Les Parfums de Rosine - Ballerina No 5

As spring has sprung, the birds are chirping and we at The Amazing Blog cannot resist spring’s bucolic charms. With brighter skies and our gardens radiating colour - it’s hope! When this frustrating #stayathome self-isolation is lifted, we hope it will be perfect timing for us to spend more time outside to enjoy the sunshine. Which brings us swiftly on to thinking about changing our winter fragrance for something lighter that will suit the spring mood. We were kindly got sent a new scent launch from the French perfume house Les Parfums de Rosine with their Ballerina N°5.

We’re been fans of the brand and have previously written about their Bois Fuchsia here. The founder and creator of Les Parfums de Rosine is Marie-Helen Rogeon who was born into a family of perfumers, with her great grandfather Louis Panafieu creating Eau de Cologne for Emperor Napoleon III. Her inspiration for her collections comes from her garden, from which she has developed a collection of perfumes around the rose, this ‘queen of flowers’. From bush to shrub, the rose has many varieties as well as unique subtle variants in fragrance. The Ballerina collection stems from the special variety ‘Rosier Ballerina’ whose small hydrangea-like flowerheads Rogeon compares to a delicate tutu of a young ballerina. With five individual fragrances in the Ballerina collection, each relates to a particular story i.e. “she is an enigmatic woman…” or “she is a desirable woman… both pure and innocent”. 

it is Ballerina N°5, from the range we are talking about today. Inspired by the famous ballet La Bayadère, which recounts the frustrated loves of the sacred Hindu dancer Nikiya. This fresh and delicate perfume works so well for the spring. It is feminine and exotic and seduces us with its heady and warm notes. This Ballerina N°5 has got a slight sweetness with a floral and wood finish. The top notes are from the rose, tangerine, Indian fig and orange blossom. The heart (or middle) notes are from Turkish rose essence, crystallized violet, lychee, almond blossom and heliotrope. Finishing with the base notes of sandalwood, tonka bean, patchouli and cedarwood. Despite the depth of its woodiness, it’s light and subtle and gives sensual and captivating aromas of the orient. We also love the pretty gold bottle with its very own organza tutu adorning the bottle’s neck.  Why not let yourself be tempted by the subtle and irresistible charm of Ballerina N°5, to purchase see here for the 100ml at 140€ or the 50ml bottle at 108€.

2020 Mama & Baby Awards are now OPEN

Calling clean, green parent and baby brands! The 7th annual Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby awards are now open for entries. But hurry – the final deadline is May 8.

The hotly anticipated Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby awards are back to celebrate outstanding ethical products for parents, babies, toddlers and beyond. 

Right now parents are more plugged in than ever to global health concerns. So there’s never been a better time to shine a spotlight on cherishable essentials that beautifully nurture, pamper and protect our families.

“There’s huge demand among parents for products that meet high ethical standards with an ingredients list that’s as pure and natural as possible,” says awards founder Fiona Klonarides.

“However, well-meaning mums and dads can find it tough to navigate the category. We need to direct consumers away from the big non-natural ranges cluttering the shelves of high street chemists and towards the gentle, ethical, clean natural brands – big and small.

“We’re not looking at a brand’s advertising budget. We’re finding out if their products perform for the most discerning audience possible: parents and their kids.”

Brands can enter now here .

Find out who’s won on Friday 12 June

These awards provide The Beauty Shortlist's definitive run-down of top-ranked natural, organic and earth-friendly baby products, plus beauty and wellness for mums and parents.

Experts, consumers and editors trust the awards to highlight excellence and ethics through a proudly independent judging process. 

For 2020, the global panel includes: 

– UK Katie Hill, co-founder of green living magazine My Green Pod (distributed quarterly with The Guardian to six million eco conscious consumers). 

– USA Makeup artist (Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue) and wellness coach Denise del Russo. 

– AUSTRALIA Holly Spierings, creative director of award-winning make-up brand Eye of Horus. 

Looking for recommendations right away?

Here are three of our previous winners… 

1. Madara Organic Baby & Kids Cocoa and Plum Creamy Oil
Judges loved how the extra-creamy consistency makes massages feel soothing and special for everyone. Meanwhile the rich cocoa butter smoothes away dryness and nourishes soft and delicate skin.

2. Balmonds’ Skin Salvation
Natural balms are a positive boon for parents protecting against nappy rash. The beeswax base seals away the skin’s moisture while protecting against irritating dampness – making it a must for the baby bag.

3. Bloom and Blossom Matilda’s Miracle Detangler
A natural product that takes the fight out of bed-time or pre-school hair-brushing is a big win for parents. Judges admired the calming lavender scent and how it worked across all different types of hair (however tangled).

About the awards
Originally launched seven years ago by beauty writer and respected natural living expert Fiona Klonarides, the awards are a 100% independent guide to parent and baby products.

Each year they’re judged by a panel of unbiased industry experts with no sponsorship or advertising to sway their decisions. This unique, transparent approach with an intrinsic focus on “natural, eco and ethical” attracts entries from across the world – creating a uniquely level playing field for both big and small brands.

Elm Rd - Amira Studio Reed Diffuser

This week’s post comes to you hotfoot from the striking opulence and intricate palatial architecture of the Middle East, and the arid desert landscapes … at The Amazing Blog are immersing ourselves in the sultry, smoky enclaves of heat, perhaps with some billowing linen providing a breath of air in the background, amidst all the grandeur, both faded and vibrant, but always intoxicating. Are we going overboard with the visuals here, or are we simply buying into the founding ethos behind Elm Rd.’s   fragrance range of candles and reed diffusers wholeheartedly? 

Elm Road is a company with their manufacturing base in Kent, and is the brainchild of Miguel Ángel, who had been living the corporate life of imbalance whilst working as a shoe designer when he had a moment of clarity in a San Franciscan park. Exhausted from the rigours of his busy schedule, the aromas of the eucalyptus, pine and cypress trees enveloped him and transported him to another time and place - one where memories and reminiscences helped to restore and heal, ultimately enabling him to make the huge decision to overhaul his life completely. Happily for Miguel - and indeed for us all - this turning point marked the beginning of Elm Rd, and his new venture of creating extraordinarily effective triggers to help us all slowdown and indulge a slower pace for however long we can all allow ourselves to escape.

We are focusing on Elm Rd.’s Amira Studio Reed Diffuser here, but there are a whole host of similarly indulgent concoctions to check out too. Amira Studio though is a heady blend of pure essential oils of mandarin, oud and geranium, conjuring up the ambiance of Arabian Night-like tales of romance and intrigue; combining the sumptuous aromas of frankincense with citrus and floral undertones. Whilst this fragrance has a strength to it from those base notes, it is not overpowering, but the ensuing subtle botanical aroma is just enough to sustain our journey of recollection back.

This stylish Amira Studio reed diffuser comes in 100ml, which is priced at £38 from here. All the ingredients are plant-based, paraben-free, and vegan-friendly with an eco-friendly diffuser base. The 100ml option should last between 3 and 4 months depending on the season and of course room temperature. Go on spoil yourself and be transported to more exotic climes with this intoxicating aroma.

La Sultane de Saba - Santal Ancestral Eau de Parfum

This is the last of our reviews, which is unashamedly immersing ourselves in the luxury of Christmas. Today at The Amazing Blog we’re on a journey with the mysteries of the Orient, enjoying the darkly mysterious sensuality as we experience La Sultane de Saba - Santal Ancestral EDP  from Paris. If the idea of escaping the humdrum and travelling somewhere exotic and exciting is your thing, then La Sultane de Saba is a brand you need to check out. It revels in both those things as it offers up its own particular concept of beauty treatments not just in a glorious array of indulgent products, but also through La Sultane de Saba spas and treatments (see our recent feature on their Rose Facial Set here) 

With such a backdrop, we knew that the Santal Ancestral EDP for men would be an experience to be relished and enjoyed, and were not disappointed. With the warmth of sandalwood forming the foundation of this scent, the most extraordinary sensory journey begins as we get notes of patchouli and cedar coming through too. Truly a heady mix to transport you to the sophistication and elegance of the Orient, and all the romance therein. Whilst it’s base is strong, there is a delicious freshness which comes through on the top notes of geranium and sandalwood - as Eau de Parfum, it of course, contains more perfume oil than that of Eau de Toilette, allowing its depth to be more intense, however, it’s definitely not overpowering. The sense of smell is such an evocative one, and Santal Ancestral is a fragrance that both indulges and celebrates this. At £79.00 for 100ml from here, it is definitely worth a try as this delicious EDP lasts and lasts. BTW if you love this, then why not try their other fragrance in the range Oud Wood here.

Ayumi - Sandalwood & Ylang Ylang skin and hair care

At The Amazing Blog we believe in source not only the very best products for our readers, but also the best value; and that’s why we’d like to introduce you to another one of our #amazingfinds Ayumi. Today we’re reviewing their seasonally scented Sandalwood & Ylang Ylang skin and hair care range, we also think that these will make fabulous Christmas stocking fillers!

Ayumi is an Ayurvedic and natural skincare brand that originates from a family run business, known as Fudco, which also happens to be one of the leading brands and suppliers of the ethnic food market. Ayumi use only natural ingredients with infusions of spices and essential oils. Their core ranges are Sandalwood & Ylang Ylang, Argan, Neem & Tea Tree, and Turmeric with combinations of Shea Butter,  Hibiscus or Bergamot. The brand’s inspiration comes from ayurvedic principals which is an ancient Indian philosophy that is believed to be one of the most ancient healing traditions helping to create a balance between mind, body and spirit.

Ayumi kindly sent us eight products in their range of Sandalwood & Ylang Ylang face and body care to review. Each of these products has the perfect pairing of a warm, woody and seductive sandalwood, and the heady sweet floral scent of ylang-ylang.  And what a scent combination it is! It couldn’t be more comforting or uplift on these dark bitter nights. This range has been created to help balance and revitalise and is best suited to those with dry or sensitive skin. 

Let begin with the body care range. The Body Wash is a good place to start, it cleanses without stripping away the skins naturals oils, it feels hydrating and invigorating and left our skin smelling subtly scented. The Body Scrub is a gentle and yet effective exfoliator – it takes away rough skin with the finely ground olive seed powder, ideal for getting rid of the daily commuting grim. We recommend using this weekly. To finish off we used the Body Lotion this was our favourite from the range, it smelt divine, absorbed quickly and kept our skin soft and supple all day long. Ayumi also sent us their Argan & Sandalwood Shampoo which has all the nourishing properties of the argan oil and the growth stimulation of amla and bhringra. It’s good for strengthening weak hair and is gentle enough to be used as a frequent wash shampoo.

Moving onto the four key face care products in the Sandalwood & Ylang Ylang range. The Face Scrub is creamy in texture with bamboo stem and perlite volcanic lava powders, it gently buffs the skin leaving it free from impurities and city pollution. It has cocoa and shea butter to replenish the skin and leave it silky smooth. The Face Wash is a gentle cleansing wash, pampering and soothing as well as effectively removes stubborn residue of make-up. Great for everyday use. The Face Mask is a slightly different combination of Sandalwood & Pink Clay, the clay and zinger root extract are the base of this mask which helps to draw out all the impurities in the skin. Finally, we used the Face Cream which has the glorious scent of frankincense, sage and patchouli. We liked the texture and noticed that it gave a luminous base for our foundation.

We think that Ayumi has a great variety of natural skincare that won’t break the bank, and is a great way to introduce your friends to a really special ayurvedic skincare brand. All products are around £6.99, see here.