Guerlain’s Bee Garden

French Maison Guerlain’s iconique boutique at Rue Saint-Honoré, a few steps away from the Place Vendôme, steps into fall with this season’s breathtaking Bee Garden.

The Bee Garden is a tribute to the Maison’s historic relationship with the bee, inspired by the changing seasons of the natural world – the inspiration for many of Guerlain’s most iconic creations, from Abeille Royale to Aqua Allegoria. In addition to its place as the symbol of Guerlain, the bee plays a key role in shaping the Maison’s sustainability commitments.

Visitors can discover the Maison’s latest collections, attend exclusive masterclasses and personalise Guerlain’s Flacon aux Abeilles with an personalised engraved message ahead of the holiday season.

Uncover a selection of festive treasures online and in their Parisian boutiques, come into the beautiful and magical world of Guerlain.

Oh, Boy: Chanel launches new fragrance

Fashion designer, Coco Chanel is well known around the world for her fabulous fashion line worn by all the A-list celebrities. What many people don’t realise is, Coco (who’s real name is Gabrielle) was raised in an orphanage which is where she was taught her sewing skills.

After having a brief career as a singer she became friends with, Étienne Balsan and stayed with him just outside of Paris where she lived as a ‘kept woman’ in his mansion, and this is where she began to mingle with Balsans wealthy companions and this is when she met a man who would change her life forever, Arthur ‘Boy’ Capel.

Arthur Edward Capel loved to read

Captain Arthur Edward ‘Boy’ Capel (1881 – 22 December 1919) was an English poloplayer, possibly best remembered for being a lover and muse of fashion designer Coco Chanel.

Born in Brighton, Sussex, Arthur Capel was a ship-owner, politician, tycoon and polo player . He was the son of Arthur Joseph Capel, a British shipping merchant, and his French-born wife, the former Berthe Andrée A. E. Lorin (1856-1902), and he had three sisters. But today he is better known for his 9 year love affair with Coco Chanel.

Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel and Arthur ‘Boy’ Capel (middle) in front of the Chanel Boutique in Deauville in 1913

His affair with Chanel apparently began in 1909, when he became acquainted with the then 26 year old mistress of his friend Étienne Balsan. In that time he was already an apparently wealthy self-made man and he supplied Chanel with financial backing, and financed Chanel’s first shops. His own clothing style, notably his blazers, inspired her to put a squared masculine touch on her classic clothing styles, and creation the Chanel look. If it wasn’t for Arthur’s money or style then Chanel would never had had the funds or fashion muse to make what is one of the most well-known designer brands in the world.

The couple spent much time together at fashionable resorts such as Deauville, but.. he was never faithful to Chanel. Their relationship lasted nine years, and even after Capel married in 1918, he continued his affair with Chanel until his death in late 1919.

Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel, Étienne Balsan and Arthur Edward ‘Boy‘ Capel

Arthur tragically died in a car crash on Monday 22 December 1919, allegedly en route to a Christmas rendez-vous with Chanel. A roadside memorial was placed at the site of the accident, consisting of a cross bearing the inscription:

A la mémoire du capitaine Arthur Capel, Légion d’Honneur de l’Armée Britannique, mort accidentellement en cet endroit le 22 décembre 1919

He was buried with full military honours at Fréjus Cathedral, in the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region in southeastern France, on 24 December 1919. After his death Coco began wearing black during her grieving process and she told a friend that the world would mourn with her which is where the ‘little black dress’ evolved from, and why black is no longer tied in hand with association with death but more with elegance and class. Chanel claimed Arthur Edward ‘Boy‘ Capel was the love of her life.

An exceptional Fresh Aromatic fragrance infused with the timeless elegance

We were so busy waiting for Chanel’s reinterpretation of their No. 5 fragrance titled L’Eau (slated for a fall release) that we didn’t see this one coming at all! The new scent from Chanel is a unisex fragrance created by the house’s master perfumer Olivier Polge. It also becomes the latest (17th) addition to the Les Exclusifs collection and just like Misia (also an Olivier Polge creation), it was inspired by one of Chanel’s closest friends: Arthur ‘Boy’ Capel.  Gabrielle Chanel considered him as more than her soul mate; he was her double and her alter ego. Inspired by their love, Boy Chanel is a vibrant, perfectly balanced scent that challenges tradition and transcends gender.

My way of working on this fragrance was really not to try to make a unisex fragrance but really more to dive into men’s fragrance…and to show how well it could be worn by a woman. So it was not to try to create an in-between fragrance, but a very masculine fragrance. And — like many other things in life — gender is given by the person wearing it.

Olivier Polge

Boy is a masculine fougère with main accords of lavender and rose geranium sourced from the south of France. The composition also includes lemon and grapefruit, a note of rose, orange blossom, sandalwood and heliotropin, plus a hint of vanilla and musk accords. Like the others in the Les Exclusifs collection, it is contained in a simple rectangular bottle, and will become available worldwide this month in in two sizes, 75 and 200 ml Eau de Toilette.

You need this — and so does your boyfriend!

 

 

 

Lalique L’Insoumis

Luxury crystal and fragrance brand Lalique is launching a new masculine fragrance  L’Insoumis in September 2016, dedicated to the founder of the house Rene Lalique and his artistic spirit. The man who wears it is conceived as a charismatic, elegant and authentic individual who does not follow trends but creates them. He is a dreamer and a modern day adventurer.

The first thing you notice about Lalique new men’s fragrance, L’Insoumis, is the bottle. The contemporary Art Deco design of the Lalique L’Insoumis bottle is decorated with a relief of a fern, the motif that was first used on Lalique’s iconic Tourbillons vase from 1926. The fern symbolizes the free spirit that the fragrance is trying to convey. It’s what’s inside however, that is truly remarkable. Combining what some many would see as unconventional ingredients, L’Insoumis presents a very modern man at the heart of its history-steeped bottle.

The contemporary Art Deco design of the Lalique L’Insoumis bottle is decorated with a relief of a fern, the motif that was first used on Lalique’s iconic Tourbillons vase from 1926. The fern symbolizes the free spirit that the fragrance is trying to convey.

• Top notes: bergamot, rum, basil
• Heart: lavender, clary sage, black pepper
• Base: vetiver, patchouli, moss, clearwood

The composition belongs to the aromatic-woody fougere group, developed by perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin and produced with rich and high-quality ingredients. An intense aromatic combination of bergamot, rum and basil prelude to the classic masculine heart of lavender, black pepper and clary sage. Haitian vetiver, moss, patchouli and the Clearwood molecule end the composition.

 

Named L’insoumis Lalique, the fragance combines a variety of unconventional yet pioneering scents to create a fresh, intense fragrance reflective of both the brands unique creator and his strong connection with nature.

Lalique L’Insoumis will come as a 50 ml and 100 ml Eau de Toilette. We have to wait a few months, L’Insoumis released later this year in September, be advised – since you’ll want to get your hands on a bottle – L’Insoumis will be a surefire hit. But I can promise you, the waiting will be worth it!

More about this fragrance with this amazing beautiful bottle soon here on Yakymour….

 

Come into the world of: lalique.com

 

Guerlain Flacon Quadrilobé

Guerlain’s Quadrilobe Bottle Colour Collection was inspired by a phenomenon that remains a mystery: synaesthesia. A spontaneous association of the senses experienced by many artists, musicians and authors. Including Vassily Kandinsky and Duke Ellington, who saw music in colour, and Vladimir Nabokov who, as in Rimbaud’s ‘Vowels’ (A black, E white, I red, etc.), perceived the shade and texture of letters…

One of Guerlain’s most iconic creations has been reinvented for the occasion. Designed by Baccarat in 1908 for Jacques Guerlain’s Rue de la Paix Boutique, the Quadrilobe bottle has accompanied the perfume House’s history for over a century, holding Jicky, Liu, Shalimar, etc. over the years. Now crafted by the famous Verreries Brosse (Brosse Glassworks), it harbours the private collections and tailor-made fragrances, along with spectacular exceptional pieces made of crystal.

With the Colour Collection, this legendary creation is available for the first time in a range of five subtly gradated colours of precious stones. The neck of the bottle is adorned with a matching silk thread, meticulously hand-tied and combed according to the barbichage technique, traditional know‑how kept alive by Guerlain’s incomparable Dames de Table.

This jewel bottle nestles in an amethyst case decorated with a sun, Guerlain’s historic emblem. In the Colour Collection, sumptuous gem tones express the quintessence of five fragrances, chosen from Guerlain’s Les Exclusifs collection:  amber is the color of Spiritueuse Double Vanille (2007), the ruby bottle features Oriental Brûlant (2008), the sapphire bottle contains L’Heure de Nuit (2012), amethyst is the color for L’Eau de Parfum du 68 (2013). And Santal Royal (2014) comes in a green bottle that represents emerald. All created by Thierry Wasser, they are all for women and men.

 

Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille, 2007

Spiritueuse Double Vanille comes in a bottle of amber color, which refers to the shimmering sensuality. The fragrance is a sparkling elixir of rum, cedar, vanilla and herbs.

 

Guerlain Oriental Brûlant, 2008

Oriental Brûlant represents the color of passion, fiery temperament and sensuality. The composition is a cocktail of herbs, almond, tonka bean and carnal balms.

 

Guerlain L’Heure de Nuit, 2012

L’Heure de Nuit represents a modern homage to the legendary L’Heure Bleue fragrance, inspired by the magical atmosphere of Parisian nights. The scent combines delicate and light notes of orange blossom, vanilla, heliotrope, iris, sandalwood and musk.

 

Guerlain L’Eau de Parfum du 68, 2013

L’Eau de Parfum du 68 by Guerlain, is a blend of red and blue, reflects the contrast between the warm and cool facets of this distinct fragrance, in which everlasting flower pairs with rose, over an enveloping heliotrope, cedar and benzoin base.

 

Guerlain Santal Royal, 2014

Santal Royal. The emerald green of Santal Royal leads us into a woody universe, at the heart of the mysteries of the Orient. A play of contrasts between the allure of sandalwood, the radiance of jasmine and rose, and the obscure charm of leather and oud accords.

Guerlain Colour Collection Flacon Quadrilobé perfumes are available in bottles of 125 ml at the price of 650 Euros. They will be sold starting in June 2016 in the Guerlain boutique at Place Vendome.

Discover the world of Guerlain
www.guerlain.com

 

 

L’Artisan Parfumeur

Creating a perfume is an art. Each perfume is different in so many ways, and there are no two that can be exactly alike. When asked how she came up with her new perfume, Gabrielle Chanel said that she talked about her ideas with a perfumer who then came up with a bunch of different versions that suited her vision. She picked one and that was her scent.

Whether it’s celebrity perfumes or ones for a label, it seems that the perfumer is working under the direction of someone else and has limited say over how the perfume should actually smell.

But there’s a label that turns this on its head: L’Artisan Parfumeur is a line that takes the master perfumers from all over the world and gives them the creative reign to make the perfume fo their dreams. Having a no holds barred approach has meant that this label is often on the leading side of trends, and each of their creations inspires perfume companies around the world.

L’Artisan Parfumeur was the result of a challenge, a plaisanterie. Due to his training as a chemist, a friend asked Jean Laporte if he could create a banana scent to wear with a costume of the same fruit to a gala evening at the Folies Bergères. This was quickly followed by grapefruit and vanilla fragrances.

He experimented and created original scents with ‘natural essences’. With the success of his first line of fragrances, Jean Francois Laporte was named L’Artisan Parfumeur – the craftsman of fragrance – by perfume enthusiasts.

 

L’Artisan Parfumeur Al Oudh

L’Artisan Parfumeur’s classic fragrances remain unchanged throughout its 40-year history. A true mark of confidence in its alchemy, the perfumes are as modern today as they ever were.

Made with passion and artisanal finesse to symbolise a different olfactory journey, each fragrance carries with it creative freedom and artistic flair: the hallmark of its master perfumer. In homage to its founding philosophy, the fragrances take you on a journey of exploration, one that fuses the careful craft of man with the beauty of nature. As experts of their craft, each of our master perfumers understands the harmony and structure of their chosen notes, notes that shift and flow subtly as the fragrance unfolds on the skin.

The flacons, bringing to mind all the mystery and allure of an apothecary den, L’Artisan Parfumeur’s bottle is resplendent in dark, smoky glass. Each elegant bottle carries the brand’s stamped emblem, a silent insignia of L’Artisan Parfumeur’s dedicated craftsmanship and genuine authenticity. The bottle’s signature heavy cap and iconic heptagonal shape remain, not simply as an ode to understated modernity but as the brand’s distinctive seal, reaching back into its past and striding forth into its future.

The L’Artisan Parfumeur experience doesn’t stop at scents for the body. They also make scents for your home and one of them have achieved cult status. In 1976 L’Artisan created and presented an innovative home fragrance shaped as Amber Ball. Each ball is handmade of terracotta and contains crystals of herbal origins infused with the rich scent of ambergris. The smell of crystals lasts for about two years, and they can be replaced with new ones afterwards.

 

They also have car air fresheners and these beautiful leather charms handcrafted by Bottega Veneta, one my all-time favourite fashion house, known best for their leather goods. L’Artisan Parfumeur has also introduced a new line of organic skin care called Jatamansi, so if that’s your thing, you must check them out.

If you want to try any of the L’Artisan Perfumes, you can order samples from their website and only have to pay for shipping and handling. When you are in Paris, visit their new boutique at 167 boulevard Saint-Germain, Or visit their website for one of their boutiques and selected perfume shops worldwide.

L’Artisan Parfumeur
167 boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006 Paris
Tel : 01.43.27.47.87

Come into the world of L’Artisan Parfumeur, Paris

 

 

 

Hermès Hermessence Muguet Porcelaine

This years May day celebrations welcome Hermès’s new fragrance, an ode to the Lily of the Valley, ‘Muguet Porcelaine’, as a new member of the Hermessence fragrance family.

Considered a lucky charm, the French greet one another with a simple sprig or small bunch of the Lily of the Valley. A tradition passed down from King Charles IX who presented the ladies of his court with these flowers, every year on May 1. Lily of the Valley has been named the ‘mute flower’ by perfume experts, its fragrance evading all attempts to capture. Jean-Claude Ellena, the nose of Hermès, has challenged scent in this way for the first time.

The fragrance is fresh and light, a true representation of the spring months. Muguet Porcelaine is the thirteenth fragrance in the Hermessence collection, as if created by the air of spring, the clear, simplicity of the bottle is brought to life by a vibrant green.

The difficulty of producing a viable lily of the valley note becomes all the more significant in light of the fact that Ellena chose to make it the focus of his final effort. And this, in turn, adds poignancy to the perfume’s inclusion in the Hermessence collection, which has, from its beginning, been Ellena’s exclusive playground for technical and artistic exploration. Hermès Muguet Porcelaine comes to us as the final gift in a career that has marked countless enviable achievements. But it’s also the conclusive Hermès composition from an admirer and student of Edmond Roudniska,  who created not only the very first scent for Hermès (the sweaty-chested Eau D’Hermès from 1951) but also what is widely considered to be the most heart-breaking lily of the valley perfume of all time, Christian Dior’s Diorissimo (1956). You can see how all these layers and connections tie themselves up in increasingly heavy knots.

I wanted to snatch the fragrance of these flowers from the dawn sky, together with that of the foliage that envelopes them. And then in a cerebral way, I worked on the coolness of the aura, the delicacy of its opalescence and the ethereal nature of its existence.

Jean-Claude Ellena

As an attempt to create a 21st century lily of the valley, Muguet Porcelaine is brave, beautiful and not entirely successful. Presumably in an effort to create an unisex fragrance and to work his way around today’s anti-allergen restrictions, Ellena has decided to create his lily with the help of a melon-like lychee note. This serves to make the muguet not, as the perfume’s name would suggest, more fragile, but more aqueous and perhaps even more insistent. It can’t be denied that the fruity aspect is incongruous, but even while it disappoints with its lack of realism, it impresses with its sheer chutzpah. You can almost picture Ellena in his lab, trying to formulate an epilogue to an illustrious career, cursing the regulations, refusing to be defeated. That determination, the bloody, minded pursuit of a hopeless cause, is what lends the scent much of its beauty. Give it a try!

Hermessence Muguet Porcelaine Eau de Toilette for women and men is available now.

Boucheron Epure Bleu de Jodhpur

Launched in 2013, the Epure Collection by Boucheron boasts a timelessly modern designer aesthetic that plays on contrasts that accentuate the sophistication of its clean, strong lines. Each watch case has Frédéric Boucheron’s maxim ‘Je ne sonne que les heures heureses’ (‘I only sound joyful hours’) engraved on its back.

Epure revisits other emblematic codes of Boucheron, including a signature blue cabochon in sapphire, double gadroons and Clous de Paris that lend a contrast effect to the gleaming black dial. The 9 and 3 o’clock indexes are given prominence as a tribute to the year 1893, when Boucheron was established on Place Vendôme in Paris.

Special Edition Boucheron Epure Bleu de Jodhpur. The case, in stainless steel, measures 42mm x 10.5mm. It has an AR-coated sapphire crystal, a sapphire display back, and it is water resistant to 50 meters. It has double gadroons (inverted flutings) on the side and beveled horns. The crown features a blue sapphire cabochon.

Movement is the Swiss automatic Sellita caliber SW300 with 25 jewels, 28,800 vph and a power reserve of 42 hours. The bridges have pearl and snailed finishings, the rotor is engraved and features ‘Côtes de Genève’ decoration.

The dial is blue or white, with polished and silvered double gadroons, blue or white ‘Clous de Paris’ centre, with Arabic numerals and silver stick hands. It comes on a black alligator leather strap with large square scales and stitches and a steel triple folding clasp.

Another special edition of the Boucheron Epure is the Epure Cypris. The Epure Cypris comes in two versions: (above left) Epure Cypris in black, a limited edition engraved to 8 pieces. Made of white gold and diamonds. The dial is made of handcut black Tahiti mother-of-pearl, sculpted in swan shape.

(above right) Epure Cypris in white, also a limited edition engraved to 8 pieces. Made of white gold, diamonds and white mother-of-pearl: the dial in white mother-of-pearl, handsculpted in swan shape. The Cypris’ contours are delicately highlighted with diamonds. Total number of stones: 128.

The Boucheron Epure collection is available at Boucheron boutiques and selected stores worldwide. The Boucheron Epure Cypris is exclusiv available at Boucheron boutiques. Come into the beautiful world of Boucheron.

Chaumet: Colours of spring

 

Napoleon Bonaparte survived many wars, but he succumbed to Empress Josephine’s charms. And while the Empress had one of the world’s most powerful men wrapped around her little finger, she was not immune to the bewitching dazzle of gemstones – Chaumet’s gemstones, to be exact. Once official jeweller to the empress, the brand continues to take her as its regal muse today. The Maison’s ties to its history have always remaimed strong – its flagship boutique, studio and workshop still occupy the same 18th-century townhouse in Place Vendôme, where it has been since its founding in 1780.

A direct nod to the Maison’s royal connection is the Josephine collection. Name aside, its chosen motif, the tiara, appears miniaturised and set with gems, reimagined as rings, bracelets and pendants. Chaumet’s signature pear cut features strongly in the centrstone that tops each miniature tiara like a crowning ge

Parisian ‘Haute Joaillier’ Maison Chaumet’s Josephine collection has taken the world by storm, and no wonder: it’s elegant, it’s modern, and its different styles feature either a diamond – as a stunning engagement ring – or a beautiful colored gemstone for a more day-to-day piece that transitions beautifully into the evening. The ‘Aigrette Imperiale’ design, inspired by the crown, has a wings-like silhouette, ‘Eclat Floral’ has a tulip shape that that exalts the central gem.

Come into the world of Chaumet.

 

 

 

 

Guerlain reveals a new side to ‘L’Homme Idéal’ with an Eau de Parfum

The cult of Guerlain’s ideal man continues with a new ‘L’Homme Idéal’ fragrance, capturing the qualities that characterize the perfect gent: intelligence, beauty, charm, humor and kindness.

The new version was crafted for the French luxury brand by Guerlain master perfumer Thierry Wasser and Guerlain perfumer Delphine Jelk. Together they reinterpreted the signature ingredient of the original scent, the almond, to create the new Eau de Parfum.

This more intensely captivating almond aroma is matched with bergamot and a selection of spices. This is complemented with notes of Bulgarian rose, incense and the vanilla tincture so dear to Guerlain. At its base, this woody oriental scent reveals coppery notes plus sandalwood and tonka bean.

The beveled shape of the original Art Deco style bottle remains unchanged, with its strong, square shoulders. However, the new version comes finished in a matte amber shade.

‘L’Homme Idéal’  is now available in three variations, with this Eau de Parfum adding to the existing Eau de Toilette and Cologne.

Guerlain ‘L’Homme Idéal Eau de Parfum’ is due out April 2016.

 

My Blend with Clarins

From Paris with Love: Le Royal Monceau-Raffles

When it comes to elite beauty products and treatments there is a brand that always pops up as a symbol of quality: Clarins. I was working ten years for this amazing brand, it’s a love that never will fade away.

We don’t promise you miracles, we promise results

Jacques Courtin-Clarins

The French brand (distributed in 150 countries around the world), has built a reputation along the years not only by doing innovative R&D and being at the forefront, but also by interacting closely with all those women that have trusted Clarins since the beginning. This synergic collaboration has proven to be correct: by listening to women’s needs, Clarins has enriched their lives and developed one of the most successful and admired company.

Nowadays Clarins has grown into a multinational company whose motto “With Clarins, life is more beautiful” gives us the essence of what actually this company is. It was founded in 1954 by Jacques Courtin-Clarins who had a holistic vision for the business of beauty. Along 60 years, the so many products and treatments have crystallized in a new adventure for the brand: the Spa My Blend.

These spa’s are exclusive not because there are few of them in the world but because of their dedicated, tailored treatments and products only found in these luxurious yet calm and relaxing temples of beauty and well being. In Paris, where the firm was born, there are a couple: one in the recently opened Molitor, and the other one, designed by Philippe Starck, is located in the Royal Monceau-Raffles, a ‘total Starck’ facility where even the glasses have the sign of the most prolific French designer ever.

Mr. Starck had in mind a place with no gravity, a site where one can wander into the lightness in order to purify oneself upon achieving the spa experience. This white paradise was born over a surface of 1,500 m², a realm of white walls, a lot of (my favorite) Venetian mirrors, veils and stainless steel structures whose purpose is no other but relaxation. The complex has a pristine pool of 23 m –the longest of any Parisian palace–, a Watsu pool, a lounge with cozy coaches, a detoxy bar with seasonal products and a lot of charm. There is a humid area, one for men and one for women, comprising a hamman, sauna, laconium and a surprising sensorial shower where you can bath emulating a tropical storm, for instance.

If you should judge a hotel by its spa, then the Royal Monceau-Raffles in Paris deserves its five stars, and its recently acquired Palace rating (only six other Paris hotels have the highly-coveted badge of distinction). 

Featuring the longest pool in a Paris luxury hotel, the spa at Le Royal Monceau is run by My Blend by Clarins. It also includes a Jacuzzi, hammam, laconium room and sauna over an impressive 1,500 square meter space, all decorated in the purest white from floor to ceilings…  A real haven of relaxation and well-being, where dedicated fitness coaches make sure your personal needs are addressed. 

Through the looking glass, paraphrasing Lewis Carroll, would be a suitable analogy to describe Spa My Blend at Royal Monceau-Raffles. Specially while in the pool whose middle part has a transparent ceiling ruffled by water, or while in the dressing room whose lockers are made of mirrors replicating ad infinitum any image. For those wanting to exercise the body, there is also a rather well furnished high-tech fitness area, a pilates studio and a series of individual coaching rooms.

Now, in any spa a key feature is the proposed treatments. And here is the reason why the Royal Monceau-Raffles chose Clarins to run its outstanding spa. The vision of Dr. Olivier Courtin-Clarins, son of the founder, was that every skin is different, like every genetic code is; so, treatments ought to respond to every skin needs according to age and lifestyle. The line My Blend created by Dr. Courtin-Clarins has over 100 mixtures and 400 night/day personalized combinations created by a Beauty Therapist in situ. At the core of My Blend products there is the so called Cell Synergy anti–ageing complex, a blend of 3 unique peptides that facilitate skin inter–cellular communication, enhance its natural defense and convey skin regeneration.

To tune up the right skin approach Clarins has developed My Skin Diag, a Clarins’ software to determine your skin’s biological age, algorithm combined with information such as lifestyle and habits, helps the Beauty Therapist to create the most precise blend for the client. Another privilege of the Spa My Blend is the technique for the treatment.

It ensures the facial that ensues is personally tailored to your needs: the ritual includes a gentle cleaning, deep exfoliating, two masks (mine were a clarifying mask followed by a hydrating one), targeted face and eye creams application. Since my main concern was the eye area, my therapist insisted on that zone with  cryo-aesthetic, a healing technique that uses the benefits of cold to relieve congestion and enable the microcirculation.

All Clarins classics are availble at theSpa My Blend  

The methods are 100% manual, with precise, ancient movements that are appropriate so the skin can better absorb the products applied on it. Including three steps, its aim is to relax, revitalize and regenerate the body. This protocol can last either 90 or 60 minutes, though there are also programmes lasting from 2 to 4 hours that incorporate several treatments. It is worth to mention that among the formulas used there are unexpected substances as the (Clarins famous) blue orchid essence dispersed in oil, celosia extract and even cherry tree leaves extract.

My Blend uses an in-depth diagnosis based on a questionnaire on your skin and lifestyle to give a personalized recommendation, blending an essential day and night Formula (may your skin be oily, dry and dehydrated, more mature, etc); a Booster (pure active ingredient concentrates) to be added to the essential Formula to answer immediate and urgent beauty needs; and a line of complementary skin care products to enhance the benefits of each Essential Formula and Booster.

Virtuoso, the leading international luxury travel agency network, voted the Spa My Blend at Royal Monceau-Raffles as Best Spa in 2012 in the ‘Best of the Best‘ Awards. The jury justified its choice by quoting that “the hotel spa offers the most alluring environment for rest and rejuvenation, creative and therapeutic treatments, and highly skilled and knowledgeable therapists”. By visiting the place one can feels that in three years since this verdict was issued, the Spa My Blend has maintained the standards by which it was elected ‘Best City Spa 2015′ in Europe by SENSES.

Luxury is all about personalization. And at the Royal Monceau-Raffles Spa, My Blend by Clarins takes personalization to a new level, bringing a revolutionary concept to the customers. Created by the son of the founder of the world-famous French luxury skincare brand Clarins, My Blend by Clarins offers a unique line of products that can be customized and designed for everyone’s specific skin-care needs.

From Paris with Love

Le Royal Monceau-Raffles willalways be one of my most favorite Parisian Hotels. Not only a lunch, a high tea, or a night at the Royal Monceau-Raffles,  but definitely, an afternoon at the My Blend Royal Monceau Raffles Spa in Paris is quite an experience. From a relaxing pool session, to a deep facial treatment, with a quite pause in the immaculate lounge area, you will be longing to come back soon enough once your privileged time is over!

My Blend Royal Monceau Raffles Spa

Opening hours:

• Monday-Saturday: 6:30–22:00; treatments and coaching: 9:00–21:00.
• Sundays: 7:30–20:30; treatments and coaching: 8:30–20:00.
• The pool  and fitness area close 15 minutes before the hour.

Reservations: contact@spamyblendbyclarins.com or http://www.leroyalmonceau.com

More of Le Royal Monceau-Raffles soon here on Yakymour