David Jourquin Paris: Cuir Mandarine Eau de Parfum

We think that a scent can immediately change your mood, bringing good memories back or creating new and exciting ones. Finding that one and only fragrance that encompasses your style, personality and suits each season - is a case of trial and error. This is why at The Amazing Blog we love exploring new olfactory experiences. Meet David Jourquin with and his inventive range of fragrance, today we are reviewing the delicious Cuir Mandarine.

David Jourquin created his fragrance company in 2011  after a lifetime of being surrounded by all sorts of olfactory inspiration. His mother always went to work wearing her famous leather coat and loved sprinkling tiny drops of perfume on the cushion pillows. His father smoked cigars and took David to the market in Pointe-à-Pitre,Guadeloupe, where he revelled in all the spices’ sweet, robust aromas. For David, these memories have shaped who he is today, and inspired him to recreate them in the form of his unique fragrances. Motivated by intense passion, each of his fragrances expresses a different facet of his intimate universe. Inspired by seasons and places he has created a core collection with Vendômen offering seven different Eau de Parfum where these scents are characterised by their personality and emotional impact. The Opéra collection are the refill flacons ready to be slipped into the leather coverings of the Vendôme Collection, or left bare, according to one’s desires and budget. For Jourquin, fragrances are emotional touchstones: "They speak the truth in a language that is invisible yet essential, intimate yet universal. My greatest joy is to share these fragrances with you, to create secret paths that bring us closer to ourselves so that in turn, we can get closer to others." We were excited to experience this magic.

We couldn’t wait to try one of his first launch fragrances with the much talked about  Cuir Mandarine which was a recent Gold winner with Best New Premium Fragrance at the 2020 Pure Beauty Awards.  it emits a very soft and slightly sweet unique mix of mandarin and leather. The square bottle itself is clad in hand-stitched calfskin with a solid wood grain top to accentuate its masculinity. The vibrant top notes of mandarin, pepper and lavender are very evident and immediately greet you. However, what makes this so unusual is the middle notes of leather and patchouli. The five different varieties of patchouli used originate from the mint family and are cultivated in tropical Asia. Here the patchouli has subtle musk that enhances the other fragrance notes. The base notes are the rich blond Virginian tobacco and amber which add a dimension to the sweet and earthy notes, holding everything in balance. Although Cuir Mandarin luxurious fragrance that is aimed at the male market with its timeless and classic scent and modern twist; we loved the sensual, rich, warm and sweet aroma which conjured up the change of seasons, taking us swiftly from autumn to winter.  It ‘s certainly a scent we’d recommend spritzing to uplift spirits and transport you to warmer climes even on a grey and wet English day! You can purchase Cuir Mandarin in 100 ml for €230 in 5 ml for €8.90 here. 

IGNITE CBD - Skincare

As regular readers will know, we’re always on the lookout for new CBD brands particularly those with sublingual’s or skincare. Today, at The Amazing Blog, we’re bringing you an international CBD brand with their newly launched range of skincare. They very kindly sent us a wide selection of products from face creams, muscle rubs to body oil and bath bombs.   

Launched in the USA in September 2018, IGNITE is a global and premium CBD brand. The inspiration for the IGNITE came from its CEO, Dan Bilzerian, where IGNITE has positioned itself as the gold standard and industry expert in cannabis and CBD, supported with a premium apparel line, beverages, and now a skincare range - all for inspiring an active lifestyle. Their CEO is also best known for his extravagant parties and very public social media lifestyle.  Saying that, IGNITE is keen to be seen as a socially responsible company. It is committed to using its marketing and brand power as a positive catalyst for a healthy lifestyle. Their branding, as you would expect is slick and sexy with stylish unisex black and silver packaging. All their skincare products have no THC, as the CBD here is sourced from CBD isolate only. This means that they have a refined crystalline form CBD which is thought to be the purest and most potent form of CBD and is both tasteless and odourless. Mainly extracted from hemp, the isolate is produced by removing all other compounds found in the plant including other cannabinoids isolating the CBD.  Therefore, making these products ideal for athletes to use, without the fear of THC, if they’re randomly drug tested. The CBD isolate helps treat pain and reduces inflammation and has no psychoactive effects. All IGNITE products are vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, with no pesticides, THC free and thoroughly tested.

As big CBD fans, we were thrilled to receive this bumper gift box with ten skincare products to review. Let’s start with the 100mg CBD Bath Bombs (Energise and Relax). The CBD level in both bath bombs is less to 0.2% (100mg). Here is shea butter, known for soothing your skin and giving a velvety texture but also treat your inflammations. The oils found here are coconut known for having antibacterial and moisturising properties, golden Argan which calms the skin, peach kernel that will give your skin a great glow. And lastly avocado rich in vitamins and fatty acids such as vitamin A, D and E and proteins, that provide the skin with protection from UV rays damage. Then the essential oils, of rosehip act as an anti-ageing ingredient whereas the pomegranate oil is a has potent anti-inflammatory.  Of course, we mustn’t forget the crucial key ingredient for Energise, is the citrus and orange oil which leaves a sense of freshness and lifts the mood. Whereas Relax, has lavender oil to help ease muscles and joint pain after a hard day’s training in the gym. IGNITE advises using one of their bath bomb every day, leaving it to fully dissolve in the bathtub before getting in, then soaking in this great mix of aromas and CBD for 30 minutes to get the best results. Both retail here at £8 each.

The IGNITE 500 mg CBD Body Oil, certainly piqued our interest. This CBD Body Oil is blended with five oils designed to fight dry skin and nourish the body. The CBD here is the healer and rejuvenator of skin cells. Mixed with grapeseed oil a powerful antioxidant, sweet almond oil for treating dry skin like eczema and psoriasis; the lavender oil known for killing bacteria and preventing acne breakouts, it also unclogs pores and reduces inflammation. This vanilla and floral-scented body oil also has the nut oil tamanu oil promotes collagen and helps to slow ageing. The fifth oil in this blend is the evening primrose oil which provides hydration and elasticity. This Madagascan Vanilla & Lavender 100ml Body Oil smells divine and applies easily. To get the best results, gently massage it into dry skin to stimulate circulation and blood flow. Apply at least once a day for £25.00 here. 

Because tattoos can hold significant meaning to those that have them, it’s essential to take care of your skin before, during and after having the procedure. Here IGNITE has launched a pot of  500g CBD Tattoo Balm. For preparation, procedure and aftercare this is the balm to have. The chamomile oil with its anti-inflammatory properties, the lavender oil reduces inflammation and redness, and the miraculous tea tree oil will ease swelling and speed up healing. The CBD isolates here also act as a healer and protector. You can find a 50ml pot here for £25.00. That brings us on to the 500mg CBD Footcare Cream, rich and silky this footcare will help soften the hard skin on your feet. The sea buckthorn oil promotes hydration, elasticity and cell regeneration. The shea butter here will hold the moisture and heal dry skin; the jojoba oil is used as a deep cleanser and moisturiser for the skin. This cream has a thick whipped consistency guaranteeing an intense foot treatment, see here for £25.00. Moving on, IGNITE also has  500 mg CBD Joint Cream and a Muscle Rub Gel both have been created to ease joint and muscle pain, particularly after exercise. The CBD here, as previously mentioned, holds anti-inflammatory properties and helps increase mobility. Theses blends are mixed with natural oils such as olive and avocado oil both of which help to speed up healing. They also contain coconut oil which is antimicrobial and reduces inflammation while keeping the skin moisturised and shea butter is an excellent skin conditioner. Plus, the camphor and menthol relieve skin irritation and gives a cooling sensation. The Muscle Rub Gel is as it says a gel, and has the addition of aloe vera which provides pain relief, it also penetrates the dermis to help lubricates the joints thanks to the hyaluronic acid. The lavender oil extract will help ease muscles boosting blood circulation and helping to reduce any stiffness or muscle discomfort at night.  The 50ml Joint Cream is here for £25.00. The 50ml Muscle Rub Gel can be found here for £25.00

Finally, we have the three skincare products for the face. The first step is the orange and grapefruit 500mg CBD Hydrating Face Serum. This formula is infused with natural oils and contains CBD isolates (which we have discussed). The grapefruit oil will detox and brighten your skin, the orange peel oil gives a healthy complexion thanks to the vitamin C. It is blended with avocado oil, great for shielding your skin against UV rays. There is retinol, a pure source of vitamin A, making this serum a rejuvenator as it will stimulate the collagen in the skin. The aloe vera leaf powder here is for hydration and skin healing;  argan, jojoba and rosehip oils will balance the skin and sebum production; and the green tea extract is full of antioxidant properties. And finally, the passion fruit extract will help with fine lines. IGNITE suggests gently dabbing this product onto cleansed skin, then after applying tap the face with fingertips to encourage the serum to penetrate to the deepest layers of the skin. You can find this refreshing anti-ageing serum here for £25.00. The second step is the 500 mg CBD Moisture Day Cream.  The key ingredients are the blackberry and ylang-ylang which will renew the skin cells and balance the pH of the skin helping to prevent any extreme dryness. The sunflower oil is rich in vitamin A, C, D and E and acts as an antioxidant. It contains shea butter which softens the skin helping to rid it of dark spots. Also rich in olive oil, hydraulic acid and green tea all known for reducing sebum oil in the skin, rejuvenating and repairing it make the skin look younger and glowing. CBD Moisture Day cream will also tighten the pores, use it every day on your face and neck for good daily hydration. Find it here for £25.00. Last but not least, in the face care range, we have the 500mg CBD Hydro Night Cream.  On top of the significant CBD effect on the skin, it contains avocado oil, shea butter, olive oil, sunflower oil, rosehip oil, and, lavender oil. This night cream complements the day cream where the skin feels hydrated in the morning, with the new skin cells being regenerated overnight. It also contains coconut oil which will heal the redness of your skin; oat silk which mattifies and brightens the skin, it removes greasiness and excess oil, all without drying. This night cream Is also ideal for sensitive complexions. This mildly lavender-scented, the night cream won’t clog the pores and penetrates the deeper layers of the dermis, providing long-lasting hydration and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. You can find it here for £25.00.  

NB: For those new to CBD skincare, these products contain 500mg of CBD isolates which translates into 0.5% except for the bath bombs which are 0.2%. This percentage is enough to act effectively and add an extra boost to a skincare routine. Due to the antioxidants present, it will help acne-prone skin and is also suitable for those with sensitive skin as it has deeply soothing properties. If you’re unsure of the percentages, you can check here with A Beginner Guide to CBD Dosing.

Clockface Beauty – Beard Oil Ho Leaf & Bergamot

They say ‘time is measured in days, weeks and beards’ and with this yo-yo-ing lockdown, it feels like I’ve been cultivating one for months! Yet again, this presents another perfect opportunity to put those girls at The Amazing Blog through their paces, to search out a natural, super-gentle and great smelling beard oil for me. Not an easy task as my skin is quite sensitive and when washing my face, which is now quite often, it becomes a little sore and sensitive. This time, they introduced me to one of their favourite organic skincare brands Clockface Beauty who has created a fantastic grooming range from cleanser, masks to shave balms and oils. They kindly sent us their award-winning Ho Leaf & Bergamot Beard Oil which I couldn’t wait to try. If the brand sounds familiar to you, it probably because you’ve read our feature on their Foot & Leg Scrub and Balm here.

Sarah Thomas founded Clockface Beauty with the help of her mother, Karen. During her pregnancy, Sarah found there to be a noticeable lack of transparency on beauty product labelling. So this is where the Clockface Beauty story began where she and her mother decided to create their brand of natural, organic, cruelty-free and vegan skincare. This luxurious and natural skincare also offers products without artificial chemicals or synthetic fragrances.

As with so many of their products, the Ho Leaf & Bergamot Beard Oil has ingredients that are 99% organic. I used this Beard Oil first thing on my freshly washed beard, massaging it in to help nurture not only my hair follicles but skin too. The result was that my whiskers felt softer and my skin soothed and hydrated. A few drops of this Beard Oil go a long way, it absorbed quickly leaving me with a very pleasant fresh and subtle aroma. Light in consistency, it’s versatile enough to use on all beard lengths and skin types. The key ingredients of bergamot have antibacterial benefits helping to reduce skin irritation, oiliness, acne, psoriasis and eczema. Whereas the frankincense here has anti-ageing properties that protect the skin cells while reducing the blemishes and shrinking the pores. The carrier oils are jojoba which stimulates the hair growth and apricot kernel gives a toning and slight tightening effect to the skin. I was also pleasantly surprised to learn that the ho leaf here is mildly antiseptic, stimulating and known to also be an aphrodisiac! All in all, this Beard Oil feels cooling and healing, so if you too have a newly acquired beard that is giving you some grief, look no further. To purchase the 30ml Clockface Beard Oil for £22 here.

NORSE: Aftershave Balm & Hand Salve "Paw Chutney for Hard-Working Hands"

The girls at The Amazing Blog have yet again, come to my rescue and helped to put an end to my suffering… We’re talking razor burn (from recently shaving off my whiskers) and dry hands (sustained from extracurricular work as a volunteer). Meet both Aftershave Balm and Hand Salve "Paw Chutney for Hard-working Hands" from the trusty newcomer and grooming brand Norse.

As the regular readers will remember, I’ve already reviewed two of Norse’s products: the Exfoliating Face Wash Bars and the Norse Shower Bars here. I’m a fan of this new brand and I’ve just added two more of their products to my favourites list.  I also have to admit to being a ‘little obsessed’ with their Hand Salve. As I mentioned before, Norse’s products are handmade, vegan, and cruelty-free.  Iain Kerrigan, the founder of Norse, states: “All products are plastic-free, environmentally (and wallet) friendly.” Which in these challenging economic times, the latter will hold great appeal for one and all.

Let’s start with the Aftershave Balm which left my skin as soft as a baby’s bum!  As the name says, it’s a Balm, an emollient that can be used on the face or (in my case) dry elbows too. It absorbs quickly into the skin and is non-greasy formula despite being rich in key ingredients such as shea butter, jojoba, and sweet almond oil. I also loved that it had a subtle zesty finish too. Having shaved off my whiskers, my exposed skin was extremely sensitive and this Balm offered both protection and hydration. A little goes a long way and I think that this is a brilliant multitasker that’ll offer plentiful use all year round. You can purchase your Aftershave Balm here 100g for only £ 20.00.

Then we come onto my favourite the Hand Salve "Paw Chutney for hard-working hands" as someone who works with their hands;  this has been a lifesaver for me. Not only with all the hand washing but as a couturier at Simon Copeland London by day and a volunteer making PPE by night – I’ve noticed the toll it’s taken on my hands. My skin has become noticeably drier but by applying this Hand Salve last thing at night, massaging it into my palms, back of hands and cuticles, it has really helped to soothe and replenish the oils making my skin soft and supple again. Like the Aftershave Balm, it has shea butter, jojoba and sweet almond, although this has the addition of key ingredients such as beeswax which will help to protect skin and essential oils like lavender, rosemary and tea tree to rid bacteria and heal cuts. This is a must for everyone who has hard-working hands. You can purchase your 85g Hand Salve "Paw Chutney for hard-working hands" here for only £14.00. 

Norse - Exfoliating Face Wash & Shower Bar

Have you noticed how the girls at The Amazing Blog are slaves to their skincare routine? Well, it’s now starting to rub off on me! I’ll let you into a secret… This week I’ve found some amazing new grooming products that are not only 100% natural, handmade, vegan and parabens free, but come in an eco-friendly bar form. Meet British brand Norse. The two products I’m going to be talking about today interact efficiently and look promising to offer results.

Norse is a startup company, founded by Iain Kerrigan, whose main focus is to produce 100% natural grooming products for men. Iain is a bearded gentleman who was bored of looking like a grease monkey from the products he used, hence his mission began to create his own… Whether it’s for maintaining a beard, a moustache groomed or keeping skin smooth; Norse has something to offer every well-groomed man (or lady - but razors only!) They are all handmade in the UK and as Iain says they are “plastic-free, environmentally (and wallet) friendly.” His range has everything from skincare and shampoo to plastic-free razors. The products I tried out are their Exfoliating Face Wash Bars and Shower Bars which are a must-have for every man out there, and the reason I underline the word ‘every’ is that these gems are for all skin types.

I’ll begin with the Exfoliating Face Wash Bars which come in two amazing scents: Woodsman and Citrus. They are produced using olive, coconut, castor, organic sustainable palm and almond oil. These oils are rich in vitamins A and E, they have anti-inflammatory effects and penetrate the dermis preventing moisture loss. The organic sustainable palm oil tightens the pores in an efficient manner and helps in preventing the rough bumps which may be caused by sun damage or aging. The ingredient together with the activated charcoal effectively cleanses the skin, removing dead skin cells and impurities, leaving the skin smooth, clean and even-toned.  You will find the link for both Exfoliating Face Wash Bars here, so you can purchase the one with your favourite scent Woodsman has a base of tea tree and peppermint, whereas the Citrus has a mixture of orange and lemon oil, each is only £ 8.50 for a 100gm bar.

Next with the Norse Shower Bars which also come in the same two scents as the Exfoliating Face Wash Bars; Woodsman and Citrus. They are produced using similar ingredients as the Face Wash Bars with olive, coconut, castor, organic sustainable palm and almond oil but minus the addition of activated charcoal. They are solid bars, and as we mentioned above, these ingredients offer great benefits. We’d also like to add that not only they are made of 100% natural ingredients, but they are also environmentally friendly simply packaged in cardboard boxes, thus no plastic waste is produced. To purchase your favorite scent of the Shower Bar for only £ 8.50 you can find Citrus here or Woodman here.  My favourite? It had to be the Exfoliating Face Wash (Citrus) – it left my face clean and fragrant from the city grim and is ideal for my newly acquired lockdown whiskers!