Vintage'13 by Abel. A new organic perfume.

A few weeks ago I decide to go on a little mission to find a new, organic perfume. There are a couple of perfume brands that I really love (and I've previously written reviews on); Strange Invisible Perfumes, Honore des Pres and Lotus Wei.

To my delight my mission to find a new brand didn't last very long, I very quickly came across an exciting, organic perfume called Vintage '13 by the brand Abel.
I contacted Abel's founder (the lovely) Frances Shoemack who is an native New Zealander living in Amsterdam.  Frances started her career in the wine industry so she has a real taste for the finer things in life. After looking to wear an organic perfume and not being able to find a good one Frances decided to create one of her own scent. Vintage'13 was born. Frances hired Milan trained 'Nose' Issac Sinclair to help create her perfume (Issac has also been part of the team to launch Ecoya candles. http://ecoya.com/discover-ecoya/) and has worked for the world's leading perfume houses.
Vintage '13 oozes style and class. Its bottle (which can be personally engraved) is made from reclaimed wood and recyclable glass and was designed by skilled craftsmen and designers in Amsterdam.

So what's the verdict?
Frances sent me a Vintage '13 sample to try. It is a complex scent that has a warm, woody, smoky soul as well as some sweet, fresh top notes which give it a subtle fragrance. I could really smell the vetiver, black pepper and clove which were comforting on these cold, winter evenings. The perfume also has a hint of fresh bergamot, thyme, vanilla and sandalwood and is suitable for men and women.
For me its warmth made it the perfect evening scent.

I love the fact this perfume is 100% organic. It is far more sophisticated than any synthetic perfume you might find in a department store.
At 115 euros for 50ml it is pretty pricey, but it does make a truly stylish, hand-crafted, unique gift. You can find out more Vintage '13 here:

http://abelorganics.com/

Have you tried any organic perfumes recently? What are your favourite organic scents?

A review. Pai Skincare.

Pai was created by Sarah Brown, who after suffering with a bad skin allergy caused by chemicals in skincare, decided to create a clean, plant-based skincare line that was created for people with sensitive skin.

I suffer with a hormone related dermatitis which can flare up at any time and is aggravated by chemicals in skincare. I therefore only stick to organic products and was delighted when this brand launched.
I am a huge fan of Pai's Chamomile and Rosehip Sensitive Skin Cream, it has worked a treat on my delicate skin and has become a staple product on my bathroom shelf.
Check out a previous review here http://liberateyourskin.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/today-star-organic-beauty-buy-is_18.html

Pai BioRegenerate Rosehip Oil 30ml £20 
I am now besotted with Pai's Rosehip BioRegenerate oil. (The evidence is the empty bottle below...)
I love Rosehip oil and have been using it for many years but this one is of an exceptional quality (you can literally smell the fruit and feel its intense healing and nourishing properties as soon as it is applied). Unlike many other Rosehip oils which are made from just the seed, this oil is made from the fruit AND the seed via CO2 super critical extraction, meaning it has five times the carotenoids of most Rosehip oils.
The BioRegenerate oil is brilliant at helping to improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, sun damage and fine lines. I use mine at night for a moisture boost and I like to think it does all the hard work whilst I sleep, after using it I wake up with glowing, bright, beautiful skin.

Lotus & Orange Blossom BioAffinity Toner 50ml £30ml
I am also a big fan of Pai's Lotus & Orange Blossom BioAffinity Toner. I am quite fussy with toners, I want them to be light, refreshing and hydrating but I often struggle to see the difference they make to my skin tone.
However, like my all time favourite toner (Tata Harper's Hydrating Floral Essence) this toner makes a significant difference to my skin.
 Pai's Lotus & Orange Blossom Affinity Toner contains 'living waters' from lotus root which are rich in amino acids, vitamins and trace minerals, they are incredibly hydrating and soothing on any inflammation. I also love this toner because unlike many others it doesn't contain alcohol (which dehydrates and irritates the skin). It is simply made with a variety of gentle flower waters and a glycerine to help draw moisture into the skin and to help maintain the skin's natural PH. I noticed after using this toner for a couple of weeks that my skin felt plumper and less irritated. It smells incredible too.

Avocado & Jojoba Hydrating Day Cream 30ml £30
Finally, I decided to swap my Chamomile and Rosehip Sensitive Skin Cream and try the Avocado & Jojoba Hydrating Day Cream. In all honesty I was expecting to dislike this moisturiser in comparison to the former, but to my surprise I really liked it.
I actually preferred the scent (May Chang and Jasmine) to the Chamomile. The consistency is quite thick and nourishing which is perfect for these cold winter days when my skin is dry, delicate & far more reactive than usual. The cream uses wonderful oils such as avocado and jojoba which are known to soften and combat dryness.
However, I do think overuse with this hydrating cream could possibly make my skin feel a little clogged and in the summer I think I wouldn't appreciate the consistency quite so much as I do right now.
This is a lovely moisturiser and would suit those with very dehydrated, dry skin. Due to my highly sensitive skin my one true love from this range continues to be the Chamomile and Rosehip Sensitive Skin Cream.

http://www.paiskincare.com/

Have you tried any products from Pai? What are your thoughts?