Liz Earle Botanical Essence No.15

As most of you know I've been a lil absent of late as I'm still recovering from my op.  It's a pretty tedious process but the aches and pains seem to be easing every day so I think I've turned the corner now which I'm very pleased about!  Without harping on about my woes though I want to get on with this post... which is kinda related to my recovery.  You see I haven't been getting dressed for the last fortnight (without too much info I have been unable to wear underwear/clothes comfortably because of where my wounds are).  For the first week I couldn't even brush my hair or bath myself because I couldn't stretch and putting makeup on has been the last thing on my mind BUT I have been able to handle spraying a little bit of perfume...

Now, when it comes to perfume I cannot begin to tell you what a fussy customer I am.  Firstly I HATE to smell like anyone else so I avoid the typical 'known' perfumes.  I also don't really like feminine fragrance and I often wear men's instead because the muskier tones seem to suit me and sit better with me for some reason.  And last longer!  (Aside from Tom Ford Black Orchid nothing seems to last on me!)

For a few years my go to scent was Tom Ford's Black Orchid.  If I remember rightly it was released in the states before here in the UK because I'm sure my first couple of bottles were bought for me by my parents when they had been across there.  I remember Mam texting me from Neiman Marcus overjoyed that she had found some of my beloved elixir!  We're excitable over things we love hehe!  But then there was a big buzz about it and people started to know what it was.  I'd go for dinner and I could smell 'me' on other women.  I didn't like it.

After my love affair with Black Orchid had subsided a little, I started to wear more men's fragrance like Prada for Men, Tom Ford Grey Vetiver and Tom Ford Noir.

But then I tried this latest fragrance offering from Liz Earle.  It's divine.  It's grown up, sophisticated and without sounding 'soft', it's a very secure scent.  It's definitely a woman's fragrance but it's not feminine, it's not masculine and it's definitely not unisex; in fact it's a very clever scent.

All of the ingredients are listed on the box the perfume comes in and I guess I know why I love it so... Pink Pepper... Sandalwood... Vetiver... scents to me which are strong and reassuring but not overtly so.

The other lil touch which I like is not only the actual ingredient listings in such a plain, concise way but for those of us who are visual people, the ingredients are also listed in picture form.  It's a genius idea isn't it?!  I mean if you think of one of your favourite perfumes; do you know what's in it?

I've read a few reviews of this perfume now which have liked this fragrance to YSL's Opium.  I understand why they make that comparison but this fragrance doesn't resemble Opium in my opinion.

I think it's likened to Opium because of the base notes... both Liz Earle No.15 and Opium contain Bergamot, Patchouli and Vanilla and both are described as 'warm oriental' fragrances but I don't think they are similar really.  Opium is an 'older' smell (to me) and stronger and headier.  No.15 is cleaner, more fresh and not as intimidating.  Both fragrances have a reassurance to them but I guess that's the warmth that comes through.  I must say though although I don't think you can compare fragrances as such this No.15 has an air of Estee Lauder's Youth Dew about it; to my nose it has anyway.  I'm not saying if you like Youth Dew you'll love this because personally I wouldn't wear Youth Dew or choose to buy it; however I would repurchase No.15 without a doubt.

Oh wow how hard is it to write a post on fragrance?  I hope you beauts can follow this post!

Another point to make about this perfume which some of you may not understand but it's a feature that has pleased me no end...

The bottle isn't transparent!!  I hate sitting a bottle of perfume out on my dressing table which has a piddly amount left in the bottom of the bottle.  I like things to be full and new and because this isn't transparent it means I can at least pretend it's untouched!  Hehe!  I'm weird I know.

On that note I'm going to leave this post there.  To conclude, I love this fragrance!  Even in my unwell state it's really picked me up and made me feel less vile whilst I've been sat in my pyjamas and dressing gown with unbrushed hair, feeling very sorry for myself!

So I only really have the following to say 'thank you Liz'!!  :)
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