Last-Minute Gifting Stress? Quickly head to Sephora for these Gift Sets for every budget

For me, counting down till X-Mas means gifting stress. Each year I promise myself to start hunting for the perfect X-Mas gifts in time, and each year I fail - again. The solution? Just head to Sephora as they have the perfect gift set for your mother, sister, friends, inlaws etc. They're seriously cool sets, not the average perfume plus travel size body lotion but glittery eyeliner sets and perfect eye makeup kits. And for each and every budget. Oh and tackle the gifts for your SO, father, brother etc. right away too. What are you waiting for?! 

SEPHORA COLLECTION - Fox Pouch with Body Wash, Lotion & Loofah

I love Sephora's bath & body products year round. Cute and festive, this clear reusable pouch contains a creamy body wash and lotion in a signature Cotton Flower scent (all Sephora Collection scents are great, but this is definitely one of my favorites), as well as travel-sized mesh flower loofah.

Large Fox Pouch with Cotton Flower Body Wash (260ml), Body Lotion (190ml) and Loofah
Price: 23 SGD
Available at Sephora (online and in stores)

SMASHBOX - Lash + Liner Set

For the cool kids. Smashbox, a makeup  brand born out of a real photo studio - the legendary Smashbox Studios in L.A. - brings us all we need for dramatic Holiday eyes in one set. Amp up your mascara with Photo Finish Lash Primer, formulated to boost lashes and make mascara last longer. Then sweep on big, glossy lashes with Full Exposure Mascara to add natural-looking length and volume as it builds thickness without clumping, flaking, smudging, or spider eyes. Finish with the pigment-rich waterproof formula of Always On Gel Liner, that creates ultimate graphic eye looks without budging, smudging, or flaking.

Lash + Liner Set (Limited Edition) with full-sized Full Exposure Mascara, deluxe-sized Photo Finish Lash Primer and Always On Gel Liner.
Price: 32 SGD
Available at Sephora (online and in stores)

TARTE - "Spice Up Your Stare" Deluxe Tarteist Eyeliner Set

Yay, Tarte! Spice up your stare with creamy, 12-hour color in a waterproof formula that won’t budge. Inspired by the ease of an artist’s palette, this one-of-a-kind, squeezable cream liner offers a seamless application. The unique formula allows for the creamiest texture and smoothest application. The set includes a sketcher-angled bamboo liner brush that easily glides the plush formula along the contours of the eyelid.

"Spice Up Your Stare" Deluxe Tarteist Eyeliner Set (Limited Edition), with 4 deluxe tarteist™ clay paint liners in mulberry, champagne, black, and copper and a double-ended eyeliner brush.
Price: 52 SGD
Available at Sephora (online and in stores)

GLAMGLOW - Volcasmic Set

Let it Glow! The much-awarded GlamGlow, a brand initially founded exclusively for backstage and professional use in Hollywood's Entertainment, Music, Fashion & Award industries, offers a set with radiance-boosting skincare treatments to get that Hollywood glow.

Volcasmic set, with Volcasmic Matte Glow Moisturizer (50ml), GravityMud Firming Treatment (15g), DreamDuo Overnight Transforming Treatment DreamSerum (15ml) and DreamDuo Overnight Transforming Treatment DreamSeal (15ml)
Price: 76 SGD
Available at Sephora (online and in stores)

SK-II - Essential Ritual Set

If you need to bring in the big guns, go for SKII's Essential Ritual Set, a duo of SK-II signature facial treatments in limited-edition packaging. The award-winning Essence combines the power of nature with advanced technology to improve the overall appearance of skin. This pure, lightweight liquid is made of 90% Pitera™ - a bio-ingredient rich in vitamins, organic acids, minerals, and amino acids that work together to support natural skin cell renewal. The ultra-hydrating Gentle Cleanser contains Pitera as well, and creates a fine textured lather to effectively cleanse and hydrate the skin.

Essential Ritual Set (Limited Edition), with Facial Treatment Essence (230ml) and Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser (120g)
Price: 269 SGD
Available at Sephora (online and in stores)

And what about the boys?

For men, unfortunately, the sets available aren't overly creative and are limited to the classic perfume plus travel size body product. If you're not sure about the fragrance or when you're looking for a less pricey gift, opting for a scented shower gel (like Burberry, Zadig & Voltaire etc) is always a good idea. It rarely goes to waste as everyone uses shower gel and it's a great way to try out a scent.

Versace Eros pour Femme - Sensual Seductiveness that proofs to be fresh enough for the hot and sweaty tropics

As the fragrances that I adored for many years turned out to smell different in the tropical environment of Singapore, this gave me a good reason to shop for a new perfume. Two requirements: (1) the perfume needs to interacts well with the new South East Asian chemistry of my sweaty, spice-secreting skin,  and (2) as I used to liked warm and rich fragrances before, my new perfume should be both deep and sensual, yet fresh enough for my daily life in the tropical lushes. I gladly found a new favourite in Versace’s ‘Eros pour Femme’…

As mentioned in my post about the reasons WHY a perfume smells different in another environment than that you are used to,  I love deep base notes of Amber, Bourbon Vanilla and Tonka Beans. My favourite perfumes combine these rich and sensual base notes with lighter notes of white flowers in the top and heart notes – for many years, my favourites have been Christian Dior’s Dior Addict (Mandarin Leaves, Night Queen Flower, Orange flower, Bourbon Vanilla, Sandal Wood and Tonka Bean) and Pure Poison (Bergamot, Jasmine, Gardenia, Orange Blossom, White Amber, Sandalwood, Musk) and Keiko Mecheri’s Datura Blanche (Date Tree Blossom, Indian tuberose, Heliotrope, Bitter Almonds, Tonka Bean and Madagascar vanilla).

Taken together,  my findings provided a good reason for me to go shopping for a new perfume: one that interacts well with the new South East Asian chemistry of my sweaty, spice-secreting skin and that is both deep and sensual , as I like it, but also fresh enough for the tropical lushes. And boy, did I find one!

PRODUCT REVIEW: EROS POUR FEMME BY VERSACE

Versace launched this new Eau de Parfum for women as an addition to the popular men’s edition Eros that was introduced in 2012. Eros Pour Femme was launched in Italy in December 2014, and hit the shelves in Asia in the summer of 2019. This new legend is bursting with the passion of when Eros, the god of love, meets his true love: a goddess embodying the primal power of a woman in a very sensual way. A radiant and strong woman that enjoys the game of seduction. I absolutely LOVE the Ad for this fragrance as it really conveys the feeling of the perfume, check it out below!

The fragrance: seductive

The fragrance is indeed very seductive and has a very sexy, primal yet crisp feeling to it. Key words to describe  this fragrance would be attraction, desire, sensuality and passion. 

The opening of the fragrance reminds me of cologne, as it is somewhat sharp due to the top notes of fresh Sicilian Lemon, Calabrian Bergamot and Pomegranate.

After the top notes have vanished (after a few minutes, so give it some time), the heart of the fragrance emerges: Lemon, Sambac Jasmin and Peony. Jasmine gives the fragrance a sensual round base, whereas Peony, a freshly sweet floral note, adds a playful and seductive touch to it. The Lemon is not very perceptible in my opinion, however the floral heart of the fragrance has a stimulating fresh hint to it that creates a  very addictive effect . I can’t stop sniffing the part of my skin where I sprayed the perfume, again and again, over and over…seriously seductive and addictive!

The base notes of this fragrance are deep and velvety without being overwhelming: ambrox (comparable to Ambergris, which has a subtle sweet and earthy scent ), sensual and smooth woods, creamy sandalwood and Musk. Very sexy and feminine, but also very sophisticated.

The fragrance was created by renowned perfumers Alberto Morillas (a.o.  Kenzo Flower, Carolina Herrera 212, Marc Jacobs Daisy) Olivier Cresp (a.o. Swarovski Aura, Yves Saint Laurent Elle, Givenchy Ange ou Demon) and Nathalie Lorson (a.o. Dolce & Gabbana D & G Pour Femme, Bvlgari Voile de Jasmin), which aren’t the least names in the industry – the mentioned fragrances from their hand are just a few, as the entire list of classics and best-sellers that they have created over the years is too long to mention here.

The bottle: Glam Glam Glam

I love some good rock-star glamour, yet Versace is habitually over the top in both its fashion and fragrances for my liking, at times leaning towards tacky. As you would expect from Versace, the fragrance bottle is very glam and shiny, however not too much in my opinion! The glass bottle is rounded and embellished with a prominent gold plate that has a relief Medusa, Versace’s logo, that is hard to miss. The edges of the gold plate show a classical Greek motif, and the heavy gold cap has a large Medusa relief as well on top. Hard to miss, but within the limits of over the top blingy glam that I can handle. 

CONCLUSION: ADDICTED!

I absolutely adore this scent, and am sure this is one I will be using for years. For me personally, this perfume turns out to be the perfect new favourite for the tropics.  I love the fact that the fragrance is sensual and seductive, yet has a tantalizing fresh hint to it that lasts for hours. The fragrance lasts medium long, and is not affected by heat, sweat or humidity on my skin.

Versace Eros pour Femme is available at Sephora, department stores and perfumeries:

Eau de Parfum 30ml - 105 SGD

Eau de Parfum 50ml - 140 SGD

Eau de Parfum 30ml - 185 SGD

Perfume Panic - Why does my favourite fragrance smell different in the tropics?!

As a fragrance addict, I always imagined that it would be the biggest perfume-related disaster if my favourite perfumes were to be discontinued. Recently I experienced a catastrophe scoring just as high on the disaster scale: the perfumes that I have been wearing for years suddenly smell different since I moved from Europe to Singapore! Why do the fragrances that we otherwise adore and that work very well for us, suddenly smell different in a another environment? It turns out there is more behind this than just a change in mood or preference…

I love fragrances, but rarely find one that I stick to. But when I do, I will use the same scent(s) for at least 10 years or even longer. It’s amazing how scents can bring back very vivid memories, and as a result we often associate a fragrance with a person or an era very strongly. Let’s be honest, we are all prone to dislike an otherwise great perfume just because it reminds us of a malicious ex (or whatever other nasty person).  Same goes for specific eras; I have used Ralph Lauren Romance all the way through college, and although it’s an absolutely amazing scent, but it now reminds me of stressful semesters, exams and endless nights in the University Library whenever I smell it.

What scents we like is very diverse and incredible subjective, and also changes over time. Over the years, my own preference slowly shifted from fresh floral scents to rich and sensual scents, that tend to last and linger for a very long time. For years now, my favourite perfumes have been Dior Addict, Dior Pure Poison and Keiko Mecheri’s Datura Blanche, a niche brand. As said, I always feared the day that any of these fragrances would be discontinued…

Not discontinued, but equally disasterous:suddenly the perfumes that I could not live without and regarded as a substantial part of my being, just didn’t feel and smell right anymore after I moved to Singapore. I initially suspected that one of the fragrances had gone bad, as cosmetics have a ‘best before’ date just like food. I switched to another one of my favourite fragrances, but the exact same happened: the perfumes that I love smell different in hot and humid South East Asia. What happened?! The actual reasons proved to be incredibly interesting, but might require an educational ‘Perfume 101’ (read article here) to prep you for the Science and Art of Perfume…

1. The Environment: Climate & Temperature

You either already knew, or just learned from the Perfume 101 how a perfume develops over time after you applied it on your skin, and what type of notes can be sensed at what moment accordingly. Heat turns out to have a large effect on this particular development over time: the actual temperature of the environment we live in affects how, and how long a fragrance ‘wears’ and how we sense it. The mechanism behind this is the fact that heat energizes the chemical reactions that release fragrance from your skin. The hotter the environment (and hence our skin), the more intense and extra rapidly the notes evaporate from our skin, resulting in a different scent-sensation than in a cold(er) environment.

For this exact reason, many perfume brands have an annual Limited Edition or Summer Fragrance that comes out when temperatures rise – these versions of the fragrances smells more or less similar, but the notes are adjusted (some are left out, some are added) to make up for the fastened release from our skin when exposed to higher temperatures than usual.

Besides temperature, another environmental impact that affects fragrance is altitude; the higher the altitude, the more muted the impact of a perfume and the shorter the fragrance life. As I come from the Dutch lowlands, where I used to wear my fragrance meters below sea level, this might also be a big part of the explanation for me specifically J

 2. Your Skin Chemistry: Sweat & Spicy Food

  

Skin chemistry has a large impact on how a scent develops and is influenced by many different factors. A well-known illustration of how skin chemistry affects a scent, is the fact that your friend’s perfume smells amazing on her, yet doesn’t do much for you. Each individual's skin chemistry is made up from a sum of factors like genes, diet, hormones, medication (antibiotics, for example), smoking, stress, sweat and –again- temperature, as heat affects the bacteria that live on our skin.

A factor that applies in the tropics specifically, is first of all our elevated levels of sweat and moisture. The chemicals in our perspiration affect the balance and scent of the fragrance. Moreover, heat-related sweat deposits salt and other minerals that stay behind on the surface of the skin and mix with the molecules of the fragrance. Humidity, apart from the sweat resulting from it, dilutes the fragrance and makes it evaporate more quickly.

Secondly, as our diet is different in South East Asia than in Europe or the US, this has a particularly large influence on the way perfumes alter on our skin, at least for me as I enjoy eating lots of local food (Nasi Lemak! Chili Crab!). I’ve always liked spicy food, so Singapore is Food Heaven to me. I don’t just eat more spicy food, but also spicier food than I’m used to. The skin is an excretory organ, and spicy foods spice up the oils secreted through the pores of our skin, which impacts the fragrance.

3. Subjective Perception: Feelings & Associations

Finding out the above, I did feel relieved that there are plausible causes for why my perfumes don't do what they used to, and that my assumption of how my fragrances smell different in Singapore proved to be correct instead of something ‘between my ears’. 

However, a third and final factor that influences how we perceive and sense our perfume must not be underestimated: our own subjective perceptions. Whereas I loved deep and rich fragrances in cold and rainy Holland, wearing fragrances that would be described as ‘warm’ simply feel like ‘too much’ and too heavy in the already so hot tropical climate I reside in daily. Imagine this for a moment: when you are sweating your way through the tropical heat, a scent that you associate with sensations of freshness and cooling down (like cold ocean water or fresh fruits) is much more appealing than the warm associations we have with scents of Amber, Leather, Cinnamon or Myrrh. 

Fortuantely, If you're into heavier scents, it is not necessary to abruptly switch to an aquatic breezy water scent that is far from your preference. But you might want to experiment with perfumes with (a few) fresher notes than you would usually prefer. Which is what I did: all together, my findings provided a good reason to go shopping for a new perfume: one that interacts well with the new South East Asian chemistry of my sweaty, spice-secreting skin; and that is both deep and sensual , as I like it, but also fresh enough for the tropical lushes. And boy, did I find one…

Curious to what perfume I fell in love with for the tropics? Find out later today...!

Palm Oil & Haze: How to Choose Your Cosmetics Well-informed

Haze or not, I'm a firm believer of being conscious about the choices we make as consumers. For example, my preference goes out to beauty products that are not tested on animals and whenever possible I pick these product over others. With the ongoing haze I notice people around me getting more conscious about the relationship between our palm oil consumption and the heavily polluted air we are now suffering from in South East Asia.

I will not go into details on haze and the how's and why's around palm oil production; just wanted to share with you this list that might come in handy in case you do want to be more involved in the world around us...

If you like to learn more, check out the Palm Oil Guide "How your daily routine can help the rainforest" here.

Juliette has a Gun "Moscow Mule" - let's get this party started!

What does a hot but sophisticated party - be it in an urban jungle night club in Singapore, a waterfront restaurant in Cannes or a sky bar in Tokyo - smell like? Like Juliette has a Gun's newest perfume "Moscow Mule". Get ready to party!

On my way to my Pilates class, a quick stop at Sephora (note to self: impossible) had me bump into the hat-wearing person behind Juliette has a Gun's fragrances. This super cool, niche-like perfume brand is a fragrance project of Romano Ricci, Nina Ricci's grandson, initiated in 2005. The big-in-Europe brand is exclusively available at Sephora in Singapore since this summer, and its most recent perfume goes by the resplendent name of "Moscow Mule".

Brain child & bottle

To me, Moscow Mule smells like:

...stumbling into Singapore's BRIX to dance on 5inch designer heels after an otherwise classy night of souper and sipping

...taking a sip of your cocktail at Shanghai's M1nt, realizing you have, pleasantly buzzed, been staring at the lobsters for at least half an hour

...a sophisticated suburban dinner on the verandah of a Bukit Timah mansion turning into a pool party out of control

...a lobster, cocktail and champagne-laden late afternoon hanging around W Seminyak's pool

In summary: sophisticated seductive, cultivated cool, jetset letting loose. 

Yours truly is known to like an international party or two

Juliette has a Gun's own description of Moscow Mule is even wilder:

Moscow Mule’s olfactory trail hypnotizes its audience, as if it were inviting everyone to share, over a glass of something, A timeless moment, where tongues are loosened and bodies scolding hot. A twist of ginger for the sexy side, a zest of lemon for the punch! A limitless pleasure to be consumed without moderation.

Top notes such as Bergamot, Ginger and Lime make this scent exciting and refreshing, whereas heart and bottom notes such as Jasmine, Ambroxan (one of the key constituents responsible for the scent of ambergris) and Norlimbanol (a dry woody note leaning towards patchouli) give the scent a deeper and more mysterious character.

Let's get this party started...!

Juliette has a Gun, "Moscow Mule" Eau de Parfum 100ml
Price: 165 SGD
Available at Sephora

Boost the "welcome (back) home in Singapore" feeling with these amazing scented candles

Welcome home in Singapore! Whether you have returned to Singapore from a long summer with friends and family at home in Europe/The US/Australia or whether you just arrived to start a new adventure in Singapore (judging from the amount of containers that I recently spotted in the suburban streets, there’s a lot of new expats arriving!), these amazing scented candles will definitely help you feel home (again) in lovely South East Asia. 

As I wrote last month, living in Asia I love scents that emphasize my surroundings and make me aware of the extraordinary lush and colourful Asian tropics that form the decor of my daily life even more. This applies to no matter what product, from shower gels (read my post here) to perfumes and scented candles.

Scented candles influence our emotions, thoughts, joyful memories and immediate state of mind like no other sensory stimulation. They can provide you with whatever you need, from an uplifting mood to a relaxing moment of peace and calmness. Try below candles to speed up the process of feeling at home in your Asian surroundings. It always takes some time to adjust again (Bad: The blistering heat that I finally got used to before I went back to Europe this summer! Good: The view on my swimming pool surrounded by palm trees that I missed so much while away!) but this will definitely help you speed up the process.

ToBeCalm - "Singapore Journey" Scented Candle with Frangipani & Ginger

Smells like...Singapore! Characterized by the sweet fragrance of Frangipani and ginger, the robust and floral aroma "releases heavy burdens while stimulating your thoughts on pleasant and beautiful visions of the Lion City". Also makes a great gift to sneak into the moving containers of your sweet friends that are leaving!

To Be Calm - "Singapore Journey" Scented Candle with Frangipani & Ginger
Price: 35 SGD
Available at a.o. Sephora Online (find link here) and ToBeCalm's webshop (find link here)

Ba Yan Ka La - Shangri La Handmade Yak Milk scented candle

Ba Yan Ka La is a pioneering skincare and body care concept from Shanghai, inspired by thousand years old Oriental wisdom of herbal science. The company’s products are ethical, natural and clean, using organic and plant ingredients. Ba Yan Ka La's products are a favourite brand for a selected number of leading boutiques, resorts and prominent global five star hotel names. And one of my favourite brands, I love their shower gel - read more here. 

For candles too, Ba Yan Ka La found the perfect combination of the finest ingredients to create outstanding premium quality candles. This scented candle (they also have one with Lotus Seed) with Tibetan Yak Butter is handmade - the cup is created by craftsmen who perpetuate millenia old traditions by hand and in fair trade. The video below gives an impression of this process!

The candles themselves are filled with Yak butter, in the same way yak butter candles light up temples and places of worship in China, Tibet and further in Asia. The scent adds a lovely touch of spirituality in your home, thanks to the exclusive blend of natural essential oils of Geranium, Eucalyptus and Peppermint. 

Ba Yan Ka La - "Tibetan Yak Butter" Handmade Candle, 150g

Price: 60 SGD

Available at Tang's (Tang Plaza, 310 Orchard Road, Level 4, Singapore 238864) and in Tangs Webshop (find link here)

Home Sweet Home Fragrances

Last month we moved places within Singapore, and a new home always means new smells – the one more pleasant than the other. Great: the exotically sweet frangipane plants in the new garden. Not so great: continuous fried garlic fumes from the masterchef aspiring neighbor, and somewhat odd smelling closets. Luckily there are products called Home Fragrances, from scented candles to sachets and diffusers. Although this isn’t a beauty topic by definition, I didn’t want to keep my finds on home fragrances in Singapore to myself and therefore justify this topic as, well, beauty for your home.

So I’m a known fool for smells and fragrances. Not just perfumes, the industry I worked in for several years, but any distinctive, interesting smell. Especially when it's related to people, the pleasant smelling ones, obviously, and places - again, agreeable smells only and definitely not the smell of durians in Chinatown or the sewers of Jakarta. I must confess that I regularly though discreetly stick my nose in a lovely smelling neck while waiting for a traffic light. And my heart always jumps when I set foot on Changi Airport again, because I absolutely love the fresh, peachy smell of this place – most likely caused by a very good home errrr… airport fragrance. I would love to have that job, “Airport Fragrance Manager”. Anyway.

I don’t quite like the smell of one of the bathrooms in our new place and while I’m at it, the semi open walk-in closet could use a subtle fragrance as well. So off I went, on the hunt for some home fragrances. Of course there are Yankee Candle and Bath & Body Works in Singapore, but for me personally, their scents are way too artificial; the pungent synthetic notes of Bath & Body works’ aromas even give me headaches. A thorough round of research taught me that Tangs on Orchard Road is the place to be for home fragrances.

A selection of brands and products available at Tangs: B1 at Orchard Road 

is Home Fragrance Heaven!

To start with, Tang's has Diptyque scented candles in the niche fragrance corner on the 1st floor. I absolutely adore Diptyque, but their pricey products do hurt your wallet and my inner-Dutchie refuses to pay 100 SGD or more for a candle. Luckily in B1, alongside the pots, pans and chinaware, Tangs has lots of other home fragrance brands, that are (mostly) less expensive and at least as good, if not better. The blissful brands available are mostly luxurious, boutique style brands that are brought in from all over the world: Singaporean brand To Be Calm (of which I tried the “Singapore Journey” scented candle before), Australian borne Glasshouse Fragrances, Irish-owned Max Benjamin, obviously Italian Culti Milano, essentially English Royal Doulton Home Fragrances and another Ozzy brand named iKOU.

Most brands have both candles and diffusers, and some even stock sachets, scented cards and body products, like hand wash, body lotion, bath salts, essential oils etc. I got 3 different types of products from 3 different brands and put them to the test at home:

1. GLASSHOUSE FRAGRANCES: "Kyoto" Fragrance Diffuser

This is by far my favorite pick, and I already had trouble in store deciding on what fragrance to choose, as I actually wanted all of them. The names of the fragrances alone had me carried away on luxurious trips to dreamy places such as Bora Bora (Cilantro & Orange Zest), Oahu (Ilima Milk & Honey), Monte Carlo (Fig & Guava), Rio de Janeiro (Passion Fruit & Lime) and Beverly Hills (Pink Lemonade), just to name a few out of the large selection.

I chose Kyoto (Camelia & Lotus), as it really did remind me of what Japan smells like; softly sweet and sensually mysterious. Like a calm Zen temple surrounded by tantalizing Cherry Blossoms and Lotus flowers, something like that. The 250ml diffuser comes with about 12 wooden reeds, but using 5 proved to be enough to diffuse a very generous trail of fragrance throughout my bathroom, where I now try to spend as much time as possible. Can't wait to try out more of their products. And to book a trip to Oahu or The Hamptons.

Glasshouse Fragrances - “Kyoto” Triple Strength Fragrance Diffuser, 250ml
Price: 75 SGD
Available at Tangs, but also at Robinsons and other stores (find them here)

2. MAX BENJAMIN: “French Linen Water” Scented Card

Like fragrance diffusers, I like how carefree a sachet or scented card is. You just place it somewhere and don't have to think about it anymore, which is not the case when you burn a scented candle, that requires to be kept an eye on. Problem with most sachet type of product however is that the fragrance weakens so quickly, at least from my own experience. Fortunately this is not the case with Max Benjamin's Scented Cards, soft rubber plaques about the size of a (large) business card.

Max Benjamin has quite some appealing scents available, like Lemongrass & Ginger and Mimosa & Sweet Amber. I chose the clean and soft floral French Linen Water, that reminds me of a lavish bubble bath in a French mansion in the Provence, enveloping myself in fluffy, freshly washed towels afterwards. Indulgent, to say the least. So far, my walk-in closet has been smelling like the boudoir of a French countryside chateau for over a month now with the same two scented cards - magnifique!

Max Benjamin - “French Linen Water” Scented Card, for bag, wardrobe, drawers or car
Price: 13 SGD
Available at Tangs, Robinsons and Takashimaya

3. TO BE CALM: “Travelers Journey” Scented Candle

As said before, scented candles are more high maintenance than diffusers or scented cards and sachets - you do not want to leave a burning candle unattended. Singaporean brand To Be Calm does offer fragrance diffusers as well, but I couldn't resist to pick one of the cute candles that just look so nice on display in one of our bathrooms, especially the medium and mini sized candles.

Travelers Journey, with White Tea and Ginger, is a soothing as well as a reviving scent, fresh and clean with a subtle spiciness. Reminds me of...a much needed spa treatment in a 5-star resort, after a long and scorching hot day at an exotic South East Asian destination. I imagine a soothing and cooling body wrap, a fresh breeze rustling through the palm leafs outside and a last glimpse of glistering sun through the dark wooden shutters. Ahhh to be calm...

To Be Calm - “Travelers Journey” White Tea & Ginger Luxurious Scented Candle, Medium Size
Price: 37 SGD
Available at a.o. Tangs, at Pasarbella, through Sephora’s Webshop and even through Redmart.

Tropical and Oriental Scented Shower Gels Emphasizing the Asian Paradise around me

I love embracing my surroundings with these tropical and oriental scented shower gels that emphasize the extraordinary Asian paradise that forms the decor of my daily life here in Singapore! 

I'm obsessed with scents. Scents of cities, people, places. What I love about scents is that they can bring back very strong memories instantly, but also strengthen a certain feeling while you are experiencing it. Living in Asia, I currently love scents that emphasize my surroundings and make me aware of the extraordinary lush and colourful Asian tropics that form the decor of my daily life even more.

To deal with the scorching and tiring Singaporean heat I treat myself with a refreshing cold shower every late afternoon. Apart from cooling off, it's a reflective moment - while showering I open the bathroom window to see the glinstering of the sun on the aquamarine pool of our condo and the rustling palm trees that bend from a gentle breeze (now that there's no gray and suffocating haze - yet). Flowers like frangipane, bougainville and heliconia's add a bright touch of colour to the already amazing view that still wows me everyday.

In addition, my favourite "living in Asia and loving it" shower gels solve a major problem: the search for a "normal" shower gel in Singapore, that is not a 1 liter bottle advertised as whitening, germ-killing and anti-bacterial and that looks like either kitchen cleaner or like it belongs aside a dimly lit jacuzzi in a brothel:

Your average Singaporean shower gel would not stand out below the sink with the kitchen cleaners...

...or aside a jacuzzi in a grimy Geylang brothel.

- Favourites: Sunny Asian-Pacific Islands & Balinese Beach Parties -

FAVOURITE #1: Sephora  - Monoi Creamy Body Wash

Seriously one of my most favourite body products ever! This shower gel with (you already guessed it) Monoi or Tiare flower and Tahitian Gardenia flower gives you that instant tropical feeling. What I love about this product is that the scent is pleasantly subtle, whereas most monoi products tend to smell really -nauseatingly- artifical. Not this one, which is perfect in every sense for a very friendly price. Reminds me of anything tropical from sunny beaches to cocktails to palm trees & coconuts and ofcourse colourful tropical flowers. 

Sephora - Monoi Creamy Body Wash, 140ml
Price: 11 SGD
Available at Sephora (find stores here)

FAVOURITE #2: The Body Shop - Fijian Water Lotus Shower Gel

Since April this year there are -finally- direct flights available from Singapore Changi Airport to Fiji, but in case you haven't had the chance yet to visit this tropical paradise just head to the Body Shop for this sparkling fresh tropical shower gel. Fijian Water Lotus shower gel has a sparkling zest of mandarin, the floral freshness of water lotus and a hint of marine saltiness for that beachy feeling. The Body Cream is just as lovely as the Shower Gel!

The Body Shop - Fijian Water Lotus Shower Gel, 250ml
Price: 15,90 SGD
Available at The Body Shop (find stores here)

FAVOURITE #3: Glasshouse Fragrances - Oahu Nourishing Body Bar

Not a shower gel but a soap, and although I usually prefer shower gels I was willing to set aside my preference because of this body bar. The product description in Sephora's webshop is spot-on: this soap embodies the joy of of grass skirts on shaking hips, Hula dancers and aromatic leis. Orange Blossom, White Heliotrope and Narcissus flowers create an unforgettable and indulging aromatic experience and the Shea Butter, Vitamin E and Almond Oil generate a rich lather that will leave your skin feeling nourished and beautifully fragrant.

Glasshouse Fragrances - Oahu Nourishing Body Bar, 200gr
Price: 20 SGD
Available at Sephora Singapore's webshop (find here)

- Favourites: Oriental Bliss & Traditional Herbal Spa's -

FAVOURITE #4: Ba Yan Ka La - Organic Tibetan Roseroot Body Wash

Although Tibet is far from tropical, this lovely oriental shower gel with an earthy floral scent to it cannot miss in this list. Ba Yan Ka La is a pioneering skincare and body care concept from Shanghai, inspired by thousand years old Oriental wisdom of herbal science. The company’s products are ethical, natural and clean, using organic and plant ingredients. Ba Yan Ka La's products are a favourite brand for a selected number of leading boutiques, resorts and prominent global five star hotel names. I highly value the fact that they have a "Leaping Bunny certification", demonstrating their commitment to a cruelty free approach. What's not to love about this product?!

Ba Yan Ka La - Organic Tibetan Roseroot Invigorating Body Wash, 500ml
Price: 40 SGD
Available at Tang's Orchard Road, Level 4 (find store here)

FAVOURITE #5: Spa Siam - Lemon Grass Body Wash

The scent of Spa Siam's Lemongrass Shiso Shower gel is incredibly invigorating after you survived yet another hot and humid day in the tropics. My husband said I smelled like Thai food though. Cymbopogon schoenanthus oil derived from natural lemongrass aids in balancing the skin, containing natural anti oxidants and antimicrobial properties. Bergamot fruit oil stimulates natural relaxation and is refreshing on the skin. Shiso extract a is a natural moisturizer. An exotic combination of natural ingredients to rejuvenate your skin. Contains no parabens or sulfates.

Spa Siam - Lemongrass Shiso Shower Gel, 320ml
Price: 23,40 SGD
Available online through Redmart

Super Cool & Sophisticated Singaporean Brand: SIX Fine Fragrances

As I’m always on the look-out for cool products from Singapore to bring back home to Europe (done all the batik and Merlion stuff too many times..), I was particularly pleased to learn about SIX Fine Fragrances. To limit SIX’ fragrances to gifts for friends abroad doesn’t do justice, though; the products are exceptional and the brand oozes the sophistication of a world class artisanal designer fragrance brand. Which is why I immediately got a fragrance set for my husband. I didn’t have to force him in any way to wear the fragrances, as he fell in love with SIX Fragrances’ transient, mysterious and powerful scents just as quickly as I did.

Quite the perfect husband and father, if you ask me...

The story behind the brand is pretty awesome. SIX Fragrances was founded almost 2 years ago by Jason Lee (34), who spent four years working at world-renowned Swiss fragrance house Givaudan, where he developed a passion and love for scents. In 2019, as a gesture of love for his then bride-to-be, Jason created two unique scents as a wedding gift. These scents were also presented as wedding favors to his guests (d*mn, I wish I was invited). Encouraged by raving reviews, he partnered with Givaudan and launched his first three scents: 123 Tribeca, 1724 Puka and 27F Biei, inspired by memories of his travel destinations (New York, Boracay and Hokkaido, respectively).

Recently, a limited edition unisex fragrance called Eclat was launched, inspired by the arrival of Jason’s two children, Jedd and Jann. It represents hope, grace and gratitude, and celebrates the gift of life and the miracles it encompasses. Now that's what I call a devoted family man!

Smells like quality

I’m seriously a big fan of all scents already and couldn’t pick a favorite, as they are all so different. The common factor is the quality: the scents last long on the skin and just smells qualitative, like only the finest of ingredients have been used. Which is in fact the case; Jason worked closely with Givaudan for the sourcing of only the best raw materials such as patchouli in Indonesia, clove in Madagascar and Vetiver in Haiti.

123 TRIBECA

123 Tribeca

A masculine and sexy scent, represented by a posh urbanite chillin’ in a backstreet neon-lit bar in The Big Apple. Perfect for a date night in a vibrant and buzzing city, hopping from Hot Club to even hotter club.

Top notes: Lemon & Orange Peel
Heart notes: Rosemary & Lily-of-the-Valley
Base notes: Oakmoss & Brazilian Rosewood.

Price: 66 SGD (20ml)
Available at Tangs, Robinsons and through SIX's webshop

1724 PUKA

1724 Puka

A stimulating and addictive scent, reminiscent of the drugged intensity that sways between almost-touching on a stretch of marzipan-white beach in Boracay (pre-sewage and environment-related problems that led President Rodrigo Duterte to close Boracay for a clean-up recently; imagining a steamy overture on any white beach will do, though). Perfect for cocktail hour at a luxury beach resort.

Top notes: Rhubarb, Mint & Bergamot
Heart notes: Musk & White Amber
Base notes: Green Tea, Jasmine & Celery Seeds

Price: 66 SGD (20ml)
Available at Tangs, Robinsons and through SIX's webshop

27F BIEI

Biei

27°F Biei: An elegant and crispy fresh scent, a fresh breath or air, of life – the calm yet magical feeling of standing in the middle of a quiet winter landscape at night, gazing at the stars while surrounded by majestic snow-capped mountains in Hokkaido. Perfect for intimate private dining for two, at a tranquil, exclusive location.

Top notes: Coriander, Orange Blossom & Mandarin
Heart notes: Lavender & Bulgarian Rose
Base notes: Sandal Wood, Green Tea & Cedar

Price: 66 SGD (20ml)
Available at Tangs, Robinsons and through SIX's webshop

ECLAT

Eclat

Eclat - Limited Edition: A spirited and inspiring scent; hope, grace and positivity in a bottle. The promise of darkness always breaking into dawn. Perfect for lovers, both men and women, any time, any where.

Top notes: Neroli, Grapefruit & Lavender
Heart notes: Fuji Apple, Hints of Spices, Mint & Orange Flower
Base notes: Tonka Bean, Cocoa & Vanilla.

Price: 76 SGD (30ml)
Eclat retails exclusively at Tangs and is also available through SIX's webshop

Blending in with the locals: Don't wash your clothes or yourself & other Chinese New Year customs

Unless you're invited by local friends, you probably won't feast on a Reunion Dinner tonight to celebrate tomorrow's arrival of the Year of the Rooster. But, "When in Rome.." as they say, it never hurts to be educated on local customs. Or at least understand why your neighbour has been wearing red lipstick for days or hasn't bathed since the New Year started. For a prosperous New Year, read (and follow if you dare) these personal care & beauty customs for Chinese New Year - Gong Xi Fa Chai!

1. Wear red clothes to scare away bad fortune - lipstick will also do!

Red is THE color for Chinese New Year and is worn generously throughout the celebrations. It is believed that red scares away evil spirits and bad fortune and is considered an auspicious color that represents happiness and prosperity. If you're more of a black clothing type (like me), some red lipstick will also do.

BEST PICK: Stay in style and opt for a matte red lipstick, like YSL's Rouge Pure Couture Mat "Rouge Rock" n° 203 (51 SGD - available at a.o. Tangs & Takashimaya)

2. No bath or laundry on the first day of the Chinese New Year!

It is believed that the whole of the next year will be much more prosperous if you make a good start. Although cleaning your house before Chinese New Year is a well-known tradition in South East Asian countries with large Chinese communities, the opposite is true once the new year has commenced and does not only apply to your house but also concerns your personal hygiene. Yes, you read this correctly: no cleaning on the first day, including yourself and your clothes, as cleaning is considered to wash away all the year’s good luck. I'm not sure how local people deal with this, especially given the fact that they visit lost of friends and family during this first day. My guess: loads of perfume.

BEST PICK: Estée Lauder's "Modern Muse Le Rouge Gloss" Eau de Parfum comes in a red flacon, for some extra prosperity. This fruity and sensual fragrance with notes of a.o. Black Cherry, Mandarin, Pink pepper, Jasmin, Vanilla and Patchouli lingers a long time on your skin, so nobody will notice you haven't showered (132 SGD for 50ml - available at a.o. Tangs, Takashimaya & Sephora)

3. Save your Fa: no haircut on the first day of the Chinese New Year!

This won't be too hard as pretty much all stores and salons are closed on the first day of the New Year (at least in Singapore), but in case you cut your own hair or have a hairstylist as a friend that is dying to give you a make-over, think twice. In Chinese, hair is pronounced as “Fa”, which also means prosperity. So if you chop off your strands, you also chop off your Fa, which is particularly believed to symbolise losing money. So just don't. See it as good opportunity to experiment with a new hairdo without a cut!

BEST PICK: Lucido-L's small 20g pots with Non-Sticky Volume Airy Wax, Juicy Moist Wax and Arrange Up Wax are only 4,80 SGD (available at a.o. Guardians & Watsons) - a sweet size and price to experiment with!