QUINTESSENTIAL COLOGNES AND MY LESSON IN PERFUME

If you haven't discovered a Jo Malone London stand in your nearest department store, it is absolutely wonderful, in my opinion a bit of a revolution when it comes to fragrance. The whole experience of the brand is very holistic, with the classic bottles and simple yet elegant packaging, and the luxurious spa-like pampering facilities.

 The plethora of products available are beautiful, with scents ranging from citrus to woody notes. Each cologne have a unique combination of fresh ingredients, some which will completely surprise you, and produce the most light yet luxurious scents for both men and women. The signature scent of the Jo Malone franchise is Lime, Basil and Mandarin. This was a gift for my birthday, featured in the picture at 100ml. The scent speaks for itself, it has a citrus zing accompanied with a richer, powdery undertone. 

I once visited a parfumerie named Fragonard in a village named Grasse. Fragonard, is Situated on top of a mountain, the village smelt of french Lavender. We were taught about how different fragrances sink into the skin and may smell different on each individual person. The creators of the perfumes at Fragonard explained how perfume or colognes must also be worn on the main points of blood flow to the surface of the skin, which includes the underside of the wrists and neck. When I sampled Jo Malone, I likened it to that experience; the knowledge of staff was second to none, with each fragrance having a story. There is even fragrance named Lavender and Amber, using french Lavender. Needless to say, Jo Malone London really do know their eau de toilette to their ouds!

The colognes can be layered to create a different scent, I experienced this through having a complimentary hand and arm massage, I chose English pear and freesia layered with earl grey and cucumber. The perfect pick me up leaving my skin feeling wonderfully soft, moisturised and rejuvenated. They use a combination of their body washes, scrubs and cremes to create the desired scent. So, if you're next in John Lewis or Selfridges make sure to pop by and sample something from their range, they often feature limited edition products too! Prices for colognes are either £43 for 30ml or £85 for 100ml. 

Featured colognes: Left: Wood Sage and Sea Salt (30ml @ £43)
Right: Lime Basil and Mandarin (100ml @ £85)

10 TIPS TO PRO INTERIOR DESIGN ON A BUDGET

As a little girl I was forever rearranging and tidying my room (I know that's a little bit strange!) However, I loved seeing how my things in different places or laid out differently would completely change my room. Since getting my own place and having the opportunity to start with a blank canvas, I have really indulged my creative side. Still being a student, of course, this has been done on a budget and I hope that sharing the following tips with you will help you achieve the nest of your dreams!

1. Make an inspirational mood board & plan for each room

You don't need to be a pro at this, social media platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram are great for gathering your ideas. Instagram has plenty of beautifully organised images and colour schemes. Pinterest enables you to collect your ideas on virtual pin boards. Swotting up for a few minutes on the colour wheel will also give you a little insight on which colours match/clash. 

Or you can keep it old school and grab a few magazines such as Good Housekeeping or Ideal Home (both of which have Pinterest and Instagram accounts). Magazines are great if you are a tactile person, you can cut up pictures you like. Also the hard work of pairing colours and prints is done for you, or often organised in a list of tips. I like to theme each room slightly differently, some people like to keep the style continued throughout the house, so organising your ideas will help you to visualise your intended end result. 

2. Use high quality brands as inspiration 

In order to create a room that looks expensive on a budget, it's important to seek inspiration from brands that do this well. My personal favourites are Farrow and Ball, Annie Sloan, Laura Ashley. You can also find plenty of inspiration at your local hardware store i.e B&Q if you prefer something a little more accessible to the masses. Grab a few colour charts and samples. Each individual colour has a code, so you can also use paint producers such as Valspar to mix your paint much cheaper than the designer brands. I have done this with all my rooms and it's such a cost effective way of creating a high end look. Definitely my top tip. 

3. Check out the seasonal sales!

I mostly buy my wallpaper from Laura Ashley, they produce classic and modern prints but some can be fairly expensive when wallpapering a whole room. One way round this is to only paper a feature wall. The other is to ask the store assistants when the next launch of sale is, I have got my wallpaper at more than to 50% off, an absolute bargain when you are buying in bulk. Just make sure you buy the same batch number of each roll! (Example pictured below).

4. Up-cycle old furniture and old accessories

Most of my furniture is either recycled or purchased from Gumtree. This is such a cost-effective way of getting a beautiful on-trend piece. You can transform an item of furniture with just one lick of paint. There are plenty of different finishing techniques you can use after painting too. Sanding after the paint has dried, using a crackle glaze or wax finish can all transform items. Make sure you prep the furniture well beforehand and apply coats of paint thinly, not forgetting a finish. You can find tutorials on YouTube showing you how to do this. 

5. Shop around for designer-inspired products

Don't underestimate eBay, a well-executed search will allow you to locate items in your local area. Another way is to use HomeSense or TKMaxx who always have designer products at reduced prices. You can really grab great pieces, either classic or contemporary, from these stores. 

Laura Ashley Camomile Hydrangea Wallpaper £20 reduced from £40, buy it here