Birthday Bliss, Can To Pan, Sacred Skincare, Terrific Torchons, Contemporary Candleholders & The Sherpa Of Scent Buckles Up!

 

Birthday Bliss, Can To Pan, Sacred Skincare, Terrific Torchons, Contemporary Candleholders & The Sherpa Of Scent Buckles Up!

Good Morning! I hope that everyone has had an enjoyable week?  We very much enjoyed James Bond and it was nice to revisit the Cinema - our local is a 'Picturehouse' with large seats and roomy aisles so it felt comfortable, and we managed to sit-still for the 3 hrs-plus of the programme! I must say that Ben Whishaw has really inhabited 'Q' and I love it when he says "don't touch that" - suitably British and eccentric. Then it was off to Maria's for patatas bravas, but she was closed for a holiday (obviously taking advantage of the lifting of travel restrictions to pop home to Spain for sunshine and sangria!) so we went home and ordered a Thai feast instead.

My birthday was lovely as the GD made me a Birthday Cake( Pear and Hazlenut Cream!!!!) and came up with the perfect gift for 'the man who has everything'! When we travelled to the Cotswolds this summer we bought a beautiful jug (at the Stratford Gallery in Broadway), thrown and painted by a husband and wife team of artists. It is the colour of dark honey and we love it, so the Good Doctor surreptitiously commissioned a beautiful plate, featuring a sunflower, to go with it (see below)! I travelled to Sevenoaks and we went out for dinner at The Giggling Squid - so low key and just what I wanted. Next October however, the celebrations it will be at Amberley Castle.... with maximum fuss ! I have had a ball driving my new car - I LOVE IT - although still feel like I am cheating on my Audi! The electric part of the engine makes no noise, which was unnerving to begin with, but so lovely now! I managed to get petrol whilst preserving my sanity, but hardly use any at all - once the battery is charged, it is electric peace and quiet all the way! And the smell - there is nothing like the scent of a new car and I find myself lingering, after I have parked, just to enjoy it! I will admit that I haven't finished the manual yet (as this model does everything but juggle!) although I learn one new feature per day - I don't want it to be like homework! My first 'new' car ever and absolutely worth the wait!

Shop Now - Can-to-Pan - Recycled Non Stick Frying Pan - 2 Sizes Available - From £29.00

At the store, our Autumn/Winter collections have been arriving thick and fast - always an exciting time - and here are just a few of my favourites: Firstly, we have 'Can To Pan'! This is not, in fact, a hit by the lovely Suzi Quatro! No, this is the future of frying pans and, as I am sure that you have guessed, is a collection made entirely from recycled aluminium tins!!!!  And the genius doesn't end there - they are lined in non-stick ceramic (so no nasty carcinogenic toxins), are dishwasher proof, light, strong and can be used on both conventional and induction hobs. I have bought the 24cm pan, and it cooks scrambled eggs perfectly (always my litmus test!). Easy to clean, much better for the environment and very sleek - why did nobody think of this before? Quite simply.... a game changer!

Shop Now - Monk-made - Sanctuary Lip Balm - £3.50

And now for something very special. A friend (thank you Lori!) recently introduced me to the charming Father John who is a Benedictine Monk. He and his monastic brothers have created a small collection of natural skin creams and lip balms which are, well.....heavenly!  As you know, I am a devotee of natural skincare and so was intrigued when I learned of this monk-made collation (skincare did originate in religious orders so they are following an ancient tradition!). The lip-balms contain beeswax from the Monasteries' Apiary (plus, coco butter and sweet almond oil) and have the most wonderful savours including Orange, Lemon & Aniseed and Peppermint. An absolute must for winter to moisturise and protect or to relieve chapped lips!

Shop Now - Monk-made - Sanctuary Skin Cream - £7.50

And the organic skin creams are divine! There was literally a mad scramble in our office to take them home - I managed to land the Vanilla (glorious) and the celestial Rose & Honey! I have very dry, sensitive skin and have even used these on my face (although they are also great as body butters or hand cream) as the blend of organic oils, beeswax, cocoa butter, and aloe vera juice are rich, nourishing,  non-greasy and easily absorbed. Also in the collection is a delicious 'Coconut' and dreamy 'Lavender. This is a high-quality, handmade product and I congratulate the brothers on a truly exceptional job! Best of all, the funds raised (as one would imagine!), go towards various good works, including an international, educational outreach program, so not only will my skin look radiant but there is a feel-good factor too, and nothing makes me happier than philanthropic retailing!

Shop Now - Monk-made - Sanctuary Bees Wax Polish - £4.50

Finally, we have the furniture polish! This is a good, old-fashioned recipe, (turpentine and beeswax) and the smell reminds me so much of my grandfather who used to polish the furniture with a similar unguent. I took this tin home and set to work on my kitchen table which is a French, walnut, tipped, farmhouse table from around 1750. Central heating and summer temperatures had left it looking really dull - a fact that I hadn't noticed until I applied a little Benedictine magic! My table now glows (I hope that this shows in the picture, beautifully accessorised by my new plate!) and the wood feels silky and alive beneath my fingers. I am now going to apply to the whole house - that's how good it is! This is a twice per season, nourishing treatment for wood rather than an 'every week' furniture polish and require a little elbow grease!

Shop Now - Luxury French Linen Tea Towel - £15.00

I am so happy that our gorgeous tea-towels (or 'torchons' I should say) have finally arrived from France. French manufacture, as you know, closes down in the high summer so it takes a couple of months to get back on track and we have been out of these beauties since July. The stunning colours and efficacious linen/cotton mix are peerless, and our shelves are singing once more! I have decided to purchase a few for our 'Amberley bottom drawer' (I have tried to be good but it's bulging already!) as I want to start our new life with fresh linens and towels across the board - that way I might actually remember how old everything is!

Shop Now - Wooden Candleholder - 2 Sizes - From £19.00

And also back after a long absence are our recycled wooden candle-holders in two sizes. These are so chic, with a simple, minimalist silhouette that has been powder-coated, in a range of vibrant, sophisticated hues. Since we took delivery of 11 colours of dinner candles, I have been itching to get them back so that I can play with colour combinations, or simply create really tall, single colour columns. They look fantastic, but the team have got in on the act and swap them around when I'm not looking! It is great fun and the possibilities endless so I do recommend - at the moment I am favouring a monochromatic grey combination and petrol blue (this has a lot of green tones in it) with yellow candles.... but tomorrow everything could change!

Shop Now - Ramon Monegal - Mon Cuir (EdP) 50ml - £130.00

And now.... The Sherpa Of Scent tackles Leather! The relationship between perfume and leather goes back centuries for, as I am sure that you know, perfumed gloves were quite the fashion at the end of the 15th Century! Historically, the curing process for leather was quite offensive in terms of aroma and so the Marquis Pompéo Frangipani created an almond- based scent to mask the smell! In Grasse, France, a tanner named Molinard made a pair of scented gloves for Catherine de Medici using flowers from the locale. She took them back to court and they became de rigueur which is how Grasse first gained its reputation as the birthplace of French fragrance! In modern perfumery, the scent of leather is most often achieved used precious woods and it is a magnificent addition to a fragrance winter-wardrobe. Birch tar, which is smoky, and even tobacco can be used to conjure the scent of leather. The smell of 'Russian Leather' is particularly prized, which is leather that has had birch oil rubbed into it after tanning to make it water resistant - the Cossacks used to use it on their boots! Here are a few of my addictions to get your started! 'Mon Cuir' from Ramon Monegal is utterly bewitching. Ramon himself describes it thus -"My fetish. Black leather, absolute presence, timeless reference, requires a strong personality to show its power. Fusion of traditional European equestrian culture with that of the legendary American motorcycles, with which I also identify". I would add that the nutmeg, sandalwood and musk are perfect to support the scent of Russian Leather.

Shop Now - Hiram Green - Hyde (EdP) 50ml - £135.00

The wonderful and talented Hiram Green has a fragrance called 'Hyde' that really captures the essence of leather.  It opens with a strong burst of bright lemon and bergamot. These cheerful notes then clash with the dry and sharp scent of birch tar - reminiscent of burned wood - and cassie, an opulent flower with intense green and spicy nuances. Both form a vibrant leather note with powerful depth and intense appeal. This beating heart is embraced by a warm and elegant base of smoky labdanum and malt vanilla melting into earthy oakmoss. Seductive and challenging, Hyde is an ode to all those adventure-seeking souls – a unisex fragrance perfect for day and night.

Shop Now - St Giles - The Mechanic (EdP) 100ml - £130.00

My own fragrance, 'The Mechanic' from St Giles, has a leather note that I imagined as the leather seats of a Formula 1 racing car. This is pure fantasy on my part I believe as I once sat in Jenson Button's racing car (it's a long story!) - a terrifying experience as they are rather coffin-like inside! - and there was no soft leather at all! However, in my imagination there is and it is combined with hot rubber (the wheels) and a sensual, animal scent of castoreum and oakmoss. This is intense and brooding - think Mr Rochester taking a spin at Silverston!

Shop Now - Gallivant - London (EdP) 30ml - £65.00

'London' from Gallivant is terrific because of the unlikely paring of leather and rose. A watery green head of cucumber and violet leaves seagues into a floral heart, with Rose de Mai Absolute, rose oil and orris root and base notes of leather, sandalwood, patchouli and cedarwood. I remember the owner of Gallivant, Nick Steward, describing it as representing "both the grit and the glamour of our capital city", a marvellous image!

Shop Now - Bruno Fazzolari - Zdravetz (EdP) 30ml - £113.00

The rare and costly essential oil of Bulgarian Zdravetz, lends a uniquely herbal geranium note in 'Zdravetz' by Bruno Fazzolari. This bright, woody-rose and leather fragrance is mesmerising with a hint of passion fruit, cedar and vanilla.

Shop Now - Eight & Bob - Egypt (EdP) 100ml - £140.00

And last, but by no means least, we have 'Egypt' from Eight & Bob. Albert Fouquet was fascinated with the culture of ancient Egypt, and in 1935 was finally able to travel to the country that had beguiled him for so long. Inspired by the vast array of rare and unusual flowers he found in the garden of his childhood friend who had invited him, Fouquet channelled this creative spark into what would become a highly prized composition, 'Egypt'. Calming lavender and peppery green basil open the scent, given green complexity from a note of moss and shot through with fresh lemon. A richly spiced and aromatic heart of cardamom and nutmeg lends Egypt its distinctive character, warmly enveloping the senses as the notes coalesce. In the base, rich amber and leather accords are met with delicate sandalwood and sweet, earthy patchouli to produce a truly stunning final effect in the dry down. Warming, complex, and utterly addictive, Egypt is an eau de toilette of distinctive character and inimitable style.  *************************************** This missive has led us to meet so many interesting readers and this week we had a visit from a Vetinanary Surgeon who works on film and TV sets looking after the four-legged stars (good morning Adrian!). This has to be one of the best jobs in the world, and he was in East Dulwich working on a television Ad so decided to pay us a visit! I have since thought of so many questions that I should have asked - Do they get their own trailer on a movie? Who is the most 'difficult' animal actor to work with (Meryl Sheep perhaps or Ray-Lee Otter)? Have there been any on-set romances? You know.... gossip! This w/e I am in Sevenoaks as the GD is still on-call and so we have decided to tackle the unpleasant financial tasks of moving, including wills(ghastly subject), insurance companies, energy providers, selling furniture, deciding what to take and what to replace etc. Frankly I prefer the sofa-buying part of the adventure, but then again, I do like a list(!) so hopefully by Sunday evening we will have a checklist with ticks beside it and will feel a sense of achievement! Then I shall be hot-footing it back to ED as the Lovely Lene has gone on a retreat (this involves days of silent meditation the thought of which terrifies me - I would definitely be asked to leave!) so I am holding the fort! This is actually quite nice, as while the cat's away I can re-arrange our stock! I am not normally allowed and it will be returned to its original positions upon her return but I shall have fun in the meantime! Wishing you all a wonderful w/e! Michaelx