At any given point in time, there are a dozen and one new and wonderful things happening at Mandarin Gallery. To make sure that you are kept in the know about the biggest bargains and hottest new arrivals from our fabulous brands, keep a keen eye on this blog because we will be updating you regularly on the latest goodies that should be going onto your to-buy List. This time around, we have a piece of award-winning design, truly organic French perfume and cute time-tellers waiting in store for you!

Bud Cosmetics
Proclaiming to be ‘Truly Organic, Terribly French’, Honoré des Prés, a cult French organic perfume range, took the world of scents by storm and bagged the Wallpaper Magazine’s Best Design 2010 Award. Crafted by renowned perfumer Olivia Giacobetti, who has worked with Guerlain, Hermès, L’Artisan Parfumeur  and Dyptique, Honoré des Prés is a luxurious line of fragrances of 100% natural origin that has been certified organic by ECOCERT. Lovers of The Big Apple will be delighted with the sensual, trendy and urbane ‘We Love NY’ (SGD190) collection while the fresh, chic and vintage-inspired Les Verrines d’Honoré (SGD130) collection is an ode to the good old days of our grandmothers.

Honoré des Prés perfumes are available at Bud Cosmetics, #03-32, Mandarin Gallery

Elephant & Coral
Having been awarded the prestigious iF Design Award 2012, the Pentagon Collection from Elephant & Coral is an instant modern classic. Made of polished precious resin and featuring a luxurious 18K gold nib, it has been a labour of love that is 18 months in the making, but the result is certainly worth the effort. Inspired by the Asian interpretation of how the world is conceived, each side of the design’s five-faceted pentagon shape represents one of the following elements: metal, wood, water, fire and earth. Aesthetically simple but strong, the Pentagon is designed to facilitate how it is held, used and stored.

The limited edition Pentagon Collection consists of 200 pieces of fountain pens (SGD1280) and 100 pieces of rollerball pens (SGD1080). Elephant & Coral is located at #03-03, Mandarin Gallery

Marc by Marc Jacobs
You can always count on Mr Jacobs for a bit of fun. This season, the Marc by Marc Jacobs Dreamy Logo collection features the playful font that has been a hallmark of the label’s clothes and accessories. The new Bubble collection is chunky and very trendy with a unique two-piece mirror dial and indexes of cutout dreamy logo lettering. The standout pieces of the collection are undoubtedly the chic aluminum handbag charms (available in shiny silver or black) that can double as a witty pocket watch.

The Marc by Marc Jacobs Dreamy Logo watch collection retails at #01-11, Mandarin Gallery from SGD320 to SGD450

With the green movement gaining momentum and a heightened awareness of organic products and their health benefits, it’s not surprising that the newest organic baby on the block comes in the form of fragrances – and luxe ones at that.

Brought to you by Bud Cosmetics, the Organic Glam fragrance collection is a brainchild of The Organic Pharmacy, the cult celebrity organic skincare and health label from the UK. The creators of Organic Glam wanted to produce a 100% natural and organic fragrance line that matched the strict ethos of the organic pharmacy. Three years in the making, Organic Glam aims to give the sophisticated woman a range of luxury fine fragrances made with some of the finest and most precious organic oils in the world.

Containing no artificial fragrances, colours, phthalates or ingredients of animal origin, Organic Glam fragrances come in five distinctive scents: Citron, Jasmin, Orange Blossom, Oriental Blossom and Oud.

Inspired by the incredible scenery and utter beauty of the Southern Italian Riviera, Citron combines and freshness of Italian lemon and bergamot with cool sophistication, while Jasmine captures the luscious fragrance of jasmine blooms in spring and summer, with an uplifting scent reminiscent of warm moonlit walks and intoxicating Mediterranean nights.

Journey through the Orient with the subtle citrus notes of Sicilian bergamot, lemon and mandarin of Oriental Blossom, and let Oud transport you to an Arabian souk, where the intense scents of Moroccan cedarwood, Indian oud, black pepper and cardamom blend with a heart of delicate rose. Last but not least, the lovely Orange Blossom is a joyous scent filled with notes of Brazilian tangerine, green mandarin and sweet orange.

Perfect gifts for the urbane sophisticate who appreciates the value of organic products, these gorgeous glass bottles will look good on any dresser.

Get Organic Glam fragrances at Bud Cosmetics, at SGD290 each for 100 ml

Every girl loves to be pampered by her special man. Showing her that you care need not come with a hefty price tag. While a beautiful piece of bling will certainly earn you brownie points, a thoughtfully picked out gift will go a longer way in capturing her heart. This Valentine’s Day, spoil your princess with quality products from Mt Sapola, Flaming Queen and Buds Cosmetics that nourish both the body, heart and mind.

Mine Chalkboard Candle
Deliver your message by candlelight and scribble your love notes onto the Mine Chalkboard Candle. Holding a 100% soy wax candle, the ceramic candleholder serves as a chalkboard on which you can write and doodle to your heart’s content. The holder is available in black and green and you can take your pick from several scents. Each candle also comes with a pack of three coloured chalks! So get creative and start jotting down short but sweet declarations of love on this unlikely medium!

The Chalkboard Candle retails for SGD59 at Flaming Queen, #02-32, Mandarin Gallery

Mt Sapola Body Spa
Rather than splurge on a spa session that lasts a mere 120 minutes, why not take matters into your own hands and invest in home spa products that are made from only the finest natural ingredients? Mt Sapola has developed a comprehensive range of body pampering products that are made for our Asian skin in our tropical climate. The Thai brand has four body spa ranges in all – Harmony, Invigoration, Passion and Sweet Dream. Each one is designed to promote a positive state of mind, relaxation, joy and pleasure.

Prices for Mt Sapola’s body spa collections range from SGD23.90 for the body wash to SGD36.60 for the salt scrub. Mt Sapola is located at #02-31, Mandarin Gallery

Patyka Perfumes
Patyka Perfumes are perfect for the eco-friendly girl. The brand grows its own organic ingredients and its philosophy is based on being au natural. This fragrance collection has another unique characteristic – each scent in the series is pared down to a single basic perfumery family, such as Citrus and Woody. As a result of their simple elegance, Patyka Perfumes smell more beautiful when layered together. Buy her the entire collection and let her experiment to achieve her very own one-of-a-kind scent!

Patyka perfumes are available at Buds Cosmetics, #03-32, Mandarin Gallery at SGD185 each

Every Christmas, one of the trickiest gifts to buy will have to be for the Secret Santa giveaway that you are more or less obliged to participate in. More often than not, you are stuck with the task of buying a little something for an acquaintance that you barely know. Yet, in the jolly spirit of the season, you feel compelled to find a suitably nice and useful present that fits within the relatively low budget. To help you out, here are six nifty little gifts that are both affordable and thoughtful.

For Girls
Badger Cuticle Care Balm (from Bud Cosmetic, SGD11.90)
Spending long hours in an air-conditioned environment can dehydrate nails. Infused with the naturally restorative goodness of shea butter, this moisturising organic balm helps to keep nails and cuticles healthy.

Goon Doodllery Brooch (from Wood Would, SGD29.90)
Doodllery is an extremely whimsical line of jewellery based on the drawings of artist Carrie Lewis. Handcrafted out of acrylic, each character has a fun little story to tell. Pin onto bags or clothes for some added cuteness.

Seda France Travel Tin Candle (from Flaming Queen, SGD22)
Whether at home or abroad, a scented room is always a nice touch. Made for maximum portability, Seda France candle in a tin allows you to bring your favourite fragrances with you wherever you go.

For Boys
Decole Cassette Card Box (from Wood Would, SGD12.90)
Now that even CDs have taken on a nostalgic tint, the cassette is positively quaint. This little cassette box is really handy for storing those stray name cards and perfect for retro music lovers.

Zero Japan Tea/Coffee Cup (from Jones The Grocer, SGD11.95)
Having a cuppa at Jones is made especially fun with their colourful teacups and teapots from Japanese kitchenware brand, Zero Japan. Available in a multitude of chirpy shades, bring a bit of the fun home with the cups marked with either ‘tea’ or ‘coffee’.

Haruka Nakamura Twilight CD + Artbook (from Atomi, SGD35)
Spend the holidays with the soothing, relaxing sounds of Japanese composer Haruka Nakamura. His latest CD also doubles as an artbook filled with wonderful pictures of twilight.