I am a big fan of Soap & Glory products and was thrilled to receive a bottle of Eau de Soap & Glory perfume spray as a gift. I understand that this product is available from Boots online for £16.50 for 50ml and currently a free Soap & Glory shower gel is being offered with every purchase.

Appearance-wise, it makes a very pretty gift. This perfume is contained within a shiny cardboard, flip-lid, black & pink box which has vintage style photographs and print on the inside, like a collage of Soap & Glory packaging. It's such an attractive and sturdy little box and can be re-used for storing bits and pieces. (I currently use it to keep hair bobbles in.) The glass bottle is black with the S&G logo printed on the front in metallic pink, which looks eye-catching and glamorous. There is a pink tassel wrapped around the clear stopper lid, which I think gives the product a hippyish feel, reminding me of love beads. In its appearance the product immediately makes me think of wholesome femininity, nothing too sophisticated. It looks sexy but quirky, which is a combination that appeals to me.

So much for its appearance, what does it smell like? I like to spray this perfume on my wrists, cleavage and neck. Immediately on application I am aware of a citrusy scent, not too sharp, with mandarin being the most pronounced although an aroma of berries is also detectable. Once the perfume has dried, the citrus intensifies and the scent takes on a muskier quality. Whereas it seems very sweet and girly on initial application, the scent develops more depth and becomes more sensual as a result. I can detect jasmine at the heart of this perfume, a sexy scent that is traditionally prized as an aphrodisiac, and it gives this perfume a more mature, sophisticated edge. The jasmine is beautifully complemented by the soft but not sickly aroma of vanilla, which has a comforting quality. I always associate vanilla with childhood memories so the combination of homely vanilla with the more exotic, raunchier jasmine makes an interesting contrast which works for me. I just love sniffing my wrists when I wear this perfume as the scent really seems to lift my mood.

My teenage daughter also loves this perfume and I do feel that it is suitable for women of different ages. It gets the balance between wholesome innocence and mature sensuality just right. I do think that perhaps it wouldn't be right for anyone who had too much 'attitude' and a 'full on' personality however as it may seem a little too twee for them. Personally, I don't find the vanilla base notes too sickly sweet, but I can appreciate that not everybody likes vanilla. Overall, I find Eau de Soap & Glory a light, refreshing scent and it feels rather summery, making me think of jasmine flowers blooming in sunny climates, ripe juicy fruits, vanilla icecreams and flowering freesias. There is an almost honey-suckle-like scent which comes across too, which is lovely. It may sound like there is a heck of a lot going on in this perfume, but it all comes together in a delectable blend.

The instructions on the packaging tell you to "just mist on. (And when it fades, mist again)" which pretty much sums it up. I find that the scent lingers for approximately two to three hours on my skin before I need to re-spray. I think it is an ideal perfume for day time use. Personally, I would be happy to wear it on an evening out too, but I know that many people like to make a bolder statement on a night out, so this perfume with its homely, hippy charm might not be quite what they are looking for. As someone who always felt they were born a little too late and ought to have been a teenager in the Flower Power era, this perfume suits my personality very well. It makes me feel fresh, feminine, sensual and upbeat. It's just the thing I'd like to wear on a summer's day when I'm in a pretty, strappy sundress and sandals, going for an al fresco lunch somewhere.

I have encountered no difficulties with the spray mechanism of the bottle. It doesn't seem to be one of those annoying sprays that you have to press several times before you get a result, or where too much is dispensed and the perfume is left trickling down your wrists so goes to waste. It lasts quite well. A bottle purchased in November is still going strong in March despite regular use and, although it's not a transparent bottle so you can't see exactly how much is left, it feels as if there is a fair amount still.

As someone who prefers to buy cruelty free products wherever possible, I am not entirely satisfied as to how cruelty-free Soap & Glory products are. Although Soap & Glory products are not tested on animals, they are unable to give the assurance that every single ingredient that goes into their products has not at some time in the past been tested on animals. Eau de Soap & Glory does not contain any animal-derived ingredients.