Fragrance

Dress your Love Story

A few posts back I introduced a new blog series that we're doing focused around fashion / decor & frangrance pairing. For this week's post I'm going to build a few outfit possibilities that match a beautiful new Chloe perfume called Love Story.

If you're familiar with the brand you'll probably have noticed that Chloe fragrances are unique and quite identifiable. I'm no expert at articulately describing fragrance notes, so I will just say that this is floral and light. It has that classic Chloe thing going on, but it's a youthful, whimsical, girl-next-door take. And can I describe a fragrance as romantic? I'd say this one is. The packaging is really pretty too. I'm not a "Save the box!" kind of girl, but I saved the box (it's stashed in my cupboard next to my iPhone box, which I also couldn't bear to part with).

We have no shortage of feminine, floral, whimsical things on Hello Pretty, all made by South African hands. It's kind of our thing ? Here are some that will complement your Love Story.

First up, House of Kallie's Rose Gold & Morganite Solitaire Ring. BE STILL MY HEART.

This magnificent thing is new on the site. I mean though... a pink gemstone in rose gold? What could go better with something called "Love Story"?

And some more of the plenty I mentioned earlier:

1. Mandarin Collar Blouse from Every Mooi Nooi
2. Sterling Silver Stacking Rings from The Daisychain
3. Small Protea Leaf Earrings from Reverie Designs
4. Sterling Silver Wire Ring from The Daisychain
5. Sterling Silver Kitty Playing with Wool Pendant from Jessica Jane Jewellery
6. Afternoon Light Necklace from A Bird Named Frank

1. The Sam Wrap Dress from Samsama Designs
2. Coeur de Rose Peep Toes from LanziLove
3. FRUITSALAD Pineapple Earrings from Miss H Jewellery Design
4. XOXO Bracelet from Jewellery by Jessica
5. Black Diamond and Rose Gold Ring from Chongo & Wells
6. Misu Dress from Cinnamon
7. Peach Blush Flat Pumps from LanziLove

This pretty little flower crown in the photo below is the Pastel Dream, from Sunkissked Handmade. She has loads of them ande they're all pretty. There is also a bunny-ears option, and a unicorn option.

Dress up your Signorina

Last week Jen (who handles some of our marketing) and I had the privilege of attending the launch of Salvatore Ferragamo's latest fragrances. It was a magnificent event, organised by VelvetLuxe and hosted at the Steenberg Wine Estate. Thank you Rose and Mbali for having us as guests to your event.

Anyone who appreciates some of the finer things in life will most likely have crossed paths with an Italian-made fragrance or two. The great nation of Italy has produced some of the most beautiful fragrances you can get. Ferragamo has now launched three versions of Signorina, their brand new piece of olfactory art. At the same time he's also launched Uomo for the fellas.

I'm going to tell you a teeny bit about each one, and show you what South African beauties you'll wear it with. Each fragrance was launched with a mini movie and I'll link to those too. They're beautifully done and you should definitely watch them.

Signorina - the original version

I found this to be a light and very unique fragrance. It's really gentle and feminine, and was my personal favourite of the three. The original fragrance's colour palette is a soft pink.

A sassy and chic fragrance celebrating cheeky young ladies with a hint of irony and Italian glamour.

Pictured:

Signorina Eleganza

Are you a seductress? Because then this one's for you. Eleganza is the "gold" fragrance in the range.

A rich and velvety olfactive creation that celebrates feminine grace and seduction.

Pictured:

Watch the movie

Signorina Misteriosa

DRAMA! Misteriosa's colour palette is black, which suits it well. It is the boldest of the three fragrances: this is what you'll want when you want to really make a statement.

A daring fragrance that frees the secrets of a young woman who dictates the rules of her life.

Pictured:

Watch the movie

Visiting the Steenberg Estate was fantastic. It's in Tokai, fairly close to Cape Town, and I couldn't more strongly recommend that you pay them a visit (after you turn off from the M5 do not make the mistake we made by heading up Ou Kaapse Weg - keep on straight). The scenery is lush, manicured and expansive. The dining area is intimate, bright and airy, with double doors opening onto a small outdoor area. You can actually even see the ocean from it. We'll for sure be returning here for a tasting and a meal.

Frazer Parfum

Last week I was lucky enough to be Frazer Parfum's guest instagrammer, which meant I got to spend a whole morning in their store and factory, smelling beautiful things and lathering it all over me.

This super gorgeous and luxe brand is run by Tam and Jenny Frazer - sisters every bit as lovely as their products.

Founded in 2008, Frazer Parfum creates organic and natural perfume products, handcrafted while collaborating with local artists - the end result is to die for.

Tam spent some time explaining to me how she makes each scent, in all their various forms - a LOT of love and attention to detail goes into every tiny thing.

She also explained their Chapters Collection, which includes nine scents inspired by places that she's travelled to, including Corsica, Madagascar and India. They also have the African Collection - six scents inspired by raw materials on the continent.

My very favorite scent is African orange blossom - perfect for winter.

It uses a resin from Ethiopia called opoponax, which has a treacle note - it's used in many creative perfumes and gives a sweetness even though it's a resin. Resins are one of the rare ingredients that are both fresh and long lasting.

Even better news is Frazer Parfum does not use any synthetic molecules or chemicals and in no way are any of the raw materials tested on animals. The palette consists of rare absolutes, concretes and resins coupled with chemotyped essential oils, petals, woods, roots, grass and zest.

I love how you can get your favourite sent in so many forms - there's really no excuse not to smell delicious! I love to layer my coffee & orange blossom shea butter and solid perfume to get a truly luxe feel and scent. If you spot me on the streets of Cape Town sniffing at myself, you'll know why!

My favourite "vessel" is the parfum solide. The scent is captured in beeswax, and you can choose between an equally beautiful Protea porcelain egg and an African Blackwood compact. Because I'm the most clumsy human, I opted for an African Blackwood Compact. Perfect for keeping in your purse!

This Shea butter is the most luxurious feeling moisturizer I have ever put on my skin. It's an intense natural salve, that comes in a handmade porcelain or Tamboti wood container. I'm completely smitten with the beautiful fine porcelain.

Tammy is the granddaughter of Graham Wulff, inventor of Oil of Olay. Following in his footsteps single-handedly launched her personally handmade perfumes in eclectic retail environments in Europe, North America, UK, Ukraine, Oceania, Nigeria and South Africa.

She inherited her grandfather's beautiful albums of ladies in the factories in their pink lab coats - I immediately felt that my life would be incomplete without one just like it!

Read more about Tammy’s journeys in her column “Making Scents”, published every Friday in the Mail & Guardian newspaper, and online HERE.

To check out what I got up to last week, follow them on Instagram at http://instagram.com/frazer_parfum/ - it's a feast for your eyeballs in there!

Thanks ladies! I left an even bigger fan than when I walked in. *sniffs self*

The smell of books

Attention all bibliophiles! You too can now smell of freshly printed books, thanks to a new fragrance collaboration between Geza Schoen, Gerhard Steidl and Wallpaper* magazine (of which I am a huge fan!).

It is called Paper Passion, and Steidl did the incredible packaging together with Karl Lagerfeld. In the front of the packaging book you’ll find short essays talking about paper, and they’re written by Lagerfeld, Schoen, Günter Grass, and Tony Chambers who is the editor-in-chief at Wallpaper*.

Read more about it on Steidl’s website and on Wallpaper*.