Rose-Tinted Vision

There is something very nostalgic for me about the beautiful smell of roses. Half reminiscent of my grandmother's potpourri, half of the roses that my great-grandmother had growing outside the front of her house. I used to smell them excitedly whenever I came to visit.

I also believe whole-heartly in the benefits of rose extract in my beauty products. In other words, if it has rose in it, I am interested. In terms of the smell, like I said in my article about lavender, I am very particular. My current favourites include:

- Weleda Wild Rose range: not only is this range incredible value for money, but it's also incredibly effective. It is very soft, gentle and amazingly beneficial for calming sensitive skin. Great for winter. Their facial-oil capsules are literally pure bubbles of moisture.

- Aromatherapy Associates Rose Hydrating Face Mask: this is about as soothing as slathering your face with rose petals. This aloe vera-based mask is great for restoring plumpess to dry skin.

- For bathtime, one of the best rose-scented bubble baths I've tried is Brown & Harris' English Rose variety. Luscious and delicate rose smell.

At the moment, I'm looking at life through rose-tinted specs.

Weleda Wild Rose from £12.50
Aromatherapy Associates Rose Hydrating Face Mask, £28.50
Brown & Harris English Rose Bath Essence, £6.95

Hard Working Hands

I am ever so slightly obsessed with hand creams. As my skin is sensitive and prone to eczema, I cannot possibly wash my hands and not moisturise immediately afterwards. I have a top three that I use in rotation, depending on my mood.

I love Laura Mercier’s almond Coconut Milk Hand Crème for its richness and intense scent. People from across the room can smell the waft of coconuts when I put this on and I have confessed my love of coconuts before.

Crabtree & Evelyn’s Rosewater Hand Therapy is a classic staple. It is non-greasy, sinks in to the skin very easily and has a beautifully delicate smell.

Finally, the newest addition to my ‘Hand Cream Wardrobe’ is This Works Perfect Hands, which is a blend of Rose, Mimosa and other beautiful botanicals.

As you can see, my hands are being very well looked-after. 

Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Hand Therapy, £7.00

Laura Mercier almond Coconut Milk Hand Crème , £12.50

This Works Perfect Hands, £18.00

A Rose by Any Other Name

If there is one thing I love more than coconuts, it’s roses. Not only does the smell remind me of my grandmother, her potpourri on every surface imaginable, but also, it’s one of my favourite scents too.

The rose is the queen of all flowers. Its use in cosmetics charting all the way to ancient Egyptians and its properties highly valued for their harmonising and anti-inflammatory qualities.

Rose-y products are my long-standing darlings. I am fussy about the scent though, not being a fan of the synthetic versions of the natural rose. My everyday bathroom-cupboard heroes include a Rosewater that I have been buying in Russia for years as well as Jo Malone’s Red Roses Cologne. One of my favourite handbag staples is Crabtree and Evelyn’s Rosewater Hand Therapy, which has a delicate smell and beautiful texture.

Ila, which is a new organic skincare range that is hand-blended in the Cotswolts also feature some marvellous rose products. Their Cleansing Milk with Damascena Rose and Argan Oil is a winner. The thick milk is great for dry skin, so ideal for the approaching winter. 

For the body, I’ve recently discovered love+art. A fabulous organic range, its Morrocan Rose body wash has the freshest rose scent ever. A real pleasure. 

ila Cleansing Milk, £36.50
Crabtree and Evelyn Rosewater Hand Therapy, £11
Jo Malone Red Roses Cologne, £68

love+art Moroccan Rose Body Wash, £10.75

'I love to see you at my table, Nick. You remind me of a- of a rose, an absolute rose.' - Daisy Buchanan, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald