Bvlgari Aqva

I always associate Bvlgari with quality beyond comparison. Not only are their watches second to none (I have one and it’s the best thing ever). 

My first encounter with Aqva (what is their obsession with substituting ‘u’ with a ‘v’?!?) was in Detroit airport. I made several very unsubtle hints about the need for a new aftershave. For the record, do not believe any comments below that suggest I stamped my feet - I didn’t.

$54 for a 100ml bottle at duty free seemed reasonable, however when it came to replacing the empty I was shocked to find that even online it cost between £45-£50 for a 100ml bottle. 

From the box, to the bottle, to the actual fragrance this oozes quality and style. 

The box is fairly flat and the glass bottle itself is shaped like a smooth flat pebble (similar to a paperweight) which is black in appearance but shimmers green in the light. A chrome atomiser sits at the top and is built into the round shape making it very easy to hold in the hand and spray, even with moist or wet hands. It fits neatly into the palm of the hand.

Bvlgari Aqva is marketed as an aromatic fragrance with top notes that include mandarin and orange tree leaves with additional notes of santolina and the accord posidonia (a type of aquatic plant). 

The fragrance after application should dry down to give a warm mineral amber scent that oozes masculinity. 

I have to say that after a quick spray in the shop my first impressions were of none of the above however it was exceptionally pleasant and I couldn't wait to wear this for a prolonged period to smell how it would change, how long it would last or  whether it would be the runt of the Bvlgari litter.

Application is a breeze, and only three or four sprays are required to fill a room with the fragrance. First impressions are of a clinical strong citrus aroma produced from the top notes and once it has soaked into the skin and settled for around 5 minutes the fragrance alters dramatically. The strong aroma is replaced by a subtle citrus aroma with undertones of lavender which is very easy on the nose. 

After around an hour the citrus aroma seems to disappear completely and the fragrance gives a feel and smell of warm yet subtle lavender and reminds me of open fields and running streams. All in all very dramatic and wonderful all the same.

Not only is the fragrance heavenly, the staying power is awesome. 

After Aqva first thing in the morning the fragrance still goes strong 12-14 hours later and the subtle warm lavender is still evident.

In addition to the wonderful fragrance, great staying power and cool design of the bottle I have received numerous compliments when wearing Aqva. Personally I used to use this on a daily basis but have found my eye wandering to other fragrances, namely the new Bvlgari Man but still it’s one I go back to when I fancy a change. 

I would highly recommend this for office wear, casual nights out and those special romantic evenings in.

Aqva is not my favourite Bvlgari fragrance, that crown is still held by Bvlgari Extreme but it is certainly better than any fragrance produced by any of the other fashion houses and designers on the market that I have had the pleasure to own.

In summary:

Great fragrance
Long lasting
Cool bottle with easy application
Expensive

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L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Anti-Fatigue Moisturising Lotion

As I get older I become increasingly vain and desperate to keep the boyish good looks that broke so many hearts in my early twenties. Some would say this has become something of an obsession or borderline paranoia. As I bat back to those who poke fun, there really is nothing wrong with a healthy dose of OCD! 

When a new or interesting product that promises to recharge my skin with energy and leave it moisturised appears I just can’t help myself. L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic Anti-Fatigue moisturising lotion crossed my path after I had run out of Dead Sea facial scrub. I was desperate to try and find something that would invigorate my skin and leave it feeling smooth and moisturised. 

The product is now a firm favourite and I have at least three tubes at any one given time. 

The moisturising lotion forms part of the L’Oreal Men Expert range of facial products, designed as a daily active defence system used to help nourish, moisturise and refresh the skin. 

The leaflet that comes with the lotion goes to great lengths to explain that using the anti-fatigue lotion will increase softness, form a layer of resistance to pollutants (which is good as I work in an office on one of the most polluted roads in Europe!) while leaving skin feeling refreshed, smooth and looking totally refreshed. 

I’ve lived in London now for 10 years and I have to say that the air quality does impact on my skin (and lungs but they haven‘t come up with a cream for that yet). 

When I first tried this I was having a daily commute that involved filthy air on the Underground and being blasted by exhaust fumes when I surfaced up to street level. It really was a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained. 

Using the lotion is easy and thanks to the pump dispenser you are unlikely to end up with a hand full of the lotion or not enough to cover your own nose. This serves two purposes that add to the positives. One press of the pump and a pea sized amount of the blue/green lotion is dispensed. The strange colour and strong fragrance are the first things to hit home. Once it has been dispensed the lotion has a quite thick consistency and remarkably doesn’t soak into the palm of your hand. It doesn’t start to be absorbed until you actually rub it onto your face meaning none of it is lost during the application process. 

As it is rubbed onto the face the smell of the lotion increases in strength and the crisp, clean fragrance lingers for a while. If asked to sum up the actual smell I would have to say that it has an almost clinical edge to it, but thankfully I am a big fan.

After rubbing between my palms and then gently massaging the lotion into my face a quick glance in the mirror showed that indeed only a pea sized amount is needed to cover every inch, including my Tefal sized forehead! As soon as it touches an area it seems to be absorbed as quickly as it is applied. As it is a moisturiser the first few minutes after applying do leave your face looking a touch wet, if not greasy but as it completely dries in this appearance fades in no longer than 2-3 minutes. 

Once it has been applied there was no irritation but a slight tingly sensation as though a cold wind had just blown in my face which I can only describe as refreshing. This it seems is due to the caffeine.

My daily facial routine starts with shaving, then the use of a Dead Sea Mineral facial peel followed by using the L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic anti-fatigue moisturizing lotion and I have found this to produce the best results for me personally. 

Since my stocks of the facial peel have been depleted I just use the lotion and whilst the results are not as good as previously, my face and condition of my skin is still ten times better than prior to using it.

In terms of results regardless of my facial routine I could not be happier. 

Immediately after applying my skin feels incredibly soft and smooth. Over the longer term I’ve noticed that I don’t suffer as much from the patchy, dry or blotchy skin that has plagued me since I moved to London and best of all, the lines of my forehead do not appear as pronounced as they did prior to using this lotion. That’s right those Gordon Ramsey forehead trenches are reduced in size.

The lotion is widely available both online and from most large supermarkets and is priced between £5 and £7 for a 50ml tube. Personally I paid £6.49 for my last tube. While I think this is expensive for a moisturiser it does live up to its billing and the claims made.

It’s money well spent. Not only does it smell pleasant, it also leaves my face looking moisturised, visibly less tired and lasts for at least 4 weeks when used on a daily basis making it in real terms very good value for money.

I have now found a product that does everything it claims to do and I won’t be switching to any other brand.

In the world of male grooming products, L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic anti-fatigue moisturising lotion is king.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani

While taking a break from praising Bvlgari fragrances I stumbled across an old favourite at the back of my wardrobe - Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani.

I have always been rather hesitant in buying aftershaves just because they come from a high end fashion house. Bizarrely, I just had to buy this after a stint looking after my little (she isn’t so little now) sister back in 2002. My dad wandered into the room and a beautiful fragrance followed him - that fragrance was Acqua Di Gio and I was instantly hooked.

Back in the day Acqua Di Gio was a fairly new fragrance for men. I bought my bottle from the Armani shop in Manchester for £32.00. For just upwards of 30 quid I got a 50ml bottle.

The actual bottle is very basic, with a rounded feel and frosted glass. The actual colour of the aftershave is a very pale green making it look extremely refreshing and modern. This being the 50ml bottle, it isn't huge in size but it is easily identifiable by the ACQUA Di GIO and GIORGIO ARMANI written on the front in large black letters.

The notes to ADG build this up like there is no tomorrow, stating that the fragrance is distinctly masculine in nature, with a transparent, fresh woody smell. Normally I'm not too keen on an aftershave that has a distinct woody smell, as personally I prefer the waft of light citrus. It's far easier my nose and the noses of the people who have to be around me.

I've filtered this image as I think it gives off a fresh vibe which sums up ADG

Upon opening the bottle unlike other aftershaves you are not immediately struck by the smell. Had I not already smelt the product I would have been worried by this. I‘d have probably just thought that I'd been duped into buying an expensive bottle of water.

As the bottle is moved closer to the nose a fresh, remarkably light citrus smell can be detected, but strangely, nothing that resembled a woody smell! Winner, winner, chicken dinner as they say.

Once applied there seems to be something of a smell explosion! This light fragrance on contact with skin changes dramatically. The light fresh smell is still evident, and a woody undertone starts to work its way through the top citrus notes. The major thing for me was that the actual strength of the smell had magnified several times.

After ADG had been applied for a few hours the smell was still noticeable, but it did become much lighter and the woody fragrance did go (thankfully). Even if I do say so myself, I was left smelling gorgeous.

This stuff smells so good I have to remind myself not to smell my hands whenever I've used it at night. It's addictive!

This is an ideal gift for that man in your life and I believe it would appeal to everyone. Although at £32 for a 50ml bottle this isn't for everyday use, it is however perfect for that special night out and will have heads turning, both male and female. This is a pulling fragrance if ever I smelt one and it lasts for well over 7 hours!

Giorgio Armani is associated with top quality products and I'm happy to say this stuff has never let me down. Top stuff!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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Joop Homme Eau de Toilette

If I told you there was an aftershave that would guarantee women and men falling over themselves to get near you, you would probably think I was mad. Well, yes, I am mad, but I can honestly say that Joop Homme Eau de Toilette is this aftershave.

Joop has been around since 1989 and I’ve been wearing it on and off since I was 18. Despite having feminine colouring, the warm warm purple and crimson colour I now find quite appealing. Instead of being a rather boring liquid it's purple/warm pink in colour and adds both a touch of warmth and cheeky style to any bathroom cabinet. It just oozes cool in my opinion – an opinion that has become wiser as the years roll by.

The notes to Joop make for surprising reading. Not only does it contain extracts of tobacco, spices and fruits, it claims to have a long lasting fruity smell that will leave a warm woody fragrance.

So, what is it actually like?

Don’t be put off by first impressions – I found that after removing the lid I was greeted with a sickly sweet smell. There were no hints of tobacco or spices, but the smell was very fruity, too fruity. The smell from the bottle was very strong, bear in mind I have the spray!

I applied the aftershave as directed by the notes. The first thing that is evident once applied to skin is that the smell doesn't change immediately. This is an extremely sweet fragrance that fills the nose of the wearer and those around that the time of application. Once again, no hints of tobacco or spices could be smelt. Unlike most other aftershaves Joop doesn't sting that much after you have actually shaved, this is because it contains less alcohol than most other aftershaves. The reduction in alcohol content means that Joop is better for your skin than other more potent rivals.

After the Joop had been on for around half an hour the smell begins to change, instead of being sweet, it became heavy and a more refined fruity smell with just a touch of nutmeg. I have to say this is the one of best smelling aftershave I've ever had the pleasure of owning. In fact, I can only think of two others that I would chose over it – Bvlgari Extreme, and Bvlgari Man.

Once the smell has changed personally I find that the longer it has been on the less I can smell it. However this doesn't mean that the smell has gone. Oh no, it simply means in my opinion that this fragrance is suited to your skin type and the smell is still noticeable to those around you. You'll be able to tell this from the compliments.

Joop is the kind of aftershave that will get you noticed when out and about. It smells wonderful, is long lasting and only a tiny amount is required making an actual bottle of it last an absolute age.

Suitable for days at work, an evening in the pub or for a special romantic moment, this makes a perfect gift for any man who likes his fragrances to be fruitier than normal.

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