I absolutely love fragrances, if you hadn't guessed and even though I have been working from home for over a year, and choosing a perfume to join my daily Zoom call is as much a decision now as it is in normal times. For me, a fragrance is chosen to reflect my mood rather than the season or the weather on most occasions, but what I absolutely love to do is try out new offerings and the latest addition to my collection comes from Aldi with their Hotel Collection - Lime, Basil and Mandarin EDP.
Alongside fragrances, Alid have quite the collection of health and beauty products which includes everything from skincare and haircare to makeup, bodycare and beauty tools.
This Hotel Collection Lime, Basil and Mandarin EDP fragrance name might be one that you have come across before with regards to Jo Malone and the absolute classic scent, but the Aldi version is at £5.99 much kinder to the bank balance being almost £90 cheaper. From the outset they look and sound familiar, in fact they share almost identical notes, but for me, having worn a combination of the two for the last few weeks and then asking my hubs which one he prefers, they are very much different.
The fragrance which comes bottled in a rather luxe looking glass bottle with a minimalist label and it is really quite weighty, not what I was expecting for just £5.99.
It opens with top notes of lime, mandarin, orange and bergamot and with it comes a bitter citrus scent as all the fruits come to life and it is as uplifting as it is surprising. As it settles, the heart notes of basil, lilac, iris and thyme really get behind the top notes and the lime, is the one for me which captures your attention as it mingles with the earthiness of the basil and thyme before the base notes of patchouli and vetiver which intensify that bitter citrus to create the most wonderful fragrance that is perfect for a Spring and Summer day. The different between it and Jo Malone? The opening notes are not as strong with this version and you don’t get an immediate hit of like until it settles on the skin.
If Lime, Basil & Mandarin is not a scent you think you would love, thankfully there are other options to choose from, there is also the option of Velvety Rose or Pomegranate, both of which, I am now wanting to try especially given that they are all retail for just £5.99. As with anything Aldi beauty related, you need to keep your eyes peeled because they go out of stock as quick as they come in to stock!