Tag: launch

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
 

Kenzo Homme is reinvented & reveals new (unexpected!) ‘face’

You’d imagine the new ‘face’ of the newly reinvented Kenzo Homme Eau de Toilette Intense would be a model or celebrity, right? Well think again, as the age of employing people for their looks alone to advertise fragrance seems to be coming to an end. In line with scent ‘celebrating nature’, step forward ‘engaged entrepreneur’ Orin Hardy…

First launched in 1991, Kenzo Homme is one of those classics that stood the test of time, but in order to help it move with the times, Kenzo Parfums’ explain the newly invigorated Eau de Toilette Intense is ‘Inspired by the remarkable strength and flexibility of sustainable and recyclable bamboo’ and that the fragrance ’embodies values and engagement.’

For the new Eau de Toilette Intense, Kenzo Parfums’ chose renowned perfumer Quentin Bisch (Givaudan) sprinkles pink pepper for spicy freshness and a molecule called ‘calypsone’ for an extra aquatic dimension (there’s that water-themed trend we’ve seen rising again). Earthy, groundingly cool vetiver is warmed by a woody fig note in the heart, while smooth, calming sandalwood swirls through akigalawood. The marine-woody fragrance evokes sun-warmed salty skin. Eliciting the power of the ocean and the lush bamboo forest, the scent is embodied by Orin Hardy, an engaged entrepreneur who grew up in Indonesia.’

The founder of Bamboo U has a passion for the extraordinary properties of bamboo. The ecological designer hopes to educate a new generation of creative talents about the potential of bamboo as a sustainable building material for innovative living spaces in harmony with nature. The new face of KENZO HOMME, Orin Hardy shares KENZO PARFUMS’ values of  generosity, respect for nature and poetry. To support his work, KENZO has created a scholarship that will enable ten students to study through the Bamboo U Project.

 

 

Director Clément Beauvais and photographer Arthur de Kersauson traveled to meet Orin Hardy to learn more about his ambitious project and shoot the campaign for the new Eau de Toilette Intense. ‘Connecting to nature is really about re-connecting to who we really are. We all want to make the world the best place it can be. And bamboo is one medium to make that happen,’ says Orin Hardy. An immersion into the beauty of Indonesian landscapes, the documentary is streaming on the KENZO PARFUMS website.

This ‘invitation to make the world more beautiful’, Says Kenzo Parfums, very much includes the bottle itself. ‘Reflecting KENZO’s longstanding commitment to eco-responsibility, the bottle contains 10% recycled glass and a cap design that saves 34% of plastic. The packaging is made of FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) certified paper, printed with bio-sourced inks. KENZO HOMME Eau de Toilette Intense perfectly symbolizes sustainable beauty.’

So, what does it smell like? Think wind-whipped hair and salt-licked skin, the serene strength of bamboo embracing the freedom of a sea breeze. Punctuated with piquant hits of pink peppercorn and a creamy, comforting caress of fig wood and sandalwood – it’s a moment to feel free, hopeful again, but still in need of that reassuring hug….

 

 

Kenzo Homme Eau de Toilette Intense £53 for 60ml eau de toilette
Try it at theperfumeshop.com

By Suzy Nightingale

Fragrances for… celebrations

Fragrances for celebrations have a certain pizzazz about them – a sparkle that sets them apart from the ordinary. Whether you’re celebrating a summer sporting win, seeing your loved ones again or simply getting through the 2020 / 2021 thus far; these scents will add the POP of Champagne corks in perfume form…

GIORGIO ARMANI SÌ EAU DE PARFUM INTENSE
It isn’t every afternoon you get to hang out with Cate Blanchett on Zoom, but for the launch of this intense, super-sophisticated incarnation of Sì, the Academy Award-winning actress was joined by perfumer Julie Massé to introduce this stunning Chypre-Ambrée-fruity masterpiece. Sì’s signature blackcurrant nectar is paired here with armfuls of Ispartra rose and velvety davana, imparting serious va-va-voom, before your senses are enveloped by patchouli, benzoin and sustainably-sourced vanilla. Fabulissimo!
From £60 for 30ml eau de parfum intense
armanibeauty.co.uk

 

GUERLAIN MON GUERLAIN SPARKLING BOUQUET
A jewel-like bottle, a shimmering scent: in this latest addition to the Mon Guerlain family (which is expanding fast), a pear accord in the overture has been magnified to juicy, fruity, joyful effect, to sparkle ‘like a mischievously irresistible smile’, Guerlain promise. But the resonances of the original Mon Guerlain are apparent throughout – the floral heart, with its aromatic lavender flourishes, the jasmine scampering everywhere, the vanilla and sandalwood in the so-feminine base.
£70 for 50ml eau de parfum
guerlain.com

 

JIMMY CHOO I WANT CHOO
Juicy succulence explodes in a whoosh of mandarin and velvety peach, while jasmine gets twisted with red spider lily in the heart – a flirtatious pairing that sashays all the way to a scrumptiously warm, sweet benzoin-soaked vanilla base. It’s vivacious enough to boost your spirits, and effortless enough to grant you a cloak of ‘I just woke up like this’ glam. Think of it as your fragrant filter: everything’s better with it on!
£45 for 40ml eau de parfum
theperfumeshop.com

 

LANCÔME LA VIE EST BELLE SOLEIL CRISTAL
How we love seeing soleil in the name of a fragrance: a glimmer of sunlit hope and promises of outdoor living (without the blankets and hot chocolate). A solar brightness gives a new twist to the bestseller, here, via radiant mandarin, extravagant white flowers and a trail of Madagascan vanilla and patchouli, from Bali. And oh, the bottle’s spectacular, with a shimmering, almost holographic finish that echoes the luminosity of the scent inside.
From £29 for 15ml eau de parfum
lancome.co.uk

 

VALENTINO BORN IN ROMA YELLOW DREAM FOR HIM
And we think lovely for anyone! This feels like wearing the scent of yellow for sure – a zip of zest radiating sunshine as Italian mandarin and pineapple accord awaken the senses. Lusciously juicy – actual mouth-watering will occur – a surprising gingerbread accord captures your interest in the heart, the whole composition irresistibly smoothed by creamy, black speckled vanilla bean swirled through your coffee as you saunter through Rome’s streets, perhaps? From the Italian architectural bottle inspiration to the scent: we’re so there. (PSST! You might like to get your hands (and nose) on the Seasonal Scent Subscription Box…)
£75 for 100ml eau de toilette
boots.com

 

Escentric Molecules M+ – a trio of NEW fragrances! Molecule 01 + naturals

Escentric Molecules have just today launched THREE M+ fragrances – iterations of their best-selling Molecule 01 – a fragrance that first showcased the artistry and depth of synthetic aroma molecules and changed the face of the industry forever.

As pefumer and founder Geza Schoen says, ‘‘Molecule 01 is an exceptional molecule: radiant, velvety, cocooning. It’s mysteriously effective on its own as Molecule 01, But I started to wonder if there might be another way to play with it. What if I could take the molecule and add just one other beautiful ingredient and see how they danced together in the bottle?’

That perfumed pondering has led to three brand new explorations of Iso E Super – each of them blended with naturals, because, as Geza says, ‘Only naturals have the complexity and radiance to work in a dance of two like this, while maintaining the simplicity of the concept.’

We’re thrilled to be launching the M+ collection during a live event tomorrow, when our Co-Founder, Jo Fairley, will be putting your questions directly to Geza, but for now, let’s dive into the whole thought process and let Geza explain more…

 

 

1. As a brand that has always launched in binary pairs, this is a real change for Escentric Molecules, what made you want to do this triptych?

‘It’s three fragrances by accident. Not by any particular design, but as I started to work on the project I realised
I was considering a base, a heart and a top note. M+ mandarin gives you a huge top note experience, M+iris highlights the heart as M+patchouli emphasises the base note, all the fundamental roles of a fragrance.’

2. Why now?

‘It’s actually another accident! It all started with my partner’s wish for the best possible singular iris note within a fragrance. She asked me to create this for her. I thought about it for a while and then decided to add very little else
to the iris combination used so as to not detract from the powdery beauty of the orris root absolue itself. The simple
inclusion of Iso E Super with the orris blew us both away. M+ iris was born. Even then, I didn’t immediately think of it as a Escentric Molecules fragrance. It was only after experiencing Sophie wearing it and the reaction she got from others that the concept of developing it for commercial release formed in my mind.’

3. How did you choose the + elements for the fragrances?

‘From the reaction Sophie’s Iris fragrance got, I started to think about other combinations that may work in a similar minimal marriage. I experimented with many, deciding on patchouli as it is probably the ultimate, elegant woody
note in perfumes, M+ mandarin was chosen for it’s almost shocking aromatic zesty boost, using this particular mandarin oil that is just so beautiful.’

4. You have some very loyal molecule fans who have been with you since the beginning – how do you think
they will react to this, or have they been asking for something like this?

‘No one particularly asked for this. Making it available as an EM product is just a continuation of our principles that we
only release products when we have something that we love and believe has to be released.„..’

 

Escentric Molecules M+ mandarin

‘Mandarin is all about the instant hit. It’s so alive, the way it radiates off the skin with that citrus zestiness. But there’s more to mandarin, it’s very fruity and aromatic as well. It’s a beautiful ingredient. Its transparency means that it vanishes quickly. I’ve touched it up with a little extra shading to extend it, adding a mandarin ingredient used in flavourings to give it super-juiciness. Then as it begins to fade, Molecule 01 syncs in, bringing a warm, erogenous feeling to play with that zinging freshness. That’s unusual – for a topnote ingredient like Mandarin and a base note like Iso E Super to dance together naked like this, without other notes coming between them. And then the mandarin is almost gone and you are left with the elevated simplicity of Molecule 01.

That’s what I love about Molecule 01 + Mandarin – it may be a dance of two but the story changes completely from beginning to middle to end.’

Escentric Molecules M+ iris

‘It’s not easy to describe iris’ smell as such, but if you smell a fragrance without it, and then with it, you understand immediately what it does. It adds a creamy powderiness. It brings a physical dimension to a fragrance. I have had a long-standing love affair with iris. Every Escentric fragrance has an iris note somewhere in there. To me, iris is luxury. The iris pallida absolue I’ve used here is one of the most expensive ingredients in perfumery. You can find iris extracts for way less than that. But they do not have the great and subtle beauty of this absolue. It’s radical to put this much in a fragrance. The sillage is fantastic. This is a bomb, but a subtle bomb.’

Escentric Molecules M+ patchouli

Patchouli is a unique natural. Unlike 99% of perfume ingredients we associate it with a particular period, with the sixties and seventies and that bohemian spirit. It has a cool, rather aloof woodiness to it. I love it for its moody beauty. I’ve used two qualities of patchouli here. The biggest chunk is Patchouli Coeur which is a very clean, soft patchouli oil fraction with the camphor-like top note removed. I have also included a patchouli oil from Indonesia to round it out with
a little bit of a top note. The result is a sophisticated, clean patchouli that pairs fantastically well with Molecule 01.’

If you loved the original Molecule 01 and want to join the M+ fragrant adventure – or if you’ve yet to discover – we can tell you this: it’s an incredibly beautiful and diverse trio with something that everyone call fall for…

By Suzy Nightingale

Issey Miyake Fusion – make your own music on the nature-inspired drum machine!

The new Issey Miyake fragrance, Fusion d’Issey, has inspired an immersive and interactive experience created in partnership with The Perfume Shop, to celebrate the launch…

We’ve been banging our drum about the many ties between music and fragrance for years – in fact, we recently dedicated an entire issue of our magazine, The Scented Letter, to Music & Perfume  – so we’re delighted to see Issey Miyake showcasing Fusion in such an imaginative and multi-sensory way…

Sounds of Fusion is, they explain, ‘the first drum machine inspired by nature in Fusion, where users are invited to create their own music composition using the sounds of elements in Fusion.

 

 

The experience immerses into an interactive home page inviting users to take part in an intuitive and easy creative soundscape page where they can create their own unique piece of music.

“Sounds of Fusion” offers a new playground for both novice and experienced music creators. It takes its roots in the popular organic and nature-inspired music genre.

The experience is composed of:

4 main themes inspired by nature: air / lava / water / stone sounds

8 different sounds representing the main themes, as different interpretations of each one

A play and pause button, there to start or stop the player

A record/share button allowing to download the composition when one’s done, and share it on different social media channels

The digital platform is live now and open to anyone who is keen to become his/her own music creator inspired by organic sounds.

Be inspired & share your Sound of Fusion!’

 

 

 

So, why not spritz your scent and get inspired to create your own track to share with friends online? With Issey Miyake you’re invited to ‘Dive at the heart of the elements where the strength of nature is expressed through images and for the first time… through sounds. Just listen: water flowing on rocks, wind blowing through leaves, boiling lava, crackling rocks…’

For those of you who’ve not managed to get your noses on the new fragrance yet, Fusion juxtaposes hot and cold, a fascinating exploration of the perfumer’s alchemy in conjuring coolness from citrus and coconut milk, the breeze of a solar-filled mineral accord (think sunlight sparkling on water). Earthiness exudes from the smooth sandalwood, while resinous patchouli provides the heat of the base.

 

Issey Miyake Fusion d’Issey £49 for 50ml eau de toilette
theperfumeshop.com

By Suzy Nightingale

Avon Herstory celebrates Changing Faces charity

Avon has partnered with the UK’s leading charity for people with visible differences, Changing Faces, to launch Herstory – a fragrance celebrating women all over the world.

Five powerful and inspiring women with visible differences proudly feature in the Herstory beauty campaign. This reflects Avon’s commitment to Changing Faces, wanting to give everyone with a visible difference a #PledgetoBeSeen.

Avon explain that ‘The Herstory launch coincides with Face Equality Week (18-22nd May) a time to celebrate people with visible differences and to challenge people’s perceptions,’ and wonderfully, Avon will also be donating 50% of Herstory sales to Changing Faces ‘…which will go towards funding the charity’s Support and Information Line which offers advice for people with a visible difference.

Talking about why they wanted to highlight visual diversity, Avon say that ‘Representing the scent of inspiration for all women, Herstory commends the long lineage of women who have helped shape the present. It celebrates the experience of being a woman, opening the conversation for women to share their own authentic story of the past and present, whilst coming together to write the stories of the future.’

So we know the way this campaign looks is beautifully different to the Photoshopped and unrealistic images of many adverts, but what does Herstory smell like…?

 

 

‘The bold and modern Chypre represents today’s strong and modern women, recognising each unique and empowering story of women. Herstory is built by the passion of pink pepper, the boldness and sophistication of the iris, and the personality of the patchouli.

Pink pepper stands for passion, representing the energy and stamina to fight for your dreams.

Iris for courage: At the heart of Herstory is the noble Iris flower – the emblem of fine fragrance and symbolising wisdom, courage and feminine confidence.

Patchouli Prisma reveals personality: elegant and powerfully woody, it encourages a woman who writes her own story.’

Avon Herstory RRP £11 for 50ml eau de parfum – only £8 for a limited time, so snap them up now!

Changing Faces Ambassador and Avon model, Brenda, says: ‘Having alopecia and losing my hair left me feeling very out of place – I felt I had no control. Yet since I decided to embrace it, my confidence has rocketed.

Now I work with my hair loss rather than hide away from it. By working with Avon on the Herstory launch campaign, I hope to show others that we define what beauty is and being unique is something that should be celebrated.’

 

 

‘Avon understands that beauty can be very powerful and so it’s imperative that it’s inclusive too,’ says Stephen Rendu, Marketing Director at Avon. ‘We are very proud to be working with Changing Faces again and their ambassadors to launch Herstory and inspire women with visible differences to feel included and empowered.’

Smelling great and doing good at the same time? We applaud Avon and Changing Faces for this beautiful – in every sense of the word – fragrance and campaign, and urge you to try it for yourselves…

By Suzy Nightingale

You’ll love, love, love the Tiffany & Love video

We love falling for a new fragrance, and were delighted to have two to get up close and personal with in the just-launched duo for Him & Her, Tiffany & Love – two complimenary fragrances that honour their legacy of celebrating love and commitment.

A first exploration for Tiffany & Co. into the dual fragrance category – and the very men’s fragrance – they represent a fresh chapter for the house under the newly appointed creative direction of Reed Krakoff as Chief Artistic Officer.

Sharing the concept that two hearts (and noses) are often better than one, the scents were also composed by a duo of perfumers for each – Sophie Labbé and Nicolas Beaulieu of IFF with Tiffany & Love for Him, Honorine Blanc and Marie Salamagne of Firmenich for Tiffany & Love for Her. Each scent has a unique structure, but they both hero the unusual ingredient of blue sequoia, which if you’ve not experienced it before is majestically woody and long-lasting, with a foresty freshness.

For Him amplifies the aromatic aspect of sequoia, boosted by crisp juniper-cypress (a blend that’s an exclusive co-distillation for Tiffany) infused with ginger, mandarin and cardamom and some creamiy sandalwood and shady vetiver in the base. For Her unfurls from the opening of blue basil (another note developed exclusively for Tiffany), shot through with zingy grapefruit, softened by the sunshine of neroli and the sequoia married to the dryness of cedar and vetiver in the softly woody trail.

Tiffany & Love for Him £54 for 50ml eau de toilette / Tiffany & Love for Her £75 for 50ml eau de parfum

Try them at johnlewis.com

Inspired by Krakoff’s creative vision, the beautiful campaign was shot in the streets of New York by legendary photographer, director and artist Cass Bird – a stunning black & white homage capturing tender moments between real couples to celebrate this feeling of ‘commitment, acceptance and togetherness.’ Accompanying the campaign, Tiffany & Co. selected Grammy® award-winning music producer Mark Ronson and singer-songwriter King Princess to re-record The Turtles’ song “Happy Together,”  as an ode to love.

Now, watch the video below, and get ready to fall in love, yourself…

By Suzy Nightingale

Jo Malone London Tropical Cherimoya Cologne

Here at Perfume Society HQ, the first few glimpses of sunshine and we want to bask like lizards. After what felt like the Winter that never ends, how glorious it is to see the fresh crop of Summer-ready scents making their way onto the shelves!

The eye-popping colours of Jo Malone London‘s vibrant (practically neon-bright) new Tropical Cherimoya Cologne couldn’t help but catch our attention, but what exactly is this intriguingly named ingredient?

A fruit-bearing tree renowned by the Inca people, home for the cherimoya plant turns out to originally have been Columbia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia, later spreading across the Andes and Central America. You probably have heard of it before, but perhaps by its better-known name of the ‘custard apple,’ so-called because of the creamy texture and particular sweetness of the flesh.

Mark Twain called the cherimoya ‘the most delicious fruit known to men’, with the botanist Seeman (and we’re not making this name up, I swear) chiming in by declaring, ‘if I were asked which would be the best fruit, I would choose without hesitation, cherimoya. Its taste, indeed, surpasses that of every other fruit, and Haenke was quite right when he called it the masterpiece of Nature.’

Awash with juicy, totally tropical temptations, the opening has the freshness of a traditional Cologne, then becomes almost milky, swirled through with a pear-like note and grounded in utterly scrumptious creaminess. Think of a passion flower glorying in sunshine, warmed by rich resins and a lightly smoked background of black tea.

Jo Malone London Tropical Cherimoya Cologne £95 for 100ml eau de Cologne
At jomalone.co.uk 

Tropically fragrant, exotically charged and part of the limited edition Hot Blossoms range, if you’re feeling like us (off to look at holiday deals and wondering if comfortable flip-flops exist) you’d best make haste to stock up for the heat, because they’re all selling like hot… well, blossoms.

Written by Suzy Nightingale

 

Eight & Bob’s Robert F. Kennedy edition reveals all

Ever wondered how the world’s most powerful (and glamorous) people actually smell? Well settle down for a tale that involves a president, his brother, a sarcastic socialite, a butler and a beautifully presented (we think very sharable) sensational scent…

The Story: ‘One night during the summer of 1937 in the French Riviera (Côte d’Azur), Albert Fouquet, a young socialite and perfume connoisseur, met an American student who was touring France: John F. Kennedy. Within minutes of being introduced, the vain JFK was captivated by the essence that Albert wore. John’s charm and congeniality persuaded Albert to leave him a sample of his cologne with a note at his hotel the following morning:

‘In this bottle, you will find the dash of French glamour that your American personality lacks.’

(The shade of it all! Rather daring to address one of the Kennedy’s in such a manner, but we guess if you were a particular kind of socialite, such cutting remarks were part of your stock in trade…)

Eight & Bob continue the story by describing how, on returning from vacation, ‘Albert received a letter from JFK thanking him for the fragrance and informing him of its success amongst his friends. He requested that Albert send him eight samples, “and if your production allows, another one for Bob”.

 

The order wasn’t fulfilled until Philippe, the family butler, found beautiful glass bottles in a Parisian pharmacy for the cologne to be housed in. Albert ordered several boxes with the same pattern as the pinstripe shirt that JFK was wearing when they met, and then labeled the bottles and boxes with John’s request: “EIGHT & BOB”.

A few months later, Albert began receiving letters from America with requests from various Hollywood directors, producers, and actors such as Cary Grant and James Stewart. Everyone wanted their very own piece of “EIGHT & BOB”.

In the spring of 1939, Albert died in a car accident near Biarritz (France). Philippe, the only person who could create and handle the orders, continued Albert’s legacy and in his final shipments hid the bottles inside books to prevent the Nazis from seizing the cologne.

The Fragrance: Decades later, thanks to the family of Philippe, the formula for “EIGHT & BOB” has been completely recovered, along with its carefully crafted production process. Once again, it has become one of the most exclusive colognes, worn and desired by the world’s most elegant men and women…’

Top notes: pink pepper, cardamom, lemon

Heart notes: violet leaf, labdanum, dry woods

Base notes: sandalwood, amber, vetiver

The Review: A warm tingle of pink pepper ripples through breezy lemon infused with the cool, aromatic cardamom. A whisper of green violet leaf cuts through the resinous sensuality of the heart, leading to a musky, woody trail that’s devastatingly suave. Think sneakers worn with an impeccable suit, tanned skin and crisp white shirts worn with minimal accessories and a dazzling, heartbreaking smile.

The Special Edition: To mark the 50th anniversary of Robert F. Kennedy’s death, Eight & Bob have partnered with the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation, ‘a prestigious and internationally recognised organisation managed by Kerry Kennedy, daughter of RFK.’ What’s more, they will donate a percentage of the revenue received from this special edition fragrance to the foundation, ‘as a tribute to RFK’s dream of a more fair and peaceful world.’

Eight & Bob RFK Special Edition £110 for 50ml eau de parfum
Buy it at harveynichols.com

Written by Suzy Nightingale

 

Yardley The Collection: jewel-inspired, contemporary scents

Yardley London are an iconic fragrance house, their heritage supposedly reaching all the way back to the reign of King Charles I, but The Great Fire of London in 1666 wiped out the records so we put the founding date at 1770. You can read far more whispers of this house’s fascinating history in The Scented Letter Magazine’s Best of British issue, but whatever the true date – we can all agree the name of Yardley has been around, like, forever. And instead of merely resting on that good name, it seems they’re ready to shake things up a little…

Showcasing a brand new collection of vibrantly contemporary, utterly wearable fragrances inspired by precious jewels, we were seriously impressed at their quality – learning at the launch that each fragrance has been composed by a prestigious perfumer – and with a with a seductive campaign fronted by ‘rock royalty’: one-to-watch, Tigerlily Taylor, daughter of Queen‘s drummer Roger Taylor.

The new style icon stars in an attitude-fuelled ultra-glam (and totally modern) film shot by world-famous photographer RANKIN (scroll down to watch it, below…) revealing Yardley London’s The Collection – perfumes aimed at bright young things of today who want to wear something unusual, but don’t want to pay the earth for the privilege! Priced within the reach of most people’s pockets, at £25 for 50ml eau de toilette, it means you can try the whole range without winning the lottery first.

So, let’s have a sniff…

Daisy Sapphire
Developed for Yardley by renowned perfumer Juliette Karagueuzoglu (who’s the nose behind fragrances for L’Artisan Parfumeur, Coach, Jimmy Choo and Yves Saint Laurent among many more) this simply sparkles with a dewy fresh, green floral bouquet ‘inspired by the striking vibrancy of the yellow sapphire, with a burst of cheerful, energetic top notes of dewy green leaves and apple unravels into hyacinth and white rose at its heart, drying down to warm base notes of sandalwood and musk.’

Juliette says: ‘I created this fragrance from memories of how a field of daisies smell, an abundant nature through elegant green leafy notes, the freshness of the air and the dewy mornings through its petal notes of roses and hyacinth. I worked on balancing the freshness, vibrancy of the notes and their sensuality to create a fragrance as varied as life itself.’

Rosie Ruby
Domitille Bertier‘s the perfumer, here (she created Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb, with Olivier Polge and Carlos Benaïm, and fragrances for Thierry Mugler and Hugo Boss to name just a few!) ‘An edgy, head turning fragrance that exudes the beguiling beauty of the pink ruby stone with ripe fruity top notes of mandarin, pear, peach and cassis, folding into an assertive heart of pink pepper, peony, rose and orange flower water, balanced by a soft, warm base note of cedar wood, sandalwood and vanilla.’

Domitille says: ‘I wanted to create a unique and unforgettable scent that gives confidence to every woman from the first spritz. I am proud of the combination of peony and pink pepper – a beautiful blend of raw materials! The floral bouquet is textured with fruity and spicy facets, which bring a modern touch contrasted with a creamy woodiness of sandalwood. The fragrance becomes addictive and creates such a sensual trail.’

Poppy Diamond
Juliette’s the nose for this one again, composing a ‘sophisticated, sparkling and uplifting sheer floral fragrance representing the brilliance and magnetism of the diamond with refreshing top notes of pear and bergamot, enveloped in a sweet, subtle note of honey with an elegant heart of rose, peony and lily of the valley, enhanced with a sensual base of cedar wood, sandalwood and vanilla.’

Juliette says: ‘I created this fragrance to express all the facets of a rose in a contemporary way. Rose is a very stimulating flower, always reinvented, always inspiring. Poppy Diamond has the brightness and brilliance of Damascenian roses in the Turkish fields, the light woody and subtle honey undertones for enhancement to give more power, femininity and sheer sensuality of one of the most captivating flowers.’

Lilac Amethyst
‘An addictive, intense and feminine floral woody fragrance, inspired by the irresistible beauty of the amethyst, blending pear, lemon and bergamot with basil in the top notes with a sensual heart of fig, peach, black pepper and heliotrope complemented by a warm, woody and spicy amber base.’ multifaceted floral woody fragrance inspired by the enchanting allure of the amethyst crystal. Exploring the trend for gender-free (anyone can wear them) floral woody scents, Nelly Hachem-Ruiz is the up-and-coming perfumer (best known so far for creating David Beckham Beyond), and here developed an intriguing blend of ‘fresh pear, lemon and bergamot with basil in the top note, leading into a sensual heart of fig, peach flower, spicy black pepper and powdery heliotrope, complemented by a skin soft, warm, woody amber base.’

Nelly says: ‘My goal for this fragrance was to create a memorable scent that fuses fresh and deeper sensual notes together in perfect harmony. This is a highly textured fragrance combining spices, herbs, florals and cologne notes around a heart of indulgent, creamy fig.’

Flora Jade
Anne-Sophie Chapuis is the perfumer behind two of the Comme des Garçon ultra-trendy fragrances, and was chosen here to compose ‘a sophisticated chypre bouquet that celebrates a popular olfactory trend in fine fragrance. The name Jade also pays homage to Sea Jade, Yardley’s ground-breaking fragrance of the 60’s. Crisply green, this floral chypre ‘captures the bold, exuberant spirit of the jade gemstone. Fruity, aromatic green top notes of peach, bergamot and galbanum blend with an airy floral bouquet heart of rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang and orris, delicately wrapped up in base notes of patchouli, sandalwood and moss.’

Anne-Sophie says: ‘I love chypres, which I consider to be the most sensual and sexy olfactive family and the most sophisticated. I have created a modern crisp green fresh-floral chypre that captures the bold, exuberant spirit of the jade gemstone. I wanted to create something airy, delicate, with a natural, earthy bouquet.’

Yardley London The Collection, £25 for 50ml eau de toilette
Buy them at boots.com

So now, with noses suitably primed, sit back and watch the brand new, so-stylish campaign, below. We think your only question should be which one you get first…

Written by Suzy Nightingale