Tag: lime

Cocktail Scents: Mojito a-go-go!

Our theme for this month is… cocktails! The perfect scented summer pick-me-up to bring a joyous, party-like vibe, so many perfumes are inspired by classic cocktails – sometimes overtly influenced by them (under the influence?) or simply using fragrant ingredients that strongly remind us of our favourites.

First cocktail inspo up: MOJITO!

Made using fresh mint, muddled limes, sugar syrup and white rum, a Mojito is mixed using crushed ice to form a long, refreshing, and gorgeously summery cocktail. It also happens to be the recipe for some truly fabulous fragrances. We highly recommend packing the following scents for forthcoming holidays or, if you’re not able to get away just yet, floating around in your garden with your largest pair of sunglasses, a kaftan, a tall glass of Mojito and wafting one of these…

 

 

 

 

Rum: Initio Side Effect

From the very first spritz, the rich, dark, and heady aroma of rum envelopes the senses, evoking a sense of mystery and allure. This fragrance masterfully balances the warmth and sweetness of rum with an undercurrent of smoky tobacco, creating a deeply sensual experience. The rum note is not just a fleeting top note but lingers, mingling with vanilla and cinnamon, adding layers of complexity and depth.

£185 for 50ml eau de parfum selfridges.com

 

 

 

Lime juice: Coach Blue

A burst of invigorating freshness, the opening fizz of lime revives the senses immediately with a splash of aromatic absinthe swirled through the citrus. Whoosh! Now we’re diving into cool, crystal clear blue water, salty laps enlivened by the warmth black pepper before we climb out and rub down with a warm fluffy base of dry cedarwood and the welcome glow of amber. Lacking energy? This scent will get you going!

£33 for 40ml eau de parfum theperfumeshop.com

 

 

 

 

 

Sugar: D’OTTO 7+1

This is like wearing a fragrant cocktail crafted with the finest ingredients, offering a sweet yet still ultimately refreshing experience, being so beautifully balanced. The raspberry is piquant, warmed by saffron yet cooled by cardamom, and the rich seam of sandalwood and cedar melts into supple leather. What we love best is the way the spun sugar accord harmonises – akin to the sugar rim on a cocktail glass. Delish!

£295 for 100ml eau de parfum harrods.com

 

 

 

 

 

Mint: Diptyque Eau de Menthe

Evokings the refreshing experience of sipping a mojito on a sunlit patio, the Oregon mint leaves are freshly crushed, the icy cool complemented by nutmeg’s warmth, akin to the cocktail’s subtle sweetness. As it settles, notes of geranium and patchouli emerge, providing a grounding earthiness that mirrors the cocktail’s complexity. This scent captures the invigorating spirit of summer – an aromatically soul-reviving joy to wear.

£153 for 75ml eau de parfum diptyque.com

 

 

 

 

Soda water: Wales Perfumery Coast

Opening with an effervescent burst of lemon, mandarin, bergamot, and lime, the lively top notes are accompanied by the salty tang of fresh seaweed and an ozonic accord. Just as soda water enhances a cocktail’s flavours without overpowering them, Coast provides a light, refreshing backdrop that elevates the wearer’s presence, making it perfect for any occasion – especially gorgeous to wear on a baking hot day!

£54 for 30ml eau de parfum walesperfumery.com

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Long-lasting citrus-fresh, Cologne-style scents (which won’t wilt in the heat)

We adore the freshness of a citrus-infused Cologne, but soul-reviving though that sparkle of freshness is in summer, they traditionally don’t last very long on the skin. Now, there’s a whole banquet of thirst-quenching and uplifting citrus scents to try, which last WAY longer and keep our spirits up for HOURS, hurrah!

There’s no doubt that in July, juicy citrus scents are the order of the month, we feel – yes, of course when it’s sunny they feel so appropriate, but even when the weather’s not playing ball (as of late) it’s time to let those citrus scents shine! Wearing juicy-smelling citrus Cologne-style fragrances brings the feeling of joyous sunshine in a fragrance, no matter the weather. Now, put the brollies away and get sparkling with these contemporary twists on the traditional Cologne…

 

 

 

 

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Media Forte

Francis Kurkdjian’s Aqua Cologne Forte collection is suffused with light and freshness, its philosophy seeking to help us cultivate ‘a healthy mind in a healthy body’. Thus, we welcome Media Forte, ‘the embodiment of balance and harmony’, a deceptively simple construction that is tangibly fresh and citrus bright, showcasing Italian bergamot, radiant hedione and aromatic sweet fennel, grounded in a green moss facet, patchouli and woody musks. Spray, breathe, chill.

From £115 for 35ml eau de parfum selfridges.com

 

 

 

 

Shloksha Bouquet Monument

This scent stands out from the rest of the stunning collection for its vivacious vibrancy and freshness. Excitingly zingy, they describe it as ‘young, aquatic and sparkly with an amber base’ (we’d say it makes you feel ten years younger to wear it, energy-levels-wise!’ From the juicy exuberance of the opening fruitiness there’s a floral bouquet as it warms, the petals fizzing as they bloom, with that warming amber glow of a base as the lasting, resonant trail…

£54.95 for 30ml eau de parfum in our shop

 

 

 

 

LABORATORIO OLFATTIVO Pompelmo

Master of understated simplicity, Jean-Claude Ellena taps into his Italian background here, where – as he explains – ‘several beverages celebrate bitterness.’ Front and centre is grapefruit, considered in Asia to be a sacred fruit which was offered to the gods; Jean-Claude worked on the fruit’s ‘lively and sour freshness’, while stressing its bitter scent.’ Pink pepper, resinous lentisque, patchouli, white musk and vetiver feature in the olfactive chorus line of this fresh, shareable masterpiece.

£90 for 100ml eau de parfum Cologne harveynichols.com

 

 

 

 

Experimental Perfume Club Bergamot / Incense

A bergamot full of complexities. This brings out all the facets of this radiant citrus fruit via contrasting ingredients, with frankincense and olibanum bolstering the dry warmth and slight smokiness of incense oil. Juniper berry plays to its bright, zingy nature, with a tingle to the nose. Tea notes and a supple iris absolute calm and soothe.

Currently £92 for 50ml eau de parfum experimentalperfumeclub.com

(Try Bergamot / Incense with eight other EPC sample sizes in their Discovery Set Essential, £50 for 9 x samples in our shop

 

 

 

 

Robert Piguet Cravache

Originally launched in 1963, we celebrate the revivification of Piguet’s classics, now under the guardianship of genius nose, Aurelian Guichard. Here, the citrus zing has the sparkle turned up to eleven, with quenching mandarin, bitter orange and bright petitgrain zesting up even the dullest of days. Granted the addition of jasmine, orris, sage and saffron, the clarity of the composition remains, even in the snuggle of tree moss-lined woodiness as it warms.

£205 for 100ml eau de parfum fenwick.co.uk

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Getting Juicy for July – covetable citrus scents

Long-lasting, juicy citrus scents are the order of the month, we feel – yes, of course when it’s sunny they feel so appropriate, but even when the weather’s not playing ball it’s time to let those citrus scents sparkle! Wearing juicy-smelling citrus scents brings the feeling of sunshine in a fragrance, no matter the weather.

That’s why we’re declaring July a month long olfactory opportunity to gather your most-beloved citrus scents and – or even better, try some new juicy numbers – because NOW is the time to allow them to shine…

 

 

 

 

LABORATORIO OLFATTIVO Pompelmo

Master of understated simplicity, Jean-Claude Ellena taps into his Italian background here, where – as he explains – ‘several beverages celebrate bitterness.’ Front and centre is grapefruit, considered in Asia to be a sacred fruit which was offered to the gods; Jean-Claude worked on the fruit’s ‘lively and sour freshness’, while stressing its bitter scent.’ Pink pepper, resinous lentisque, patchouli, white musk and vetiver feature in the olfactive chorus line of this fresh, shareable masterpiece.

£90 for 100ml parfum Cologne

libertylondon.com

 

 

ROBERT PIGUET Cravache

Originally launched in 1963, we celebrate the revivification of Piguet’s classics, now under the guardianship of genius nose, Aurelian Guichard. Here, the citrus zing has the sparkle turned up to eleven, with quenching mandarin, bitter orange and bright petitgrain zesting up even the dullest of days. Granted the addition of jasmine, orris, sage and saffron, the clarity of the composition remains, even in the snuggle of tree moss-lined woodiness as it warms.

£205 for 100ml eau de parfum

harrods.com

 

 

 

MAISON FRANCIS KURKDJIAN Aqua Media Forte

Francis Kurkdjian’s Aqua Cologne Forte collection is suffused with light and freshness, its philosophy seeking to help us cultivate ‘a healthy mind in a healthy body’. Thus, we welcome Media Forte, ‘the embodiment of balance and harmony’, a deceptively simple construction that is tangibly fresh and citrus bright, showcasing Italian bergamot, radiant hedione and aromatic sweet fennel, grounded in a green moss facet, patchouli and woody musks. Spray, breathe, chill.

£175 for 70ml Cologne forte

johnlewis.com

 

 

ACQUA DI PARMA Arancia La Spugnatura

In time for summer lunches, vacations and outdoor living (everything crossed), this grab-it-while-you-can limited edition has a fascinating back-story, as well as a sublimely zesty scent. ‘La Spugnatura’ is an ancient and rare technique for extracting aromatic notes from citrus skin – usually limes – but here, AdP switched to Arancia Vaniglia, from ‘the city of Oranges’, Ribera, in Sicily. In a nod to the orange’s name, soft vanilla is added – and it’s so, so moreish.

From £141.30or 100ml eau de parfum

escentual.com

 

 

FRAGRANCE DU BOIS AM

Full of tenderness, this scent tiptoes to the window and throws it open to greet the dawn. Cool air circulates softly, tendrils of woodiness weaving through an intriguingly dry damask rose. Italian orange, aromatic thyme and leathery saffron are drizzled with a vintage patchouli and a touch of tropical vanilla sweetness. A collab between Internet sensation Producer Michael and the sustainable luxury fragrance brand, it sure gets a day off to a fabulous start.

£325 for 100ml extrait de parfum

fragrancedubois.com

 

Looking for even more juice? Get the squeeze on citrus scents (and know your lemon from your citron) in our fragrant ingredients guide…

 

Meanwhile, if you’re seeking bottled sunshine and an instant holiday hit (or are actually travelling somewhere lovely for a break, and need to discover your next fragrant fling (maybe even a lifelong romance!) head to our brilliant Find a Fragrance page – have six new scents suggested, tailored to your exact tastes.

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Fragrance ingredient of the week: Lime

Zing! Limes aren’t just for summery G&Ts: a top note of lime makes for the brightest and most energising of first encounters, in a fragrance – lighter and sweeter than a lemon, but at the same time more intense. ‘A fantastically juicy, tart citrus note,’ explained perfumer Julie Massé to The Perfume Society. ‘When you smell it in a fragrance, you can almost feel it smarting on your tongue…’

Citrus aurantifolia is native to India, where lime’s used in Tantric rituals to ward off evil spirits from the body. Today, limes are farmed in many places (South Asia, Florida, Italy, Cuba and Mexico), and to capture a lime’s fragrant bounty a process of expression (squeezing) or distillation can be used. Just one downside to this uplifting fruit: the oil must be used with caution: anything but the teensiest o squeeze can prove ‘phototoxic’, staining the skin if worn in sunlight. At this time of year, spritz onto scarves

Smell lime in:
Evody Pomme d’Or
Floris Limes
Jo Malone London Lime, Basil & Mandarin
Revlon Charlie Silver
Thirdman Eau Monumentale
Penhaligon’s Extract of Limes

To read about hundreds of fragrance ingredients here