Joy by Dior Eau de Parfum

RRP: from £54 for 30ml

--What does the promo say?--
"The new JOY by Dior fragrance is immediate, clear and generous. Joy is finally captured in a scent, marked by both enveloping softness and energy. An ode to pleasure and life. An Eau de Parfum illuminated by the vibrant smile of flowers and citrus fruits, the smooth caress of woods and the serenity of musks. A fragrance with a thousand nuances and facets, yet crystal-clear. "JOY by Dior expresses this remarkable feeling of joy by offering an olfactive interpretation of light. This perfume resembles certain pointillist paintings that are rich with a precise, yet not too obvious, technique. It is constructed with multiple nuances, a myriad of facets that lead to an expression that is clear and self-evident." (François Demachy, Dior Perfumer-Creator)
Zested Bergamot and Mandarin explode in unison with flowers. Grasse Rose, in both Essence and Absolute form, as well as heady Jasmine, blend with these delectable fruits in a vibrant smile. Warm and creamy Sandalwood embraces us in softness. An intimate signature, the clear and powdery whisper of musks creates a tender and sensual skin-on-skin effect. Its bottle is both luminous and precious. Its femininity shines through in the brilliant silver and radiant pink of this instantly attractive juice. A bright shining silver thread wraps around the lid, like a light jewel delicately engraved with its name, which curls around in a perfect O."

--Packaging--

The bottle is ergonomically pleasing and elegant, and the silver touches prove sophisticated and yet modern in their femininity. The spray mechanism is decisive without being wasteful and I always enjoy a completely see-through bottle (so you can always see how much is left while being able to enjoy the fragrance's colour) - though naturally this means you have to keep it away from direct sunlight.

--Application--

The Dior website recommends preceding application with the Dior body milk before spritzing the EDP onto pulse points (on wrists and neck, and behind ears). Even if you only have the fragrance itself, though, this makes for an easy addition to your morning routine and a prolonged enjoyment of the scent.

--Appearance--

The rose-coloured liquid is perfectly evocative of the roses from Grasse that are used in the fragrance, while remaining invisible when sprayed onto skin.

--Scent--

Some will be pleased to know that the rose element is not dominant; indeed, it is one that can be risky to use due to its tendency to be overpowering. It's therefore present as an accentuation rather than the main event. The woodier aspects - i.e., the jasmine and sandalwood - are the most noticeable, while being tempered by the slightly lighter bergamot (again, a scent that tends to divide the crowd). It's a well-balanced fragrance that unfortunately was too heavy, maybe even taking a slightly powdery turn, for my particular taste - I was disappointed to find the mandarin virtually undetectable as I prefer perfumes with sparklier top notes. Nevertheless, a grownup and sophisticated effect is created.

--Longevity--

The headier components of this fragrance are what enable it to deliver in terms of staying power; the fragrance settles down nicely so that you shouldn't have to reapply during the day.

--Value for money--

This has been one of Dior's biggest fragrance launches and I had been looking forward to trying it. If you enjoy the sandalwood and jasmine base notes then this is definitely the perfume for you; the ingredients used are clearly of high quality and despite the slightly eye-watering price tag you can be confident that a bottle will last you a while. Sadly, it's not for me.

perfect partner

Joy by Dior Moisturizing Body Lotion, £42.50 for 200ml

Blooming marvellous

Flowers have been central to health and fashion from the very beginnings of beauty products, tinctures and accessories. Indian Ayurvedic medicine uses hibiscus to give thicker, fuller locks. Calendula has been deployed since Roman times for its anti-inflammatory properties. The bacteriologist Dr Edward Bach pioneered his eponymous - now famous - homeopathic system, which utilises such flowers as honeysuckle (for living in the past), rock rose (for terror and fright) and water violet (for isolation). And we all have memories of mashing up our own flowers and mixing them with water as children to create our very own 'perfume'.

Floral delivery company Bloom and Wild not only celebrates a range of flowers in their beautiful bouquets but has now gone a step further by evoking the power of flowers in art with its new Matisse collection, which includes such plants as alstroemeria, gerberas and chrysanthemums. Evoking different moods and cultural significance as well as sheer ornamentation, the company's new infographic (pictured right) enlightens us as to the use of different flowers by artists throughout the ages, from Botticelli to Jeff Koons.

The infographic also mentions the use of specific flowers that are still used in some of my favourite perfumes today. Anaïs Anaïs, by Cacharel, is a bit 1970s and has a slightly powdery tone to it, but has sentimental meaning for me. It doesn't just contain jasmine - mentioned by Bloom and Wild as having prominence in Indian art for its symbolism of love and fertility - but also orange blossom, hyacinth, rose, lily, and sandalwood - making for a sexy mix overall. My other choices, however, would be Jasmin Noir by Bulgari (a really top-quality fragrance that lasts), and Flowerbomb by Viktor and Rolf, for a sparklier setting.

This latter fragrance also contains lotus flower - another bloom highlighted as significant for its use in Egyptian and Asian art form. Representing life and creation, it adds real freshness to fragrances - as equally exemplified by another favourite of mine, Hermès' Jardin Sur Le Nil.

The final flower mentioned in the infographic is ivy, which was meaningful in Ancient Greek art for its links to the harvest and theatre. The iconic J'adore (by Dior) and Lolita Lempicka fragrances use this grounding ancient plant.

But I couldn't do a post without flowers without mentioning the new cult floral favourite in the world of beauty: Kailijumei's flower lipsticks, which are the latest hit from Hong Kong. The clear jelly lipsticks have dried flowers embedded in them, and thanks to the natural ingredients (such as cocoa butter, candelilla and lavender oil), lips are kept moisturised as well as slightly tinted. The flowers used include rose - which of course, being a classic, is included in Bloom and Wild's Marguerite bouquet - available now as part of the Matisse collection to further indulge our love of flowers.

Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Reflect

RRP: $25.50/€22,80/£16.50
# of shades available: 14

--What does the promo say?--
"An ultra-shimmering reformulation of Dior's cult-favorite, Dior Addict lip gloss. Lips go high-tech with shimmering, multi-dimensional reflective pigments that deliver mega-watt shine and color that lasts for hours. The innovative, "water-like" formula goes on smooth and fast with a silky brush applicator that keeps you in perfect control."

--Packaging--
A very sleek, glamorous affair, with the canister of gloss suspended inside a transparent, larger, square container. The lid is square and silvery, with a rounded decoration on top that bears the Christian Dior initials. The word 'Dior' is also subtly visible on one side of the container in raised letters. Disappointingly, the whole lot is made of plastic, but this somewhat obviously makes it more travel-friendly, and most glosses, even the high-end ones, come in plastic these days.

--Application--
Just as the promo says; the brush is small and smooth, allowing for very precise application, and the whole thing runs very smoothly. One coat is OK, but feel free to add more to make one application last longer.

--Scent--
None.

--Appearance--
Really shimmery, pretty and yet somehow still natural. With the gloss available in various shades of pink and brown, there is bound to be something to suit everyone, from the darkest Carribean skin tone to the lightest alabaster.

--Texture/consistency--
Very light - as they say, it's almost like water. Smooth, refreshing, and not at all sticky.

--Longevity--
This is the only part of the promotional material that lies. This cannot stand up to eating, kissing, or even doing nothing. Useless. Be prepared to reapply often (although perhaps applying multiple layers at a time may help to combat this, it ultimately won't help the tube to last any longer).

--Value for money--
Very interesting, especially if you shop in the UK and normally use the euro, particularly since the lowering of VAT there recently. There are certainly a few weaknesses - the poor tenure of it, for instance, and the lack of any vitamins and SPF - but if you want to buy into a high-end brand for a good price, this is definitely a good way to start.

perfect partners
Dior Lip Maximiser, $29.50/€27,70/£19
Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen, $34/€30,90/£22

Dior J'Adore

RRP: £34.10 for 50ml @ www.strawberrynet.com

--What does the promo say?--
"Joyful and radiant, the eau de toilette exhibits a sparkling new freshness while retaining the J'adore olfactory signature. It may have a strong family resemblance, but also has its own identity: the reworked proportions of the floral bouquet give it an ultra-feminine touch. The new transparent bottle for the eau de toilette is now taller and slimmer. A spiral ring of gold, the symbolic colour of the legendary J'adore fragrance and a sign of excellence, wraps around the precious amphora. In this new version, the subtle gold reflections of the fragrance are mirrored in the crystal glow of of the pearl-shaped stopper. Also available in 100ml."

--Packaging--
A simple but beautiful bottle, with a gold aura to it. The golden spring is unusual and distinctive while not being too fussy, and all in all this is a very attractive bottle to have on your dressing table.

--Application--
Remove the pearline stopper and just spray wherever desired.

--Scent--
I thought this was a little too citrusy and even perhaps slightly bitter-smelling when I first sprayed it on, but as it dried the smell became far more beautiful - floral, yet modern. Sadly, it was also quite weak - while on the upside it doesn't mean the people around you will choke on an overly strong scent, on the downside it means that in order for anyone to smell it they'd have to get very close to you (perhaps this is the point?).

--Longevity--
Not great at all - a shame given how lovely the scent is.

--Value for money--
The fragrance fades very fast and needs to be topped up every few hours - a shame when you consider how much you pay for a bottle. For that sort of price you really do expect a bit more mileage from a product. I personally prefer perfumes that last a little longer (Cacharel and J-Lo spring to mind as excellent examples that are cheaper than J'adore as well!), and I wouldn't consider buying this unless Dior could get their act together and make the fragrance a little more long-lasting.

Dior HydrAction Hand Crème

RRP: £15.00 for 75ml at www.escentual.com

--What does the promo say?--
"Of course, dehydration can be felt: skin irritations, “pulling” sensations... But above all, it shows. Often neglected in skincare, the body also has its special needs. It needs to be soothed by rebuilding its skin barrier and by hydration so that it can be seen! Crème Mains Ultra Hydratante, with its light, melting texture, uses HydrAction Corps technology and is enriched with vitamin E to help protect the skin of the hands, even the fragile area around the nails. Carry this complete hand care in your purse - you'll want to have it with you all day long."

--Packaging--
Slim, light blue tube with a screw top. Very simple design, with the Dior logo and name of the product on the front, with product info on the back. Refreshing colour scheme that's very much in keeping with the product's aims and the Dior brand generally. The tube also iridesces slightly when turned towards the light, which is quite a novelty.

--Application--
Simple really, just rub a pea-sized blob into your hands as often as needed (though once a day is enough for me).

--Appearance--
Pure white cream that leaves no residue on the hands.

--Scent--
Soap-like, but the scent is not overpowering.

--Texture--
Creamy and not at all watery despite the emphasis on rehydration. Not dribbly or sticky. When rubbed into the hands a cool feeling takes over the skin on your hands, as if you really have just stuck them under a blast of cold water, in a way that Atrixo, my usual hand cream, does not.

--How does the skin feel afterwards?--
Lovely and soft, though it doesn't seem to have the miracle emergency effects possessed by Atrixo.

--Does it do what it says on the tube?--
While I compare it to Atrixo above, it's slightly unfair to as Dior's emphasis is on rehydration, whereas Atrixo emphasises the disappearance of dry skin. While I don't really suffer from dehydrated skin very much (to the best of my knowledge at least), from the way it makes my hands feel when I put it on, I have no trouble believing that it does what it says it does.

--Value for money--
While I'm very impressed with the way the cream feels on my hands, I feel it's a bit pricey for what it is and I certainly wouldn't bother paying £27 for the body emulsion companion that appears in the range. It also doesn't have the immediate effects that Atrixo has, so you're not even getting anything truly magical for that hiked-up price (apart from a slightly sparkly tube).

perfect partner
Dior HydrAction Body Sorbet Emulsion, £27.00/200ml