Despite the clocks going forward, when I woke today it was a beautiful bright blue morning, the sun was in the sky, there was a chill in the air and a sparkle of frost on the ground. Bad news for the crocuses but this really is my favourite type of weather. Easter bunnies feeling anything less than bright eyed and bushy tailed should renounce the caffeine and instead spritz with an eau de Cologne, packed with all the natural essences needed for that little extra get up and go. 4711 eau de Cologne (Wonder Water as it was called) was originally made by monks as a tonic, a health drink to be imbibed; it was only when the government decreed that the contents of all remedies had to be made public that the use was changed to that of external to avoid disclosure of the secret recipe. 4711 ’s essential oils of bergamot, lemon, orange, rosemary, lavender and neroli revive and balance the senses, at once calming and invigorating. If you are feeling groggy or hung over,...
As anyone who has ever plunged their hand into a bowl of boiling water will testify the prospect of peeling a tomato is quite frankly unappealing. Thanks to the Swiss design company Zyliss, there is now more than one way to skin a tomato. No more vats of hot water and soggy fruit. Zyliss the Swiss uber-design company has come up with the Tomato Peeler. The Tomato Peeler’s multi-purpose serrated edges quickly peel fruits and vegetables, even difficult soft-skinned produce. It is great for ginger, leaving more of the root intact which is not possible with a knife. Its two edged blade permits back and forth peeling and making it equally practical for right or left-handed use. An extra sharp steel tip easily removes produce blemishes. Finally its ergonomic, generous sized handle makes it much more comfortable to hold than traditional metal peelers and is great for people with a weaker grip. £7.25 from Roullier White. Vist us in person at Roullier White, 125 Lordship Lane, London SE22 8HU....
The rarefied aura that surrounds fragrance dates back to the remotest times of antiquity, when incense and fragrant oils would be offered up to the gods and deities of the ancient world. The Arab world is credited with introducing modern perfumery to the West, having preserved the ancient arts of distillation, evaporation, and filtration that had been lost to Christian society, and in turn heralding great advancements not only in the field of fragrance but of chemistry and science too. In passing this tradition on, Christian monks began to adopt the practice of creating fragrances as an expression of faith, before eventually the art form became available to the wider public, for a price. Today, most perfume is manufactured on a grand commercial scale; a far cry from the artisanal monastic traditions that gave birth to modern fragrance! However, some perfume houses still survive from this bygone age and serve to remind us of our industry’s history while continui...
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