I am departing from my usual Natural Home with Jennifer video today with a special treat for you. We are going to explore the world of French perfume...




When I first started my blog over 11 years ago, I did many posts on perfume and signature scent. Perfume is such a marvelous luxury and one's own signature scent is such a personal and telling fragrance.

My love affair with French perfume started when I was 18 and visited the Grasse region of France to tour a major perfume factory there. The French love perfume and many French women have a go-to signature scent that they are known for.



I was thrilled when artisan French parfumerie, Sylvaine Delacourte, contacted me to see if I wanted to sample and select one of their high-quality niche French perfumes.



"Perfumes have the power to unleash emotion and to change your mood.

With her understanding of the mechanisms of the olfactory memory and using active listening skills, Sylvaine has been able to create perfumes which compliment our different personalities."

Sylvaine Delacourte, former Creative Director for Guerlain, creates her perfumes around one iconic raw material and explores it in 5 very original facets.



They offer a discovery box, as you'll see in today's video, where you can sample 5 of the perfumes in either the musk collection or vanilla collection for only $4, delivered from Paris to the United States. The videos on her website guide you on how the perfumes are made. They are fascinating!



Once you sample the different fragrances and decide on your favorite scent, you can choose which size perfume you'd like. They charge $80 for the 1 fl. oz and $160 for the 100ml (which is the size I received). The travel sizes must be ordered separately. Sylvaine Delacourte also offers 20% off the first order, which is a lovely discount. Use the code, FIRST20.



You'll get to go through the whole experience with me in today's fun video, plus see a picture of me at 18 visiting the perfume capital of the world in France! I chose Dovana from the musk collection as it was my absolute favorite.

The perfumes are exquisite and I hope to try the newly released vanilla collection in the future. Thank you to Sylvaine Delacourte for sharing your wonderful company with us!

I hope you enjoy today's video.

Please note: this is not a sponsored video and these links are not affiliate links.

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Comment of the Week
On last week's Bend Soap Co. review, Mimi writes, "Oh, Jennifer! I could kiss you! I have been experiencing a bout of eczema, and borrowed a book from the library that extolled the virtues of goats milk for this. Unfortunately, the writer of the book, who has goats and makes goats milk products lives in Scotland and doesn't ship to the states. I've been improvising on my own by drinking goats milk kefir and also slathering it on my itchy patches. I also found goats milk soap from Zum. But I really needed a body lotion! Your post was so timely! I immediately clicked on the link and did me some ordering! I am so happy!"

Hi Mimi, I'm so happy! That was the reason they started their business was to create a product for their son's eczema. Come back and let us know how they work for you! I love when my reviews can help others.


Thank you for joining me today. I hope you enjoyed this fun video. Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you on Monday.
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In the second of three new videos this week, I am sharing my new signature scent with you. I actually shot this video in early November but because of the many family events we had that month, I am just publishing it now.

A signature scent is a wonderful thing... A fragrance that encapsulates you, that your family associates with you... a scent that you can smell in the middle of a hectic day and be greatly soothed. A signature scent should be one that you not only adore but that evokes strong feelings, romance, luxury, whimsy or delight.

Perfume is that intangible mystery that can add so much to your life. Many of you are familiar with my signature scent journey. Stella has been my signature scent for nearly a decade, with a brief detour to Bvlgari Rose Essentielle. Even though I love and have loved Stella, I always knew that I would graduate from it and one day find the perfect scent for me. After much research, I can now say that I have found it! I've fallen in love with Jo Malone's Blackberry & Bay.



There are many ways to wear Jo Malone fragrances. Many people like to pair them with other fragrances (incidentally Blackberry & Bay pairs nicely with Jo Malone Red Roses. I've also heard it pairs well with Fig & Cassis). Or you can wear the scent with the body cream, which I enjoy doing with Blackberry & Bay.

Jo Malone describes Blackberry & Bay as: Childhood memories of blackberry picking...A burst of deep, tart blackberry juice, blending with the freshness of just-gathered bay and brambly woods. Vibrant and verdant.

I find this description to be very accurate. The initial top notes suggest very green, almost unripe blackberries. (Some people might take this as a sour top note but I see it as verdant.) Then the fragrance settles into a heady mix of deep crushed blackberries and woodsy notes. For me, this is fragrance heaven.

Now perfume is a very personal thing and what is ecstasy for one person, can be diabolical for another. So while Blackberry & Bay is my new signature scent, it might not be your cup of tea. Enjoy the sensual hunt and take your time, the perfect scent it out there for you.

Check out the video above to learn more about my new favorite perfume. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Today I would love to know... what is your signature scent? How long have you worn it? Are you looking to change? As you get older do you notice a longing to change your perfume? What is your favorite classic scent? What is your favorite new scent? Have you tried Blackberry & Bay?

See you on Thursday for another bonus post: an outfit of the day (OOTD) video and a giveaway from the lovely Shannon Ables of the Simply Luxurious Life blog.

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Have you ever changed your signature scent? Or have you been content with the same fragrance for years? Are you still on the search for your signature scent? This week's video gives you an update on my own perfume journey and announces my new signature scent (hint: there's a twist to this story).

If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Forever Chic Giveaway
My dear blogging friend, Tish Jett, from A Femme d'un Certain Age has just published her book, Forever Chic. Tish was kind enough to share Lessons from Madame Chic with her readers when it came out, and now I am so happy to be able to mention her book to you. Aimed for women over 40 (and all who are interested in aging gracefully), this book is sure to delight Francophiles everywhere. Tish's book dishes out many French secrets and shares her own chic journey as a woman of a certain age.

Tish and Rizzoli are kind enough to offer to give away one copy of Forever Chic to a reader of the Daily Connoisseur. This giveaway is open worldwide so all of you can enter. Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. The winner will be announced on the widget one week from today.
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For more on Tish, visit her blog here and check out her book here. Bonne Chance!

Thank you

All of my writing energy has been going into this new book, so the writing on the blog has been a bit "light" of late. I wanted to extend a thank you to my readers for being so understanding. I have two little girls to look after as well and they are my first priority so I must find the right balance. I don't want to compromise on the blog's quality and aim to provide you with a thought-provoking or interesting video each week. Thank you for bearing with me and being so supportive. See you next week! xx

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Of all the seasons, summer is the most appropriate to wear le no makeup look. We want our skin to breathe and look radiant so minimal makeup is best. I've developed a very low maintenance five minute beauty routine for summer mornings.

If you are unable to see the embedded video, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Makeup used in the video:

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in ‘Bisque’

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in ‘SC-4’

Sephora Airbrush Concealer brush

Anastasia Eyebrow Powder in ‘Medium Ash’

NARS cream blush in ‘South Beach’ (they no longer make the one shown in my video, but NARS The Multiple is the same product).

Chanel Inimitable Intense mascara

Chanel Lip Gloss shade 46

Perfume: Stella Sheer (My Stella Sheer is limited edition from last season and no longer available. This summer's limited Stella is Stella Summer Rose).

Dress by Rebecca Taylor

FTC: All products used in this video were purchased by me.

This week I would love to know... What is your summer makeup look?



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I've really enjoyed doing this mini series on The Daily Connoisseur. Over the past few months I have sampled a lot of fragrances and learned a lot about my tastes, preferences and the various phases I go through depending on the season and what mood I am in.

And I am happy to report that I've made the decision on what my new signature scent will be. Drumroll please....





My new signature scent is Bvlgari Rose Essentielle

If you remember this perfume gave me a favorable impression from the very beginning and several of you readers actually recommended it to me. It is heady, aromatic and distinctly rosy (which is my favorite note) and brings me to exotic places every time I wear it. In short, it is simply delightful and for now I am loving it as my signature scent.

I say 'for now' because I have become so entranced with fragrance that I will forever be on the look out for new and sensational scents, and who knows what I may find down the road?

I also have to say that along with purchasing Bvlgari Rose Essentielle on my journey over the last few months I also picked up small vials of Jo Malone Red Roses (I couldn't help it) and Grapefruit. Two delightful scents for summer.

This isn't to say, of course, that I don't still love my beloved Stella. I shall return to her as well every now and then.

So there you have it. Thank you for joining me on this journey and thank you to all of you for your wonderful recommendations through the process...

I would love to know, what is your current signature scent? Let me know in the comment section or if you feel inspired do a video response to my above video and show me your signature scent!

If you are unable to see my video above where I show you Bvlgari Rose Essentielle click here, look in the sidebar of this blog or visit my channel www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

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