Eau de Philae - Boisée Parfum for Him

The Amazing Blog HQ has been touched by La Dolce Vita this week after a wonderful few weeks spent exploring the glories of the Italian Riviera - great food, delicious wine, inspiring company, and all with the sumptuous backdrop of a beautiful country. In no small part, this has inspired our #amazingfinds.

One of our exciting discoveries, amidst all the romance and splendour of centuries of tradition, was to be found encapsulated in a most attractive glass bottle. In many ways, traditional in design, Eau de Philae's Boisée Parfum is a refreshing fragrance which packs quite a punch on the scent spectrum. Boisée Eau De Parfum should certainly be given the whiff test if you like your aftershaves to be fresh, but not too flowery. Brought out to stand alongside some equally evocative options, such as Eau De Parfum Bouquet For Her in the Eau de Philae Range, it is similarly organic and holds vegan-friendly accreditation, created by InLight Beauty’s partners C.E.M.O.N Homeopathics in Italy.

For Him, however, we are offered a mysterious woody scent, with zesty fresh accents to awaken the senses; although interestingly, the overall fragrance is quite formal, giving an almost reserved result. They say: “Due to the wheat-derived organic alcohol and high content of medicinal plant extracts, Boisée Eau de Parfum is a completely natural fragrance, in tune with the body’s natural vibrations and as such is a richly sensory experience enhancing both health and wellbeing.” Despite this glorious concoction being prepared in Naples, the original recipes hail from Ancient Egypt - the island of Philae to be exact … 4000 years is probably just about enough time to get it right! It has 82% organic ingredients, and you will be glad to hear that the price is not a Pharoah’s ransom, at around £42 for 50ml and available online from here.

Hair and Body Care By Oway

Oway, short for The Organic Way, is an Italian brand that focuses on the beauty of nature, maintaining an ethical and sustainable approach. This ethos is something we here at The Amazing Blog strongly support; ‘Perhaps we cannot change the world but we can certainly improve it!’. We were lucky enough to try out the Frequent Use Hair & Scalp Bath, the Moisturising Hair Mask, the Glossy Nectar and the Fabulous Body Oil.

Oway takes their biodynamic approach seriously. All of their products come in 100% recyclable glass bottles or aluminium tubes, and they never use toxic substances in the harvesting of their products. Oway only uses fairtrade purchase and they are supporting over 800 local communities. This brand is not only kind to the environment, but it’s kind to skin too. The natural botanical ingredients render the use of artificial perfumes unnecessary.

The products do not contain harmful or useless ‘filler’ products, such as parabens, artificial colourants and synthetic fragrance. Quite the contrary. In fact, the Frequent Use Hair & Scalp Bath contains three simple ingredients; lemon, aniseed and white tea. They work together to detoxify the scalp and hair, leaving it clean yet moisturised. If you have very dry and damaged hair, follow this with the Moisturising Hair Mask for intense hydration and repair. Basil, iris, teak and mahogany protect and add moisture and shine to the hair. The Glossy Nectar, a rebuilding oil for your hair, nourishes and strengthens your hair with marrubium, black quinoa, amla and marula, whilst boosting natural defences against UV radiation and heat sources. The Fabulous Body Oil boasts ingredients such as biodynamic blood orange, organic tamanu, vitamin C and patauá. The star ingredient is Inca inchi oil which has a high content of unsaturated acids and vitamins, repairing and improving the elasticity of the skin.

Purchase the Frequent Use Hair & Scalp Bath here for £5-£55, the Moisturising Hair Mask here for £9.50-£45, the Glossy Nectar here for £13-£18 and the Fabulous Body Oil here for £14-£39.

Vallebona – Cheese and Honey

We here at The Amazing Blog always have an appetite for exploring new gourmet foods, so when our friends at Vallebona Sardinian Gourmet  contacted us, our stomachs were rumbling!  This family owned delicatessen is a proud, leading supplier of gourmet Sardinian and Italian produce within the UK.

With history dating back to the 1890’s, this business has been providing genuine Italian foods to homes, restaurants and cafés in the UK for over a decade.  Vallebona offers Artisan Cheeses, carefully selected Italian wines, various honeys, salami and other Italian delicacies that provide healthy, modern options to British cuisine and home cooking.   The company is currently owned and operated by the Stefano Vallebona, the great grandson of the original owner and continues to maintain connections with suppliers from that date to the start of the business.  Vallebona’s dedication to its roots assures customers of its truly authentic Italian foods.

Sensing our hunger for something new, Vallebona delivered delicious Pecorino Rosso Cheese and Honey with White Truffle to our office doorstep!  Pecorino Rosso is a Sardinian pecorino cheese (from the island of Sardina) and is made primarily of local Sardinian sheep milk.  The creamy, medium texture of Percorino Rosso makes the cheese easily scoop-able and the perfect accompaniment to Honey with White Truffle.  This speciality cheese is offered in blocks of 200g and 1kg.  A 200g block of Percorino Rosso Cheese can be found here for £3.20 .  The Vallebona Sardinian Gourmet Honey with White Truffle is a light acacia honey dotted with generous pieces of truffle.  This delectable combination makes for an intensely flavoured honey; Honey with White Truffle is an ideal complement when drizzled over the Pecorino Rosso.  The honey is offered in various size containers of 45g, 120g and 250g.  A 45g jar of Vallebona’s Honey with White Truffle can be found here for £3.92 .  The Pecorino cheese and Honey with White Truffle can also be purchased as a set, along with a suggested recipe and a 50g bag of Music Paper Bread for £12 here .

 Vallebona also invites you to sample their authentic Italian goods, in-store on Saturdays while you shop at their warehouse deli in Wimbledon .  Vallebona Sardinian Gourmet Pecorino Rosso cheese, Honey with White Truffle and other gourmet items can be purchased online here  with free delivery for orders over £50.  Buon Appetito (Good eating)!

Delicious Italian Food at the Palm of Your Hand

When I think of Italian food, I just sit back and say ‘ahh’. Delectable smells and delicious tastes, Italian dishes always get my mouth watering. So it comes as no surprise that when we heard about a new Italian snack here at The Amazing Blog, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to try it. Rita’s Fugasun is a new company out of Park Royal that is creating a delicious, tasty snack  that is sure to get anyone's mouth watering.

Rita’s Fugasun is a vegetarian vegetable pie that is prepared fresh daily in their bakery. It is a compilation of vegetables wrapped in a pastry shell. Let me tell you, this is an absolutely perfect snack. It is packed full of nutrient-rich ingredients like Swiss chard, courgettes, onions, parsley, olive oil, Organic Arborio rice, and eggs. The pastry is made with organic flour, which is an added plus. The pie also contains vegetarian friendly parmesan cheese, which tastes anything but faux! We all agreed: it is delicious. Everyone loved it, and wanted more immediately.

This pie is perfect for many people, especially because it is Vegetarian Society Approved. But don’t be fooled, readers, this pie is delicious for anyone! I’m guessing you obviously want to know where these pies can be purchased, right? In London, you can get them from Planet Organic, Darwin’s Deli, and many other locations. Check the Rita’s Fugasun website for a full listing. The pies can also be delivered to an office by calling 020 8537 9070. Definitely time to re-think your next snack!

Festive Fashion

Christmas always brings with it the age-old dilema of wanting to avoid frostbite without sacrificing in the style stakes. Bare legs are no longer appropriate attire, however slathered in self tan they are, and leaving the house without gloves often results in a rather unattractive blue tinge on one's hands. Thus, we've searched far and wide for some hidden gems that will keep you both feeling warm and looking hot!

For anyone wanting to cover up a pasty set of pins without opting for the middle-aged staple of 20 denier tights, help is at hand. Put an extra sparkle in your outfits this season with the Classic Crystal Hosiery Collection from Candy Baker.  The collection features subtle and sexy designs that are sure to catch some admiring glances and well-deserved compliments.  This unexpected touch to traditional hosiery is a glamorous and flattering way to accessorize anything from the classic LBD to an edgier party ensemble. The Back Seam: £33.

If you're looking for some sumptuous accessories, Aruna Seth is a well-respected name in the shoe world and her unique designs are characterised by Swarovski Crystals and impeccable trims.  No stranger to the red carpet, Aruna’s exquisite designs are the ultimate in evening wear elegance and come in a series of matching sets such as the red satin and butterfly.  With accessories these decadent and show-stopping, who needs a dress? Clutch Bag: £355.

You may recognize some of Baronessa’s designs from the pages of your favourite magazines and newspapers as the jewellery brand’s knack for affordable luxury has landed it in good favour with likes of Vogue.  Baronessa calls itself jewellery to fall in love with, and it’s girly and elegant designs might have you doing just that.  With its midrange prices, don’t be fooled- Baronessas pieces have a classic and timeless quality and they may just become the centrepieces of your jewellery collection. Gold Hammered Bracelet: £35.

And in keeping with the staying warm but stylish theme are these beautiful animal print cashmere scarves from www.black.co.uk. Etheral in appearance and featherlight in texture, these luxurious scarves are a fantastic alternative to a thick cable knit that, although warm, is hardly the ideal pairing with a LBD. Made from pure cashmere and gauze woven, a method that creates an ultra-light tactility, these are the ultimate in festive finery. Prices start at £125 and the scarves are available in four prints - peacock, giraffe, leopard and anaconda snake. They are also offering a 10% discount to readers of this blog just enter AMAZING10 on the check out.

Finally, for a one-stop shop for perfect presents is Lusso-London, which offers divine accessories and clothing sourced from around the world. Taking their name from the Italian for luxury, Lusso-London stocks a whole host of decadent gift ideas, whether treating yourself or buying for a loved one. We think these red and grey woolen gloves are perfect for winter, and adore their unique two-tone design. Also available in grey/purple and brown/green colour combinations, they make an ideal accesorry for a post-roast country walk. Woolen gloves: £40.