Roses are red.... Violets are ashen.... Candy's got me feelin a little smashin.

Seems to be the season for fragrance launches..... goody goody gum drops!!

 "Luxury" beauty brand Jo Malone (aka Estee Lauder) are on a bit of a new product release tour de force, fragrances being churned out left right and center most of which are still rather bland and nondescript in that Jo Malone kinda way. There is however a couple of gems in the rough amongst the Cologne Intense series. Also, their attempt at creating a bluebell fragrance has, well.... failed. Abysmal. Shame really as they campaign by Tim Walker is the best in the companies history to date.

The winner is Rosewater and Vanilla, a very sweet vanillic rose water fragrance. Like scraping a thousand vanilla pods into a bowl of rose water and churning into a buttery paste then smearing it across your skin..... or something like that!!! Read a better post over on the Silver Fox's  "a scent of elegance"

The only other part of the series that had my nose a little intrigued was Amber and Patchouli. A little too faux incense-y for my tastes but not bad, not bad. Time to get papal.....

Bottega Veneta's perfume debut was a huge let down, Im not going to lie. As mentioned previously I was hoping for a rather risqué styrax ravaged leathery white floral inline with the houses contemporary leather goods heritage but nope, another septic-synthetic floral chypre for the nouveau riche housewife. A tad tasteless and very trend driven. The monied vulgarity. Beautiful Packaging as expected.

My two favorite new releases are rather stunning. One, Prada's first gourmand, Candy. A very simple "Caramel", Benzoin and musk beauty. On my skin it works a treat. Very sticky, very sensual and VERRRRYYY  more-ish. Skin becomes a desert bowl waiting to be licked. If anything I would have liked it to be a touch cheaper smelling, a smidgen more "slutish" but Im still loving it for what it is and what it can do to the senses!

Secondly Serge Lutens Vitriol d'oeillet, a distorted abstract interpretation of carnation or probably more fitting, eugenol's. This is going to be my AW 11 scent, a very plum, spice and bitter floral which develops into an odd mucky musk and clove scent an hour or so on the skin, quite the beauty. Currently sold out here in Scotland so when I do eventually have myself a bottle I will be sure to review it further then.

and last but certainly not least a new release from Penhaligons is hitting us in September as mentioned in a previous post. Juniper Sling by gourmand wizard Olivier Cresp is sure to cause a buzz in the fragrance community. A fragrance inspired by the 1920's London Jazz era and more specifically London dry gins. With its crisp chilled Bombay Sapphire top notes and evolutionary evaporation on the skin to a stunning dusty red leather and slightly salty animalic Ambrox drydown this is sure to create waves among the perfumistas out there. I adore this fragrance and will be added to my wardrobe of scents to be worn directly on the skin as a first layer for many of my favorite fragrances. 

Done.

Wallpapering*

NUT! Almost died off as I approached the end of this months Wallpaper* magazine. My all time favorite photographer Miles Aldridge has an absolutely stunning shoot called "Lost weekend".

Far too much Tom Ford, Hermés, John Lobb, Rupert Sanderson, Bottega Veneta and Dior for one shoot.

I feel ill.

Flat hunting.

Grab your cape!

Currently scouring gumtree and the edinburgh property sites in hunt for a lovely abode for moi and my friend carolyn. nice nice nice.

Wonderful living spaces make me happy.

Now where is this months Wallpaper magazine??

Mates round for drinks yeah?

R U Mark Ronson?

"R U Experienced?" was my reply to that stupid question. Run away from the 40 gah-zillion people asking me if I am that master of the wheels of steel Mark Ronson. Quite clearly I am not.

In future everyone is getting "bleached" quite literally. There is a good reason for moi sticking to cocktail bars exclusively, no hassle. Live music venues cater for the dregs of society. Dixie Dreggs!!!!!

Hair cut and coloured thursday... be as well as going all out Ronson styleé then eh!?!

Doodler.

Of to see some really good bands in my local music establishment.

First off a group of youngsters whom I find very good. They go by the name of Crayons
crayons

BASS.

and the other, The Dykeenies. A superb scottish rock/pop outfit currently touring and most probably whore-ing. Nice!! Going to let the snare crack my head I thinks...

The Dykeenies


Should be a good evening. Might even manage to catch up with a friend and discuss detail of moving to the royal burgh of Edin.

In the words of Morrissey...

Im still ill.

Sometimes I wonder why cant my body just function normally. If it isnt my constant 10 year long insomnia, migraine attacks from the age of 6 its my mind wondering of to distant places both florescent and eerily darkened.

It may all be deeply rooted but for heavens sake.... just work for a while. Danke.

Seppuku here I come.

On a slightly more political note, why on earth did the Norwegian authorities take that savage beast back to the scene of his crime?? Dont they know that the majority of serial killers get the upmost pleasure from revisiting the scene of their crimes..... gang hunt and behead the bitch I say, very slowly with a piece of rusty cheese wire!

Anyways enough of the darkness....

Si vis pacem, para bellum

ACHTUNG!

9mm

American Bison leather, Lamb skin & Kevlar lining, military grade ceramic hardware, hand made in LA....... behold. Parabellum!

In an age where luxury is defined by the masses as merely something that costs alot of money and has an associated badge, emblem or monogram. Parabellum come from olde skool beliefs, from a time where true luxury isnt just associated with its financial cost but more so with the time and skill involved in crafting such beautiful pieces of "practical art". They believe their products should last a life time if not two and as the products are worn they shouldn't depreciate in value but increase.

Parabellum, Hermés or Valextra leather goods make me a happy happy person. Happi!