Alexandra David-Néel
Let it never be said that nothing good has ever come from drinking very expensive tea. If I had not been exploring the shelves of Mariage Freres the other day, I would probably never have learned about Alexandra David-Néel, a fascinating woman after whom Mar..
Hermès Le Jardin de Monsieur Li
For a person who doesn’t think of herself as a huge fan of Hermès fragrances, I certainly own quite a few of them – around 10. This is more than I have from Chanel or Guerlain, two houses that I would definitely consider closer to my heart than Hermès. But i..
The Solitude of Flowers
I like flowers and as with most things I like, the more of them the better. Big bunches of blooms are irresistible to me and I enjoy flower markets almost as much as I enjoy libraries (For me, if there is heaven, it’ll be a library with high quality tea and ..
3 Variations on Gin & Tonic
I always panic when people ask me about my favourite book or perfume or colour or food. What do you like best? Do you prefer heels or flats? Chocolate or vanilla? Lipstick or gloss? I don’t know! Everything!? And what about lip stains, anyway? But there is o..
Sheer Black Tights
I’m afraid this is going to be one of those ‘solution’ posts most people think solves nothing. I’m sticking to my guns, however, as this has been a hard-won victory. I’m not a very vengeful person by nature, but I have a strong sense of justice: as child, I ..
Jallab Syrup
It is said that one of the great joys of getting older is knowing yourself better. And indeed, I have recently had a moment of absolute self-knowledge: as soon as I read the ingredient list of Jallab, I knew I had to have it. Date and raisin syrup, rose wate..
Scents of the Day: Part 5
Last year, I did a project called Scent of the Day. For a month, every day, I talked about a scent on Facebook. I have been asked by friends to make these musings available on the blog, as it’s impossible to find anything on Facebook. So I’ll copy my mini-re..
Lumi Moisturizing Cleansing Milk
If you have been here before, you might already know I have a thing for proper cleansing and good cleansers. I have about ten of them in regular rotation and I’m very picky about the quality, with Eve Lom, Omorovicza, Tata Harper, Sunday Riley and Tatcha cle..
Why I Read Blogs
Reading is my poison. This is how I like to get my information, my entertainment, my emotional and intellectual kicks. I don’t think it’s superior to other methods of doing these things, it’s just what I prefer (OK, maybe I think it’s a little superior, but ..
Completely Normal
As a general rule, when people have nice photos taken of themselves, they go for a look that’s more dressed up and dramatic than their everyday outfits. For me, however, it has been the other way around: both proper shoots that I’ve done recently have been a..