You’ll come up smelling of roses with this week’s latest launchers (not to mention bluebells, violets and mimosa). We’ve picked the best of the bunch (pun intended) to present you a with a bouquet of summer florals. Will you be tempted by Dior Rouge Trafalgar or Penhaligon’s The Favourite complete with velvet bow? We invite you to dive in, nose first!
DIOR
MAISON CHRISTIAN DIOR ROUGE TRAFALGAR
An unusual construction, here – a Chypre-fruity scent, designed to evoke the classic signature Dior shade of red, in scent form – ‘a cheeky wink to the wonderful tradition of the early Dior fashion shows.’ For that, the Dior Perfumer-Creator turned to vibrant notes of blackcurrant and grapefruit, creating a mouthwatering red fruit accord that positively sings before giving way to a note of violet leaf absolute, on a structure of woods, patchouli and long-lasting musks.
From £80 for 40ml eau de parfum
dior.com
GOUTAL
ROSE POMPON
A new, perfect-for-spring eau de toilette incarnation of the romantically feminine Rose Pompon has just unfurled its petals, showcasing a specific breed of rose by that name – so called, because its 100 petals create a perfect pompon shape. Flourishes of pink pepper and a luscious squeeze of raspberry add an almost effervescent edge to the rosiness – something that’s also reflected in the ombré pinkness of the pleasingly textured Goutal flacon.
From £89 for 50ml eau de parfum
johnlewis.com
PENHALIGON’S
THE FAVOURITE
This floral-musky triumph is named after Queen Anne’s best friend – Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, as immortalised by Rachel Weisz in the film that also starred Oscar-winner Olivia Colman. As prettily-packaged as any scent we’ve seen in a while, it’s a juice to match, swirling with powdery mimosa, freesia, violet and mandarin, becoming positively boudoir-esque as the musk and Indian sandalwood drift in. Change from the WFH PJs into a negligée, to do this justice.
£140 for 100ml eau de parfum
penhaligons.com
YARDLEY LONDON
BLUEBELL & SWEET PEA
Sweet peas – those most heavenly, summery flowers – all too rarely bloom in a fragrance, we think, so this is a very welcome addition to the line-up of Yardley London, who are celebrating 250 years in fragrance this year. Quintessentially British bluebells also unfurl their nodding blue flowers here, in a posy of jasmine, rose, lily of the valley and peony that opens with bergamot, lemon and cassis, ultimately softening to vanilla, musk and smooth woods.
From £9.99 for 50ml eau de toilette
yardleylondon.co.uk
ROOK PERFUMES
UNDERGROWTH
Undergrowth feels like a discovery – that moment of pleasure as you forget the outside world and immerse yourself in a moment, breathing the smells around you in. A wet garden abound with fresh mint, the scent engulfing you as you tear it from the ground. Verdant grass underfoot, mandarin trees dangle overhead. Digging further into the soil, earthy patchouli and smoky vetiver appear, the embodiment of a garden after a rainstorm.
£100 for 50ml eau de parfum
rookperfumes.co.uk
