Victoria's Secret Bare Eau de Parfum

I received a 100ml bottle of Victoria’s Secret Bare Eau de Parfum for my birthday recently. It was on my list to try because the advertising campaign lured me in with the whole 'smells like you but better' thing and the fact it features Australian Sandalwood as a note. It also has mandarin and violet in the mix, as well as a blend of musks.

I expected it to be similar to Glossier You or Juliette Has a Gun's Not a Perfume. To my nose, it's not.

This has been compared to Dior's J'adore but it (unsurprisingly) lacks the same elegance, finesse and freshness. After all, Victoria’s Secret is a lingerie brand, they’re not known as a purveyor of fine fragrance. The first spray makes me want to sneeze - the opening screeches! But give it a while and the dry down lets that beautiful sandalwood come through. And some kind of stone fruit - maybe peaches or apricots with a hint of vanilla. I don't get mandarin and, for complete transparency, I don't actually know what violets smell like, though I have read they are similar to Iris – soft and powdery.

Bare was hotly anticipated among fragrance lovers everywhere, which is unsurprising given the gorgeous imagery and clever wording used in the marketing campaign. There was a strong focus on the beautiful simplicity of skin, nakedness and natural beauty. There was also an emphasis on the fact that it’s the wearer’s own natural skin chemistry mingling with Bare’s notes that make it truly special. This has been done before with Glossier’s iconic You fragrance and as someone who has sniffed and worn both, Glossier’s Ambroxan-heavy scent taps into this notion much more convincingly. Also, if we wanted to get technical, literally every fragrance we spritz on our skin mixes with our own unique body chemistry, which is why fragrances can smell different on different people.

It’s not the greatest thing I’ve smelled but I’m not giving up on Bare just yet. In fact I am looking forward to wearing Bare in really chilly weather, the kind where you need a scarf that can’t help but take on whatever perfume you’re wearing that day. I want the blend of musks it promises to come through and make me feel cosy, to blend in with the woody comfort of sandalwood the way I want it to. A writer on Fragrantica described Bare as an Apricot Pastry and I can’t express enough how much I want to interpret this scent in the same way. One of my indulgences is those (always slightly underbaked) custard and apricot twists you can get from Café Nero so, for me, to smell like that would be pretty dreamy.

Bare Eau de Parfum by Victoria’s Secret is available in 50ml (£45) and 100ml (£59) sizes and as a 7ml rollerball (£15). You can also find matching body lotions and body mists.

How to Afford to Spend More on Fashion and Beauty

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  If you're a lover of fashion and beauty, you might yearn to spend more money on your favourite things. Sticking to a budget can be tough when there are so many shiny new things trying to get your attention, but you can find that you're limited by how much money you have in your bank anyway. It's important to balance your spending so you're not spending all your money each month, but you can still find ways to buy the things that you want while sticking to a budget. Try these tips if you want to spend more on fashion and beauty without breaking the bank.

Prioritise the Right Purchases

Fast fashion can put so many tempting things in front of us, making it hard to resist buying things all the time. Or, if you don't have a lot of money, it might just make you sad that you can't own all the things. But the truth is that fast fashion isn't very ethical or sustainable, and it often won't last very long. If you want to make the most of your budget, you should prioritise your purchases and focus on the things that you really want. Look for quality items that are sustainably and ethically made, and you can find your money is better spent.

Find Savings in Your Budget

By looking for savings in your regular budget, you can often identify money that you can spend on other things. Maybe it's time for a new car, and you can use Edmunds to look for one at the right price so that you can save money every month. With the money you save, you can increase the amount that you're able to spend on fashion, beauty, and anything else that brings you joy. There are lots of ways to save money, from spending less on groceries to reducing your bills.

Buy Second-Hand

Buying second-hand or used items is always a good way to make your budget stretch further. Of course, you need to be careful when it comes to beauty products. You don't really want to buy used makeup, as that could result in hygiene issues. However, you can still buy unused items for a range of beauty products. Clothes and other fashion items are also easy to buy second-hand too, and there are various ways to find what you're looking for. You can use apps, websites, thrift stores, and more.

Time Your Purchases

Buying at the right time can also make a big difference if you want to be able to spend more on fashion and beauty items. If you wait until the right moment, you can find you have better access to deals and promotions that help you save money. Waiting to buy something also has other benefits. It will allow you to make sure you really want it instead of buying it on impulse, and it will give you more time to save for it too.

If you want to spend more on fashion and beauty, you can find ways to save money in other areas of your life and think carefully about how you spend your money too.

Housewarming Gift Ideas

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Purchasing a new property is a big deal. Not only is it a considerable financial investment, but it’s also where people spend most of their time outside of work. For that reason, making it feel homely is essential. 

Unfortunately, many new homeowners are actually quite bad at this. They’d love to live in a cosy property, but they neglect to make it feel like home. It takes them a long time to settle in. 

If you know someone in this position, this post is here to help. In it, we run through some top housewarming gifts that everyone is going crazy for right now. Check them out below: 

Throw Blanket

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New living rooms can feel a little sterile at first. They’re just not lived in, so you feel like you’re treading on eggshells. 

To make things feel a little more hygge, try giving a large throw. Once draped over the back of a sofa, these make rooms feel cosier and warmer almost immediately. Plus, when the temperatures drop and your friend can’t afford to pay for their heating, they’re a great way to stay warm. 

Automatic Indoor Garden

Not everyone has a garden. Some people live in apartments. However, most people need at least some greenery in their environment to feel good.

That’s where automatic indoor gardens come in handy. These simple devices keep greens looking fresh, even if they don’t have any access to natural light. 

They’re easy to set up, and LED overhead lights provide all the light they need to grow. Then, once plants are fully grown, your friends or loved ones can just harvest them and use them as garnishes for their meals.

Keepsakes

Keepsakes and memorial gifts are a great housewarming gift idea, particularly if the person concerned is going through a major life change. Little trinkets like this can create a sense of continuity. 

Ice Cream Maker

Today’s automatic ice cream makers are considerably better than they were in the past. Before, you had to coax them to produce something that was edible. But, today, it’s a different story. Many have sophisticated equipment that lets them whip up perfect, pillowy ice cream every time. 

If you’re planning on gifting one of these to a friend, give them a demonstration first. Show them how easy it is and the fun that they can have with it. 

Cheese Board Set

While new homeowners usually have the basics, they don’t always have items that only come out once or twice a year, like cheese board sets.

If they are meat lovers, you might also consider a charcuterie set. These usually come with small knives and perhaps even a pull-out tray for storing all the cutlery. 

Stemless Wine Glasses

Regular wine glasses can be a little delicate. But stemless versions are more like tumblers, which makes them more durable and versatile. You can use them for drinks, cocktails, and regular wine. They are much less likely to tip over and spill, and they usually come in sets of six. 

Cleaning Kit

Keeping on top of house chores is challenging, even for the keenest new homeowners. There are just so many tasks that need doing.

That’s where a cleaning kit can come in handy. These give new homeowners a real head start. 

Look for kits that prioritise environmental friendliness. Many now use completely safe chemicals, like white vinegar for cleaning everything from dirty hobs to cloudy bathroom mirrors. 

Spicy Sauce Pack

Some people just love spicy sauce. Eating it is such a thrill. 

Therefore, why not gift a boutique hot sauce set to the new homeowner? It’ll help them get a head start on their kitchen pantry, and they’ll enjoy blowing their heads off at the same time. 

Thanks to entrepreneurship in the food space, there are now hundreds of hot sauce brands out there, all vying for customers’ attention. That means that you can almost always find something new and delicious for them to try. 

Serving Trays

At first, new homeowners use their dining rooms for all their meals, even breakfast. After all, they want to justify spending so much money.. But over time, they slowly move into the living room to have dinner in front of the TV instead. 

Knowing this process is inevitable, consider gifting serving trays. This way, they can easily shift food from the kitchen into the living room, and then back to the kitchen again. 

The sheer range of serving trays on the market today is considerable. What’s more, designers are getting very good at making them look great. Artisans now give trays tall wooden sides, and many feature beautiful images of flowers, maps, or birds. 

An Address Label

Most homes come with an address label beside the front door, but it doesn’t always look great. That’s why getting the new homeowner in your life a better one makes so much sense. It helps to make their home feel complete. And it could significantly upgrade its appearance. 

Custom Welcome Mat

Similarly, a customer welcome mat is a beautiful touch. The most obvious choice is to write the household’s name on it, but you have complete creative freedom. Most vendors give you a choice of sizes, too. If you’re not sure which to pick, try to inconspicuously measure the width of your friend’s front door next time you go round. 

Homeware Store Gift Card

If you’re stuck for ideas or your new homeowner friend has a lot of things to buy for the house, you might consider getting a homeware store gift card for them. This way, if there is something that they need, they can go out and get it. It’s particularly helpful if they are a little short on cash for some reason. 

Silky Smooth Sheets

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New homeowners can take a little while to get comfortable with living in a new place. Therefore, anything that makes them feel a little more comfortable can help. 

Explore getting them silky smooth bedding sheets. With these, they can feel great whenever they hit the sack. 

Conclusion

So which of these gift ideas caught your eye? Which will you choose for the new homeowner in your life?