How to buy a new scent can tricky at the best of times, but when sales season hits it can be even more bewildering. Should you only go for brands you know, or plump for a new perfume at a bargain price? We’ve all the tips and tricks toward finding a fragrance that will really work for you and your pocket.
Want to try something new that’s on sale, but don’t know what to look for?
We’ve done all the leg-work for you! Simply type the name of that scent into our genius Find-A-Fragrance, and the clever algorithm – based on information we source directly from the fragrance houses and perfumers themselves – will suggest six new fragrances that, while different from the original you typed, share a similar mood, character or key ingredients. It really works! Note down the names it suggests and see if any are available in the sales…
Go ‘matchy-matchy’
Consider the vast array of matching products available for favourite fragrances you already have, such as a gorgeously decadent bath oil, rich body cream or even a fragranced hair mist. It’s often possible to find travel-size versions of perfumes and discounted gift-boxes containing smaller size scents and matching scented body products for bargain prices in the sales!
Be brave – BUT, be careful of an olfactory ‘oops!’
This is the perfect time of year to blow away the cobwebs and try some new scents – from brands you’ve never heard of, or from fragrance families you’d perhaps never considered might suit you.
The best idea is to get a Discovery Box of fabulous mini sizes and samples from a wide range of luxury, niche and top-end designer fragrance houses. That way you can start exploring and trying them all in the comfort of your own home, then you’re able to pick a new perfume from that house if they’re on sale, knowing you already like their style.
Each box is carefully curated to include something for all tastes, and once you’ve found ‘the one’ (or perhaps several!) you can then buy a full size in the sale, safe in the knowledge you’ve already tried it on your skin. We know SO many people who’ve discovered their all-time scent loves this way!
Save money on scents this-a-way
We’ve a selection of fabulous fragrance boxes in our sale right now – the perfect way to treat yourself to a new perfume without breaking the bank (saving money AND you venturing out in hideous weather!) Don’t forget to use the correct coupon code (above) at checkout.
How about this for some sunshine on a rainy day – Mihan Aromatics have given us an EXCLUSIVE code to share with Perfume Society readers. Granting you a whopping $50 AUD off 100ml parfums, and FREE worldwide shipping, it lasts 30 days. What are you waiting for? There’s so much to explore!
Code: MASOCIETY50
How to use: Go to mihanaromatics.com and use at checkout when purchasing 100ml parfum
Hailed as ‘the BYREDO of Australia’ by glowing press reports when they launched,, and proudly all-natural from the get-go; Josh and Julia Mihan are the so-cool couple behind the Mihan Aromatics fragrance house, having wanted to combine native floral and spices – including Australian sandalwood, now being deployed by the fragrance industry as a sustainable alternative to Indian Santalum album – alongside ingredients from further afield that are pillars of the perfumery’s art.
Although Australia has a thriving niche fragrance scene of enthusiasts, its only fairly recently we’ve witnessed actual fragrance houses beginning to blossom there, and Mihan Aromatics are a very welcome addition, as you’ll see (and smell) for yourselves when you explore their fragrant wares.
Popular Australian fragrance blog theaccords.com raved that: ‘Mihan Aromatics‘ capsule collection of nostalgia, from autumn park hangs to sweaty summer dance sessions, is pulled off to perfection. It feels authentic, intelligent, thoughtful, ernest. There’s a very clear style, here – a lightness, a dreamy character to all the fragrances… Each one is a mood and while the stories are specific, the space and softness of the scents allow plenty of projection (of your imagination, that is; these are creations that stick close to the body…)’
Style-driven blog minimalissimo.com, meanwhile, enthused that Mihan Aromatics debut collection was ‘…a thing of sublime and considered beauty. Each element that comprises the Melbourne-made collection is grounded on the individual connection each of us has with scent (and the senses), through a purposed tactility. A sensory journey of discovery.’
All of the fragrances are immediately transportive – an olfactory magic trick we so sorely need our perfumes to perform right now – and will whisk you to evocative, seasonal memories captured in each bottle. The initial scents – Guilty Story, Mikado Bark and Sienna Brume – were inspired by Melbourne’s inner city suburbs of Carlton, Fitzroy and East Melbourne, during autumn months. (Which crackle with bronze and golden leaves just as they do here, and where days can be almost as crisp.) Now they’ve been joined by Petrichor Plains, conjuring the drenching of earth and rock after a storm – a specific smell regularly cited as a favourite by people all over the world; and Munlark Ash, which The Perfume Society’s own Hettie has been wearing a lot of, lately…
‘It’s like adding an extra layer of comfort and warmth before I leave the house, with the richness of incense, amber, vetiver and cedarwood. Yet I find it super uplifting and airy (which is exactly what we all need a little of right now!) with tangy bergamot and black pepper. A seasonal must!’
From cosily warm scents that wrap around you to storm-drenched verdant undergrowth, or vibrant perfumes that pulsate with the energy of a summer’s day – which will you choose, we wonder?
Want to try samples before you decide what to spend your $50 AUD off discount code (with free worldwide shipping) on? No problem! We have the Mihan Aromatics Discovery Set in stock, where you can try the FULL collection of five fragrances for £33, PLUS a sneak-peek at an ‘Untitled’ scent that’s still in devlopment. How cool is that?
Already tried them, or are immediately drawn to a particular perfume? Don’t forget, you can use your code MASOCIETY50 for 30 days at mihanaromatics.com – so let your nose travel and the sunshine in!
Parterre have very generously offered our readers an EXCLUSIVE 20% off discount – scroll down to find out about this incredible (and groundbreaking) British niche perfumery house, and how to claim your scented surprise; because there’s a way to make this EXTRA special and save up to 45%…!
When David and Julia Bridger decided to combine the ruling passions of their lives – art, gardens, travel and perfume – and gather a team of experts (literally) in their field, they set in motion a series of events that is poised to change the face of British fragrance forever. And put Parterre on the map.
There’s a lot to be said for following your nose on holiday – because you really do never know where serendipity might lead you.
In 2014, the Bridgers were motoring around the South of France, when Julia recalled – with affection – visiting the hillside town of Grasse, as a child. ‘I remembered the whole town smelling of roses,’ she recalls. They steered their car in the direction of the hillside town and made a bee-line for one of Grasse’s perfume museums. Later, walking through the museum’s garden – a-bloom with fragrant flowers – a seed was sown.
‘We thought: maybe this is something we could do ourselves…’
David’s family had been in farming for almost 400 years, so horticulture runs in his veins – even though most of his career had been spent in marketing. Julia, meanwhile, had wide experience in advertising, going on to run a luxury villa travel company. Together, the pair (at that point based in Hampshire) began looking around for a farm of their own to buy, before stumbling across the ‘sleeping beauty’ of Keyneston Mill. It had fields – 50 acres of them. A run-down mill house and some crumbling outbuildings. An overgrown orchard. But lots and lots of potential not only to fulfill their dream of actually growing and distilling perfume ingredients right there, in the Dorset countryside – but to show visitors how it’s done, as they’d so enjoyed in Grasse.
Embracing the concept of ‘from seed to bottle’, with Parterre, the Bridgers not only set out to to grow, harvest and distil many of their own ingredients – but they also had a longing to try growing crops that had never before been grown on British soil. Even including – astonishingly – vetiver. For Julia and David, this is about ‘reinventing perfumery by taking it back to its roots.’ Parterre‘s motto: ‘Where creative botany meets artistry and the wild spirit of adventure.’
The planting now expands into surrounding fields, with crop-scale ingredients producing incredible quality yields, which are then hand-blended by Jacques Chabert – one of the world’s leading perfumers, who works in Grasse alongside his daughter, Elsa Chabert, while his elder and equally talented perfumer daughter, Carla Chabert, runs their Paris laboratory. Meanwhile, Parterre’s creative team is headed up by Virginie Daniau, President of the British Society of Perfumers (BSP), who first introduced Jacques to Keynestone Mill’s owners.
This adventure in botany has taken over four years – but the vision has now become reality. Over 2,000 aromatic plants and flowers are now being grown just 20 minutes from Poole – including rose geranium (more of which anon), melissa, hyssop, chamomile, angelica, artemisia, clary sage, yarrow, bergamot mint and red thyme. Many of them have made it into the limited edition, numbered flacons of Parterre fragrance now on sale at spiffy Piccadilly department store Fortnum & Mason, as well as via their own website.
‘Our mission is to grow the most unusual plants we can source,’ explains Julia. ‘Each plant is then trialled, harvested and distilled on site – and this process captures the very essence of each aromatic variety.’
For Julia and David, this is about ‘reinventing perfumery by taking it back to its roots.’ Parterre‘s motto: ‘Where creative botany meets artistry and the wild spirit of adventure.’
Now you can take advantage of a fantastic 20% discount when you shop on parterrefragrances.com – simply enter the code PERFSOC20 when prompted at checkout.
Psst! It just so happens that Parterre are showcasing their fabulous home-grown vetiver scent, The Root of All Goodness, by already having discounted the 70ml & 100ml bottles by up to 25% off on their site. With our exclusive code used at checkout, it takes an extra 20% off that price, meaning Perfume Society readers will actually get 45% off The Root of All Goodness when purchasing the larger size bottles!
Those craving warmth should look no further than this golden elixir, an evocative blend of all things mellow and radiant. Even the top notes of bergamot and lemon have been enriched with the tingle of ginger, softly melding into the hazy heart of camphorous hyssop and herbaceous clary sage. The vetiver feels like a cloak of comfort – a grounding scent to help you stride forth with confidence in to the year ahead.
With the change of seasons (and all of us in desperate need of a treat), the code will be valid for THREE MONTHS. So what better time to explore these exquisite scents for yourself (and stock up on Christmas presents, perhaps…?
For the month of August we’re showcasing the incredible (multi-award-winning!) talents of natural perfumer, Marina Barcenilla.
VIP Club Members can enjoy a generous 20% Discount on any 30ml fragrance from the Marina Barcenilla Parfums range when they buy online. Just make sure you use the code PERFUMEVIP at the checkout!
Explains Marina: ‘All my creations are inspired by personal experiences that I love to share – so all of the fragrances are accompanied by short stories that describe the inspiration behind them. I hope that these stories will help you to discover the soul of my perfumes – and that they speak to you in the same way that they speak to me.’
With all the awards, plus an ever-growing number of fragrant fans, they’re definitely speaking to us! Marina sources rare and precious aromatic essences from around the world, expertly blending fragrances by hand in her own perfume studio in Glastonbury.
Now is the perfect time to discover how elegant and passionate all-natural fragrances can be, and you couldn’t find a better introduction than trying these. Just visit their mbparfums.com site and shop away – simply enter PERFUMEVIP at checkout to gain your exclusive 20% discount!
We know our VIP Perfume Society members love to explore unusual, hard to find and niche fragrance houses producing fabulously unique fragrances, and with this in mind we’re delighted to announce that British independent perfumer Ruth Mastenbroek is giving you the chance to take a very generous 20% off all full-size fragrances!
Exclusively for Perfume Society VIPs, enjoy 20% off all full-size Ruth Mastenbroek eau de parfums.
How to use: go to ruthmastenbroek.com and choose your favourites. Enter the code below when prompted at checkout.
Code: RMPS20
Valid from: 1st – 31st May 2018
Ruth says: ‘I use the finest ingredients from across the globe to tell stories about life through perfume. Stories of freedom, love, discovery and celebration. My fragrances can take years to perfect; they offer something exciting and different. They are original and come from the heart – from me to you…’
The perfect time to stock-up on your favourites or plump for something new to try, which will you choose to treat yourself with our exclusive 20% offer…?
At The Perfume Society we’re all about helping people discover and explore the fascinating and ever-changing world of fragrance. And for Christmas this year we’ve created the ultimate perfume starter pack to choose for anyone interested in all things that smell fabulous, no matter their age or level of scent knowledge…!
Anyone you gift with an ‘Explore Perfume’ Gift Package will not only receive one of our fabulous Discovery Boxes (personally picked by you – see our helpful guide, below), but ALSO a copy of our indispensable book, The Perfume Bible.
VIP price £30 / Non VIPs £35 / FREE P&P FOR ALL!
Featuring a wide range of incredible fragrances chosen by us, each box is themed and features beautifully written postcards describing the perfumes individually, with information about the history of the house, the perfumer’s inspirations and questions inviting them to think more deeply about their experience of what they’re smelling. An intriguing exploration, indeed… 1. Begin by personally choosing one of the carefully curated Discovery Boxes from this beguiling list:
For the Fashionistacrazy about designer brands and luxury beauty, choose… Catwalk Collection Discovery Box
For theTravelista yearning for faraway places and the adventure of travel, they’ll love a… Jetset Discovery Box
For the Individualista with an interest in hard-to-find, cult ‘niche’ fragrances, it has to be… Secret Scentsations
For the Floralista who adores the romance of bouquets, pick our Beautiful Blossoms Discovery box 2. We will then add a copy of our book The Perfume Bible (RRP £25 alone!)
Co-written by The Perfume Society‘s Founders, Jo Fairley and Lorna McKay, and based on their combined (countless!) years of experience in the industry, this wonderful book is a must-read for every fragrance lover. An encyclopaedia of all things fragrant – from how to build a perfume ‘wardrobe’, to a line-up of the simply-must-sniff ‘100 perfumes to try before you die’ – the wealth of knowledge combined with stunning photographs makes for a truly incredible tome they’ll love having their noses buried in.
For VIP Subscribers the ultra-special price for the ‘Explore Perfume’ Gift Package is £30 – be sure to log in to receive your exclusive price!
For non-subscribers, the price is £35, but both options come with FREE POSTAGE AND PACKAGING. Hurrah! (Alas we can’t ship to Ireland or overseas, because of ‘hazardous materials’ restrictions.)
The unique ‘Explore Perfume’ Gift Package is only available for a limited period – so, we suggest ordering yours now to avoid that sinking feeling of disappointment…
Written by Suzy Nightingale
We think it’s about time you pampered yourself, don’t you…?
With the distinct lack of sunshine and everyday stresses taking their toll, it’s vital not simply to stop and smell the roses every now and again – but to slather yourself in exqusitely scented things. As one of our VIP passionate perfumistas, you know the myriad of benefits that come from smelling fabulous at all times. With this in mind, we’ve arranged an exclusive VIP offer – just for you! Balance Me is an award-winning aromatherapy‑inspired skincare range beloved by beauty editors around the world. All their products are created with bespoke blends of essential oils selected for their natural aromas as well as their mood‑boosting and skin-enhancing properties. They want you to feel good, look good and smell great – and for further mood-boosting, are offering VIP Subscibers a 10% discount on all orders.
With the code lasting until 31st December, you could even stock-up on stocking gifts if you want to get super-organised! CODE: VIPTPS Exp date: 31st December 2016
Terms and conditions: This code entitles the bearer to 10% off at www.balanceme.co.uk and expires midnight 31/12/16. This code cannot be used in conjunction with any other VIP or LOYALTY codes. Users must be logged in to redeem VIP codes and the code must be entered at the checkout stage. For full terms and conditions please see the Balance Me website.