D.R Harris & CO. LTD. one of London’s oldest pharmacies has been in St James’s Street for over 200 years. Their products are produced by traditional methods, handmade and packed on the premises. I’ve been using their Milk of Cucumber & Roses as a cleanser on and off for a week or two now, however it is a great multi-tasking product - it’s white milky consistency lends itself well not only to a cleansing wash but also to a moisturiser (it has little in the way of smell) or makeup base. It serves well as a cleanser however, and has been leaving my skin feel soft and smooth. It probably won’t replace my Angels on Bare Skin but it’s a lovely product from a charming brand that is great for when you don’t feel you need that exfoliation
Two purchases that I made myself for christmas were from the Etsy seller Flossie Fern, a provider of ‘Herbal body care for modern flappers’ a brand that combines 1920s style alongside a natural and rustic charm that I can’t help but find appealing.
Their ‘Lost in the Forest’ scented dry shampoo is about as natural as dry shampoo get’s, I’m a strong believer in dry shampoos to aid in shaping the perfect quiff so am no stranger to the popular and less popular brands - Flossie Fern’s however may just be my favorite yet! The powder itself contains a blend of ceadarwood and sage, giving it a warm, earthy smell (no bubblegum scents here, thank god) - one that is almost medicinal in the top notes but fades away to the feeling of a walk through an autumnal forest. The talc-free formula pleases me incredibly as dry shampoo without talc within it’s contents is so hard to find. The lack of talc in Flossie Fern’s concoction doesn’t make the dry shampoo any less effective, it’s been doing an amazing job at getting rid of any grease in my ‘day after’ hair as well as helping give it that volume needed for the quiff I usually desire.
Now, I have always been incredibly disappointed with perfumes ordered from Etsy (especially solids), I’m quite a particular person when it comes to fragrance and often words and lists of perfume notes can make a scent sound much more appealing than it actually smells and what is ‘earthy’, ‘tobacco’ or even ‘lavender’ to one person is actually something completely different to a different nose. So it was a little bit of a risk for me to order Flossie Fern’s ‘Gold Spice’ christmas solid perfume, I am however a fiend for seasonal scents and found it hard not giving it a try. I wasn’t disappointed and it’s no small thing when I say that this is by far the best solid perfume I have not only ever experienced from Etsy, but that I have ever tried. It really is that good! Firstly the tin, it’s larger than most solid tins and hefty too it has a weight to it that smaller tins just don’t have. It feels good in the palm of your hand, if you know what I mean. Small things like this matter to me. The consistency of the solid fragrance itself is the most wonderful thing about the item itself. I’ve tried so many solid’s in the past, most far to firm in consistency, difficult to apply to the skin with a scent that fades almost immediately. Flossie Fern’s base is the complete opposite to this, it is a soft, creamy organic olive and jojoba oils base that just glides out of the tin on your fingers and more importantly rather than whispering it’s way onto your wrists the heat from your body warms the base and the fragrance itself bursts out.
Gold Spice itself is festive scent without the usual trappings of such a title, it still maintains that 1920s appeal playing it’s way onto your skin in a cheeky, naughty manner. The cinnamon and nutmeg stand out on my own skin and feel like a warm drink on a cold day, with a small hint of cedar creeping out adding to the warm and spicy mixture - all this rounded off with a breath of bitter orange just holding the fragrance back from being too woody - walking the line between sweet and spicy but still strong enough in my opinion to last as long as I like my fragrances to. This solid has restored my faith in Etsy fragrances and I’m actually completely looking forward to trying some more of Flossie Fern’s scents if they’re all as nice as Gold Spice I know I won’t be disappointed.
So, if you like your cosmetics with a hint of old world charm and you like your fragrances strong enough to be smelled I’d highly recommend giving Flossie Fern’s Vulgar Medicinals a try!
Murock London was originally established in 2006, however the look of the brand itself almost dates it to a good few decades before. A barber shop upon first opening offering various male grooming treatments as well as grooming products each with their own timeless spin.
I’ve been using their ‘Hair Doh’ shaping paste to style my quiff lately and it’s been holding up pretty good. It’s got a good strong hold without the weight of some other products I’ve tried, it also gives good separation so is pretty good when wearing my hair messy as well. The best part about it however, it smells like bananas!
As we all know I am a complete sucker for woody scents and Portland General Stores Wood Body Creme does not disappoint. Thankfully however it is not scent over substance as this is also an incredibly thick luxurious body cream (or Creme as the name suggests.) Containing incredibly softening coconut oil, this lotion absorbs quickly but still does the job on dry skin. It works wonders as a hand cream, and I’ve been keeping a small pot in my bag for just this purpose! As for the scent itself it is a subtle mixture of patchouli and cedar with a subtle hint of vanilla to soften the smell. It is not an overpowering scent making it the perfect body cream for those that like to be smelled up close, sexy!
Recently I have been trying a few products from a brand that has interested me in a while, Portland General Store. Portland General Store are a brand first founded by an interested in sustainable living - which culminated in happening open a vintage soap and perfume recipe book. This lead to the main inspiration for this brand, using basic ingredients to create beautiful and timeless blends.
Their Whiskey After-Shave Splash has actually become a staple for me since trying a small sample from their online store. Not only are the ingredients themselves gorgeous, it contains sea kelp, aloe vera and tea tree without any harsh alcohol but the scent itself quite enchanting and completely the definition of the word timeless. The smell itself is a subtle but sweet whisky scent that conjures up memories of old buildings near the beach, and the product really seems to give my skin that moisture drink it needs after shaving leaving it soft and quite smooth.
