Mandarin Gallery Blog

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.

Countless studies have shown that smelling good is more than just good manners. A good scent, like the aroma of good coffee in the morning, is not only a relaxing treat but also triggers positive emotions and lifts your spirits. There is like nothing like a whiff of lovely fragrance to put one in a good mood so it makes sense to surround yourself with beautiful smells.
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