A citrus-oriental-woody fragrance, Chrome Pure revisits Azzaro’s original Chrome fragrance’s emblematic freshness, creating a more textured and vibrant feel, with the addition of two new ingredients: the spicy-woody accents akigala wood and tonka bean join the white musks and mate leaves of the original version. 

TheChicGeek says, “Released in 1996, I’m not familiar with the original Chrome fragrance. As a brand, Azzaro, has little or no awareness here in the UK and even Googling images only brings up fragrance and no vintage or historical fashion images. 

This fragrance follows the typical tonka bean formula that have been popular over the last few years, but it does has a sophistication lacking in many.  Created by Jacques Huclier - he was the nose behind the epic Thierry Mugler A*Men - it’s fresh, but wait for the dry down as it's the best bit, where it gets soft, musky and almost gourmandy.

The bottle follows the form of the 1996 original and looks a bit dated, now, particularly the font, but if you’re a fan of this type of fragrance you could do much worse at this decent price”.

Left - Azzaro Pure Chrome - 100ml - £59

The scalp often gets overlooked, and, much like a plant, healthy roots equals a strong and vigorous plant. 

“Your scalp is simply an extension of your facial skin. And just like your face, your scalp needs cleansing, balancing, and protection. Once you think of it that way, it shouldn’t be hard to understand why you might need to be giving it a little extra care,” says, Justina Mejia-Montane, Vice President, Global Product Development at Aveda.

The Pramāsana collection is formulated with an exclusive blend of ingredients including: seaweed extract, helps control and balance sebum levels on the scalp. Lactobacillus, patented ferment helps preserve the scalp’s natural protective barrier and Tamanu Oil, a known anti-oxidant that helps to protect the scalp from pollution and other free radicals. The fragrance is a clean, fresh ‘Pure-Fume’ aroma featuring grapefruit, neroli, and cypress.

Left - Aveda - Pramasana Purifying Scalp Cleanser - £23.50, Pramasana Protective Scalp Concentrate - £35 

TheChicGeek says, “A product will come along and you’ll think why haven’t I thought about my hair like this before. Now, put your hands together, bend forward and say “Pramāsana”, it’s a combination of the Sanskrit words, ‘Prama’ (foundation) and ‘Asana’ (position in yoga). Now, uncross your legs!

You always feel like you’re in good hands with Aveda hair products. There’s an optional brush, which I didn't try, but having short hair. I don’t think I really needed it.

The first of the two products is the cleanser. You massage into the scalp, before shampooing and on wet hair, to instantly balance sebum levels creating a clean scalp foundation. 

This has that satisfying, two-handed massaging texture that really makes you feel like you’re really cleaning your hair. You then shampoo and rinse as usual.

Then, while the hair is still damp, it’s time for the 'Scalp Concentrate'. I found it was best to pipette it into your hand then rub it into the scalp. Aveda say to think about this like the serum step in skincare. It’s suppose to help protect from pollution and other free radicals which should go to some way in combating the excesses Oxford Street!

 I like both of these products and I think it’ll be particularly good for those with thick hair and those who use a lot of product. My mum actually said my hair looked nice, which she hasn't said for a while and didn't know I had used anything new.

My only negative, there needs to be more information on how often to use it. I wasn't sure if it was a weekly or daily thing, but I’ve been told “it’s as often as you wash your hair, so, yes, daily is good!”.

Collaborating with novelist, Chandler Burr, and taking the title from one of his novels, this fragrance has been created for the central character,  Anne.

“It should be clear that You Or Someone Like You is not some kind of olfactory landscape painting. Anne is a serious gardener — I wrote a trellis of roses into her garden, I wrote in mint and wild grasses though the individual raw materials are in the end irrelevant. What You is is whatever you find it is. A scent you transplant to yourself. Synthetic and natural beauty. Possibility.” says Chandler Burr.

Burr was formerly the perfume critic of The New York Times and was a fan of the fragrance Etat Libre d’Orange did with the actress, Tilda Swinton 'Like This'. This was the introduction to the collaboration. With a motto of Le parfum est mort, vive le parfum!" - "Perfume is dead, long live perfume!", the house has become known for its left-field fragrances and inspirations.

TheChicGeek says, “This is the first fragrance from Etat Libre d’Orange I’ve reviewed. It translates as Free State of Orange and was founded by Etienne de Swardt in 2006 in Paris. They have 35 scents in total and Etienne ,the self-titled ‘Troublemaker & Parfumeur’, talked us through the idea and concept behind this and a couple of other of his fragrances, and, boy, does every fragrance he make have an idea or narrative. But, it’s modern and thought provoking rather than the usual bollocks that is spouted off by many people taking about a journey or imaginary person, that usually nobody knows, it is for.

Like many fragrance houses he uses between 7 and 8 noses to create the fragrances, this time with the author, Chandler Burr.

I love the title of the perfume. It just makes me want to go all Adele when I say it. The packaging looks great: it’s modern and looks quality without going too far. The reason the label is one the corner is because the shop is on the Rue des Archives in Paris, No.69, no less, and it is on the corner. To me the fragrance smells like sugared mint through an open window. It’s much greener when it is on and there’s a background of something, but you can’t be more distinctive than that. I’m picturing white or peach roses, but I’m not sure. It’s fresh without being too cool”.

Left - Etat Libre d’Orange ‘You Or Someone Like You’ - 50ml - £82

Specifically designed for sensitive skin, this invisible, anti-shine sun protection mist has an SPF of 50 including a high UVA protection. No need to touch or even rub the skin, the patented molecule ‘Airlicium’ leaves oily-prone skin shine free. Previously used by NASA in space science, this anti- sweat, anti-shine and super light molecule - composed of 99% air and 1% Silica - has the unique ability to absorb up to 100x its weight in sebum and proactively controls sources of shine for an all-day clean skin sensation and matte finish.

Left - La Roche-Posay Anthelios Anti-Shine Invisible Fresh Mist SPF50 -  75ml - £14

TheChicGeek says, “Summer hasn’t even started and this could be in the running for best suncare product of the year already. 

Firstly, I’ve said 'summer', but you should use an SPF all year around. One of the many reasons guys don’t use enough sun protection on their face is 1) It isn’t included in their moisturiser - which it should be - and 2) To apply another or separate SPF product on top when you look outside and it looks a bit grey, you can't be bothered. I’ve been there and I’m ginger! Laziness is killing us! Okay, that’s a bit dramatic, but it’s probably making us look older. Protect your skin from the sun and you’ll stay younger looking for longer. That’s the superficial side. The other side is, we love the sun, but long term damage can have serious consequences.

This new product from La Roche-Posay is so easy to use you finding yourself asking, ‘is that it?’.

You spray 15cm away from the face, eyes and mouth closed, and you’re covered with a very high sun protection. The added advantage is you cover your eyelids, which are often overlooked, get burnt easily and the skin is very thin.

The matt, anti-shine finish is good and there’s no sensation of having applied anything onto your skin. It's so light. It’s 75ml, so can go into hand language, and I would always buying a better/more targeted sun product for your face.

The only negative is the branding. The name is complicated and the box and can just blends into the rest of the suncare and beauty market. This deserves better and more distinctive branding.

I think this is, by far, the easiest and fastest suncare product I've ever used, and with an SPF 50 it's a huge thumbs up from me”.