Marie Poppins October 30, 2020

Top travel locations to visit in Singapore, perfume gifts and Scentopia perfume tours? The stuff of nature-lovers’ dreams, Gardens by the Bay is a truly magnificent site. The 250-acre green haven is filled with huge, flora-wreathed towers connected by ‘skyways’ and two enormous conservatories. Opened in 2012 as part of a drive to bring more greenery into Singapore, the gardens are free for guests to explore but you’ll need an admission ticket for access to the flower domes that house rotating floral exhibitions. Needless to say, this is a non-negotiable must-see. This outpost of Universal Studios’ theme park empire on Sentosa Island has an array of world-class rides across its various regions. There’s Transformers: The Ride (a 3D adventure where you have to protect the Allspark), Battlestar Galactica (twin roller coasters that are sure to get your heart racing), Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure (everyone’s favourite water ride), Enchanted Airways, Canopy Flyer and Revenge of the Mummy. Your kids will obviously never forgive you if you don’t let them run amok here.

Besides the orchid-inspired scents, Singapore Memories has also revived a range of old and heritage perfumes from Singapore’s past like the award-winning Singapore Girl! This will definitely be a meaningful souvenir to remind you of Singapore back in your home country. With a total of 38 different variants of perfumes and room fragrances, you’ll definitely find a scent that suits you! Other gifts suggestion: Kaya is a creamy jam made from coconut and eggs (sometimes with added pandan leaf extract for extra fragrance), perfect to be eaten with toast. Get yourself jars of Ya Kun’s very own kaya (available from SGD 4/jar at any Ya Kun Kaya Toast outlet) and you can have your very own Singapore-style breakfast back home. Tip: As the jars can’t be carried onto your flight (due to the 100ml liquid limit), you may have to check them in. Wrap your jars of kaya with extra layers of clothes or bubble wrap them to prevent the jars from breaking or cracking in your luggage.

Once you’ve glimpsed this beautifully designed green space (from the top of the Marina Bay Sands, perhaps) you won’t be able to stay away. Wander through the Bay East Garden, perfect for enjoying the vibrant plant life and escaping the city bustle for a moment. You won’t want to miss Supertree Grove, where you’ll find a cluster of the iconic, futuristic structures designed to perform environmentally sustainable functions. Then, head to the Cloud Forest Dome to see the world’s tallest indoor waterfall and learn a bit about biodiversity. Check the website for final ticket sale and tour times. Read more details on best Singapore attractions.

Perfume is easy to pick out with a few guidelines. Age and past scents are good things to keep in mind when buying a fragrance to give as a gift. Trendy designer perfumes endorsed by celebrities are perfect for younger women, while older women may prefer classic fragrances. If you know she has a favorite scent, find out what the main elements of that fragrance are. From there you can easily select something that is similar but new.

Raffles Hotel: This luxurious colonial-style hotel has a long history dating back to 1887 and has become one of the most important landmarks in Singapore. Its famous guests include Elizabeth Taylor, Queen Elizabeth II and the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. The Raffles Hotel features 103 suites and 18 distinctive restaurants and bars as well as an arcade with over 40 boutiques and stores (think Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co.) Many come for the Raffles Bar experience and you can be sure to enjoy the best Singapore Sling in town. After all, it was actually invented here, and they’ve had almost 100 years of experience at making them.

An ideal corporate gift is the one on which you can add a little message along with your branding without making the gift look weird. Singapore Memories allows you to do that with its clear box with just one side with the brand logo. You can add a sticker or a card with the branding of your company along with a message for the person to whom this gift will be given. This can come in handy when you are giving them away to your clients, colleagues and business associates reminding them about your brand and association. Myrrh is another valuable resin, which comes from a nearly leafless Middle Eastern shrub. Ancient Egyptians used it for healing and to embalm bodies. It is currently used for meditation, spirituality, happiness, transformation, strength, confidence and stability. Who knew people burn dried rose petals for incense? In this form, this beautiful flower retains its abilities with attracting love and enhancing a romantic environment. It is also used for meditation and encouraging peace.

Perhaps the most important name is its Chinese medicinal name: Heishanzhe. The Chinese herb Heishanzhe (A. rigida) is obtained from Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan. Chinese medicinal texts state that its roots and leaves relax muscles and joints, promote blood circulation and relieve pain, hence it is used to treat traumatic injuries and fractures. In Laos, leaves were used in making mats. In Thailand, the entire plant is used as a tonic to strengthen the body. Active Ingredients that made it medicinal are: 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4- hydroxybenaldehyde and 4-methoxymethyl phenol. Read more info on here.