It’s easy to fall into a routine underpinned by the stable schedule of work, studies and family responsibilities. One day flows into the next, alternating with all too brief weekends and lit up by the distant glow of a vacation. Around here this way of life is referred to as métro, boulot, dodo, translated literally as “commute, work, sleep.” As the daylight hours get shorter, I feel the drain of such a schedule even more. Waking up to the murky darkness and a glittering sliver of moon–the same vignette I saw before I went to bed, I start counting the number of days until the winter holidays. Which at this point feel too distant for comfort.
On the other hand, it’s always possible to make a mini holiday for yourself, even in the middle of the dullest period. It can be an hour at a museum, a shopping excursion with friends or even just a favorite scented candle. Surrounding yourself with favorite objects and planning events that give you a dose of pleasure goes a long way to alleviating the sameness of inescapable routine.
Lately, my little joys have been jasmine scented. It may come as no surprise to my regular readers that I love jasmine, but there are times when I’m particularly obsessed with it. Jasmine is linked to all things I enjoy–Chinese tea, Persian gardens, Indian incense, Ukrainian summer nights and Sicilian desserts. Just a whiff of its complex perfume, a harmony of apricot jam, green banana and a hint of warm suede, is thrilling. Since I try to start my day on the right note, jasmine scented showers are it.
A discovery of Korres Jasmine shower gel ($12, 250ml) at a pharmacy sale was the initial inspiration. I usually prefer soap, but Korres had such a rich–and true to nature–perfume of jasmine sambac that before long I sampled several other jasmine shower gels and found new favorites. If I disregard Korres’s ludicrous natural claims, it’s quite a good product. No real jasmine suffered for the sake of this acacia honey colored gel, but it can easily fool you into thinking otherwise. The aroma is vivid and rich the moment you open the bottle, and it lingers in the bathroom and on skin. If you want a body product to layer with Serge Lutens A La Nuit, a jasmine extravaganza, Korres will be a great choice.
Having grown addicted to Korres’s Jasmine, I decided to branch out. My next shower gel came from The Body Shop. Its Indian Night Jasmine ($10, 250ml) is an inexpensive treat, and while its jasmine is less nature-like than Korres’s, there is enough vibrancy to make my morning shower pleasant. The gel leaves my skin soft, and it forms a meringue like lather.
Another jasmine discovery was to be had at Jurlique. Its Jasmine ($24, 300ml) is reasonably priced and richly scented. It smells of white petals and dark grapes, which together mimic the aroma of jasmine. The shower gel isn’t particularly moisturizing, but my skin doesn’t feel tight or flaky afterward, a common problem with harsher cleansers.
When I searched for jasmine scented body products, L’Occitane’s Jasmine & Bergamot range came up time and again. Jasmine & Bergamot shower gel ($18, 175ml) indeed contains a smidgen of natural jasmine essence, but it doesn’t translate into the scent. Jasmine is blended with fresh floral and green fruity notes. In the shower, Jasmine & Bergamot feels uplifting and bright, and I’ve repurchased it twice.
Neal’s Yard Remedies makes you believe that by buying their products you’re contributing to world peace and women’s rights, not to mention organic agriculture. Since I can’t independently evaluate these claims, I don’t give them much weight in my purchasing decisions. On the other hand, their products are very well-formulated, and I love the Jasmine & Ylang Ylang range. The Body Cream is decadent, while Shower Gel (£14, 200ml) has a lush aroma of white flowers. Ylang ylang smells like fruity jasmine with a dose of wintergreen, so it’s an opulent pairing. If I close my eyes, I feel as if I’m covered with soft white petals, a nice fantasy on a grey Belgian morning.
Finally, in my jasmine explorations I have returned to my old favorite, Alba Botanica Midnight Tuberose ($9.50, 355 ml). While it’s called tuberose, it’s more of a white floral bouquet, with plenty of jasmine mixed into the milky tuberose. The fragrance is effervescent, with the right touch of citrus, and the prospect of my shower scented with Midnight Tuberose makes me want to get out of bed. Yes, Alba Botanica is that good. The perfume lingers on skin for an hour, and if you want to amplify its presence, pick either a jasmine blend or an orange blossom cologne. L’Artisan La Chasse aux Papillons, the closest perfume to Midnight Tuberose, makes for a perfect companion.
If you have other jasmine scented ideas for body products, please share them with me. I can never have too much jasmine.
Top image by Bois de Jasmin
97 Comments
Kandice: I love bath and body products, and jasmin is a favorite floral note. I absolutely agree with you on the Alba Botanica and will now have to try the L’Artisan fragrance with it as I never thought of putting the two together. I haven’t heard of some of the others so I will need to look into those as well. Thanks for the great suggestions! October 12, 2015 at 8:29am
Victoria: Alba Botanica is one of the best. It’s moisturizing, it smells wonderful and it’s reasonably priced. My mom also bought it because it reminds her of La Chasse aux Papillons. October 12, 2015 at 2:59pm
limegreen: I like the Alba Botanica shampoos, did not realize the shower gels were so nice. Can’t wait to try the Midnight Tuberose, thanks for the heads up!
Although it’s pricey for what it is (shower gel or bath oil), Jo Malone White Jasmine and Mint is greener in the body products than the cologne itself. I get a lot of cardamom from the cologne but when I’ve tested the body products it’s refreshing green (not minty) jasmine. October 12, 2015 at 9:01am
Victoria: Was there also a White Jasmine and Mint candle? In Jo Malone’s range I really like their bath oils. Red Roses cologne is a bland rose perfume, but the bath oil is decadent and lush. October 12, 2015 at 3:01pm
Andy: I agree with that assessment, and have found I prefer White Jasmine and Mint in the body products versus the cologne. The body oil smells like crushed mint leaves floating in a cup of jasmine tea when I apply it! October 12, 2015 at 7:42pm
Victoria: Andy, with that description how can one resist? 🙂 October 13, 2015 at 11:17am
Amer: I have a soft spot for Korres products and I recall fondly an EdT with Jasmine Guaiac and Black Pepper. A delectable blend focused on a jasmine note on the verge of gourmand that could be appropriated by both sexes. I’d suggest you try it should you come by it. It is a very calm jasmine for daywear that prolongs the scent of the showergel you mentioned. October 12, 2015 at 9:22am
Victoria: I’ll definitely look for it. Our local pharmacy started carrying Korres, so I’m slowly discovering the line. They also have a wonderful Citrus shower gel which feels like an instant boost. October 12, 2015 at 3:01pm
Sandra: The only Jasmine product I use in the morning is my Nivea deodorant.
I can offer some non-jasmine suggestions. I love the smell of frangipani & cherry blossoms. My two favorites are Mandi Lulur from Rituals and Zensation by the same company. Both are shower foams and very gentle on my skin. I also enjoy Nuxe Prodigieux Shower Oil : a nice blend of orange Blossom, magnolia and vanilla.The shower oil plus the dry oil afterwards makes your skin soft like a baby’s behind. Plus the smell is divine.
I will try some of your picks-especially the Alba one! Thanks for a great article and some really nice suggestions. You must smell very lovely just out of the shower October 12, 2015 at 10:07am
Victoria: Thank you for other ideas! I passed up Rituals the other day and thought of your comment a while ago about their scents. The store itself smelled so good. October 12, 2015 at 3:02pm
Absolute Scentualist: Thanks for these suggestions! I’ve been looking for a replacement for my beloved and now discontinued Flying Fox by Lush, and have had the Korres in my Sephora basket for a while now, unsure whether to take the plunge for it and the body butter or not since I have a lot of bath and body products as it is. But jasmine is one of my favorite fragrance notes as well, and I’m always on the lookout for good products.
Lush also makes a henna hair conditioner designed to ease frizz that smells wonderfully of jasmine, and their Yes Yes Yes massage bar is a really lovely blend of jasmine with a bit of the cocoa butter base.
Apparently L’Occitane’s Jasmine Green Tea was nice, but I can’t report as I haven’t tried it yet. Oh, and I don’t know if it is still an active line, but I love Oscar Blandi’s Jasmine Oil line of hair products. They smell beautiful and work extremely well. October 12, 2015 at 10:16am
Claire: Flying Fox is discontinued!! How disappointing. I was planning on stocking up during the holidays when the Rose shower gel and Ro’s body conditioner make their seasonal appearance. I heard they have also discontinued Grass…. October 12, 2015 at 11:05am
Victoria: I remember Oscar Blandi’s jasmine oil! Is it still being made? It really smelled wonderful and very true to nature. October 12, 2015 at 3:03pm
Malika: That Korres body butter – omgggggggg. There was a SA walking around Sephora , and she smelled so glorious, I had to stop her to ask what perfume she was wearing. It turned out to be that Korres jasmine body butter. It is so very rich and creamy (in smell AND consistency), just beautiful. October 13, 2015 at 12:31pm
Lynley: I also use and enjoy the Korres, and use it as a base for any jasmine perfume. If I want a richer scent I’ll use LUSH Flying Fox which has honey added to the jasmine. I hear it’s on the chopping block too, so Ive stocked up a little..
I recently bought the shower gel of La Chasse un Papillons because i found it at a good price, and it’s nicely scented, and of course, adds to the joy of the perfume 🙂
In the tuberose category I enjoy the creamy lather of Fracas shower cream, but it thrn must become a Fracas day for me, as I do the matchy-matchy thing, I cant help it! Less tuberosey so more ‘white flower’ versatile is MOR Tuberose & Cyclamen shower gel and body butter. No cyclamen I’ve ever met has had a smell, but I guess that’s what they call the slightly aquatic note with the tuberose. It’s similar to what some brands call waterlily and Im sure it’s neither…
For one I have only seen but havent sniffed is Apivita Pure Jasmine. It’s claims to be 87% natural and lists other essential oils so Im not sure how amped the jasmine in it is. October 12, 2015 at 10:27am
Claire: Cyclamen has a wonderful fragrance, but not all Cyclamen, and there are many varieties, both Autumn and Spring blooming. It is not really aquatic, but it is cool, a bit like orchid or freesia, and like violets, you have to gather many of the wild flowers together capture the delicate fragrance. Like freesia, I’ve never found a perfume that captures thatdelicacy. October 12, 2015 at 10:57am
Victoria: Neither have I, and I’ve searched. Most of the perfume cyclamens are too sharp, green and watery. I also can’t believe how many times I’ve heard from perfumers that cyclamens have no scent. October 12, 2015 at 3:09pm
Claire: I am always planting new cyclamens because I love the color and delicacy and they way they naturalize. Also, the Fall blooming varieties go dormant and disappear entirely in the spring, and the winter/spring cyclamen go dormant in Summer. So it is always a pleasant surprise when they reappear! I was really taken aback the first time I found some that were fragrant. Even the florist variety can be quite fragrant. They seem to share another characteristic with Freesia: some colors are much more fragrant than others, though maybe this is the result of hybridization Let me know if you ever find a scent that is reminiscent. I have noticed that watery, green aspect in freesia fragrances, as well. I’m not a fan of aquatic notes anyway, but I think that both freesia and cyclamen are delicately sweet, but cool in an airy way, like violet or iris, which is very different from the sharp green watery quality. In the meantime I am still waiting, and searching for a rose fragrance that smells like a David Austin Abraham Darby rose! October 12, 2015 at 5:08pm
Victoria: I get forced bulbs from a florist, and I will ask her what variety she’s growing. The colors are so vivid and makes you realize that nature has a great sense of fun. Imagine a delicate spring blossom dressed in the most vibrant magenta. October 13, 2015 at 11:13am
Lynley: Oh of course, I didnt think of all the other varieties of cyclamen i havent seen, which may indeed have a smell! It reminds me of my dad who used to grow hundreds of types of cymbidium orchids and who would scoff when i buried my nose in some to smell. He claimed none of them were scented, but on the contrary, some had the most beautiful, delicate aroma. October 12, 2015 at 8:30pm
Victoria: Korres also claims to be 91% natural, whatever it means, but it doesn’t smell like real jasmine has suffered for the cause. At any rate, it’s hard to get this kind of dramatic effect with natural jasmine only.
La Chasse Aux Papillons is released time to time in an oil form, and that’s a wonderful body product. It smells like the perfume, but it also leaves the skin silky soft. October 12, 2015 at 3:05pm
Claire: I love jasmine as well, and find it especially satisfying to layer. I will have to try the The Body Shop’s Indian Night Jasmine, and Neal’s Yard Ylang Ylang and Jasmine range sounds luscious, especially the body cream. I have been meaning to try Jurlique’s Shower Gel; I adore the body lotion which is thin in texture, but extraordinarily fragrant: I sometimes layer it with lighter scented body creams. Likewise, I like Korres Jasmine shower gel, and what I love most about Korres shower gels is how moisturizing they are, leaving a trace of scent but never any residual film on my skin. I like the Korres Jasmine Body Milk even more. The texture is very creamy but easily absorbed, and I feel enveloped in scent (The Body Butter, on the other hand, sounds like it would be more emollient, but is not. The alcohol gives it a thick, sticky texture that is not easily absorbed). The perfumes I like to layer my Jasmine with are Frau Tonis Parfum Berlin No. 35 Jasmine, Sonoma Scent Studio Jour Ensoleille, Le Labo Lys 41 or Ylang 49, and for lighter layering in hot weather, Un Jardin Sur Le Nil or Jour d’Hermes Gardenia. I almost forgot a very dark Jasmine: Lush Flying Fox shower gel in a category of it’s own, a drop will do. I like to mix it with the creamy Weleda Sea Buckthorn Creamy Body Wash (like fresh tangerines). October 12, 2015 at 10:50am
Victoria: I was also surprised how richly scented Jurlique’s body lotions were, considering that the texture is so thin. It does make a great layer for various white florals. October 12, 2015 at 3:06pm
Victoria: The combination of Lush Flying Fox and the tangering scented Weleda Sea Buckthorn sounds so good. October 12, 2015 at 3:07pm
Claire: Really Good 🙂
Lather, repeat. October 12, 2015 at 5:10pm
Ann: I join the chorus of those who really miss Flying Fox… I’ve been teased a couple of times searching for it on the web as I have found it on the Lush Australia site. Flying Fox was truly a mood changer. It made me happy! I look forward to trying some of the options you listed. Funnily enough, I just recently started using the Midnight Tuberose as my consolation prize for missing FF. Occasionally I get a synthetic smell from it, but most mornings it is a chorus of tuberose, rose, and jasmine… and a hint of green citrus. And for the price, it is a steal. October 12, 2015 at 11:04am
Victoria: It’s too bad. I haven’t tried Flying Fox, but I know that it had a big fan base. Why did they discontinue it? October 12, 2015 at 3:09pm
Surbhi: They came out with a new jasmine shower gel (Don’t try it with expectations of flying fox because it is not flying fox). It is called “Wash the man right out of my hair” Jasmine (some other florals) and sandalwood. Sounds very much like I will love it. January 10, 2016 at 5:09pm
Nora Szekely: I really love jasmine, and as you mentioned Lush, I remembered my beloved solid shampoo, Godiva. It has a fantastic scent and the stuff lasts for ages! I’m a natural blonde and it also slightly lightens the hair.
I’ll make sure to try Midnight Tuberose as I adore tuberose’s scent as well. October 12, 2015 at 11:51am
Victoria: Godiva is a great name for a shampoo. 🙂 October 12, 2015 at 3:11pm
Michaela: It is, isn’t it?! I appreciate Lush very much for their funny and well chosen names.
And, yes, the solid shampoos are special. October 13, 2015 at 3:42am
Victoria: I haven’t used them, but the idea sounds great, especially for traveling. October 13, 2015 at 11:23am
JoDee: Annick Goutal’s Songes Tahitian Monoi bath oil is expensive but a treat for sure! October 12, 2015 at 3:52pm
Victoria: I’ve only smelled it, but yes, it’s pretty lush. October 12, 2015 at 4:21pm
Teresa: Anyone interested in a bargain for Korres products, including Jasmine shower gel and body butter, look on HSN.com….they are often having really good sales on their products! October 12, 2015 at 1:16pm
Victoria: Thank for a tip, Teresa. October 12, 2015 at 3:11pm
Claire: Psst: The Korres products sold in the U.S. (Johnson & Johnson) are formulated differently than the Korres products that are sold in the EU. Since I consider them staples, I purchase them online from the UK. Free shipping and great prices. October 12, 2015 at 5:18pm
Victoria: Are they less moisturizing, or is the scent different? October 13, 2015 at 11:14am
Austenfan: I don’t really use shower gels, as I prefer soaps. However I do use some cheaper shower gels in my bath. One of those is actually jasmine scented. It’s by Natessance, an organic brand. The scent isn’t strong but it adds a nice touch to a bath and is soft on the skin as well. October 12, 2015 at 2:03pm
Victoria: I also prefer soaps, but I haven’t found a decent soap that smells of jasmine. It seems like an easier scent to get right in a shower gel base. October 12, 2015 at 3:12pm
Adriana: Joining inn the group mourning for Flying Fox, from Lush I too use the Henna conditioner which smells heavenly of jasmin and the Lust Perfume which kept the “flying fox” undertone. I fear that Lust thing too won’t last long on the market. There is enough there which can be out, if U ask me, so I find quite unfair that such a realistic jasmin is slowly out of their range. Godiva too is nice, though I need a volumiser which Godiva is not. I have not tried the Yves Rocher’s “tender Jasmin” line but I may in the near future. Though the “tender” nuance does not appeal to me as I need my jasmin opulent. I don’t know why, but the Body Shop’s Night Jasmin has not impressed me at all. Surely not as a jasmin scent. Ever since “Moon Flower” is gone from Body Shop, I find nothing appealing inn there. October 12, 2015 at 2:11pm
Victoria: Yves Rocher’s jasmine doesn’t smell very much like jasmine, but as a nice, citrusy floral, it’s a good option. Plus, it’s not expensive. October 12, 2015 at 3:13pm
Adriana: I don’t know how anywhere else is, but Yves Rocher advertises its products pretty aggressive inn here, with discounts after discounts, everyone bigger than the previous, no delivery costs and so on. It looks to me as if they are too eager to get rid of their own products on prise of nothing. Well, if their jasmin is rather hidden, I may not really go for it, as enough of that mixture is out there and I’ll have to see on some other brands available for some good jasmin scents. October 13, 2015 at 2:06am
Victoria: It’s a crowded marketplace, so they’re trying to compete as well as they can. I like this brand. It actually spends money on its perfumes. October 13, 2015 at 11:22am
Surbhi: Out of reach meaning ?
I am trying to find a replacement for so many jasmine things specially flying fox. November 14, 2015 at 5:48pm
Surbhi: I didn’t like the body shop jasmine at all. They call it Indian Jasmine, that puts me off even more. Its nothing like Indian jasmine. January 10, 2016 at 5:11pm
solanace: I was actually the one to break the news about Flying Fox discontinuation to the folks at my local Lush, lol… Joining the mourning, such a silly move. October 12, 2015 at 2:29pm
solanace: and totally getting my Lust solid next week, while I can. October 12, 2015 at 2:31pm
Victoria: Good idea! From the looks of it, it may not last much longer either. October 12, 2015 at 3:14pm
Victoria: The regional branches aren’t always well informed, I think. October 12, 2015 at 3:13pm
Hamamelis: I bought a very good jasmine soap in the Fragonard ‘museum’ in Grasse, this year’s theme is jasmine and they did a lovely job with it. I second the Rituals shower foam that was mentioned earlier, Mandi Lur, but that is more frangipani than jasmine but qualifies as a little joy bringer! October 12, 2015 at 2:40pm
Victoria: Oh, I will have to look for it. I got wonderful linden blossom and neroli soaps at the museum in Grasse, and my only regret was that I bought only one of each. They’re so richly scented. October 12, 2015 at 3:15pm
Hamamelis: It is the one in the cute yellow box with the museum in Grasse and a palm tree depicted, price 4 euro’s, not the Perle de Thé one (which maybe nice but it is not the one I bought). You find it best via the Eau de Toilette tag, and then click on JASMIN (it is in capitals). It is indeed very richly scented! October 12, 2015 at 4:16pm
Amer: A favorite jasmine soap of mine is Atkinsons Natural White. Beautiful jasmine and miguet fragrance for as little as 1 euro per bar. I keep one in my closet and all my shirts carry the scent beautifully October 14, 2015 at 6:20pm
Austenfan: Fragonard does some nice soaps, I remember getting some years ago, they smelled very good. Can’t remember if there was a jasmine among them though. October 12, 2015 at 4:27pm
Rebecca: My dear Victoria, this beautiful blog is a wonder, but if you fell asleep with a “sliver of moon” outside your window, it’s pretty darn unlikely you’d see it there when you woke up, unless you’ve been asleep for a few weeks. October 12, 2015 at 4:09pm
Victoria: Come to Belgium and see for yourself. 🙂 You can often see the moon in the morning here. October 12, 2015 at 4:20pm
Hamamelis: Same here in the Netherlands! October 12, 2015 at 5:00pm
Victoria: Unfortunately, it’s often too overcast at this time of year to see the moon, but whatever slivers and shimmers you can see from behind the clouds are spellbinding. On the other hand, the sunsets are so vividly colored. Today’s was a blend of blue-grey and sienna. October 12, 2015 at 5:11pm
andee: So which one is it?
Which one smells like Jasmine and is not drying and available in the US?
I am a bit confused by the reviews, and am very easily confused!
New to all of this too. October 12, 2015 at 4:37pm
Victoria: All of them are sold in the US. All of them are moisturizing enough. All of them smell of jasmine (check individual descriptions for specific notes). October 12, 2015 at 4:43pm
Petunia: Hi Victoria, Lovely review! Crabtree & Evelyn had an awesome Jasmin shower cream in their India Hicks line. It is very creamy and leaves your skin soft. Like many here have bemoaned, they were also were fazing it out so I bought several last year. Unfortunately, they did not have the matching lotion. It has a beautiful earthy Jasmine scent. I gave a few away as gifts but still have two tubes left. I really like A La Nuit but just can’t wear it in the summer. You’ve inspired me to pull out my bottle for the fall. October 12, 2015 at 6:16pm
Victoria: A La Nuit can be a bit much in the heat, but on a cold day it’s a reminder of sun and summer. I pulled out mine as well. Thank you for an extra recommendation! October 13, 2015 at 11:15am
AndreaR: I love shower gels and thanks to toady’s post there are a lot of tempting new ones to try. My “go to” shower gel is by Roger & Gallet. It’s just labeled as fresh shower gel. The texture is wonderful and it’s soap free. October 12, 2015 at 6:52pm
Victoria: Oh, thank you for reminding me of those. They are so good. October 13, 2015 at 11:15am
Liz S: Liz Earle’s Tiare & Jasmine shower cleanser and body lotion is lovely to use and smells gorgeous especially if you love jasmine 🙂 October 12, 2015 at 7:00pm
Victoria: I will definitely try it. Thank you, Liz! October 13, 2015 at 11:15am
Andy: These all sound luscious! I really need to finally get around to trying that Midnight Tuberose shower gel, it sounds extraordinary for the price, and I know you’ve been a longtime fan. I’m not a connoisseur of jasmine shower gels, or even shower gels at all, but the one I’m about to start using happens to be the Pacifica California Star Jasmine. I’m not sure it really smells like jasmine to my nose, but it’s a slightly milky and green white floral scent. I’m currently finishing a bottle of their rose gel, and while the perfume is too sharp, it somehow smells much more expensive as a body wash. October 12, 2015 at 7:39pm
Victoria: I’ll ask my mom to stock up on some Pacifica products before she visits me. They’re affordable and very good for the price.
Not sure if I’m such a connoisseur myself, but Korres’s Jasmine inspired me to branch out from my usual soaps. I’m still looking for a good jasmine soap. October 13, 2015 at 11:19am
Bettina: Victoria, your post prompted me to take my L’ Occitane Jasmin & Bergamot shower gel and EdT out of the cupboard where they spent the winter. Very suitable for a hot sunny spring morning in Queensland. I have used the L’O jasmine soap but don’t remember it well. October 12, 2015 at 8:11pm
Victoria: Enjoy it! I used it a lot this summer, and yes, it’s so refreshing and uplifting. October 13, 2015 at 11:19am
TJ: Showing my age, but I am always looking for something jasmine that will give me the same feeling that Love’s Musky Jasmine gave me when I was a teen. I will check out some of the suggestions here. October 12, 2015 at 8:22pm
Victoria: Love’s perfumes were very good. They were simple, but they were well-made and had a nice presence. October 13, 2015 at 11:21am
angeldiva: Hi V !!!
What a timely post, as I relate so completely to the daily grind because I had not had a vacation in 14 months!
So, I am writing from a beautiful hotel suite with strong A/C, where I’m gratefully having my first rest in what feels like forever.
It’s funny how one woman’s ceiling is another woman’s floor- what would I give for some Belgian rain!
I used to use a derma logical recommended bar soap called Basis. Oh! The smell of Basis! I wish I could have bottled it before it became so hard to find. It wouldn’t surprise me if there was some jasmine in it.
Then is was on to Neutro’s Rainbath because I love the smell of cloves. I found the discontinued Gucci eau de parfum shower bath, and LOVE it for the cardamom scent. Followed by the perfume- it is very earthy, and rich smelling.
I hope to wear my sample of Le Dix to a very special tour tomorrow, but will wait until confirmation to report on this special event.
Right now I’m going to take my first bath in over a year, my house has a shower at the moment. So, I paid more to get a room with a bath!
Heaven! October 13, 2015 at 4:04am
Karen: Hey Angeldiva! Enjoy your glorious vacation! Soak in richly scented baths, leave a beautiful fragrance trail floating behind you as you stroll around and have fun! October 13, 2015 at 5:19am
angeldiva: Oh! Karen, you sooo get me!
Thank-you, they will smell me coming! October 13, 2015 at 7:29am
angeldiva: And, after reading this post I really got creative with my bath experience. I cued up 2 1/2 hour of Neil Youngs greatest hits on Utube.
Nice dark lighting, some towels to sit on because bath surfaces are quite hard on my fibromyalgia.
And, I had a Phyto hair mask that I added an entire vial of frankincense oil to.
Baths are sacred! lol
I’ve been in this suite with kitchen doing nothing but: cooking, eating, ordering take-out, swimming, and doing beauty treatments:
I bleached my hair to a light copper/strawberry blonde. ( I have a retro Marilyn Monroe haircut at the moment)
Cindy Crawfords face mask
Pale lavender mani-pedi
I failed to bring my ( very mild) sleeping med, so I’m just throwing out the day with the night! My goodness, I needed this rest!
Peace to all of you! October 13, 2015 at 7:40am
Karen: Sounds absolutely perfect!! October 13, 2015 at 1:16pm
angeldiva: So,
I was part of a small private tour at this museum:
http://www.mulinautomotivemuseum.com
All art deco era French cars, and Bugattis. Bugatti family made furniture, sculpture, Lalique glass hood ornaments, and art deco artwork.
So amazing!
*To make the experience come to life I wore an A-line sundress, and Baleciaga – Le Dix! I was able to say, “The ladies that rode in these cars smelled like this!”
The story of son Rembrandt Bugatti is worth researching, too. He passed away in Antwerp. His art and sculpture are worth millions. So, it is a sad story that he took his life after painting, and sculpting a zoo of animals- that were euthanized because of the war.
Today, he could take some Wellbutrin, and, join the ASPCA as a member. He seemed to be ahead of his time in terms of his sensibilities.
So, I really got my Francophile groove on today, and the Le Dix was perfect! October 14, 2015 at 4:07am
Victoria: Sounds like an interesting tour! The small museums like these are some of the most intriguing. Makes you wonder what people collected and why. October 14, 2015 at 3:37pm
angeldiva: It was beautiful. I believe cars are legitimate artworks. October 15, 2015 at 8:49pm
Victoria: I’m not complaining about Belgian rains. Well, not that often. Especially since being with my grandmother and living her passion for gardening, I’ve come to see rain as a necessity. 🙂 But serious, I’ll take weather in Brussels to that of NY or NJ any day. The winters are fairly mild and the summer is rarely too hot.
Enjoy your pampering! You deserve it. October 13, 2015 at 11:30am
Aurora: I am making notes on all the jasmine products you recommend. I used to have a Jurlique facial cleanser which I loved except for the fact that it contained what seemed like oats and other grains that were quite difficult to get rid of. It did its job very well though, perhaps I should have persisted and their complimentary facials were lovely.
My bathroom is full of French products I stocked on during my stay in France. 2 supermarket brands are lovely and better than many more expensive brands.
Le Petit Olivier: fleur d’oranger/orange blossom soap bars, orange blossom liquid which in fact smells of petit grain and is wonderful to keep in the kitchen
Le Petit Marseillais: Miel de lavande shower gel, I was on a lavender themed holiday but there are many other fragrances available
And also, La Maison du Savon de Marseille: I bought a Miel soap bar but they also have liquid gels and one is called jasmin noir. October 13, 2015 at 5:57am
Victoria: Le Petit Olivier orange blossom soaps are wonderful, and I have several bars in my soap basket right now. I’m jotting down your other recommendations. The best part is that these brands are affordable and (at least here) very easy to find. Le Petit Olivier orange blossom soaps cost 2 euros (a pack of 2 bars). October 13, 2015 at 11:33am
Mendokuse: I absolutely love the Citron de Vigne shower gel from Fresh during the warmer months. October 13, 2015 at 7:35pm
Victoria: Fresh Sake range is also wonderful as well as their Soya shampoo (I think that’s the name). October 14, 2015 at 9:56am
Mendokuse: Would Midnight Tuberose layer well with Carnal Flower? October 13, 2015 at 7:37pm
Victoria: Yes, definitely. It would match it well. October 14, 2015 at 9:56am
Katy: Apotheke:M by Margot Elena Coconut Jasmine is just wonderful. It is hard to find but well worth seeking out. The shower gel and lotion layer wonderfully under just about any white floral. Pacifica Tunisian Jasmine soap, now sadly discontinued, but findable on EBay, is just gorgeous and will fill the bathroom with the most lovely jasmine smell. October 13, 2015 at 9:27pm
Victoria: Off to look for it on Ebay. Thank you, Katy! October 14, 2015 at 10:02am
Indigo: I agree that the Neal’s Yard Remedies are well scented and very rich. The body cream scent lasts on my skin longer than many perfumes I have tried!
I also recommend the orange blossom facial oil which smells beautiful and feels great at the end of the day… October 16, 2015 at 4:33pm
Lavanya: I am not a very ‘shower gel person’ (though I think I finally found one to love) but I’ve been meaning to try Neal’s Yards remedies – nice to know that you enjoy them. The Alba botanica one sounds especially lovely – I will put that on my list to try. Thanks for the rec. My mom loves the Alba Jasmine and Vitamin e moisturizer – but I don’t think the scent of jasmine is very strong in that (and possibly rightly so, since it is for the face..lol). October 16, 2015 at 6:09pm
Neyon: Really excited to try some of these. Can I recommend Oliver Bonas’ jasmine range? I have the hand-wash and it’s absolutely exquisite. It smells like fresh natural jasmine, it’s moisturizing and has the prettiest design. October 20, 2015 at 6:00am
Surbhi: I am on my last bottle of flying fox by lush. No idea why would they discontinue this one. And the smell lingers in the bathroom for hours (Can’t have enough of jasmine) January 10, 2016 at 5:02pm
Surbhi: UPDATE: Lush uk have limited edition of flying fox. I just ordered mine. People who really miss it go for it 🙂 January 10, 2016 at 11:41pm
Victoria: Thank you for your updates, Surbhi. January 11, 2016 at 11:22am
Colleen Connor: Any updates to these shower gel? I was unable to find these selections in the US. November 17, 2021 at 8:46am