Tag: Latest Launches

New MCM ‘Park Collection’ fragrances – fun & finessed!

Introducing the MCM Park Fragrance Collection – an array of scents inspired by the iconic animal characters of the Munich House. Explore this daring new fragrance collection (created by some of the world’s top perfumers, as you shall discover) and find your fragrant spirit animal…

These perfumes mark a playful new chapter from the Munich-based luxury house, where scent meets signature style in the most endearing way. Known for its iconic bags and accessories that marry German heritage with cutting-edge innovation, MCM now ventures once again into the perfume world, but this time instead of bottles designed to resemble mini versions of their iconic luxury bags (which you know we squealed about when we first saw them!), these new fragrant faces have a delightful twist — bottles crowned with adorable animal icons that perfectly match the brand’s bold and youthful spirit.

 

 

 

 

This new ‘Park’ collection captures the essence of MCM’s aesthetic and ethos: aimed at dreamers, creatives and global nomads who defy boundaries with confidence. The MCM philosophy is firmly rooted in revolutionising classic design with futuristic materials and a fearless attitude, appealing to a new generation that values empowerment and self-expression. Here, the animal characters aren’t only cute companions but symbolic totems embodying the fragrance’s personality, all crafted by some of the industry’s finest perfumers.

Within these sassy yet sophisticated concoctions, expect well-balanced compositions that invite you to discover your own scented spirit animal. So, read our reviews and see which critter calls your name…

 

 

Zen Elephant

Zen Elephant embodies wisdom and serenity, paying homage to the peaceful state of mind that balance can bring. It opens on brisk grapefruit and delicate freesia, lifted by a subtle touch of seaweed that lends an unexpected freshness. The heart blooms with cardamom, magnolia and earthy truffle, while the base lingers with the softness of cedarwood, oakmoss and ambroxan. ‘Inspired by the pursuit of balance, I experimented with ingredients that complemented each other like yin and yang, striving for a harmonious blend of floral and woody elements,’ explains Hamid Merati-Kashani, principal perfumer.

£130 for 100ml eau de parfum theperfumeshop.com

 

 

 

 

Darling Doxie

Representing loyalty and friendship, Darling Doxie embodies warm dependability. The perfume unfolds with pepper, nutmeg and a sunny lemon accord, mellowing into a soothing heart of chamomile, ylang-ylang and styrax. Cedarwood, sandalwood, and vetiver anchor the fragrance with enduring depth. Frank Voelkl, the perfumer behind this devotion, remarks, ‘I intended to craft a fragrance that embodies reliability, serving as a genuine signature — timeless and devoted.’

£130 for 100ml eau de parfum theperfumeshop.com

 

 

 

 

Charming Pup

Charming Pup strikes a poised yet inviting tone with its elegant nature. Citrus notes of bergamot, lemon and orange ripple through the top, giving way to a floral-spiced heart of rose, carrot seed and iris. The base, a seductive blend of cedarwood, tonka bean and vetiver, wraps the scent in smooth confidence. Steve Guo shares his vision: ‘I aimed to encapsulate the subtle texture seen in pearls under sunlight — shimmering delicately without overwhelming, exuding beauty with confidence and charm.’

£127 for 100ml eau de parfum (available at): uk.mcmworldwide.com

 

 

 

 

Daring Dragon

Daring Dragon captures the allure of power and mystery with a confident blend that invites you to embrace the unknown. Its vibrant top notes of bergamot, yuzu and clementine sparkle with energy and sweetness. The heart is a delicate bouquet of almond blossom, lily of the valley and a hint of tea tree, leading into a comforting base of vanilla, cedarwood and sandalwood. Sophie Labbé, the perfumer, says, ‘For the Daring Dragon, enchanted by the mystery and allure of the unknown, I created something unexpected, filled with hidden treasures.’

£130 for 100ml eau de parfum theperfumeshop.com

 

 

 

 

Jolly Rabbit

Personifying playfulness, Jolly Rabbit is an effervescent burst of vitality and joy. The lively citrus combination of orange, lemon and red currant energises the top, while a charming contrast of ginger, neroli and jasmine blooms at the heart. The fragrance settles with creamy ambroxan, guaiac wood and vetiver to round off the exuberance. Alexandra Monet crafted this as ‘a scent brimming with sparkling ingredients, a true celebration of the exuberance, positivity and vitality that life has to offer.’

£130 for 100ml eau de parfum theperfumeshop.com

 

 

 

 

Mighty Bear

Finally, we embrace the Mighty Bear, a fragrance that speaks of strength and resilience. Elemi and bergamot ignite the fragrance, while the unexpected heart of sesame and patchouli adds complexity and warmth. Finally, a creamy base of tonka bean, vanilla and sandalwood lends the scent a comforting, powerful finish. Sophie Labbé reflects, ‘I was motivated to create a fragrance infused with strength using powerful ingredients that tell the tale of inner resilience.’

£130 for 100ml eau de parfum theperfumeshop.com

 

This collection is a vivid reminder that luxury fragrance can be both fun and finessed, marrying the iconic heritage of MCM with seriously accomplished scent-making. Want to discover even more? Do explore the world of MCM, the history of the house and its audacious style further at our dedicated MCM page.

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Fragrance trends to keep your nose on for 2025…

We’ve got our noses twitching for trends already to be on the sniff-out for this year, and as we step further into 2025, we’re looking at some of the main olfactory themes we’re seeing shape up for a scent-sational year of launches, including: Coffee, Milky, Reinvented Florals, and Tropical Fruits fragrances. But why exactly are these notes suddenly popping up in perfumes all over the place, and how might we see them develop in forthcoming compositions…?

It’s only early, but the fragrance world has already been busy, and it’s buzzing with excitement over these captivating trends (spotted and sniffed at last year’s trade shows, and glimpsed in early launches thus far for ’25) that are set to dominate the olfactory landscape.

 

 

Coffee notes in particular – with their rich and complex aroma – are making a bold statement in perfumery, offering a comforting yet invigorating scent that resonates with our increasingly fast-paced lifestyles. This trend reflects a growing appreciation for the nuanced flavours and aromas of speciality coffees, which have become an integral part of our daily rituals.

In our Spring issue of The Scented Letter magazine, we will be doing a deep dive into aromatic coffee beans and discovering why they’re percolating the perfume world right now; so, sign up to get your FREE online edition delivered straight to your inbox when it launches!

 

 

 

Meanwhile, milky notes have been slowly emerging as a surprising contender in the gourmand fragrance arena, bringing a soft, creamy dimension to scent compositions. This now-booming trend speaks to a collective desire for comfort and nostalgia, evoking memories of childhood and simpler times. Perfumers are skilfully blending these ‘lactonic’ notes with other ingredients to create fragrances that are both soothing – ‘your skin but better’ – and increasingly sophisticated.

 

 

The reinvention of nostalgic florals is breathing new life into this classic fragrance family. Moving away from traditional, sometimes cloying interpretations, perfumers are experimenting with unexpected twists, exciting combos and new extraction techniques to present familiar flowers in entirely new lights. These modern floral trends are more complex, often featuring green or woody undertones that appeal to a broader audience and challenge conventional notions of feminine and masculine scents.

 

 

Lastly (for now), the sunny surge in tropical fruit notes is bringing a burst of exotic energy to scent stores near you. As global travel continues to be lusted after (particularly luxe but lesser-known destinations), there’s a renewed fascination with far-flung escapes and their lush, vibrant scents. Perfumers are capturing the essence of rare and juicy fruits, transporting wearers to sun-soaked beaches and thrillingly verdant, steamy jungles with a single spritz.

In 2025, we’re seeing a demand for perfumes that tell a story, evoke emotions, and connect us to experiences both familiar and extraordinary. As we delve deeper into each of these trends in our upcoming blogs and magazine issues, we’ll explore how they’re shaping the future of fragrance and what they reveal about our evolving relationship with scent in an ever-changing world. Which ones will get you sniffing them out first, though? Or have you already added some of these trends into your collection?

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Fragrances For… Hanging on to Hope

With the world in turmoil and so much uncertainty it might seem, to some, an act of ‘frivolity’ to turn to fragrance. But we know – and we hear from you all the time – how important scent can be at times of extreme stress. Rising sales in personal and home fragrance attested to this during lockdowns, and so we offer a spread of recently launched scents that can help soothe frazzled nerves, remind us of happier times and, most importantly, give us hope…

 

 

 

MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA
Replica When The Rain Stops
As if the name wasn’t evocative enough, this is fresh air, bottled: the scent of flowers and leaves, after a summer rainstorm, via bergamot, nose-tingling pink pepper, an aquatic accord, Isparta rose petal essence and jasmine, on a base that hums with pine needle oil, the dampness of moss, and Bali patchouli. Crystal-clear in colour – like the rain-washed air it evokes – this has us believing that the storm clouds are beginning to part, at last.
From £49 for 50ml eau de toilette
selfridges.com

MOLTON BROWN
Delicious Rhubarb & Rose
Celebrating ‘home is where the heart is’, Molton Brown showcase a duo of star ingredients often grown in our own gardens, much beloved by us Brits. Perfumer Vanessa Prudent conjures comforting childhood memories of baking, a sprinkle of sugar and pink pepper dusting rhubarb’s crispness, the leaves swagged by armfuls of soft pink roses. Marrying crisp fruitiness to the cedar muskiness of the base via silky cream ribbons, it’s an elegant reverie, bottled.
£85 for 100ml eau de toilette
moltonbrown.co.uk

 

TO THE FAIREST
ODRE COSMIQUE
Inspired by ‘the magic and connectivity of the cosmos’, this gender-neutral scent opens with unusual notes of cool, silvery cardamom and calming water lily. Shimmering like the night sky, the sparkle hushes to a warmer base of soothing sandalwood, rippled through with the addictive nature of the chocolate cosmos flower. Gourmand-shunners need not worry, this is no ‘foodie’ type concoction – it feels far more sophisticated than that; a subtle addiction, if you will.
£85 for 50ml eau de parfum
tothefairest.com

 

 
EMPORIO ARMANI
Stronger With You Only
Chock full of assured suaveness, the character of the beloved original juice is allowed to shine through but there’s a zing up top with a generous squeeze of grapefruit. Meanwhile, an extra dose of freshness is granted by aromatic lavender and geranium in the heart. An intriguingly smoky is joined by a chestnut accord that’s sugar-coated yet still masculine. It feels like having your favourite jacket re-made in a differing material: the perfect fragrant fit.
£54 for 50ml eau de toilette
armanibeauty.co.uk

 

 

GABAR
Ground II
‘We’re rooted in Myanmar and made for the world,’ the founders of this niche house rather beautifully explain, and the inspirations are firmly planted there, too. Based on traditional La Phet (tea leaf salad) and Thanaka (tree bark) the verdant crunch of stalks is seamlessly stirred into dough-like orris, fig, saffron and sandalwood silkiness that had us burying our noses in our wrists. A majestic oudh, patchouli and vetiver trail truly feel grounding, hours later.
£120 for 50ml eau de parfum
gabarmyanmar.com
 

Fragrances For… Looking Forward

January often feels like a month (or two!) of Mondays, so we’re reaching for bright and brilliant fragrances to help us look forward again. From vibrant, luminous florals to lightly frosted but sunshine-filled foresty walks and fruity, opulently warm concoctions; why not seek these recent launches out to try on your own skin? The future is bright(er), so let’s still snuggle-up, but also welcome the turning of the seasons, looking forward with these fantastic scents…

 

 

BAMFORD
Woodland Moss
We love Carole Bamford’s description that her new fine fragrance duo is ‘layered, rich and uplifting, much like the natural ingredients in which they are so deeply rooted.’ The ingredients in Woodland Moss and its ‘sister’, Wild Meadow, definitely evoke a sense of the natural world, harnessed here in a woody masterpiece that is at once damp and mossy, earthy and intriguing, rendered elegant and soft by an exquisite garland of dew-drenched rose.
From £25 for 10ml eau de parfum
bamford.com

 

 

BYREDO
Young Rose
Debuted in China –  a country just awakening to the joys of perfume –Ben Gorham refers to this as ‘an ode to the perennial restlessness of youth: an olfactive diary of those who are writing their own future.’ But we’d say this should most definitely appeal to those outside the ‘Gen Z’ or ‘millennial’ age brackets, a joyous clash of Sichuan pepper and Damascus rose, buffed by orris, musk and Ambroxan. What is Mandarin for ‘fabulous’, again?
£122 for 50ml eau de parfum
byredo.com

JEROBOAM
Floro
Jeroboam pioneered downsized flacons: easy on the back, easier on the pocket, now offering this ‘flurry of flowers’. Fruit notes first capture the attention: green and red apples, and luscious pineapple. Then the flowers burst open: jasmine and airy, transparent petal notes, rendered a touch creamy by sandalwood and finished with a flourish of dry woods, white musk and cedar. Eminently shareable, Jeroboam suggest (and oh, we do love flowers, on a chap!)
£90 for 30ml eau de parfum
jovoyparis.uk

 

 

DUNHILL
Icon Racing Red
There’s some extra pep in this engine – perhaps the sizzle of spicier notes with the warm glow of that rich amber base does it, but nonetheless we can say the red is – racier than its somewhat sleeker Racing Blue garage-mate. Solar notes remind us of driving, top down, ‘round winding lanes on holiday with a carefree abandon, the citrus speeding leafy fern and geranium before the frankincense-like base kicks in.
£88 for 100ml eau de parfum
fenwick.co.uk

 

 

JIMMY CHOO
Urban Hero Gold Edition
Luscious pineapple and ripe blood orange offer the most welcome kind of bracing opening, perfectly offsetting the more balsamic sweetness of soothing lavandin and rich, creamy tonka bean (think roasted almonds, lapped in milk) at the heart. This fragrance of contrasts, reflecting the inspiration of street art and free-spirited creatives amidst a city environment, is captured in a special edition golden bottle that will steal the show on his side of the bathroom shelf.
£72 for 100ml eau de parfum
boots.com
 

The Scented Letter magazine ‘Time to Shine’ Christmas edition has landed!

We’re delighted to launch the latest 52-page edition of The Scented Letter – and as we close the year, it’s a celebration of all things fragrant – the gifts to give, the celestial scents to spritz and the aromas of this very special season.

We’re also celebrating something VERY special: a hat-trick of Jasmine Awards in The Fragrance Foundation, with two for our stellar writer Suzy Nightingale, and a Judges’ Special Recognition Award for one entire edition of the mag, ‘A Life in Scents’, published earlier this year.

Scroll down for a preview of some of the articles, which you can read online here in flickable format, recreating the sense of reading a real-life mag.

Alternatively, we are now able to take orders for a limited run of printed copies of the magazine, priced £12.50 to our VIP Subscribers (£15 to non-VIPs), here. And you can now also buy an annual print subscription to The Scented Letter, here…

  • Heaven Scents: The Christmas 2021 Gift Guide A stellar selection for everyone on your list – that’s a tick, tick, tick!
  • In Memories, Dreams & Reflections, leading astrologer Shelley von Strunckel shares a lifetime in fragrant recollections
  • The ever-brilliant British perfumer Ruth Mastenbroek gives Suzy Nightingale the low-down on her creative working life
  • Agony uncle James Craven answers your seasonal scent-selection and present-choosing conundrums
  • Perfumers are looking to the night sky for inspiration to compose fragrances that sparkle, charm and dazzle, reports Suzy Nightingale in Celestial Scents
  • Founder of Perfume Walks London, Olga Petrouchenko, time-travels to a Russian childhood and a snowy winter holiday
  • Plus as usual, we bring you all the Latest Launches, news – and so much more

 

 

Fragrances For… spectacular sunsets

The skies this time of year are ablaze with colour as the sun sets – the heavens awash with purples, reds and pinks that melt into the darkness like nature’s fireworks. And fragrances are often inspired by this spectacular display, too – perfumers creating scents that light us up even on the dullest days. Here’s five we feel so colourful wearing right now…

 

COACH
Dreams Sunset
Inspired by ‘golden hours and one-of-a-kind journeys with friends’ – which we are indeed dreaming of – this ombré bottle, echoing the colours of sunset, perfectly shows off a floriental composition crafted by the brilliant Nathalie Lorson. Refreshing pear sorbet and bergamot playfully tease the wearer, before jasmine sambac and magnolia dial up the intrigue. But what keeps this beach party rocking is the smoochy, sultry base of tonka and vanilla. We’re so there.
From £34.50 for 40ml eau de parfum
johnlewis.com

 

GHOST
Orb of Night
Setting a darker, moodier tone to the pantheon of Ghost perfumes, Night Orb glimmers with a dark cherry almond accord, kissed with mandarin before plunging deeper into a heady orange blossom, ylang ylang and freesia heart. The sandalwood base has rivulets of caramel running through it, but being rippled with a salty, slightly animalic ambergris, is rendered salty and moreish. From the rose gold bottle to the vegan certification, it impresses.
£22.95 for 30ml eau de parfum
escentual.com

 

 

BVLGARI
Omnia by Mary Katrantzou
The most glorious, iridescent sunset-esque bottle acts as a vase for Alberto Morrilas’s beautifully composed ‘maximalist bouquet’, as Bulgari describe it. A green rustle of fig leaf unfurls to billowing orange blossom and gardenia before settling to underpinnings of fluffy musk and a deeper, woody base. An exclusive collaboration with fashion designer Mary Katrantzou, this vibrant scent reflects her designs, and we can almost feel the fabric flowing around us as we wear this.
£87 for 65ml eau de parfum
bulgari.com

 

MAISON CRIVELLI
Osmanthe Kōdoshān
A sublime portrait of the apricot-y bloom, this is inspired by a trip to ‘a tropical mountain shrouded in mist.’ We sense sunsets, height and grandeur in a scent that slowly unfurls itself as it warms. Curls of fog clear to reveal a forest far below, the resinous scent of verdant vegetation and grounding woodiness rising to meet you, the osmanthus swathing your skin in a leathery embrace. Calming, mysterious, transcendentally beautiful.
From £170 for 100ml eau de parfum
harveynichols.com

 

 

PENHALIGON’S
Constantinople
On spraying this, we were immediately greeted with a highly refined, almost leathery iris – the image of an intricately carved wooden shutter suddenly flung open to welcome evening air and blazing skies, a tang of salty shores nearby carrying waves of delicate, powdered spices on the breeze. Beneath an earthy, mossy layer nestles seams of liquid vanilla, milky ripples later reflect moonlight, harbouring the expectation and tingling anticipation of tomorrow’s exotic adventures…
£178 for 100ml eau de parfum
penhaligons.com

 

Fragrances For… celebrations!

Our Fragrances For series continues with a look at perfumes we think are perfect to celebrate with. We must admit the theme was inspired by our recent trio of Jasmine Award wins, but let’s take time to celebrate the every-day wins, too. Scents have soothes frazzled nerves, reminded us of happy holidays and people we love, and they can add much-needed razzle-dazzle to the dullest of days. Now, what do YOU deserve to celebrate with…?

 

 

CAROLINA HERRERA
212 VIP Wins Woman
Symrise perfumer Emilie Coppermann definitely evokes the vibrant green of the bottle in her verdant composition. Can a fragrance smell ‘shiny’, too? Somehow this does ­– the bracing chlorophyl of the top notes freshened further by a squeeze of mandarin’s juiciness. Luscious pomegranate marries perfectly with a fruity rose, while the fizzy delight of the heart mellows to a smooth base as it warms to a trail of musk and silky woods.
£89 for 80ml eau de parfum
carolinaherrera.com

 

 

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER
So Scandal!
Unapologetically naughty: a scandalous interlude conducted on silky raspberry velvet, the milkiness of warm, bare skin caressed by softness and ‘a threesome of white flowers.’ Oh, my! Bright orange blossom, opulent jasmine and heady tuberose are dusted in powder, a feeling of feathers exploding from the tussle of a pillow-fight. Most of all this is fun, fun, FUN – and gosh, how we’ve needed frivolity, granted by perfumers Daphne Bugey and Fabrice Pellegrin.
£68.50 for 50ml eau de parfum
boots.com

 

 

MUGLER
Angel Iced Star
Housed in what is possibly Mugler’s most stunning, kaleidoscopically colourful flacon yet, this latest twist offers up a cocktail of mouth-watering deliciousness from the get-go. Imagine celebrations by a pool (oh, HOW we imagine!), sipping a cool concoction of coconut water and juicy pineapple. The praline base feels suitably icy – a freshly-scooped gelato, perhaps, and not over-sweet – and we’re sure the many Angel collectors will be snapping this up, pronto!
£50 for 50ml eau de toilette
escentual.com

 

PACO RABANNE
Lady Million Fabulous Intense
Perfume Anne Flipo goes deeper and darker with this iteration of the golden scented success story. Pink pepper-flecked mandarin and orange fizzes appealingly to the addictive note of tuberose. Jasmine is again described as ‘solar’, its luminescence draped in the liquid, languid glam of ylang ylang. Toasty tonka bean and vanilla are finally swathed in moss as the base swoons on warm skin. One for the roof-top parties and VIP areas.
£87.50 for 80ml eau de parfum
pacorabanne.com

 

 

BVLGARI
La Gemme Azaran
The polished-in-every way counterpoint to La Gemme Astrea, this celebratory creation is by none other than Jacques Cavallier – more usually to be found pursuing his craft elsewhere in the LVMH empire, nowadays, for Louis Vuitton. Taking fiery aventurine as his mineral muse, this eau de parfum showcases leather, precious saffron and red cedarwood, to create (in Cavallier’s own words) ‘a sophisticated and powerful fragrance leaving a luxurious woody signature in its trail.’
£268 for 100ml eau de parfum
harrods.com

Fragrances For… feeling stronger

Sometimes we all need the help of a fragrance to feel stronger – something that does more than simply smell lovely, but can lift our spirits and almost act like a pair of shoulder pads in scented form. These are fragrances that we feel go beyond comfort – evoking adventurous journeys, friendship and inner strength via hemp leaf, smouldering amber, silky smooths woods and bison grass…

 

BYREDO
Open Sky
‘While being stuck in one place, our memories have become particularly vivid,’ muses founder Ben Gorham. Capturing our collective desire to travel, the scent segues from the pepper-flecked freshness of pomelo to the mind-expanding hemp leaf and spiritual palo santo hushed by vetiver in the base. ‘Beyond the physicality of spaces,’ Gorham explains, this celebrates ‘that idea of movement – of journeys, being on your way somewhere…’ Plane tickets and a plan, bottled.
£178 for 100ml eau de parfum
libertylondon.com

 

 

COMME DES GARÇONS
Rouge
A warm, ambered base grounds this wonderfully weird (and very wearable) concoction. CDG never do anything humdrum, so our eyes were immediately drawn to the beetroot note listed. Of course, we’re used to it combined with chocolate in cookery, and it blends just as well here with the Egyptian geranium to create an almost-rose. Pink pepper simmers through the layers to the smouldering incense and refined patchouli base. Clever and intriguing.
£120 for 100ml eau de parfum
Exclusive to selfridges.com

 

 

BENTLEY
Momentum Unbreakable
Master Perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin teams with up-and-coming talent Ane Ayo, to take the dual steering wheels of this scent. Dreamwood© is a key ingredient – the supremely smooth woody note being a 100% natural ingredient used in place of Mysore sandalwood (now a highly protected species), obtained through carbon-neutral biotechnology. Cool violet (another of our floral trend predictions) shimmers through verdant greenery to liquorice-y dried fruits and immortelle fluffed amber. Another instant classic.
£69.50 for 100ml eau de parfum
harrods.com

 

DIESEL
Sound of the Brave
Employing the talents of Fabrice Pellegrin – one of the world’s top perfumers – Sound of the Brave resonates with a unique heart of Bison grass accord. A reminder, says Pellegrin, of good times with friends. The sizzle of bold spices vibrate through vibrant lemon as a powerful base (or should that be ‘bassline’?) throbs with amber wood and musk. Electric blue juice inside the clenched-fist flacon and hip-hop legend Skepta as ambassador ensure it’s a hit.
£69 for 125ml eau de toilette
boots.com

 

 

PACO RABANNE
Invictus Victory
The latest incarnation of the heroically themed fragrances ‘seizes with its power and seduces with its freshness.’ Freshly squeezed lemons offer the juicy bite here while the woody notes of incense wrap tendrils of soft smoke around a purr of vanilla in the base. Spiced tonka bean is the delicious finale for this scent inspired by ‘subtly celebrating modern masculinity.’ Give this to someone you consider your personal hero – beats a golfing trophy, any day!
£56 for 50ml eau de parfum
pacorabanne.com

Fragrances For… The Last of the Summer Sunshine

Last of the Summer Sunshine? Well the last few days the weather’s actually been more ‘summer’ like than it has been for several weeks! As the last days of summer slip into autumn’s more golden light, it can be hard to mark where one season ends and another begins – these fragrances are filled with a glorious luminousity that captures those gilded days and helps us cling to the sunshine a while longer…

 

 

 

GUERLAIN
Aqua Allegoria Flora Salvaggia
Who hasn’t fantasised about running through a meadow of wildflowers, wind in our hair? That’s the vibe that Guerlain seek to evoke with this second of 2021’s Aqua Allegoria, composed to conjure up the ‘poetry’ of the scent of wild flora, lifted by a drift of clean musks. We know many a collector of these Guerlain creations, who’ll be thrilled to add this gilded bottle (with its lavender-tinted juice) to their summer scent wardrobe.
From £69 for 75ml eau de toilette
guerlain.com

 

 

HOLLISTER
Canyon Escape For Her
Another trend we’re noticing in fragrances this year is a shimmering sunrise of desert-themed scents – the olfactory oasis here blooming with rose, orange blossom and dusty iris, freshened up top with juicy mandarin, blood orange and a ripple of cool cactus, smoothed beneath by cedarwood and a soft waft of musk. We imagine sun-blushed skin, floral crowns and the glamorous yet laid-back escapism of the Californian desert while sniffing this so-happy scent.
£16.50 for 100ml eau de parfum
very.co.uk 

 

NARCISO RODRIGUEZ
Narciso Eau Neroli Ambrée
Neroli is one of the most instantly sunshine-y, happy-making notes on the scentscape (we took an office poll last year, and it came out on top for evoking bright light and happy, holiday memories). The brilliant Aurélien Guichard packs pleasure into every spritz, here – a veritable whoosh of optimism, tempered with comfort, in this slinky, silky dream. Orange blossom and soft woods sigh contentedly to the so-iconic white musk trail.
£65 for 50ml eau de parfum
johnlewis.com

 

CALVIN KLEIN
Eternity Men Summer
If you couldn’t get away this year, this really feels like a holiday in a bottle. Evoking the unique air temperature of a summer’s dawn, the airy exhilaration of bergamot oil sparkles like the first fingers of sunlight illuminating the sea, the glittering waves bringing coconut water and a smooth, creamy breeze of Australian sandalwood – and you’ll be glad to know this precious ingredient was sustainably sourced. Eternity always feels like a perfect summer’s day, bottled forever.
£60 for 100ml eau de toilette
superdrug.com

 

PARFUMS DE MARLY
Greenley
A distinctly greener vibe for this much-loved niche house, bringing the feeling of a Cologne but with the benefit of far greater staying power in a concentrated eau de parfum. Bursting with citrus up top, the petitgrain grants an immediate freshness, a fruity interpretation of cashmere wood fused with crisp apple and the shady cool of violet. Amberwood ripple throughout, making this feel like a much-needed stroll through the woodlands when you need to escape.
£160 for 75ml eau de parfum
harrods.com

 

Fragrances for… comfort & protection

Sometimes we all need some extra comfort, the protection of a reassuring hug. So, if you’ve been feeling particularly anxious, over-worked or just more than usually stressed (and frankly, who can blame you?!) we suggest reaching for one of these recently released scents to help soothe your cares away in fragrant form…

 


INITIO PARFUMS Musk Therapy
Initio fragrances ‘initiate perfume as an object of power’ – a concept we very much connect with. We could all do with some therapy after the past year, and the feather-soft white musk here fluffs around the edges of magnolia (we told you last year this flower would be blooming!) Blackcurrant provides a piquant edge, immediately smoothed and soothed by the assuring purity of sandalwood. Spray whenever you need a ‘me-moment’ of escape.
£205 for 90ml eau de parfum
harrods.com

ISSEY MIYAKE A Drop d’Issey
Almost 30 years on from the launch of the iconic l’Eau d’Issey, it’s still blazing a trail. This exquisite droplet-design bottle is created from recycled glass, the outer box with 70% recycled paper, many ingredients are sourced via ethical and sustainable partnerships – and oh, did we mention that Ane Ayo’s creation smells sublime? A gauzy, feminine veil pairing lilac and orange blossom, star anise and jasmine, resting on creamy musks, biovanillin and Ambrox.
£56 for 50ml eau de parfum
boots.com

 

AMAN Haru
Aman’s sculpturally-bottled scents are inspired by their peerless, understated luxury destinations around the world – in this case, Aman Tokyo. ‘Haru’ translates as ‘spring’; Tokyo is renowned for its cherry blossom festival, thus perfumer Jacques Chabert (who has applied his talents across all the Aman scents) layers the floatiest petalled floral notes with apricot and green tea, fluttering towards a dry-down that whispers with tobacco and maté tea, delivering a sense of calming harmony.
£220 for 50ml eau de parfum
shop.aman.com 

BVLGARI Splendida Patchouli Tentation
We happen to be fully signed-up members of the filthy patchouli fan club at TPS, marvelling that many are still put off by the ‘hippy headshop’ legacy. Fear not, naysayers, this contains a patchouli accord exclusively designed for the house – but it’s a gauzy shimmer of orris-dusted white peach on a sumptuously soft caress of white musk. Enough to convert anyone, we feel, and fresh enough for the most humid of days.
£78 for 50ml eau de parfum
selfridges.com

 

PARLE MOI DE PARFUM Haute Provence / 89
Endless vistas of Provençal lavender fields and their ‘glorious explosion of purple, mauve, lilac and blue’ were the inspiration behind this wonderfully soothing, aromatic ‘memory of France in high summer.’ Until we can wander those fields first-hand, this cool, dry and immediately nostalgic scent spirits us there with every spritz. Refreshing watermelon and hypnotic narcissus only add to the bucolic charms, and once again we praise the nose of Michel Almairac. Mais oui!
£98 for 50ml eau de parfum
lessenteurs.com

 By Suzy Nightingale