NATURE'S GATE

 

I've become a bit obsessed with Into The Gloss of late (I can't wait to hit New York next month and stock up on Tata Harper skincare and Rodin oils). That said, I think Nature's Gate products are just as good as the Alba Botanica ones The Top Shelf ladies rave about - the 'seven healthy hair nutrients' (for instance, borage flower seed oil for a healthy scalp) in their shampoos and conditioners leave my hair the most lustrous and least bouffant it's ever been. And smelling divine! Plus Nature's Gate is chain store cheap, the bottles pictured above under $10 a pop from Priceline. Check out their glossary of ingredients here.

PEONY MELBOURNE

Another Auburn village find at the weekend was Peony Melbourne: the best parfumerie I've yet to visit in Oz! They've Keiko Mecheri (how I heart her Ume), Carthusia (Fiori di Capri is super Summery), L'Artisan Parfumeur (a fragrance called Timbuktu!) and more. Click here for a full list of Peony scents, and here to view owner Jill Timms' blog - she even offers fragrance consultations using Michael Edwards' Fragrance Wheel (divided into floral, oriental, wood and fresh, take a squiz here).

I'd send anyone to Peony (107 Auburn Road, Hawthorn) for Christmas presents - their Agg Tval Egg White soaps (above) and Carriere Freres Industrie candles (below) would make perfect stocking fillers. On my list for Santa is Florence by Tocca: 'An alluring combination of Italian Bergamot and crushed violet petals. Blue iris and bottom notes of blonde wood add a sophisticated and feminine scent that's reminiscent of old world Paris.' Mais oui, Peony!

SHIGENOBU TWILIGHT

Now this is the sort of Twlight that I like (though am still trying to convince le monsieur to watch Eclipse!) With a cedar wood heart framed by top notes of yuzu, shiso, hinoki and violet leaf, Shigenobu Twlight is divine. And each bottle is hand cut! On sale at United Bamboo online for $US112.