Today we find ourselves chatting about something that’s been popping up quite a lot again lately - mall pull out perfumes. Sellers claim that these are the perfumes straight from the factory, overstock, or items that have minor defects, hence the considerable markdowns on the prices. But before you snag that deal, let’s have a little heart-to-heart about what you're actually getting into and why it’s a better choice to stick to the official retail stores.

Hey there, scent-savvy folks! Brace yourselves for the blazing heat of the Philippine summer because I've got just the thing to keep you smelling fresh and fabulous all season long. We all know that feeling when sweat threatens to steal our fragrance thunder, but fear not! I've handpicked a trio of scents that will keep you smelling fresh, even in the midst of the sweltering heat. So, grab your fans and get ready to dive into my personal favorites for the summer.

Today, we're taking you on a magical adventure to the Scottish Highlands, where Jo Malone London's Global Head of Fragrance, Céline Roux, and the talented perfumers Anne Flipo, Marie Salamagne, and Yann Vasnier have created an enchanting new collection that perfectly captures the essence of Scotland's wild beauty called The Highlands. This collection is available here in the Philippines this May!

Coco Chanel described perfume as the “unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory.” As a perfume addict, I would have to agree. We can spend a lot of time planning our perfect makeup, clothes and accessories, but a scent adds another dimension to your self-expression. It’s the invisible finishing touch that pulls our whole look together.

Much like a collection of clothes, skincare, or jewelry, a fragrance wardrobe contains a selection of scents for every occasion. If you don’t have a fragrance wardrobe yet, here are some tips to get you started!

Hibiscus or gumamela blooms year-round in the Philippines. Here it grows with barely any prodding, so you can easily find it in many homes or even just by the country roads, tended to by only sunlight and the rain that falls on the earth. As a child I loved playing with these brilliant blossoms. I would put one in my hair as I ran across the streets, drenched by the sun and carrying the simple knowledge that everything was right in the world.

It goes without saying that 2020 was a challenging period of adjustment for everyone. For the first half of last year, I was so completely resigned to staying in that I pretty much dropped most of my beauty habits, save for my nightly skincare routine. But as the months went by, I slowly began to miss my old self-care rituals. So much so that I’ve started them back up even whilst I remain stuck indoors.

Actress Anne Curtis is a keen lover of scents. She has a scent for her different moods, plus it’s something that her fans always ask her about, so it made sense for her baby blk Cosmetics to expand to this category.

According to Guttierez, blk wanted to step away from the usual offerings in the local market, balancing its scent blends with local taste. The result: four less common blends that embody Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Winter. These are made with 12% oil sourced from Dubai (while the mists are made in the UAE) as opposed to the typical target of 4 to 5%, says Gutierrez. 

The first ever Jo Malone perfume I received was a gift. This was years before the brand entered the Philippines, and it was precious enough that one can acquire it only during trips abroad or pre-orders from small online stores where you have to wait for weeks to get a bottle. My client back then, who is a generous and kind-hearted woman, gifted me Blackberry & Bay for my birthday. I was so amazed and felt so special when I opened it! The perfume is already expired, but I still keep the bottle in my scent shelf if only to remind me of that moment.

While many bloggers have released their own makeup lines or collaborations, it’s not often that they venture into scents. It is an especially bold move to do so locally! Vv and Co. is a relatively new brand by local bloggers and real-life sisters Vern and Verniece Enciso. The brand currently offers three perfumes: Vern, Verniece, and Cat, the product of a collaboration with fellow blogger Cat Arambulo-Antonio. The bottles have a premium look and feel, and each scent contains 30ml.

Yesterday I was at the mall with my partner James when we passed through a flower bazaar. Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and, being ever practical, he told me to pick a bouquet I like so we can have it delivered. I’ve always loved his Valentine’s flowers but I’ve struggled with preserving them properly. At the showcase yesterday, there were beautiful freeze-dried roses that came in a box. “Those would be such pretty home accents!” said my equally practical self. But the price tags were mildly shocking. Some cost as much as P14,000 a box!

Fragrances are more than just accessories. A good scent is a work of art. It undergoes the long, tedious process of making art - from the inspiration, to the skill required to make that vision a reality, up to the statement that it makes about the world. That’s why brands like Jo Malone are sought after and even copied by others. It's not about being trendy or cool; for Jo Malone, it's about creating a piece of art that tells a beautiful story.

Lurking around in Facebook groups as well as the comment sections of PV, I’ve noticed that a common favorite perfume among gals is Dolce&Gabbana’s D&G Light Blue Eau de Toilette. It’s really not hard to see why. D&G Light Blue is a fresh, citrusy fragrance that goes well with the tropical climate we have. The lemon and green apple notes are such a hit among Pinays and all over the world, too! Now, sixteen years after the launch of this cult favorite, Dolce&Gabbana has finally added a new permanent fragrance to the line: D&G Light Blue Eau Intense Eau de Parfum.

Do you make it a habit to read the label before deciding to buy product? It’s definitely a good idea to do so (even if it’s in Korean!) because you should always check for manufacturing and expiry dates to help ensure that the product is still safe to use. There also ingredients you should look out for because of their high potential as skin irritants, or because they help back up a product’s claims of being effective at treating acne or preventing skin aging.