Sandra‘s Closet

Distilling happiness since 1862, Roger & Gallet has created a collection of 8 absolute must-have wellbeing hand creams that are «made in France». Winter essentials, composed of 95% natural ingredients, with shea butter and sweet almond enriched formula that nourishes and soothes even the most fragile hands.

Discover the 8 signature fragrances from the Fragrant Wellbeing Water collection with relaxing or energizing properties. A joyful range of moods to be mixed and matched, packaged in recyclable aluminum tubes.

RELAXING CARE

Delicious relaxation:
FLEUR DE FIGUIER
A nap in the shade of a fig tree.

Delightful interlude:
ROSE
A soothing caress of Damascene Rose.

Zealous throwback:
NEROLI
The delightful indulgence of orange blossom with honey accords.

Comforting tea time:
FEUILLE DE THÉ
A soothing infusion with notes of black tea.

ENERGIZING CARE

Citrus cocktail:
BOIS D’ORANGE
A stroll through an orange grove.

Sparkling seduction:
GINGEMBRE ROUGE
A berichtig, delectable trail.

Tangy getaway:
CÉDRAT
A refreshing sorbet with Mediterranean notes.

Floral happiness:

FLEUR D’OSMANTHUS
An armful of freshly cut flowers with apricot notes.

Recommended retail price: CHF 8.10 (30ml).

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / Roger Gallet
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Rising in the East, intense sunlight infuses Sacred Wood and Rose Oud by KILIAN PARIS, two fragrance icons blended by Founder Kilian Hennessy and Perfumer Calice Becker almost ten years ago, are returning to the collection.

Sacred Wood is a homage to pure Sandalwood from Mysore, India—so rare it is now forbidden in perfumery, reserved for religious temples— while Rose Oud celebrates a firework of woods and spices around an incandescent Rose. Both creations also pay common tribute to their shared ingredient of Cedarwood, sourced from protected tree species in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, blended into a matrix of resinous notes like liquid gold. Exceptional woods like these take time to cultivate; mysterious and sanctified, they are an olfactive opening into a higher level of sensory pleasure.

Part of The Cellars olfactive family, Sacred Wood is a unisex portrait of Sandalwood, especially the most coveted variety from Mysore with its spicy, woodsy and milky facets that are simply incredible. Now prohibited, Kilian Hennessy recreates his olfactive ideal.

Sacred Wood opens with Ambrette Seed Absolute and Carrot Seed Essence for spicy and earthen elements, only to unfold into a multi-layered Sandalwood Accord with Cedarwood Oil Atlas sourced in Morocco and Amyris Oil from Dominican Republic. Copaiba Balsam Oil adds warmth with an animalic aspect of Apricot. A malted milky vapor rises like incense, for an exceptional and long-lasting sillage.

Part of The Narcotics olfactive family, Rose Oud depicts a burning blend of Roses.

Rose Oil from Bulgaria opens with a spark of Saffron and Cinnamon, while Rose Absolute spread luxuriously throughout, blending into a sweet Lychee accord. The fragrance unfolds a long-lasting dry-down based on Cedarwood Atlas Oil, that resonates with an Oud Accord built around woody and spicy Cypriol Oil from India, enriched by deep smoky notes of leather.

Two of the most coveted blends of KILIAN PARIS have made their come back. Sacred Wood and Rose Oud go higher—sourced below in the scent of wood, uplifted toward the light—both are windows into something beyond.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © KILIAN PARIS and © Sandra Bauknecht / Nadia Krawiecka
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

Tiffany & Co. celebrates the global launch of the Tiffany Lock collection. Expanding on the current offering of Lock bangles that debuted in the U.S. in September, the global launch will bring an array of rings, earrings and pendants in rose gold to the brand with multiple colorways debuting later in the year. Signaling a new expression of design and craftsmanship, the Lock collection pays homage to the jeweler’s illustrious heritage while introducing the latest innovation to the bangle: an elegant swiveling mechanism that allows the designs to open and close.

The new Tiffany Lock campaign features K-pop superstar ROSÉ from girl group BLACKPINK. The Tiffany & Co. House ambassador is styled in sparkling diamond Lock bangles and highlight the versatility of the designs and powerful style statement each design makes. ROSÉ has continued to embody the modern Tiffany & Co. woman and bring an energy that is aligned with the ethos of Tiffany Lock. ROSÉ, together with the male talent featured in the new Lock campaign, capture the inclusive spirit of Tiffany’s first all-gender jewelry collection.

Tiffany Lock is available at Tiffany & Co. stores around the world and on Tiffany.com starting on January 2, 2023.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Tiffany & Co.
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

Having explored the olfactory culture of the Middle East since 2018, Les Parfums Louis Vuitton now make a new stopover. Following Ombre Nomade, Les Sables Roses, Nuit de Feu and Pur Oud, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud composes a tribute to three native Middle Eastern flowers that over the centuries have become emblematic of perfumery all over the world: jasmine, a symbol of beauty from the Far East to the Mediterranean; orange blossom, which has been used in the region since Antiquity; and rose, one of the most famous varieties of which originated in Damascus. For the fifth opus in this collection, Louis Vuitton’s Master Perfumer wanted to capture these natural wonders in their original setting: gathered in a «nectar of flowers,» they blossom at the heart of a rich and resolutely sophisticated oriental composition. More than a perfume: a signature.

The Splendors of the Desert

In the desert, everything is magnified. This theater of extremes has fascinated and inspired stories since the dawn of time. Its immensity invites us to dream even further. Despite its hostile environment, the desert conceals spectacular wonders. Unforgettable emotions…

Amid the expanse of sand, a touch of color catches the travelers’ eye and makes them stop in their tracks. A corolla of petals. The unexpected presence of a plant in a vast, mineral ocean. At once fragile and strong, this flower has braved the omnipotence of the elements to express a beauty that is all the more sumptuous. It is life that springs forth against all odds, foiling the impossible. A miracle, poised at the boundary of reality and magic.

A Nectar of Flowers

From his many visits to the Middle East, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud carries in his memory striking contrasts. Arid dunes skirting the sea. Scorching days succeeded by freezing nights. A sumptuous palace rising from the heart of the desert, an architectural treasure breaking the monotony of sand like a mirage. To compose Fleur du Désert, he immersed himself in the «absolute beauty» of an oasis with lush vegetation, encountered during a morning walk in the Saudi Arabian desert not far from Jeddah. Moved by the power of such life defying the aridity of the landscape – an «eminently optimistic symbol» – Louis Vuitton’s Master Perfumer captured the image in a colorful signature brimming with contrasts. The delicacy of a bouquet of fresh flowers, exalted by the depth of an oriental trail.

Jasmine, orange blossom, rose: originally from the Middle East, these three flowers became emblems for Western perfumery. «They were brought to Europe by caravan from different regions in the Orient,» explains Jacques Cavallier Belletrud. «My idea was simply to stage these natural wonders in their original setting.» Directly inspired by the history and origins of perfumery, Fleur du Désert celebrates the essential contribution of the Middle East, the birthplace of this millennia-old art.

The House’s Master Perfumer selected the finest qualities of these flowers that he knows by heart as they are redolent of his native region: Grasse. Two essences obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction faithfully reproduce the scents of the fresh flowers at the center of his composition: Grandiflorum jasmine, tinged with the honeyed accents of orange blossom absolute, emanates its delicately radiant scent, while the Centifolia rose reveals the sublime softness of its petals. This precious bouquet is an ode to the art of perfume, enveloped in an oriental accord with original tonalities of spices and honey.
«I didn’t want an oriental accord in the Western sense of the term, but rather one that truly speaks of the culture and beauty that are unique to that region,» the perfumer explains. Oud Assam, also known as «black gold» — a treasure of Middle Eastern perfumery — expresses its unprecedented olfactory richness through an exceptional essence, distilled for two centuries by a family of producers in Bangladesh who have become the exclusive supplier to Louis Vuitton. Woody, animalic, spicy, amber… its deep scent is rounded by a honeyed note that responds to the suavest facets in the floral bouquet. Touched by a whisper of cinnamon, warm as the desert wind, this opulent trail embraces the skin with the sensuality of Ambrox, then melts into the naturally musky softness of ambrette seed. Enveloped in precious ingredients, this «nectar of flowers» reveals its absolute sophistication as the hours pass…

Louis Vuitton and the Middle East: A Legacy of Signatures

Introduced with Ombre Nomade in 2018, Les Parfums Louis Vuitton‘s tribute to Middle Eastern olfactory culture is not limited to its ingredients, nor to its territories of inspiration. Fragrance after fragrance, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud reaffirms the connection between his personal creative process and Middle Eastern perfumery, which share a singular love for textured, sophisticated fragrances. The son and grandson of perfumers, he observes that «Truly great perfumes have olfactory imprints that are distinctive and instantly memorable.» In a word: they are signatures. Guided by this conviction from his earliest creations, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud has naturally developed a strong affinity with lovers of Middle Eastern perfumery. Through this collection, he reveres the culture and curiosity that drives them to explore all olfactory families, well beyond the clichés to which Western perfumery sometimes confines them. «What defines a »Middle Eastern» perfume is not a question of notes, in my opinion,» he «It is rather a matter of textures and complexity. Undeniable elegance and presence.»

The Colors of the Desert

With the perfumes in this Middle Eastern-inspired collection, Louis Vuitton offers a palette of vibrant blacks that capture the colors of the desert and the multiple nuances of its mysteries. Crafted in precious glass that appears black at first glance, the House’s iconic perfume bottle reveals a deep, intense cast when touched by light. Fleur du Désert reveals pinkish reflections evoking the sumptuous hue of a freshly bloomed flower. Like the desert surrendering its most beautiful secrets to those who know how to look…

Eau de Parfum Fleur du Désert 100ml, 320€
In-store refill 100ml, 190€

Eau de Parfum Fleur du Désert 200ml, 495€
In-store refill 200ml, 380€

Available at select Louis Vuitton stores and from louisvuitton.com.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton #LVParfums #louisvuitton
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Today, I was invited by SHISEIDO to a press conference at Metropol restaurant in Zurich to discover the new SHISEIDO Ultimune concentrate. It was wonderful to finally meet again in person, to indulge in a very yummy Japanese lunch and to discover a piece of traditional Japanese history and do a FUROSHIKI workshop, the art of Japanese gift wrapping.

The famous SHISEIDO Ultimune concentrate was the first product to target the immune system many years ago. It has immediately become a bestseller. 25 years of research and 200 beauty awards later, one is sold every 7 seconds. This fall, SHISEIDO’s #1 serum gets even stronger with an innovative anti-aging technology powered by 8 botanical ingredients. It activates skin’s inner defenses and stimulates its vital flow to lead your skin to its ideal condition.

Our skin is a fully active organ. The nerves and the immune system, both play an important role in the anti-aging process. SHISEIDO now targets also the vascular system to improve the blood circulation of the skin and unveils the ImuGenerationsRED Technology™. Inspired by major scientific discoveries it targets two factors involved in the maintenance of a strong and youthful-looking skin. By attacking two key cells, the Langerhans cells as well as the NK cells (natural killer cells), it boosts the skin’s self-defense system to fight external and internal factors that impact skin’s health and accelerate its aging.

Relying on unprecedented Lifeblood™ findings, it improves the vital network to constantly promote the delivery of essential nutrients and defensive cells to every corner of the skin. Maintaining a healthy vital flow will thus foster the skin’s ability to resist harmful factors and reduce the signs of aging appearance. The capillary network in our skin is dense and well-structured when we are young. With age, it gets weaker and disorganized, which leads to sagging skin.

The new technology works with two main ingredients:

1. Fermented Roselle Extract that helps to activate the NK cells to remove aged cells also called zombie cells
2. Houttuynia Cordata Extract that activates the so-called APJ sensors that are key factors for healthy capillaries to reinforce, extend capillaries and optimize the supply of nutrients and immune cells

Furthermore, the new Ultimune concentrate works with aromachology to support a stronger skin: the so-called IMUCALM Compound™ – a fragrance, blended with Lotus and Rose which has been scientifically proven to reduce stress hormones and strengthen the barrier function of the skin.

The new product promises after clinical tests:

• after three days, skin looks visibly more radiant
• after one month, skin is firmer and looks more resilient
• after one bottle (approximately 1.5 months when used morning and evening), wrinkles are visibly diminished and skin looks younger as renewed.

The new SHISEIDO Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate 3.0 is available now for CHF 102.00 (30ml),  CHF 151.00 (50ml) and CHF 176.00 (75ml). The serum bottle is refillable, 100% recyclable and comes from 94% naturally derived materials.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
@Shiseido #Ultimune #ShiseidoSkincare #PowerIsYou @globus

Here is your anti-gloom remedy, a cheerful interpretation to be creative. Meet the fun universe of SOLINOTES and their eaux de parfum that were specifically developed to be worn alone, or layered to create a unique signature scent. With a collection of 15 unique fragrances, a multitude of scented combinations can be created to suit your personality, style and mood. A simple concept which, like a fashion accessory, gives each woman the freedom to flaunt her own identity and express her femininity!

My favorite combination for summer: Tiare and Vanilla

How does it work?

1. Pick up two fragrances you would like to mix
2. Spray on your skin to associate the fragrances together
3. Enjoy your unique perfume

The Essentials: Orange Blossom, Vanilla, Tiare, Cherry Blossom
Floral Scents: Frangipani Flower, Jasmin Blossom, Iris Blossom, Fig Tree Blossom
Novelties: Pink Grafruit, Yuzu, White Tea, Pomegranate
Timeless Perfumes: Musk, Rose, Blackberry

To get off to a faultless start, I recommend to spice up a floral bouquet with citrus, or to mix a fruit note with vanilla.

In Switzerland, the collection is exclusively available at Manor for CHF 15.90 (50ml) and CHF 9.90 (15ml) each. Create your own perfume book and write a new chapter each day depending on your mood!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Solinotes, © Sandra Bauknecht

M∙A∙C’s cult-favourite hydrating mist, Prep + Prime Fix+, takes on a delicious new twist in four permanent scents: rose, lavender, coconut and our original sugi needle aroma.
Water, vitamins and extracts give skin an instant boost of hydration while the lightweight prolonging formula sets makeup and refreshes your complexion. Try it, you will thank me forever! I use it on a daily base! Sheer out foundation, intensify colour, improve and extend the wear of makeup, or moisturize and soothe tired skin with the holy grail of hydrating mists.

PREP + PRIME FIX+
Original – Coconut – Rose – Lavender
CHF 26.00

Available January 2018 at all M∙A∙C locations, M∙A∙C stores and at maccosmetics.ch.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of M∙A∙C Cosmetics

What if your instincts were guided by your sense of smell,
leading you towards new adventures?
What was long suspected has finally been proven…
the power of scent unconsciously influences our behaviour.

My avid readers know that I am a perfume junkie and I love niche fragrances. This week, I came along a new scent that I have fallen in love within a second: PSYCHEDELIC LOVE by INITIO from the Carnal Blends collection.

FLORAL POWDERY
Bergamot, Rose, Hedione, Heliotropin, Myrrh, Vanilla, Almond and Patchouli
CHF 199.00 (90ml)

A transgressive reference to psychedelic trips, this fetishist composition has the effect of a double-action bomb: first, it triggers an immense, addictive and egotistical pleasure, before diffusing itself and titillating its target, who is left completely hooked.

What is this scent of subversion?
Stupefying fragrance – The signature of this narcotic bomb lies in three essential ingredients: rose, hedione and heliotropin.

While hedione activates the brain regions linked to pleasure and the libido, heliotropin goes even further. Equally tender and illicit, this crystalline powder hides its intentions well. Beware of its creamy, powdery and floral facets, wavering between vanilla and almond!

Used in over doses, heliotropin becomes a psychoactive substance. A forbidden shiver rushes over the skin. A substance under strict regulations. Its possession is strictly controlled by law, because heliotropin is used for the chemical synthesis of MDA, a prohibited drug and substitute for ecstasy. Confronted with this diabolical indulgence, no one is safe from an olfactory obsession that can soon become a real addiction!

Scientists have long rejected the idea that certain fragrances are capable of releasing sex hormones. However, a team of researchers from Bochum University (Germany) demonstrated that specific scented molecules known as hedione (methyl dihydrojasmonate) can activate brain regions linked to the libido, triggering impulses and attraction in their wake.

This discovery led to the creation of Carnal Blends, an unprecedented collection by INITIO in which all of the formulas are enriched with hedione – a word very aptly derived from the Greek hedone (meaning «pleasure»), a mysterious molecule that plays the role of the final detonator.
Each of these fragrances dares to showcase fantasy raw materials, carnal notes and passionate, distinctive accords, celebrating rebellious olfactory compositions capable of arousing pleasure and inciting physical attraction.

INITIO takes fragrances to new heights, with enhanced powers that defy the imagination.
Wild nature and the science of pheromones fuse deeply together within the formulas, working their magic imperceptibly. The Magnetic Blends, that include a pheromonal molecule, are great to be blended. I adore wearing MAGNETIC BLEND 7 (Musks – CHF 190.00 (90ml)) under PSYCHEDELIC LOVE.

INITIO fragrances stir your instincts. Ladies, no man is safe anymore. Trust me, those are the sexiest scents on the planet! You will thank me forever…

In Zurich available at Jelmoli.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Initio

Last March upon writing today’s post, I knew already that the Dior ‘J’ADIOR’ slingbacks will be undoubtedly the most sought after shoes of the season. Maria Grazia Chiuri, who is the first female designer to head up the house of Dior in it’s 70 year history, rocked her runway debut with slogan tees, tutu skirts and a shoe that has reached a cult status in an instant.

But ladies, it is not only the clothes and accessories, that make a woman beautiful. We also need to work on our radiance when nobody is watching us. Therefore I would like to recommend to you today Dior Prestige La Lotion Essence de Rose.

Combining the power of a fresh essence with the comfort of a milky lotion, this first step of your daily beauty routine in the morning (and at night) is drenched in hydrating agents to deeply moisturize the skin and to wrap it in a protective veil all day long. It doubles the age-defying effectiveness of your other products to reveal a fresher, more luminous complexion.

How It Works:
Through a unique process, Dior Science releases the vital essence concentrated at the heart of Rose de Granville cells and creates the patented Micro-Reviving Rose Water™. La Lotion Essence de Rose reinvigorates circulation and flow between skin cells. Full of life, the skin is infused with a natural rosy radiance again.

Personal experience:
My skin feels after only 4 weeks of use perfectly invigorated. It is softer, more supple and revitalized. Even after not sleeping a lot, my complexion is less dull and wrinkles seem diminish.

TO SHOP DIOR PRESTIGE LA LOTION ESSENCE DE ROSE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Dior and © Sandra Bauknecht

An oriental floral fragrance, CLINIQUE Beyond Rose is a scent that has been customized for a Middle Eastern and Gulf audience. Arabia’s past, presence and future meet in this sophisticated perfume spray that is both modern and complex. An exclusive blend of the most precious balms and resins handcrafted around a unique wild rose accord.

Rose as you have never known it… sheer layers that build into an intense experience, with hints of amber and a shock of pepper.

ORIENTAL FLORAL
Top note: White pepper, freesia flowers and mate leaves
Middle note: Damask rose, rose oil and osmanthus blossom
Base note: Amber, labdanum, styrax and benzoin

Available now in Switzerland at Globus Geneva, Manor Geneva, Manor Lugano, Jelmoli Zurich and Manor Zurich for CHF 140.00 (100ml).
TO SHOP CLINIQUE BEYOND ROSE ONLINE, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Clinique, © Gregoire Mahler