Blog Archive
floral street – the perfumes
Covent Garden is known worldwide – the area today breathes creativity for designers, artists and performers, The Royal Opera House stages world class Ballet and Opera and the area continues to be a breeding ground for new ideas.The history surrounding this part...
NATURAL AND BEAUTIFUL
Every so often I return to some of my favourite and well thumbed books which were my inspiration during the years I studied aromatherapy and beauty – I still love the intelligence and gentleness of these books, the healing powers of plants and the oils extracted from...
PHOTOGRAPHY AND PERFUME
Strolling through the small back streets on the Left Bank last week, enjoying the last remnants of summer and the many galleries and antique shops in this part of Paris, I stopped outside the Willy Rizzo Studio to admire the beautiful face of Bridget Bardot...
PERFUME IN THE GARDENS
Pop-Up boutiques in Les Jardins du Palais Royal are very much what you might expect from this elegant location tucked away behind La Comédie- Française in the busy 1st arrondissement of Paris. Last week wandering through the Gardens I came across the tiny...
FOR THE LOVE OF PERFUME
To mention the name Jo Malone is to recognise one of the most outstanding maverick English perfumers who nearly 23 years ago created an exciting collection of fragrances in a style quite different to the perceived genre of perfumery - Jo’s perfumes were fresh,...
PERFUME THEN AND NOW
Early last year I spent a wonderful afternoon in the Guerlain Store on the Avenue des Champs Élysées, Paris - I was one of a small group of perfume enthusiasts who had been invited through The Perfume Society to explore the fragrance archives at La Maison...
Candles and Ambience
Just before last Christmas I spent a few days in Paris, I had done most of my Christmas shopping in London so my trip was solely to catch up with a dear friend and to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere. Ambience was in great abundance, we walked and walked and the smell...
Best Wishes for 2017 from all of us at Perfume and Paris
'Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow’ - Albert Einstein ‘Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right’ - Oprah Winfrey HAPPY NEW YEAR BONNE ANNEE xx
CHRISTMAS PLEASURES
The recent Smog in Paris did little to deter visitors from travelling to the city last week and we joined a very busy Eurostar last Thursday afternoon for a few days of pre Christmas enjoyment. By the time we arrived in Paris it was dusk, the fog had lifted, the...
Coup D’Eclat in Monaco and Paris
Skin care from Monaco
Paris Parks and Gardens
Often the most treasured of times will be the enjoyment of a relaxing stroll, Paris is regarded as one of the favourite cities for the flaneur and is perhaps home to some of the most beautiful parks and gardens in Europe. When in Paris I always make time to visit Le...
Artists and Artisans
Every time I arrive in Paris I agree with Audrey Hepburn and her character from the film Sabrina when she declares, ‘Paris is always a good idea’ – last week the City was still enjoying very warm temperatures, beautiful blue skies and plenty of bright sunshine. The...
Art and Fragrance To Make Us Smile
During the time I was running my business, the Paris based Company Ligne Blanche introduced me to a collection of perfumed candles inspired by the American Street artist, Keith Haring – Haring began as a pop artist and set out to reach the widest possible audience...
Roses Are Red
I met the lovely and iconic Grace Coddington very recently, for just a few seconds – she was at the newly relocated Dover Street Market launching her new perfume, simply named Grace – She looked wonderful dressed in her low key black ensemble with her amazing frizzed...
A Stroll Through Fragrance
I arrived in Paris at the end of last week to uncertain weather but come the weekend and the beginning of May, the sun was glorious and stayed with us throughout the week. Despite two Public holidays in France in the first week of May when many restaurants, shops,...
Perfume Times
February in Paris is still pretty chilly but the highlight of my visit last weekend was a visit to La Maison Guerlain on Avenue des Champs- Elysees to explore the fragrance archives and to smell some of the very first perfumes created by the family Guerlain. The...
Some of My Favourite Things Con’d
Some of our most exciting small niche fragrance and candle companies are those who have delved into their past history and have successfully carried the heritage of that company into a modern-day business. Two special companies are – Cire Trudon – in 1643 Claude...
New Year Greetings
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language And next year’s words await another voice” – T.S. Eliot – Four Quartets “Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, Whispering ‘it will be happier’…. “ – Alfred Lord Tennyson Happy New Year...
Pont Alexandre 111
Walking through Paris last week, with temperatures feeling more like Spring than mid winter, was a wonderful out of season pleasure. Although Paris is still tinged with sadness after the 13 November events, the eloquence and elegance remains – Of the many bridges...
Some of my favourite things
Winter has crept upon us in a snap, a short summer, a fabulously colourful Autumn moving into what now feels like winter proper. The warmth and laziness of summer lifts our spirits and we almost turn into different people, the energy rises and we become more...