the more wholesome pursuits in life, brands are giving them new ways to touch grass – or at least smell like it.

Jo Malone’s take on Loewe’s iconic Tomato candle is to make it tomato leaf. It’s green and fresh and everything you want to scent your space. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Carrot Blossom was my favourite of the 3 perfumes. The rootiness of a carrot came through along with a subtle sweetness. I couldn’t get enough of it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Scarlet Beetroot was patchouli with that zing of blackcurrant. Anything blackcurrant seems to remind me of L’Ombre Dans L’Eau, which is always better, in my mind. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Velvety Butternut is sweet, but in a gentle Jo Malone kind of way. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I like the collection. It’s quirky from a brand that seems matronly and old-world at times. I really went in there to spray on some Pomegranate Noir, which I still love, and put on my wishlist.

 

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Kerastase Gloss Absolu Now Has a Cream

Posted on June 18, 2026 by Henna

June 18
It’s a great morning when your haircare smells like a famous perfume that everyone can’t get enough of – yes, it’s Kerastase’s Gloss Absolu Frizz-Glaze Cream, and the whole line smells like the base of Amouage Guidance, that faux sandalwood accord for people who have never been around sandalwood. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Does it make my hair frizz-free? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Umm… no. But on its own, nothing will, and those with curly hair understand. I need a heavy-duty cocktail of products, but this doesn’t hurt, and I like that I can put it into dry hair, and it adds a bit of smoothness and definition without heaviness or greasiness, the way a serum might. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

The Gloss Absolu line is great for those who have pretty tame hair that needs a bit of hydration – the shampoo and mask are rich without being too much. But also, if you love scented hair care – and like THIS scent in particular – then you can enjoy it all day long with this line. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Lush Death and Decay Perfume Review

Posted on June 18, 2026 by Henna

Feb. 4
Scent of the lost hockey game: Lush Death and Decay. Lilies and a whole bunch of Jasmine. I’m not a huge fan of the scent of lilies but this one smells so luminous and rich that its won me over. Just look at the colour of the juice too – Lush never holds back.

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La Roche Posay Hydrating Skincare

Posted on June 18, 2026 by Henna

Feb. 4
I smell like the aquatic freshness of these La Roche Posay hydrating products, which interestingly, smell like a “blue” perfume. My guess would be that they’re trying to get us to think of hydration with leads to water which leads to the “blue”-scented products. You’ll know it when you smell it – aquatic and slightly aromatic, usually used in masculine perfume blends. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I wouldn’t normally use something just for hydration. Still, this winter has made my skin so dry, and this La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum is worth trying because it has hyaluronic acid in 4 different molecular weights. Hence, it actually goes into your skin to help hydrate. Don’t be scared to put Hyaluronic acid on your skin – the acid is just part of the name because of the chemical structure. This ingredient has the ability to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, so it’s a fantastic skincare ingredient for dehydrated skin because once it absorbs, it’s holding that moisture in there. It’s worth trying if you’re struggling with very dry skin, especially if it’s because of very dry weather. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Top any serum with a cream, something to seal the hydration in and create a bit of a barrier so that all the hydration doesn’t just evaporate into the air. I do like the lushness of this Hyalu B5 cream, but some days I top this with a thicker ointment too, just to cover all my bases. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Prada Paradox Perfume Review

Posted on June 18, 2026 by Henna

Feb. 4
Wearing some Paradoxe today to mark one year of Prada Beauty. This is nice and modern, but the real ones know that the lip balms smell like Infusion d’Iris, so walk all the way to the back of your Sephora and go ahead and give yourself a spray of that, think of the spring in the air, and try to forget about the price of oil for a second. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

This OG Prada Paradoxe has a warm ambery base that feels like a hug, but I like the soapiness of Paradoxe Virtual Flower so that is on my wishlist for this year. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Discontinued Perfume: Balmain Ambregris

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Henna

Dec. 23
The only thing better than one bottle is two. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Ambre Gris by Balmain. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Apparently, a very realistic depiction of ambergris – that grey amber that comes from whales and somehow gives us that warm touch we need. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I’ll never get tired of it…⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Molinard Habanita Perfume – Perfume for Cigarettes

Posted on March 2, 2026 by Henna

Smoking is back!

Dec. 23

After so many years of showing off my bottle of Habanita, someone volunteered to spray their cigarette with it to see how it would smell. The effect is ashy and dry, a nice blend with the warm powdery vanilla of Habanita. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Amouage samples I’m trying and L’Oreal Midnight Recovery Cream

Posted on February 24, 2026 by Henna

The thing about me is that I’ll travel with as many samples and decants I can manage to throw together, because I’m a great packer who also insists on doing it all at the last minute. Here’s a peek at what made it with me this time – really, what’s in my bag. I’m slowly being influenced to love all things Amouage. I tried to resist, but I can’t. A friend of mine has an extensive collection and we have smelled the Amouage’s together a few times, and what has become clear is that the brand has stood the test of time. They just don’t make perfume like it anymore.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Dec. 23

I already have a bottle of Fate Woman, I just got Lyric Woman, and others can’t be far behind. I’m going to enjoy wearing Memoir Woman over the holidays, and its spiced tuberose reminds me of Poison. The fruity opening is still there, and a blend of dark spices, including everyone’s favourite cardamom, dresses a tuberose so that it looks fresh and inviting. Amouage doesn’t do anything by half-measures, so the absinthe accord created here is syrupy and rich, inviting and noxious at the same time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I must also travel with the richest face cream I can find so here it is: L’Oreal Midnight Recovery Cream. I don’t have much to say about the serum but the cream is specifically for barrier repair so it creates a nice layer on your skin and then just stays there. Nobody loves actives (acids! retinoids!) more than me, but it’s ok to take a little break while I’m traveling and let skin be skin, let the focus be on living and making new memories.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Serge Lutens Royaume des Lumieres Collection Review

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Henna

Dec. 23
I’ve been working my way through Serge Lutens’ new Royaume des Lumières collection, and my winner is Bois Roi d’Agalloche. Smoky powdery oud-patchouli is part challenging and part comforting for anyone who loves to smell different. The amber accord in here never lets the patchouli get too sweet and it’s like being near a cozy fire, after wrapping yourself up with a blanket pulled out of the cedar chest. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Sidi Bel-Abbes is the one that everyone talks about it. It’s also for the seasoned perfume wearer because it blends a funky oud with a funky musk. We’ve seen Lutens do this before, but this feels different, more nuanced and easier to wear. That said, it reminded me of the Cartier oud collection which is smooth and easy to wear, and shockingly comes out as being more affordable too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

The rest weren’t ones I wanted to keep wearing but maybe others will find something compelling in them. Tarab is a rose-oud, a fragrance genre I’m yet to be wowed by. Zurafa is leather made soft with the addition of some iris, and finally Craceuse de Flammes, which is a sweet rose hardly more interesting than others that have come before it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

The bottles are beautiful, inscribed with Arabic-inspired lettering, and no doubt appealing to the collector in all of us. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Of course, a new Lutens collection always offers much to dissect and think about when it launches, and so today, even with thousands of launches, this one stands out as something to be experienced. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I know many of you have smelled some of these. Share your thoughts in the comments. ⠀

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Zoologist New Bottles vs. Old Bottles

Posted on February 17, 2026 by Henna

Old bottles vs. new Zoologist bottles – I get that change is hard but the new bottles aren’t terrible.  They have a magnetic cap and the name of the perfumer on the side of the bottle. I love that little detail because it is what makes Zoologist so unique.

Sacred Scarab bottle from IndieScents.com.

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