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Jo Malone fans can't get enough of 'irresistible' £118 perfume they're getting for £36

Jo Malone fans can't get enough of 'irresistible' £118 perfume they're getting for £36

Jo Malone, the designer perfume brand renowned for its high-end fragrances, is often considered a luxury beyond the budget of many Brits. However, fans of Jo Malone who are reluctant to spend hundreds on the brand's signature scents now have an opportunity to acquire them at a fraction of the cost.

For just £36 on LookFantastic, beauty enthusiasts can purchase the Jo Malone London Wood Sage and Sea Salt Christmas Cracker. This festive cracker contains three miniature products: the Wood Sage and Sea Salt Cologne 9ml, English Pear and Freesia Body and Hand Wash 30ml, and Lime Basil and Mandarin Hand Cream 15ml.

A full bottle of the Jo Malone London Wood Sage and Sea Salt typically costs £118 and features base notes of sage and sea salt, with sophisticated top notes of Ambrette Seeds. The Jo Malone London Poppy and Barley Christmas Cracker, also priced at £36, has proven popular but is currently out of stock.

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The full-sized bottle of Jo Malone London Poppy and Barley Cologne is typically priced at £118, though a smaller version is estimated to last about a month of daily wear, allowing customers to decide if it's a fragrance worth investing in. The cologne, which carries base notes of barley, bran, and white musk, heart notes of powder, poppy, and wheat, topped off with fig, blackcurrant, and violet, offers a comforting aroma.

It's also popular on John Lewis with 2,104 reviews and an impressive average score of 4.6 stars. It has been described as 'irresistible' and 'divine', with fans noting its all-season suitability, reports the Manchester Evening News.

One enamoured customer shared: "Wow - This is just divine! ! My favourite perfume at the minute. Comforting, warm, but fresh at the same time. It lasts well on my skin but doesn't give me a headache like some perfumes do. Not sickly floral either. I will be re purchasing for sure!"

Another customer noted their unique experience with this particular scent, saying: "I have tried a number of JM fragrances and for some reason, I always find that - despite loving it in the store - I start to quickly dislike it when wearing it 'in real life'. I have always been disappointed at how quickly they wear off too."

Jo Malone fans snap up 'irresistable' £118 perfume for less than £36 ahead of Christmas
Jo Malone fans snap up 'irresistable' £118 perfume for less than £36 ahead of Christmas

They added: "This is the exception and boy, do I get a lot of compliments when I wear it! Even at the end of the day, when I can no longer smell it on myself, I've had numerous people comment on the smell and ask me what I'm wearing. I never tell them; it's my closely guarded secret! ".

One reviewer raved: "So rich and intriguing! It's powdery, it's spicy, it's fresh! In combination with MirthandTonka it's just irresistible! Very sensual and seductive fragrance. Quite long lasting I must say! " Another fan commented: "I adore this cologne. I couldn't stop smelling myself when I tried it and I knew I had to buy it. It smells beautiful and settles down to the nicest warm and cosy fragrance. I think it's a very clever combination of note. It's my new signature scent! Please never remove this from the permanent range, Jo Malone!"

  • Jo Malone London Poppy and Barley Christmas Cracker is £36 on LookFantastic.

Some customers have noted that the scent's longevity is not the longest. One person said: "It is a beautiful scent hence why I chose this after trying on many others and having different ones over the years. Unfortunately, the smell just does not last on this one compared to others I have had previously. Such a shame and very disappointing for the price :("

But as an Eau de Cologne, it typically contains up to 4% aromatic ingredients, aiming for a lighter fragrance. For comparison, the more affordable Avoine and Coquelicot Eau de Toilette by Berdoues is available for £17.95 on Parfum Dreams for a 100ml bottle.

The Poppy and Barley Cologne can be found in the Jo Malone London Poppy and Barley Christmas Cracker for £36 on LookFantastic. Elsewhere, Boots are selling their Ghost Miniature Trio Cracker Collection (£27), which includes Deep Night, The Fragrance and Sweetheart scents.

Alternatively, The Perfume Shop have Ariana Grande Deluxe Cracker for £30, which includes Ari Eau De Parfum Deluxe Miniature Spray (7.5ml), Sweet Like Candy Eau De Parfum Deluxe Miniature Spray (7.5ml) and MOD Vanilla Eau De Parfum Deluxe Miniature Spray (7.5ml).

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ITV Big Brother fans say contestant is on wrong show after 'red flag' moment

ITV Big Brother fans say contestant is on wrong show after 'red flag' moment

Big Brother viewers have claimed that one of the contestants might be on the wrong show.

However, some fans have suggested that it was a 'red flag' moment while they showed they may have meant to apply for another reality television series.

Marcello received compliments on his cooking by a fellow housemate and he used it as an opportunity to 'flirt'.

He said: "I used to be a chef. That's how I seduce all my women."

Many watching at home suggested that he probably should have applied for Love Island instead of Big Brother when he started to talk about how he uses cooking as a seduction technique.

Marcello rapping on Big Brother
Marcello tried to show off his rap skills

One posted on X, formerly Twitter and said: "Marcello realised he's too old for love island so he came to big brother instead." (sic)

Another agreed and posted: "Someone needs to tell Marcello that this is not love island and it is indeed big brother." (sic)

Not everyone was impressed, however, with one viewer claiming that the behaviour was a 'red flag' moment.

Taking to social media, one said: "Marcello is giving off incredibly big, red flag vibes. The way he talks about women is high key concerning." (sic)

Since the show's live launch, housemates were divided into two separate groups almost immediately after stepping through the door.

They were asked whether they wanted to be on the blue or red side and were revealed it meant they were either Housemates or Non-Housemates and were pitted against each other during a series of tasks.

Marcello cooking on Big Brother
Marcello was cooking but some viewers noticed a 'red flag'

Yesterday's show saw Dean, Nathan, Ryan and Baked Potato (Rosie) named as the first housemates to face the public vote to be kicked out of the house at the end of the week.

Voting for eviction opened last night and fans can only cast their vote via the Big Brother app, with viewers being asked to choose who they wish to evict from the house.

Friday night will see the first eviction from the Big Brother house with hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best getting all the gossip in the first live interview on Big Brother: Late & Live afterwards.

Big Brother continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX followed by Big Brother: Late & Live at 10pm.

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ITV Big Brother viewers accuse housemate of cheating before first eviction twist

ITV Big Brother viewers accuse housemate of cheating before first eviction twist

Big Brother viewers have accused one housemate of cheating after it was revealed who faces the first live eviction of the series. Viewers discovered in Tuesday's episode that Dean, Nathan, Ryan and Baked Potato (Rosie) will be the first housemates to face the public vote to be kicked out of the house at the end of the week.

Since the live launch, housemates were divided into two separate groups almost immediately after stepping through the door.

They were asked whether they wanted to be on the blue or red side and were revealed it meant they were either Housemates or Non-Housemates and were pitted against each other during a series of tasks.

Claiming victory in the final challenge, Daze was given a choice and made the decision to save Emma and Lily from the public vote.

Big Brother contestants Ali, Dean, Martha, Marcello, Izaaz, Thomas, Lily, Rosie. Daze, Segun, Sarah, Khaled, Ryan, Hanah, Nathan, Emma
Big Brother contestants Ali, Dean, Martha, Marcello, Izaaz, Thomas, Lily, Rosie. Daze, Segun, Sarah, Khaled, Ryan, Hanah, Nathan, Emma

This meant that Dean, Nathan, Ryan and Baked Potato (Rosie) as Non-Housemates and ultimately facing this week’s eviction.

It came after a controversial moment however and some viewers were not happy as they accused one housemate of cheating in the task.

Segun and Daze competed to show which was most loveable by seeing who could get a dog to go over to them first. Before they went outside for the challenge, Segun grabbed some bacon and told his housemates he would tempt it with the food.

Taking to social media, one said: "Surely Segun can’t get away with having the bacon in his hand." While one avid fan added: "Surely Segun is cheating with the ham?"

Although some fans appreciated the tactic, with one posting: "Segun did what he had to do don’t hate the players hate the game!"

Another said: "Go on Segun I’m here for the bacon trick they didn’t say don’t cheat or use anything!"

Big Brother 2024 logo
Big Brother logo

However there was a final twist after Daze held her hand up the longest to be considered a housemate, she was able to name two others to be safe from eviction.

Viewers reacted online with one saying: "Daze picking Lily and Emma is the most uplifting thing I needed on this Tuesday."

One imagined the drama that could have ensued as they posted: "No but imagine the drama if she didn’t pick Lily. How I would have laughed."

Voting for eviction opens at 10pm tonight (Oct 8) and fans can only cast their vote via the Big Brother app, with viewers being asked to choose who they wish to evict from the house.

Friday night will see the first eviction from the Big Brother house with hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best getting all the gossip in the first live interview on Big Brother: Late & Live afterwards.

Big Brother continues tomorrow at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX followed by Big Brother: Late & Live at 10pm.

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ITV Big Brother viewers distracted as fan claims 'jarring' clip was cut from livestream

ITV Big Brother viewers distracted as fan claims 'jarring' clip was cut from livestream

Big Brother fans were distracted during Monday's episode, as one viewer noticed a moment that was cut from the show's livestream.

The hit reality show returned for a brand new series following a live launch on Sunday night. A batch of new housemates have entered Britain's most famous residence for six weeks of drama and challenges.

The contestants were immediately split into two different teams, with one group dubbed non-housemates and placed into storage.

However, viewers were distracted by Big Brother's voice, with some even sharing concerns over his wellbeing.

One avid fan was even able to pinpoint a moment they noticed was cut from the show's live stream on ITVX.

Big Brother UK twist as contestants told they're not housemates and face eviction
This image and the information contained herein is strictly embargoed until 22.50 Sunday 6th October 2024 From Initial TV Big Brother SR2 on ITV2 and ITVX Pictured: Ali, Dean, Martha, Marcello, Izaaz, Thomas, Lily, Rosie. Daze, Segun, Sarah, Khaled,Ryan,Hannah, Nathan,Emma This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms For further information please contact: michael.taiwo1@itv.com

They also said one issue was that, in all the excitement following the live launch, the housemates were very rowdy.

The viewer took to social media to post on X, formerly known as Twitter, about their concerns for the new series.

One tweeted: "What it's not showing was how bad Big Brother's voice was during this part on the live stream, they also cut out how he kept telling the housemates in storage to be quiet." (sic)

Another viewer was worried and wondered if the voice behind Big Brother was ill, asking: "Does the Big Brother voice need a throat sweet?" (sic)

One fan wasn't keen and wanted the original voice reinstated, complaining: "Don’t like Big Brother's new voice at all like it's jarring bring back the northern one." (sic)

Big Brother returned for a brand new series on Sunday night with a batch of new residents for Britain's most famous house.

The live show hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best, saw 16 new faces make their grand entrances before being locked away from the outside world for months.

Big Brother airs at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX followed by Big Brother: Late & Live at 10pm.

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Snoozing your alarm is bad for your health, according to experts

Snoozing your alarm is bad for your health, according to experts

As the mornings get darker and colder, the temptation to hit the snooze button on your alarm clock and stay in bed for an extra few minutes becomes more and more enticing. But, is it possible to train yourself to be better at waking up?

Sleep experts have explained that constantly snoozing your alarm in the morning - creating a cycle of waking up and falling back to sleep - can impact your body and mind. They have offered some useful tips about how to overcome this habit.

How does our body respond to constant snoozing?

Not getting up when your alarm first sounds can really throw off your morning and disrupt your plan for a fresh start. "Allowing yourself to hit snooze (or setting multiple alarms) is a very bad idea because it gets your brain used to the fact that your alarm doesn't really mean you have to get up, but rather that it's time to go back to sleep again before the next alarm," explains Dr Lindsay Browning, psychologist and sleep expert at And So To Bed. "Your brain will start to categorise the alarm sound as unimportant, and you will start to sleep through it."

It can also disrupt our quality of sleep. "Repeatedly pressing snooze disrupts the quality of your sleep too, as it ruins the quality of your sleep through the consistent interruptions and awakenings," notes Browning.

Charlie Morley, sleep expert and author of Dreams of Awakening, agrees and adds: "Every time you wake up, your body releases cortisol in a bid to fire you up ready for the day, and so waking up and dropping back to sleep multiple times plays havoc with this natural process." This can cause us to feel more tired and be less productive later in the day.

"Constantly snoozing breaks up your sleep, making it harder to wake up properly," says Hafiz Shariff, sleep expert and founder of Owl + Lark, who has conducted extensive research on human circadian rhythms. "You're more likely to feel groggy and less focused, which in turn affects your mood and productivity throughout the day."

What can we do to break this habit?

Set one alarm. Waking up earlier with intention can actually give you more energy to start your day right.

"Setting one alarm, like a precise wake-up call, builds focus and a sense of urgency," says Shariff. "Multiple alarms, on the other hand, just break up whatever rest you could have had, encouraging you to stay in sleep mode rather than kick-starting your day."

Put your alarm clock out of reaching distance. "Put the alarm clock slightly away from your bed so that you need to get out of bed to switch it off," recommends Browning.

Try a sunrise alarm. "A sunrise alarm helps gently reset your body's natural rhythm," says Shariff.

Incorporate enjoyable activities into your morning routine. "To make waking up easier, try adding some small, enjoyable routines to your morning such as sipping a warm lemon tea or stepping outside for a few minutes to breathe in fresh air," suggests Shariff.

Try mediation. And if you really need to have a few extra minutes in bed, try meditation. "Starting your day by meditating in the snooze state is really good for you," says Morley. "It not only gives you all the amazing benefits of mindfulness but it also regulates your cortisol release, allowing your nervous system time to wake up gently which will help mitigate morning grogginess."

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Queen Camilla praises osteoporosis care as she remembers her mother who had the disease

Queen Camilla praises osteoporosis care as she remembers her mother who had the disease

Queen Camilla has suggested her mother would have received better care today for her osteoporosis condition as she celebrated the career of a leading bone specialist.

In a speech to medics, volunteers and supporters associated with the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS), Camilla said the attitude during the period her mother Rosalind Shand had the disease was “sorry, we can’t do anything about it”.

READ MORE: Prince Harry calls for 'people at the top' to listen to make a difference

She thanked the group, gathered at Clarence House on Thursday for an awards ceremony, for their work improving the diagnosis and treatment of the bone-weakening disease.

She presented Dr Nicky Peel with the Queen’s Award for Osteoporosis from the ROS, formerly the Duchess of Cornwall Award, in recognition of her work of national importance over many decades and told her: “Nicky, who’s been a star for so many years, she’s been involved for 30 years – I’ve only been involved for 23.

“You do such a wonderful job, please keep on doing it. I don’t know what we’d do without you.”

Camilla added: “You know, speaking from experience ... my mother died of osteoporosis, not of the actual disease ... it was never diagnosed in those days, and old people were just cast aside as old people, you know, ‘sorry, we can’t do anything about it’.

“Had she lived nowadays, you know, a lot would have been done about it.

“It’s thanks to everybody here that so much is being done for osteoporosis and I can’t tell you how much it’s appreciated, not only by myself but by millions of others across the world. So, thank you very much indeed.”

Queen Camilla, President of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, arrives for a reception to present the inaugural Queen's Award for Osteoporosis

During her career, Dr Peel developed a new assessment model to help improve the evaluation of people at risk of fractures which has since been implemented by other NHS clinics nationwide.

She is an adviser to the all-party parliamentary group on osteoporosis and bone health, an ROS trustee and before recently retiring from the NHS was the clinical lead for the metabolic bone service at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield.

The bone specialist also played a leading role in securing cross-party commitment to universal fracture liaison services, which play an important role in identifying, assessing and treating osteoporosis.

Dr Peel said: “It’s a real honour and a privilege to be given this award and I think what’s really lovely is the recognition for doing something which I do because I enjoy it and the cause means a great deal to me.

“As the Queen says, she’s been involved for over 20 years now and I think because it’s a cause which is so close to her heart and something that she has personal experience of from family that (her involvement) has been hugely important for the charity, she’s really helped in raising awareness about osteoporosis.”

Camilla became president of the ROS in 2001, four years after being appointed its patron and she first became a supporter in 1994, the year her mother died.

Sunday Express editor David Wooding and Ruth Sunderland, group business editor of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, were both recognised with a special ROS certificate of appreciation for launching osteoporosis newspaper campaigns.

Camilla added: “Huge thanks to the Sunday Express and the Daily Mail for all their help, because it really has put osteoporosis on the map.

“All I can say – can I just plead with you to just keep going, because people do read it and they do listen, so it makes an enormous difference to a lot of people who would otherwise go undiagnosed.”

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166 babies stillborn due to negligence at London NHS trusts, figures reveal

166 babies stillborn due to negligence at London NHS trusts, figures reveal

166 babies were stillborn due to negligence at London NHS trusts in the last 11 years according to new figures from a freedom of information (FOI) request. NHS trusts in Greater London had to pay out more than £8.5 million in damages to parents affected.

The worst NHS trust in London for babies being stillborn due to their negligence was Barking, Havering and Redbridge where 22 babies were stillborn between the financial years 2012/13 and 2022/23. This meant they had to pay out £986,015 in damages, the second highest of any London trust, as well as take on £120,092 in legal fees with the claimants' legal fees being £851,456.

The London trust that had to pay out the most in damages was King’s College where 17 babies were stillborn due to negligence, the fourth highest. Their damages bill stood at £1,060,015, as well as £116,238 in legal fees while the claimants' fees were £1,263,948.

READ MORE: Woman in her 50s dies in hospital months after lorry crash injures two pedestrians

Natalizia Capizzi, medical negligence legal director at Lime Solicitors, said: “The data shows that more than one baby in England is at risk of being stillborn due to negligence each week. Failures in care are being repeated because lessons are not learned. There must be change and there has to be candour when mistakes are made.

“Not all stillbirths are preventable. Some can be caused as a result of complications with the placenta, diabetes, high blood pressure, infection or lack of oxygen to the baby. Negligence occurs when medical professionals fail in providing an acceptable standard of care for their patients, such as mothers not being monitored appropriately during their pregnancy, a pre-existing history of diabetes or high blood pressure not being properly monitored, or failing to diagnose and treat an infection.”

The data from Lime Solicitors' FOI request was shared in full with MyLondon. It reveals that on average £51,351 were paid out per case:

Greater London

Claims

Damages (£)

NHS legal (£)

Claimant legal (£)



North Middlesex

8

558,684

65,777

362,520



Royal Free London

7

543,115

82,646

596,187



University College London

9

687,500

68,017

482,467



Barking, Havering and Redbridge

22

986,015

120,092

851,456



Barts Health

20

724,000

80,185

883,317



Homerton University

8

383,000

101,070

631,829



Chelsea and Westminster

10

389,239

119,618

617,010



Imperial College

9

515,178

82,443

417,450



London North West

11

428,005

41,209

315,642



Hillingdon Hospitals

6

197,500

94,721

262,669



Guy’s and St Thomas’

9

554,558

35,863

374,165



King’s College

17

1,060,015

116,238

1,263,948



Lewisham and Greenwich

18

776,105

118,598

1,042,534



Croydon Health

5

385,816

54,229

339,879



St George’s University

7

335,500

58,099

347,702

51,350.78

Average cost per case (£)

Total

166

8,524,230.00

1,238,805.00

8,788,775.00

10,027,580.00

Total legal fees (£)

How bad is it across the UK?

According to babies charity Tommy’s, Nationally, around 2,680 babies are born deceased each year – 85 of which are due to negligence, according to the latest figures. This means that more than one baby a week is lost to negligence on average and NHS failings in relation to stillbirths have cost taxpayers an average of £8.4 million a year since 2012.

Solicitor Fernanda Simionato-Ayling added: “Our NHS is fantastic. While the first duty of a healthcare system is to do no harm, sometimes things do go wrong and care falls below medical standards. Medical negligence claims play a critical role in safeguarding patients against negligent treatment. In all my cases, clients are predominantly seeking to establish the truth, an apology and to ensure healthcare professionals learn from their own tragic experiences to prevent making the same mistakes in the future.

“Suffering a stillbirth is extremely traumatic and while no amount of compensation can change the pain negligence causes, one of the key reasons parents decide to make a claim is to ensure they do not suffer financially."

What have the trusts said?

Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust has responded to the damning data. Kathryn Halford, Chief Nurse, said: “We thoroughly investigate all stillbirths and make improvements if we identify our care contributed in any way. We are very sorry these families were not given the level of care they deserved.”

A spokesperson added that the Trust's maternity unit is one of the busiest in London, delivering around 7,400 babies every year. In 2023/24 they met all 10 safety actions under the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts, which handles claims against NHS bodies and reviewed whether themes emerged between incidences.

This included adding additional clinical posts to wards, improvements to the booking system, and working with the Maternity Voices Partnership to reduce health inequalities with bilingual and culturally sensitive support.

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust also responded to the criticism. A spokesperson said: "King’s is a centre for high-risk pregnancies, which means we treat and care for a higher proportion of women who experience complications to their own health, or the health of their baby during pregnancy. Our stillbirth rate is around average when compared to other Trusts treating a similar cohort of patients.

"The cases in this report represent a very small percentage of the approximately 8,000 babies born at the Trust each year. However, in those cases where mistakes happen, we are deeply sorry for the families affected, and undertake detailed reviews of each case to ensure lessons are learned to minimise the chances of them happening again."

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