[unpaid/sample/affiliate/ad] Unless you opt for the Orange Peel cologne, the marmalade title doesn’t do this collection justice. It’s really a delicious collection of fruity fragrances that are typical to a British summer. Growing up in the Scottish countryside yes, we had the summer fetes, green fields and blue skies with hazy, hot days and river swims for about one week of the year – and not all in the same week! But I like the fantasy of an endless, flower scented summer with scones and jam, cut flowers and gingham table cloths even if, in reality, it’s not quite as accessible as this perfectly pretty fragrance collection.
The two I have here, Rose Blush Cologne and Elderflower Cordial Cologne are deliciously soft and temperate with the same impact on the emotions as the first bite of that fluffy scone. Rose Blush is something of a new take on rose – which you might think is impossible. The first word that came to my head was lively – it’s a kind of frisky (as in new born lamb), dancing kind of scent because it’s uplifted by lychee so you get a bit of fizz like a sip of rose lemonade. The green aspect comes from basil which usually I don’t like (Lime, Basil & Mandarin just smells of pesto to me) but it’s wrapped so nicely in the rose and lychee that it’s understated and in complete harmony.
Elderflower is a note that is easy to go too sweet on – this hasn’t happened here. It’s more of a raw, in-nature elderflower scent, without the sugar that a cordial would present. It’s warm and woody with hawthorn providing the hedgerow aspect and a drop of tart gooseberry which I’m not sure I’m really picking up. It’s certainly not the cordial you’d pick up on a supermarket shelf but it is the kind of scent you could come across on a country walk – an amalgamation of twigs, grass and elderflower with a bit of tranquility thrown in.
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The other fragrances in the collection are Tangy Rhubarb, Orange Peel and Blackberry & Bay. I’d like to smell all of them actually. Of the two, I prefer the rose because it really is a twist on a well worn theme but if you struggle to choose (the struggle is real!) there is a set of all five HERE for £275. Otherwise, you can choose two to put in the tea-caddy style tin shown in my pictures for £55 each HERE. The tin is complementary and will be added at checkout. Otherwise, a single fragrance is £55 HERE. The bottles are so pretty – they remind me of Spode tableware which I’d never want on my table particularly but on a fragrance bottle, becomes a whole other matter 🙂
Non-affiliate HERE.
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All products are sent to me as samples from brands and agencies unless otherwise stated. Affiliate links may be used. Posts are not affiliate driven.
8 comments
Re Lime Basil & Mandarin, finally, that’s it…it’s pesto…I bought a bottle years ago after reading so much about it, who wore it etc and going by the ingredients- citrus/green/fruity I should have loved it…but just never could…I just always felt it smelled odd on my skin and that perhaps my bottle was off (despite being brand new!)….Love the sound of these though as a summer treat to self!
They are really lovely! Yes, never got along with that or Pomegranate Noir.
Thanks Jane, these sound so lovely, this was a joy to read! Who knew you grew up in Scotland, I’m praying for that week
haha – a whole week! Fingers crossed :-))
also thank you!
Jane, your writing is always a joy to read but this post in particular felt so optimistic and sunny – as were the photos, which were the perfect accompaniment. x Zoe
Thank you so much Zoe – that’s lovely to hear!
I was initially drawn to Rose Blush when I saw the perfumes on socials being a rose fan. It’s the one I definitely need to sniff.