Saturday, 16 October 2021 10:35

The Fragrance Shop's Happy House

In honour of World Smile Day The Fragrance Shop hosted an event loaded with all the positive energy and affirmations we are sometimes simply lacking in our hectic everyday life. 

Under the motto ‘Spray a Little Happiness’, a beautifully aesthetic, calm and safe environment aka the ‘Happy House’ was constructed to showcase various new perfume releases alongside different live events the attendees were free to partake in.

 

Getting the opportunity to reflect on their inner self, actively work on their body, expand their knowledge on crystals, or simply relax with an evening cocktail alongside some blasting music.

The saying ‘good vibes only’ was reflected in every little detail and not only plastered on numerous signs on the walls throughout the premises. Early risers were able to start their day off with an exclusive workout conducted by professional fitness instructor Mr Oliver Lee. After boosting all those endorphins, it was time for a live recording of renowned British entrepreneur Poppy Jamie’s podcast Happy Not Perfect. The show dives into the everlasting question what it is to be human and how we can ultimately thrive from the inside out. Be it mental health, physical health, or business guidance, Jamie always tries to get the most out of her guests and pass on precious life advice to her devoted retinue of listeners.

  Poppy Jamie (on the left hand side) and Sharmadean Reid (on the right) during their discussion.

This episode’s guest was Sharmadean Reid, chief executive and founder of The Stack World, a networking platform for women that originally launched with a focus on the beauty industry as a new way to book services and economically empower independent beauty and wellness professionals. Though over time it evolved to cover a far wider range, branching into different areas that are compiled in a five-pillar model, namely: beauty, wellness, business, culture, and society. It is all about encouraging ambitious women to achieve higher ground whilst forming an interconnected entrepreneurial community of like-minded people. She also founded WAH Nails, so this woman knows exactly what she is talking about when it comes to setting up a business and working on one’s self-development at the same time. Throughout the roughly 45-minute-long talk young women in the audience were seen nodding their heads in agreement upon many things Reid so well versed expounded. Topics circled around feminism, self-confidence, procrastination, how to deal with writers blocks etc. Both revealed some personal experiences and tricks to cope with these issues. Thus, the discussion midst a small audience felt very intimate and insightful. Sharmadean described her life by means of a metaphor, saying: 'I see my life as a theatre and the people close to me are the spectators.' She advised that one sometimes must 'move some of them into another row further back if you feel they negatively impact you' and 'in life people sometimes also naturally move in and out of the front row of your theatre, and that is okay!', thereby expanding upon this figurative simile, which she picked up again from time to time throughout the whole discussion. In the end the audience was able to ask her some questions themselves that might have popped up in their heads. It was a lovely experience listening to these two very adept and open-minded women, every single listener was surely able to take something applicable for their own journey from it. The live recording of this episode will shortly be uploaded to Spotify under the following link:

So, give it a listen and whilst you are at it, peruse The Stack’s Newsletter completely free of charge.

Then it was time to literally spray a little happiness, by a run through of some of the most anticipated perfume releases within the industry. One thing is clear, all of them have a rich background history, bestowing it myriad personality and a story to keep in mind when you are putting them on. These fragrances are not merely about smelling good anymore but evolved into offering yet another component for customers to identify with and express one’s own personality a tat more. Since our sense of smell is amongst the most important senses we possess, the fragrance we wear says a lot about us. Your scent is one of the first things people notice about you, so it's important to make sure it is representing who you are.

KON's minimalistic sustainable packaging bestow the perfume a natural and grounded feeling.

First let us start off with a real game changer, IKON. This brand makes it their mission to continuously transform the market in terms of sustainability and cruelty free fragrances, composing each note with a natural mindset. The packaging is made of recycled composable paper, bottles are made from a light durable glass that does not jeopardise the longevity of the scent. Once owned, you can get them refilled at your local Fragrance Shop, avoiding unnecessary consumption of resources. Only responsibly sourced, natural as well as vegan key ingredients and materials are used. On top of that IKON manufactures locally, thereby further reducing CO2 emissions. The brand features six eaux de parfum in total, coming in 100ml size, all reasonably priced at £60 each. They contain 18 percent fragrance concentration, making it very long lasting.All their names are made up of number combinations, referring to the dates the responsive fragrance was created.  A wide range from slightly sweet to stronger balanced notes should provide something for every taste, especially because they are gender neutral, and who does not love a scent made for icons that you can share with your better half?

Hailey Bieber is the current face of the campaign, pictured next to crystal clear water. Likewise the bottle comes in a vibrant turquoise, embellished with the classic golden Versace Medusa head.

Versace Pour Femme Dylan Turquoise is the ultimate new floral and fruity summery fragrance for women. A spray can easily export you to faraway beaches where the deep blue ocean and hot yellow sand dunes meet. But make no mistake, it certainly is the perfect summer fragrance, nonetheless it concurrently is the perfect winter scent. Why? The indulging top notes of Lemon, Pink Pepper, Mandarin, Orange, and Jasmine create a wonderful mood boosting effect to mentally battle those frigid and gloomy winter days, transforming you to other places in a time when it is unfortunately still not as easy as it used to be to actually travel abroad. Escapism compressed in a bottle!

The intense version (as seen on the right) comes along slightly darker in colour and a little more spicy than the original, a perfect go to for evenings. Both flacons are designed to be refillable, by means of an innovative refill system, reducing its overall environmental impact.

Next on we have some news on the Armani front, My Way is the latest female scent by Giorgio Armani, joining in the ranks of established classics like the different Sí variations. Lots of musk, vanilla and white flower tones unveil for hours on end throughout the day. As the name suggests, the scent is supposed to encapsulate authentic experiences and encounters around the world, what exactly is associated with the top, heart and base note depends on how you have and are currently living your way. The short campaign film of the same name stars actress Adria Arjona and captures various meaningful encounters and adventures she makes during her travels through Tokyo, Sevilla, Thailand, and India. The deep blue rounded cap symbolises our planet earth, while the golden ring around it represents the journey around it.

UK based retailer Missguided on the other hand is rather new to the game in comparison, with their first ever launch having been in 2017. Due to their young target audience the perfume line is budget friendly, priced at £28 each. Though inexpensive they can most certainly keep up with pricier competitors. In accordance with their clothing style the packaging comes off distinctly youthful, all scents are bottled in metal cans alluding to fizzy drink cans. Each fragrance has a different empowering meaning behind it, reflected in its respective names, the likes of chill babe, babe dreams, babe power, babe night, and babe oud. Choose your can in accordance with the occasion and pair it with the right-hand cleanser to farther stay safe during times when it is more than ever important to keep those hands clean when out and about.

A campaign based on abundant florals and a soft pale colour coordination reflect the ingredients and smell.

Since celebrity fragrances have been all the range throughout the last few years, we end our quick rundown with two of them. Singer, Songwriter, and actress Ariana Grande just recently launched her amber floral fragrance God Is A Woman. A very soft, fruity, and sensual female scent that easily runs chance of becoming slightly addictive. This one is also big on aiding to shift a sustainable approach into the mainstream. 91 percent of the ingredients are naturally derived, 100 percent vegan (as Ariana is herself), cruelty free and all wrapped up in a reusable holder, made from 60 percent plant-based materials and a recyclable carton.

Ariana Grande's God Is A Women in the front on the right hand side, Jennifer Lopez's One in the back.

Jennifer Lopez is an old hand in the business, having released several distinctive perfumes. The latest being One, a sandalwood and nut dominated scent with hints of peach and coconut, creating a wonderful balance between strong woods, moss, as well as hints of patchouli and light, sweet fruitiness of a bright pink pepper burst, delicate florals, Jasmine and suede. All culminating in a harmonic peace inducing smell to linger on your skin.

On a closing note, The Fragrance Shop also gave space to Rays of Sunshine, a children's charity with the admirable endeavour to brighten the lives of seriously ill children across the UK. They are always on the lookout for engaged committed people to support their cause by doing something that fits your timetable but would mean the world to one of those kids. Be it fulfilling a wish for a new toy, driving to Disneyland, going to see a movie in the cinema, or simply donating. You have the power to get someone to smile and that is after all what World's Smile Day is all about.

A fitting scent that makes you feel comfortable, while ensuring to reflect your own sense of self ultimately has the power to positively enhance how you carry yourself. Having such a profound influence, we at Fashions Finest conceive it as a full holistic experience and strongly advise everyone to pay a visit to The Fragrance Shop, get a customised consultation and look for a new winter season scent, if not for yourself maybe be an early bird this year and grab a bottle for your loved ones as a Christmas present.

Published in Blog
For the ultimate fragrance, to take you from daytime straight into the evening, look no further than the new fragrance from Global fashion brand, Missguided.
Published in Beauty
Monday, 17 June 2019 08:49

Boss Babe V Black Opium

When it comes to perfume, personality is key, and Missguided's latest addition to its 'Babe' range is packed to the ring pull with personality.

Published in Beauty
Thursday, 04 April 2019 13:42

Products guaranteed to work as hard as you do!

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Photo by Emma Matthews. Unsplash

You work hard! Don't let your health and beauty products let you down. Fashions Finest has some great health and beauty buys to tell you about, which we can guarantee will work as hard as you do. Read on to find out some of the things you can buy that pack a punch in the world of health and beauty. These are all tried and tested by us, and great as a gift to yourself, or a loved one this easter.

Envigorate Your Locks With Hair Growth Serum

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Photo by The Hut Group

Formulated for visible results, and with science and innovation at their core, Grow Gorgeous Hair Growth Serum, £30.00 and Hair Growth Serum intense  £45.00, utilises natural active ingredients to provide the hair and scalp with the correct nutrients, nourishment and stimulation for optimum health and growth. They have even put their products to the ultimate test, with a 3-month user trial, yealding fantastic and visible results!

Key ingredients within their formulations are,Red Clover Flower Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Caffeine, Chinese Skullcap and Pea Sprout Extract – all natural, but with maximum efficacy at improving hair health. Trust Grow Gorgeous to re-invigorate your locks in no time at all with your choice of serum. Fashions Finest love the devine scent and overall great results this serum offers, working hard for your hair.



Maximise Recovery With Magnesium


Daytox Mineral Salt Bath result
Photo by Sparkle PR

After a hard day at work, or a hard gym workout, putting your body through its paces, treat yourself to a nice relaxing bath to soothe your muscles. Try Daytox Mineral Salt Bath at £4.00 per sachet.

Each sachet, tipped and desolved in your bath provides your body with the essential mineral Magnesium. Magnesium is absorbed through the skin as you soak in the bath and helps to relax and regulate muscle and nerve function, easing soreness and stiffness. A great way to unwind at the end of a busy day!

Post Shower Frizz-free Curls

Curly Towel result
Photo by Sparkle PR

The Only Curls Hair Towel at a cost of £15.00, is a manmade miracle for those of us with curly hair! The towel is made of microfibres which have been developed specifically for curly hair, offering  a simple solution for frizz-free curls after washing.

Hair is most fragile when wet and the uneven surface of a regular cotton towel roughens up cuticles and absorbs moisture from only the surface of the hair. Uneven cuticles and imbalanced moisture distribution results in frizz! This towel is small and quite thin, so not too bulky to carry in your gym bag, or overnight bag either. The 100% microfibre smooth yarns leave cuticles intact and absorb just the right amount of moisture for perfect frizz free curls every time! Try it! You will love it. We did!

Roll-on Perfume To Pack A Punch

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Photo by Sparkle PR

For the ultimate quick-fix fragrance pack your Miss Guided 10ml Roll On Babe Power at only £8.00 a pop! This handy little spritzer fits easily into your gym bag, or handbag, so its there when you need it.

Key fragrance notes include a vibrant splash of grapefruit zest and sour cherry, sharpened with crisp apple and pink pepper. It may be small, but this fragrance packs a punch, and one application lingers all day - leaving a provocative lasting impression. The sign of quality when it comes to perfumes in our book.

Make The Most Of A Massage

Shea Moisture African Water Mint Ginger Detox Bath Body Massage Oil result
Photo by Sparkle PR

A massage can support your wellbeing, as well as help to reduce muscle soreness and inflamation, relax your body, and make you feel great! If you don't have the time to get a massage, or are watching the pennies, you can still work wonders by giving yourself a massage with SheaMoisture African Watermint and Ginger Detox Bath, Body & Massage Oil  at a cost of £11.99 a bottle. This refreshing oil combines certified organic Shea Butter with African Water Mint & Ginger to rejuvenate and refresh your skin and tired muscles. The scent is deliciously invigorating, and it's also fair trade, so you can feel great about using it too!

This beautiful massage oil can be used in more than one way too! Pour into a warm bath to create a fragrant spa bath, Gently rub it into your skin after a shower or bath to restore moisture, or you can warm in your hands to use as therapeutic massage oil.

Korres Wild Rose Collection

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Photo from Sparkle PR

Excitingly, Korres are launching a new collection of products, which is set to make its debut this month. The Wild Rose Collection packs a lot of goodness into all it's products, activating radiance with the power of Super Vitamin C and Wild Rose oil. Take the Korres challenge, and transform your skin, with reduced appearance of dark spots, wrinkles and skin fatigue after just one week. Your skin will see dramatically increased radiance and intensive brightening, giving you smoother and younger looking skin. All this wrapped in a new, and ultra- fresh scent.

Enjoy discovering products which work as hard as you do every day, and love reaping the rewards with your beautiful and healthy skin, hair and body.

Published in Blog
Wednesday, 30 January 2019 15:42

Missguided Launches new fragrance design

Fashion retailer Missguided have unveiled a new rollerball design, of their three bestselling scents!

Published in News