Tag: grass

Scents for Epsom Derby Ladies Day: Saddles, Turf, and Silks

Continuing our Scents of Occasion series celebrating late spring and early summer events in fragrant form, our focus now is for Epsom Derby Ladies Day. A spectacle of elegance, colour, and tradition – a day where the air is charged with excitement and the senses are awakened by the theatre of racing and fashion. What better way to mark the occasion than with a fragrance that evokes the very spirit of the occasion?

Here, we explore scents inspired by the leather of saddles, the lush green turf, and the shimmering silks of both jockeys and racegoers. Why not let your scent be even more memorable than your hat – and may your day at the Derby be a fragrant triumph…

 

Leather – The Saddles

 

 

Maison Crivelli Oud Stallion

A gallop of saffron and cardamom, smoky oud and supple leather – the thrill of the race, the warmth of sunlit saddles, and a whisper of rose in the wind.

£220 for 50ml extrait de parfum harrods.com

 

 

Ojar Stallion Soul

Incense and pink pepper crackle above a heart of leather and oud, with rose and carnation lending a velvet touch, musky and magnetic as the winning stride.

£195 for 100ml eau de parfum harrods.com

 

 

Sarah Baker Riders

Hay and grass, leather reins, a ripe peach savoured mid-ride; vetiver and tobacco smoulder as the stables echo with laughter and the promise of adventure.

£125 for 50ml extrait de parfum in our shop

 

 

Turf – The ‘Going’

 

 

Wales Perfumery Country

Daffodil and fig leaf drift on a breeze of cut grass, water and vetiver; a green, dewy morning on emerald turf, soft woods grounding the wild, open air.

£81 for 50ml eau de parfum in our shop

Vyrao Mamajuju

Red clay and rum seep through saffron and cardamom, sandalwood and vetiver anchoring the scent of rain-soaked earth beneath racing hooves.

£165 for 50 ml eau de parfum selfridges.com

 

 

Vallense Spirit

Mitcham mint and geranium awaken the senses, while fir balsam, cedar, and holy grass conjure petrichor and the magnetic hush just before the race begins.

Try in their Discovery Set (all three Vallense fragrance samples for £21) in our shop

 

 

Silks – The Gowns and Colours

 

 

Creed Queen of Silk

Osmanthus and magnolia shimmer over tuberose and passion fruit; vanilla and incense trail like the swish of a silk gown, regal and irresistibly soft.

£265 for 75ml eau de parfum libertylondon.com

 

 

Angela Flanders Shantung Dream

Neroli and petitgrain float above gardenia, jasmine, and fig; a sunlit silk scarf fluttering in the breeze, warm amber and sandalwood glowing gently on the skin.

From £85 for 30ml eau de parfum angelaflanders-perfumer.com

FLORIS_TUBEROSE_IN_SILK

Floris Tuberose in Silk

Green tuberose, iris, and orange blossom open to a heart of jasmine; benzoin and musk enfold you in a veil of silk – pure, sensual, and luminous.

£180 for 100ml eau de parfum florislondon.com

 

 

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Now Blooming: Spring Garden Scent Ingredients

As spring unfurls its tender green shoots and bursts of colour across gardens in the U.K., we find ourselves drawn to the beauty of familiar blooms and verdant landscapes. These are the sights and scents that herald the season’s arrival, yet their olfactory counterparts in perfumery often remain under-appreciated.

This month, we celebrate those fragrances that elevate ‘humble’ yet evocative notes – camellia, pear blossom, daffodil, crocus, saffron, and yes, even grass (so welcome as a splash of green re-emerging at this time of year) – transforming them into radiant expressions of springtime… and HURRAH for that much-needed breath of fresh air!

 

 

Grass – CHANEL Les Exclusifs Bel Respiro Eau de Toilette

Bel Respiro captures the very essence of a dew-kissed morning in a lush, manicured garden. Its opening is a vivid burst of crushed greenery, evoking freshly mown grass with a whisper of herbal sharpness. The bitterness softens as it develops, revealing a delicate interplay of transparent florals that float above the verdant base. This fragrance is an ode to simplicity and elegance – a restrained yet luminous portrayal of nature’s renewal. With its airy sophistication, Bel Respiro feels like stepping into a sunlit meadow just as the earth begins to awaken.

£240 for 75ml eau de parfum chanel.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daffodil – Yardley English Daffodil

The cheerful daffodil, a quintessential symbol of spring in British gardens, takes center stage in this fragrance. Yardley’s English Daffodil offers a sparkling introduction with citrusy notes of grapefruit blossom and lemon zest. As it unfolds, the heart reveals the golden warmth of daffodils intertwined with lily of the valley, creating a floral harmony that feels both fresh and nostalgic. Anchored by soft musk and cedarwood, this scent exudes joy and optimism – a fragrant embodiment of sunlight streaming through petals.

£12 for 125ml eau de toilette boots.com

 

 

 

Camellia – ELLA K Camelia K

Camellia flowers are rarely used in perfumery, but perfumer Sonia Constant used headspace technology to capture it’s allure, transforming this elegant bloom into an intoxicating masterpiece. The fragrance opens with a burst of ginger and blood orange, lending a zesty vibrancy that mirrors the camellia’s velvety petals glistening with morning dew. At its heart lies an opulent bouquet of red camellia and jasmine sambac, their creamy sweetness balanced by subtle hints of orange blossom. As it dries down, warm notes of vanilla and patchouli add depth and sensuality. Camelia K is both bold and refined: a floral symphony that lingers like sunlight on skin.

£215 for 100ml eau de parfum harveynichols.com

 

 

Pear Blossom – Eight & Bob Guethary

Pear blossom’s delicate charm is beautifully captured in Eight & Bob’s Guethary. This fragrance opens with a light dusting of pear blossom mingled with marigold’s herbal brightness. A salty amber accord weaves through its heart, evoking coastal breezes that carry hints of blooming orchards. As it settles, subtle suede and white musk provide a creamy backdrop that enhances its ethereal quality. Guethary is a serene yet striking composition – a fragrant stroll through an orchard by the sea.

£238 for 50ml extrait de parfum harveynichols.com

 

 

 

Crocus / Saffron – Parfums de Marly Haltane

From the humble crocus emerges saffron, one of perfumery’s most prized ingredients. Parfums de Marly’s Haltane showcases saffron’s duality – its honeyed warmth and leathery spiciness – against a backdrop of oud and dry woods. The composition opens with bergamot’s brightness before unveiling saffron’s golden glow, which lends a rich depth to the fragrance without overwhelming its balance. Sweet praline nuances soften its edges, creating an interplay between gourmand richness and earthy sophistication. Haltane is an evocative celebration of saffron’s complexity – a scent as luxurious as the crocus stamen from which it originates.

£270 for 75ml eau de parfum uk.parfums-de-marly.com

 

 

 

 

This spring, let us revel in these familiar yet transformative notes – each one a fragrant reminder that beauty often lies in what we see every day but rarely stop to truly appreciate. These perfumes invite us to rediscover the extraordinary within the ordinary, bringing gardens to gorgeously blossoming life – not just in sight, but in all their scented splendours.

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale