Some spices trigger instant winter warmth, which is why we associate them so much with winter festivities like Christmas. For anyone discovering the fine art of festive baking, these are the five spices you are most likely to encounter in sweet recipes. 1. Star anise Finely ground star anise is used to flavour gingerbread and … Read more
What does a scent say about your personality or even cultural identity? Quite a lot, according to the fragrance industry. For example, Hongkongers used to have a penchant for English perfumes such as Jo Malone and Penhaligon’s, due to the city’s past as a British colony, says Patrick Hui, founder of Hong Kong perfume store … Read more
Melt the butter, brown sugar and caster sugar in the same pan over low heat. Add in a pinch of salt if the butter is unsalted. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius, and butter or line a 23-centimetre baking tin with parchment paper. Beat … Read more
Could a vanilla renaissance finally bloom in Mexico? Lucio Olmos Morales shows off artisan designs made out of vanilla bean stalks at his home in Papantla, Mexico. Photo: TNS In this city of 160,000, artisans make figurines with vanilla’s shiny dark brown stems. Restaurants serve vanilla-infused dishes. And a prominent plaque by the town square … Read more
News flash: It’s really cold out, and we’ve already begun adjusting our beauty routines accordingly. Hydrating skin-care, nourishing hair-care, and of course, the best winter perfumes the beauty world has to offer. We all know that fragrance doesn’t really have a season, but once that wind chill hits, we can’t help but gravitating towards all … Read more
