The Body Shop's Candied Ginger Range

I got some of the Body Shop's Candied Ginger range on sale. They are so pampering!
First let me start with the reed diffuser - this is amazing. Don't expect it to be able to scent a large room though. I put this in the bathroom and after 3 months now, it's still doing its magic.

Then we have the oil for use with oil burners. This is another great treat for any room. A few drops will release a burst of sweetness.

The shower gel's scent lasts an hour or two, which is quite disappointing but its scent is calming, so great for evening use. A little goes a long way.

And finally the lip balms are a real treat. If you love the scent, you must get this. I am always impressed with the quality and results of the Body Shop's lip balms/lip butters.

About the scent...I can't quite describe it. I was reluctant to smell this at first because I'm not fond of most spicy or ginger scents. But as soon as I smelt this, I was hooked. Think of ginger...but not quite....think of spice...but not too spicy...then think of sweets....and then mix it all together. Weird right? Just head to the Body Shop to try this and you'll know I'm not talking jibberish.....

MADD & Bubbleology make you say yum!

If any of you want a change to your usual beverages in your Starbucks or Costa cafes and want to sink in to a yummy tea instead...then head to Bubbleology. And for desserts, next door is a tiny place called MADD, where I had a mango mousse that was simply delicious and left me craving for more the day after.

Bubbleology does a refreshing take on bubble tea. The shop is tiny but it is always packed as far as I have seen. People who work there are dressed in lab coats, there are chemistry equipments on display which makes it seem like you are in a lab...which I think is awesome.
The flavours are plentiful. Drinks come hot or cold, whichever you prefer.

Try the coconut milk tea with bubbles and popping Lychee Boba. It's what I had. It'll make your taste buds scream.

To explore their menu or to find out more about Bubbleology, click here.

DKNY's Be Delicious Fresh Blossom

Review based on the sample seen in the pictures I captured.

DKNY's Be Delicious Fresh Blossom is a mix of apple and floral scents, which is exactly what I expected. The top notes balance on these two types of notes very well, complimenting each other. For me, the top notes are the best part of this composition because of the vibrant harmony of sweet floral notes.

It then flourishes into a soft, dewy, feminine scent reminding me of spring and all the blossoming flowers and trees. I find that the floral scent takes over as soon as it sinks in to its middle notes but there is also a citrus scent lingering. Think of grapefruits or something fruity that is sweet and sour.

This fragrance does leave me looking forward to spring even more because I am reminded of flowers and fruits ... mm and yum! Not overpowering at all. Actually it is a gentle, joyous and easy to wear for all ages. It's a day scent rather than an evening.

Most of all though, I enjoy this on my handkerchief and on my pillow. For some reason it smells less floral on them!

Roast & Conch - The New Chocolate Cafe

Most of you will have heard of Hotel Chocolat. They make all sorts of delicious chocolates and their range is affordable and delightful. This year Hotel Chocolat opened their first chocolate cafe store. It's called Roast & Conch and it is currently situated at Seven Dials (Covent Garden).

I was impressed. I was wishing someone would open a cafe especially targeted at chocolate drinkers, so my wish was granted when I visited this place. It has 2 floors. When you enter Roast & Conch, it appears to be like a typical Hotel Chocolat store. Then there's a ground floor or 'basement' rather, where you descend and that is where you sit and sip your hot chocolate.

The only thing I felt that was lacking there was the choice of hot chocolates. There were a couple to choose from but not many, so I do hope they customise the drinks more.

I had a normal hot chocolate and I have to say....it was very satisfying! Perhaps...just perhaps...my coffee replacement.

Hajj Exhibition at the British Museum

Recently, I went to the Hajj Exhibition at the British Museum. The exhibition will be there until 15th April 2012 and I highly recommend a visit for those of you who want to go there. Tickets are £ 12 (if I remember) and free for members.

I was amazed at the many artifacts and carefully preserved books and Qurans over the centuries. Walking through the exhibition left me in awe and hoping that one day I will,

insha'Allah, make my own pilgrimage to Mecca. For now the closest I will be to it

is in this museum.

I could not take any pictures once I was in the exhibition, so I leave you with the few pictures I managed to take.

The original book written by Ibn Jubayr caught my eye in the exhibition and I was SO thrilled to see its english translation being sold at the museum. Written more than 800 years ago, Ibn Jubayr writes about his trip to Mecca in great detail. The descriptions of the places, the people and the foods simply amaze me. Once I know Arabic well enough, I will read the original Arabic version so that nothing is lost in translation.

I recommend!

DKNY Golden Delicious Review

During the weekend, DKNY launched 3 new perfumes. All their scents are based on yummy desserts. Having smelt them all I opted for the Pink Macaroon perfume. I will blog about this later. With the purchase, I received numerous samples, most of which are DKNY perfumes, so I will blog about them all once I trial them properly.

{Above: All the samples I was given}

Let me start with the DKNY Golden Delicious Eau be Parfum...

DKNY Golden Delicious does not disappoint and lives up to its name.

The perfume bottle has a joyful aura compared to the other DKNY apples, which lures you into giving it a chance to see what it can offer. So if you see one around, 'take a special bite' as DKNY says.

DKNY has released a few apple scents now, each unique in their own way. If you like the scent of sweet apples, DKNY has it. If you prefer sour apples, DKNY has that too. For me though, my apple elixir is Nina Ricci's apple because it's sweeter and more intense which is more to my preference.

DKNY Golden Delicious opens up with the scent of freshly bit apples and orange blossom, then quickly sinks into more floral notes. Vanilla and lilly of the valley are distinguishable and these are complimented by the base notes of musk and sandalwood. This combination caught me off guard as I expected the usual apple scent to stay from its top notes all the way to its base notes.

But this difference is exactly what makes this scent 'Golden'.

It is also what makes this scent wearable for both the day and the night and to any occasion. It is a more mature scent but it still has that innocence in it ,it's more vibrant and it is a very happy scent to put on.

If you're looking for a fragrance for spring, try this. Upon testing it, it lasted 4-5 hours on average.

The only down point to this fragrance is the fact that in my opinion it resembles Dior's J'adore but doesn't compare to it so it lacks originality. But it is possible that I am just being harsh!

Other than that, I think this is one of the best fragrances released by DKNY.