Tag: perfumes

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

Chelsea Flower Show 2024: blossom & bloom with these joyful spring scents!

As flower and garden lovers we are, of course, super excited about this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show – the annual event celebrating the very best of garden design, the growers, movers and shakers in the horticultural world. And of course, it’s the season when the perfume landscape is naturally burgeoning with florals for late spring and early summer.

 

 

 

At The Perfume Society, we have rooted out some florals for you to fall for – no matter if you are lucky enough to have a ticket for Chelsea Flower Show, are looking forward to visiting some spectacular public gardens over the coming weeks, or simply enjoying your own garden or local park.

Here you will discover a whole garden of floral and seasonally sublime samples – SO brilliant for trying before you buy a full-size – with earthy tones, fruity notes and even a subtle dusting of spice. Each fragrance sample has been specially picked to form a panoramic view of all the blossoming promise a floral fragrance can bring. They’re perfect for popping in your pocket or throwing in a bag for travel, too.

 

 

We know even those who thought they didn’t like floral and scents have fallen for several of the seasonally perfect perfumes from this selection! And you can find them all handily gathered within the Seasonal Scents Box Spring Box. Which will you pick to wear first? In the box you’ve got ALL these blossoming glories to try samples of…

 

 

4160 TUESDAYS SONNET No.1 eau de parfum
Fragrance Family: FLORAL

‘We first made a limited edition of Sonnet No. 1 for the Barnes Fragrance Fair, and the aim was to blend the aroma of Shakespeare’s flowers. Shakespeare’s first sonnet mentions “beauty’s rose” hence the name. To rose – both the absolute and essential oil – we added lavender, beeswax, narcissus and hay absolutes, and evoke the aromas of lily and violet. It floats on a bed of white musks. This is the most expensive fragrance we’ve ever made…’

 

 

BRIONI ESSENTIEL eau de parfum sample
Fragrance Family: WOODY AMBRÉE

‘The intriguingly green opening with sparkling bergamot and bright aromatic cardamom create a play of light through tender tomato leaves. Earthy patchouli enhances the heart’s woody facets which features an exclusive tonka bean variety, used for the first time in perfumery. The enveloping amber drydown brings out two truly spiritual notes – resinous frankincense and creamy sandalwood – and reflects a sense of calm and well-being.’

 

 

CREED SPRING FLOWER eau de parfum sample
Fragrance Family: FLORAL

‘Pretty in pink, Spring Flower is a playful and unapologetic celebration of femininity. Succulent peach extracts and soft florals blend effortlessly into notes of jasmine and white flowers, transporting you to a quintessential English garden on a perfect spring morning. Sensual ambergris and musk follow, adding depth and tranquillity to ensure every accord of this powerful female fragrance is fully savoured.’

 

 

 

GOUTAL PETITE CHERIE eau de parfum sample
Fragrance Family: FLORAL FRUITY

‘Petite Chérie is the irresistible fragrance Annick Goutal bestowed on her daughter Camille as a gift. Petite Chérie is a bright and cheerful floral-fruity musky perfume. Beneath its soft, mischievous and carefree airs, the fragrance unveils captivating, devilishly tempting and dangerously endearing charms. It seduces firstly with its playful notes of sweet and juicy pear and freshly-cut grass then blossoms into sumptuous and sensual rose with petals as velvety-soft as skin. It is said to be reminiscent of a young girl’s cheek that you want to lovingly kiss.’

 

 

 

FLOWER BY KENZO IKEBANA eau de parfum sample
Fragrance Family: FLORAL WOODY

‘This second fragrance in the FLOWER IKEBANA collection brings the Japanese mimosa to the fore. The Mimosa Absolute is at the heart of the scent and offers a unique floral expression close to nature. The verticality of hinoki wood supports the entire composition, with golden sesame extract resonating in a sillage of addictive comfort.’

 

 

LALIQUE SOLEIL VIBRANT eau de parfum sample
Fragrance Family:  WOODY FLORAL

‘Woody, floral, with a hint of vanilla. Soleil Vibrant Lalique bottles a beaming energy whose scent is a joyful ode to femininity and wildness. A fragrance that smells as delicious as sun-kissed skin. That makes you feel as happy as a summer day.’

 

 

 

MOLTON BROWN DELICIOUS RHUBARB & ROSE eau de parfum sample
Fragrance Family: FLORAL FRUITY

Firmly rooted in cherished childhood memories of baking with rhubarb’s unique tartness sprinkled by just enough sweetness. In this utterly addictive eau de parfum, those seeking scrumptiousness can indulge with joyfully juicy raspberry and a vivacious kick of pink pepper enhancing rhubarb’s sparkle, as luscious lychee and the tender peony showcase rose’s powdered charm, with a soothingly sensual base of cedarwood and musk swathing you in a gossamer soft trail. This is one to wear when you want to smell utterly scrumptious, and simply can’t get enough of yourself. Delicious, darling!

 

RUTH MASTENBROEK SIGNATURE eau de parfum sample
Fragrance Family: CHYPRE

‘A story of freedom…set along a winding path of wet and earthy leaves that lead to a secret garden. In Signature, fresh fruity notes of mandarin, bergamot and pineapple waltz elegantly together with rose on a stage of patchouli and oakmoss. The result is a sparkling and elegant perfume with an evolving woody base, that lives as an accolade to times gone by.’

 

 

 

SHAY & BLUE CEDARWOOD GRAPEFRUIT eau de parfum sample
Fragrance Family: WOODY CITRUS

They say: ‘Huck the Fipsters! This fragrance is not just for beards. Sparkling pink grapefruit will put some style in your step contrast with coffee bean for character. Finish with refreshing cedar wood for a sense of mystery.’ Discover Cedarwood Grapefruit Eau de Parfum from Shay & Blue, an uplifting scent with notes of juicy pink grapefruit, neroli, vibrant coffee bean and cedarwood. This gorgeous scent will make a refreshing addition to any perfume collection.

 

 

 

TOCCA COLETTE eau de parfum sample
Fragrance Family: FLORAL AMBRÉE

‘Colette is a heady bouquet of florals with warm, spicy edges that linger everywhere she goes. Sparkling citrus and pink peppercorn swirl around jasmine and violet, drying down to musk, vanilla, and sandalwood. Spicy. Mysterious. Seductive.’

 

So, whether you’re looking for a new signature scent, want to settle down with a Shakespearean-inspired floral, or even dream of some Parisienne armchair travel, throw open the windows as we indulge in the Spring Seasonal Scents Subscription Box…

Fragrance Notes to Follow for 2024 (& how to get ahead of the trend)

January is a time the fragrance industry looks forward to new trends ahead of the spring and summer scent launches, and we’re fascinated by how many are following on from last year’s huge hits (and offering new twists on previous perfumery themes). Which of these do you think you’ll be most interested to try this year, we wonder? Whichever you are drawn to, we’ve also some insider-tips on the scents to wear right now to get ahead of the game…

 

 

Cherry:

Ripe and luscious, evoking carefree youthfulness and innocence via cherry lollipops and desserts or the high-shine glam of cherry lipgloss vibes, the cherry crop keeps coming for 2024. Expect to see cherry combined with contrasting notes to cut through the sweetness – such as sharp citrus or even sizzling spices and dark woods or tobacco – and combined with fluffy, creamy and sweeter ingredients to lean into the gourmand aspect of this trend.

Get Ahead of the Trend With…

 

 

Creed Carmina

Modernity is infused with charismatic elegance in this succulent scent, with rich black cherry’s piquant ripeness rippling throughout. Rose de mai and cashmere wood are joined by the succulent seductiveness of black cherry, pops of pink pepper and a richly resinous base of precious myrrh, frankincense and ambroxan; and the saffron tingles from first spritz to the lasting trail, we found. A passionate fragrance to add extra lipgloss while wearing.

(Try a sample in the Fabulous Fragrances Discovery Box – 14 x samples £19 for VIPS / £23 RRP)

 

 

 

Peach:

As we reported in our Pantone Colour of the Year feature, 2024 is all about the tone of ‘Peach Fuzz’ colour trend, and we’re noting some similarly peachy fragrances in store. Succulent yet nurturing, peach can be velvety (like the soft caress of the peach’s fuzzy skin) or dripping with realistic juiciness for an instant drench of ripely refreshing notes. Peach makes us think of softness, comfort, a slightly retro scent that plays so well with florals, gentle spices, and fluffy musks.

Get Ahead of the Trend With…

 

 

Sarah Baker Bascule

Succulent peach juice sizzles on hot leather, tobacco gently smoulders amidst hay while a hint of saddle-soap, lily of the valley and cut grass are contrastingly clean. Certainly not your average peach, it retains immense nostalgia while proudly remaining rambunctious and rebellious in spirit. You could swear at time this was a vintage scent, and yet it’s so brilliantly modern. We know many who’ve long been under the spell of Bascule, and suggest you saddle up this peach pronto!

£95 for 50ml eau de parfum

 

 

 

Pear:

Though pear has been sniffed in several notable launches already, it’s not gained as much olfaction-traction as the mega-trending cherry thus far. For a still nostalgic yet perhaps slightly more grown-up take on the fruity vibe, we’re looking forward to pear paired with [sorry, we had to] honey, woods and even floral notes for a fun yet still sophisticated scent. Used in citrus-fresh summer scents or adding juice to warmer autumnal fragrances, it’s a year-round

Get Ahead of the Trend With…

 

 

EAU.MG Flor Funk

Dripping with the kind of cool nonchalance we all aspire to, there’s something super happy-making about this scent that feels radiant and filled with a scented sashay. The trend of pear is up first, bursting from the top notes and then drizzling down through heady orange blossom, to nestle within the mossy chic of the sandalwood-swathed dry down. Such a delight to wear as it travels from fresh to funky, we say get your glad rags on and show them how it’s done.

(Try the sample in our Fabulous Fragrances Discovery Box – 14 x samples £19 for VIPS / £23 RRP)

 

 

Vanilla:

This was THE major trend of last year, and it’s another predicted to continue apace all through 2024. Having seen brand new vanilla extractions become available for perfumers, which are far less sweet and sugary than previous evocations, we expect to see more interesting and innovative takes on vanilla. From the super soft yet sensual ‘skin scents’ trend (see below), to the contemporary twists and indulgent nostalgic takes, they’re sure to be deliciously addictive.

Get Ahead of the Trend With…

 

Parfums de Marly Althaïr

Vanilla naysayer? You’re going to need to try it to believe us, but oh wow this is a MUST have. Swoony Bourbon vanilla (deliciously dark, decadently delicious) will be to blame for your new addiction, generously swirled through tobacco smoke rings, which seduces orange blossoms to embrace praline, convinces sparkling citrus to kiss sizzling spices and swathes guaiac wood in butter-soft leather. Go on, we dare you to succumb….

(Try a sample of Althaïr in the Fabulous Fragrances Discovery Box – 14 x samples £19 for VIPS / £23 RRP)

 

 

 

Skin Scents:

In the past we’ve seen so many ‘your skin but better’ fragrances, which offer the feeling of being wrapped in the arm of someone you love, or smelling clean, neutral, fresh from he shower or like white cotton bedlinen. Now, we’re noting the trend is for more sensual come-hither skin scents, where the muskiness is ramped up and the suggestion is more of the skin-against-skin caress kind, which can also be layered. Still ultra-soothing, but radiating self-confidence? Sign us up!

Get Ahead of the Trend With… 

 

4160 Tuesdays The Sexiest Scent on the Planet. Ever. (IMHO)

Beginning life as a bespoke fragrance for a VIP event, with a journalist declaring it to be ‘the sexiest scent ever!’ Thus, a star fragrance was born. Hints of citrus, smooth vanilla, soft woodiness and gorgeously musky ambergris form an unassuming but utterly addictive blend that will have you sniffing your wrist (or nuzzling closer to someone special) all day.

£65 for 50ml eau de parfum

 

 

 

Tea:

Although tea has been a popular ingredient for many years, we’ll see many major and niche fragrance launches this year really showcasing tea as the main inspiration. Why might that be? Apart from the fact this note is wonderfully versatile – it can be green and refreshing, smoky, herbaceously soothing and floral in character; the tea trend is part of the bigger trend for comforting fragrances combined with uplifting and soul-reviving properties (which we all need, more than ever…)

Get Ahead of the Trend with…

 

BDK Parfums Gris Charnel Extrait

An intensified version of the original, patchouli has been invited to the party, a seamless ripple of noir that nuzzles at the silkiness of sandalwood and nutty tonka in the base. Cool cardamom slinks throughout, combined with smoky black tea, Bourbon vetiver, a lick of fig milk and dusting of orris. Wearing this, we know those who’ve been followed around supermarkets, begged to reveal their addictive scent.

 £220 for 100ml extrait de parfum

Written by Suzy Nightingale

What to Wear? – Seasonal Scents for Sunny but Autumnal

How do you switch up your scents to match the seasons – and does it even matter which fragrances you when and when…?

We happen to be experiencing something of a late surge of summer currently, but it’s definitely tinged with the turning of the seasons. So while we might be frantically making the most of floaty dresses (perhaps layered with a woollen in the evenings), there’s a feeling of change afoot, and our fragrance choices tend to reflect that, too.

 

‘Seasonal Scents‘ are, of course, to your preference and where you live in the world; but there’s no doubt that come Autumn in the U.K. or fragrance tastes tend to swing toward something a bit warmer – a snuggle in a bottle that helps you get out of bed in the morning and comforts you throughout the day, no matter the weather.

The fact is, temperatures and climate really do change how your fragrance behaves, and therefore the things you crave to have on your skin.

Hot weather intensifies the fragrance notes and makes them ‘bloom’ on the skin more quickly – when molecules heat up, they evaporate more quickly.

Colder weather slows down the evaporation rate (so top and heart notes last much longer) and you might find your scent doesn’t project as much in the winter.

 

 

 

 

Forest-y fragrances really come into their own now – the urge to don a pair of boots and go kicking through the leaves is strong, and so many scents inspired by walking through a woodland or exploring nature in a wearable, poetic way,

Golden Sunshine scents (sometimes called ‘solar’) evoke the honeyed, hazy days that mark the passage between late summer and early autumnal changes in the season – they’re warm, often grounded in musky woodiness: gleaming.

Woody fragrances are great ones to look for in the autumnal months or colder climates, and at this time of year we tend towards sandalwood for a scent that offers a smooth creaminess that clings to the skin like a soft blanket.

 

 

 

 

We know it can be confusing, so with the weather in mind, we put together a specially curated selection of fragrances in a Seasonal Scents Subscription Box…

It’s the best way to try a large number of fragrances from the comfort of your own home – and perhaps to sample some you’d never have thought of trying, previously! At The Perfume Society, we feel each season is a new chance to change up your scent game and discover your next olfactory loves, so when you sign up for the Seasonal Scents Subscription, you’ll be treated to…

A selection of fabulous fragrances, mainly female and unisex scents, from globally adored leading brands (potentially including miniatures) will land at your door each passing season (approximately every three months) – so you will always have a new scent to make you feel fabulous!

You can choose a Quarterly (£18 every three months) or Yearly (£68 annual payment) plan to suit you. We’ll keep the contents a secret until the day the box is launched – we just know you’ll love the surprises inside…

Each Seasonal Scents Box Includes:

Seasonal Fragrances  – A collection of fragrances from 1ml – 7ml, these will be kept secret until each Seasonal Scents Box is launched, we just love the element of surprise!

Online Smelling Notes – accessible via a QR code within your box, guiding you through the fragrances and how to start smelling.

Unboxing Video –  also via the QR code, for every box our Head Fragrance Writer Suzy Nightingale will guide you when opening your new box.

Hints & Tips – to ensure you get the most out of your fragrances and have fun!

Check out your Seasonal Scent options here, and get ready for your whole new wardrobe of fragrances to explore, all in the comfort of your own home…

Thrifty but nifty – pocket friendly perfumes that smell amazing

Looking for pocket friendly perfumes that smell fabulous but won’t break the bank? They’re the holy grail at any time, but most especially in January – the bleakest time of year – when we most need a little something to perk ourselves up.

Perfume has come to mean so much to so many more people these last few months – we can use it revive flagging spirits or grant us some courage when we need it most. A quick spritz can swathe you in comfort and soothe frazzled nerves, transport you instantaneously to somewhere else in the world or reanimate a long-forgotten memory of happier days.

But perhaps you’re like us and have just paid your tax bill (hello reality) and though you’re not feeling flush, still really, truly, desperately need SOMETHING NICE to look forward to?

Never fear! We have selected some of our favourite fragrant treats – perfumed pick-me-ups that wont break the bank but still smell utterly wonderful. There’s nothing over £50 here, but you’ll still smell – and feel – like a million dollars…

 

Berdoues Avoine & Coquelicot £25 for 100ml eau de toilette
The cool intrigue of cardamom is warmed with a tingle of saffron and the soothing softness of oats before the fresh bouquet of poppy, jasmine, lily of the valley and violet peek through – a heralding of spring. Sublimely powdery heliotrope swirls with creamy almond, a glimmer of amber and delicate white musk: comforting as cashmere.
Dsquared2 Green Wood Gift Set RRP £44, currently £35 for 30ml eau de toilette
Invigorating lemon and aromatic santolina are sprinkled with spicy bourbon pepper, while suave cedarwood and vetiver ripple to the verdant breeze of cypriol; the base resonates with deeply warming notes of ambrox and musk. Although marketed as a ‘masculine’, this is for anyone who wants to feel like they’ve been for a head-clearing walk in the forest.
Miller Harris Lumière Dorée RRP £14, currently £9 for 9ml eau de parfum
Neroli has to be one of our all-time favourite notes – it feels like wearing sunshine – here celebrated with the golden fizz of bergamot, a luminescent jasmine and delicously honeyed orange flower. Luminous amber and reasuringly clean musks makes this a sheer delight, in every sense oif the word, and a so-welcome burst of happiness, bottled.
Yardley Daisy Sapphire RRP £20, currently £16.00 for 50ml eau de toilette
Close your eyes and remember what summer felt like – waking up to blue skies, leaving the house without worrying about an umbrella or a coat… Now let the delightful flurry of green leaves and apple flutter to the heart of hyacinth and white rose before drying down to snuggle of sandalwood and musk in the base. Instantly cheering on the dullest days.

yardleylondon.co.uk

Coach Dreams £35 for 40ml eau de parfum

Perfumer Antoine Maisondieu invites you on a sunny road trip through the American West. Along the imaginary open road, with the roof down, you’ll encounter notes of bitter orange, juicy pear, cactus flower and gardenia, concluding your journey with notes of Joshua tree and musky Ambroxan. And we adore the apothecary-inspired new bottle!
4711 Original Eau de Cologne £6 for 25ml

No round-up of pocket friendly perfumes would be complete without the iconic 4711 – it’s often reached for on hot days, but don’t wait ’til summer to experience the mood-enhancing whoosh! Colognes take on a new aspect in the cooler months; the classic lemon, rosemary, lavender and neroli notes feel like sunlight filtered through unfurling leaves.
escentual.com

If you’re hungry for more, we’ll be doing another round-up next week, with the emphasis on incredible niche fragrances you can try for £50 and under. In the meantime, why not have a browse of our Discovery Boxes – the perfect way to try to try perfume at home, from only £19 – £36!

 

By Suzy Nightingale

Les Parfums – charming new French comedy film about a ‘nose’: watch the trailer here!

Les Parfums (‘Perfumes’) is a just-released and utterly charming French film following the life of a feared and reclusive ‘nose’, and her troubled realtionship with her new chauffeur.

The English-subtitled film is a gentle comedy, but takes a serious (and very well presented) look at the life of a perfumer, and it has been released in the U.K. Now showing at selected Curzon cinemas,  it’s also on Curzon Home Cinema (to stream at home, for those of us not near one of the venues or who prefer to watch from the comfort of our homes).

Curzon Home Cinema says: ‘Anne Walberg (Emmanuelle Devos) is a master in fragrance who has fallen from grace amongst the upper echelons of the perfume industry. However, her skills are still in demand from companies looking to mask the smell of their odorous products. Over the years she has become selfish and temperamental. When she hires Guillaume (Grégory Montel) – a down on his luck chauffeur with too many points on his license and a rocky relationship with his young daughter – they strike up an unlikely friendship. Together they look to repair their lives and create a new signature scent to return Anne to her previous fame.’

Our review:

There are so few films about perfumers and our sense of smell, and we were thrilled to discover this new movie more than lives up to expectations. Following the rather hapless chauffeur, at first, Guillaume’s first clue to the trials and tribulations ahead with his new client is when she sniffs him, names the brand of his cigarettes and, when he offers her one, throws the packet out the car window. Other clues to her profession (and her character) come when Ms. Walberg demands that he help her change the sheets in a hotel room, declaring: ‘They use a fabric conditioner full of galaxolides for that “clean” smell. I hate it!’
Asked to recreate the smell of an ancient cave to diffuse at a tourist attraction, Ms. Walberg takes Guillaume along with her, rubbing the walls. ‘Mineral, earthy, camphor, touch of moss… Iris root’ she bids him write down in her notebook. Later, she asks him to smell something she’s created on a blotter. He complains that he doesn’t know what it smells of, but she gently encourages him to say whatever thoughts come to mind. ‘Trust yourself.’ Before we know it, Guillaume is in the supermarket, sniffing various shower gels – under the watchful gaze of a bemused security guard. ‘Something quite mellow…’ he says, as the guard shuffles closer, clearly unused to such behaviour in Aisle 5.
The extent of of Walberg’s’ fame is revealed when she smells Dior J’Adore on a waitress and casually tells Guillaume she created it. (In fact, it was composed by perfumer Calice Becker in 1999, but this is a fictional film, after all). Later we learn that, after she became famous with her photo adorning the cover of magazines, she ‘began to lose (my) nose.’ She thought that ‘with my experience of blending I could do it from memory.’ But after making a mistake, her confidence in composing fine fragrance was truly troubled and Devos lost her contract. Her sense of smell came back, but ‘the perfume world is small,’ and so with her reputation struck down in flames, she stuck to smaller, industrial and functional fragrance jobs while avoiding the public gaze.
Suddenly, Walberg loses her sense of smell again. Terrified, she decides to part ways with her pushy agent and, under the treatment of an anosmia specialist – who describes the condition as when ‘The nose and the brain stop working together,’ she begins her journey back into the fragrance world. But can this chauffeur with ‘a good nose’ actually help her recover her reputation and heal his own life…?
Les Parfums is a wonderful evocation of that joy of sharing a love of fragrance, of watching someone develop and explore their own sense of smell. And it’s also a healthy reminder that anosmia – losing one’s sense of smell – can be a terrifying and life-changing experience, even if you don’t happen to be a perfumer. A gentle film that’s slow in pace but nonetheless completely gripping because of the sensitive character portrayal by the two leading actors, there’s some stunning shots of the French countryside and those Parisian streets we miss so much, too. A paean to the world of perfume and the gift that is our sense of smell, we say this is a must-watch for anyone who loves fragrance.

Now we’ve caught your interest, watch the trailer, below, and allow yourself to fall for Les Parfums’ charms…

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Literary meditations in fragrant form with Walden Natural Perfumes…

Fragrant inspirations are diverse as the perfumes composed for them, but we’ve noticed a particular leaning toward the arts – literature, painting and music – in recent years.  Walden Perfumes are no exception, the house being named after Henry David Thoreau’s seminal work and the fragrances themselves inspired by certain passages within it.

Walden was written partly as a guide for meditation, and can be seen as a handbook ‘…for simple living in natural surroundings.’ Fittingly, the fragrances are 100% natural, and each carries a quote on the back of the box, a creative whisper of suggestion as to the perfume inside. And we couldn’t wait to browse their fragrant library…
Soaringly beautiful, a mega-hit of ylang ylang swoons into a buxom bouquet of iris and jasmine garlanded in swags around amyris and oodles of tonka bean. Finalist for ‘Best Natural Beauty Product’, Natural & Organic Awards Europe 2017, this is a creamy, dreamy, romantic delight.

A Little Star Dust, £40 for 50ml eau de parfum
An intriguing melange of the freshly zesty and totally tropical, citrus bursts forth with all the sparkle of a just-poured cocktail, exotic flowers dancing in the breeze with cool, herbaceous lavender. Like a joyous celebration of the sunshine and the shade, this twirls exuberantly.

Castles in the Air, £40 for 50ml eau de parfum
A frolic through a forest of wild flowers, roses climb and tumble through boughs of trees as jasmine entwines the branches and iris goes native in the shady nooks. Sliced through with shards of bergamot citrus like sunlight appearing through the verdant canopy above, it’s perfect for summer.
Two Eternities, £60 for 50ml eau de parfum
Capturing that petrichor scent of just-after-the-rain freshness when the world seems to pause and breathe a sigh of relief, the sharpness of petitgrain is followed by a cool heart of earthy vetiver and a whisper of patchouli swirled amongst the creaminess of amyris.

The Solid Earth, £50 for 50ml eau de parfum
Opening with a spicy kick of black pepper, this is woody all the way up to 11 with warm amber tingling the senses in the heart of cedarwood followed by a smooth flourish of resinous amyris segueing to freshly sharpened pencil-ness of sandalwood. Vigorous yet comforting.

A Different Drummer, £50 for 50ml eau de parfum
Walden Natural Perfumes are available at lovelula.com

Perhaps literary-inspired perfumes highlight our need to not necessarily simply escape to a wonderland in troubled times, but to use artistic measures to put them in context and reflect? Whatever the aim, we cannot help but be thrilled that finally, perfumery is being seen once again as an art form to rejoice in!
Written by Suzy Nightingale

New Year, new you? If you're stuck in a scent rut, here's how to break free…

We’ve all done it. Clung like a limpet to a favourite fragrance because a loved one told us we smelled wonderful, or we happened to be wearing it on a particularly auspicious day and have come to believe it was blessed by the gods – but would you wear your favourite outfit every single day, whether rushing to work, attending a glamorous party or travelling to an exotic location in?  You might adore a particular food, but would you want to eat the same meal for the rest of your life?
There’s nothing wrong in having a ‘signature scent’ per se – something you’re known for wearing and family members can smile as they smell – but constantly wearing the same fragrance can mean you get so used to it that you actually stop smelling it properly. Your nose becomes so attuned to that same old scent that it ‘skips’ over those once-glorious notes and moves on to more exciting things in your environment.
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Perhaps you’re a little nervous about what to try – the choice these days can be completely overwhelming (even for us!) so you have our sympathy. But never fear. We have an ingenious way of gently nudging you out of your comfort zone and in to a whole new world of fragrant discoveries…
There’s no need to ditch that favourite altogether – simply type the name of it in to our Fragrance Editor program (named FR.eD for short) and it will whizz through thousands of possibilities to pick six new perfumes for you try!
The really clever thing is, these aren’t merely based on similar notes to your favourite fragrance, but emotions and words used in the briefs perfumers were given when creating them.
There’s a brand new favourite – maybe even several scents – out there with your name on it, just waiting for you to take the first spritz…
Whatever you choose, everyone here at The Perfume Society wishes you a very Happy New Year!
Written by Suzy Nightingale