Tag: scent

The Year in Perfume – 2025’s Scents We Won’t Stop Wearing

Every year brings its share of scented temptations, but 2025 has felt particularly generous – the sort of year where the “to sniff” list grows longer every time you blink. Between sun‑drenched citruses, mischievous gourmands, meditative greens and velvet‑textured woods, our desks (and wrists) have been gloriously busy. This is not a definitive roll‑call (that would fill a whole other issue of our multi award-winning magazine) so much as a scented snapshot – a handful of fragrances that have truly bewitched us and that will, without question, keep us company well into 2026 and beyond.

Think of it as a highlight reel of olfactory crushes: some flirty, some contemplative, but all of them joyfully memorable.

From strawberries glistening in the sun to star‑bright florals, from fog‑shrouded saffron fields to emerald English hedgerows and tropical cocktails, these launches share a common thread: they each tell a story with real character. They feel fascinating, distinctive, and surprisingly versatile, inviting repeat wear rather than one‑spritz novelty. Whether your heart lies with airy greens, polished woods, addictive vanilla or a gilded, amber-y glow, there is something here to match your mood. And beyond that, perhaps to mark a new chapter in your own fragrance wardrobe in this new year, turning the page into a new adventure that strips away the darkness, leaves what you have outgrown, and forges ahead to glorious new ground…?

 

 

 

 

Creed Fragaria

Strawberries in perfume can so easily tip into cartoon jam territory, but Fragaria is more silk scarf than sticky spoon – a polished, pretty and surprisingly nuanced ode to the fruit. Bergamot, Timur pepper, pink pepper and mandarin give a sparkling, gently spiced opening, like sunlight glinting off ruby‑red berries. In the heart, strawberry, orris butter and a violet accord create a soft‑focus, lipstick‑and‑linen mood, while a base of patchouli, fir balsam and pink praline adds depth and a subtle, gourmand warmth without ever becoming heavy. It feels like British summertime captured in a crystal flacon – cheerful yet chic, and far more versatile than its playful pink bottle might suggest.

£265 for 75ml eau de parfum creedfragrances.co.uk​

 

 

 

 

 

Boadicea the Victorious Opal

A kaleidoscope rendered in scent – iridescent, shape‑shifting and quietly dramatic. Coffee, bergamot, black pepper, cinnamon, bay, metallic notes and saffron create an arresting, almost shimmering opening that feels like stepping into a jeweller’s shop warmed by espresso and polished wood. The heart of cocoa butter, davana, orris butter, suede, clary sage, geranium, nutmeg, lavender and rose reads as soft leather, lipstick smudges of love letters, and spiced petals twined together: all texture and glow. In the base, iris, sandalwood, roasted tonka, woods, cashmeran, patchouli, moss and musk settle into a long, luxurious trail that clings to scarves and evening coats like a memory of candlelight and kisses. Phwoar.

​From £95 for 10ml parfum boadiceaperfume.com

 

 

 

 

 

Molton Brown Bluebell & Wild Strawberry

Oh now this put us in mind of a gloriously sunlit stroll on the first day of spring – a walk through dappled woods where fruit, flowers and damp earth share the air. The opening of wild strawberry, blackberry, bergamot and green galbanum is juicy yet cool, like berries nestled among crushed leaves. A heart of bluebell, tuberose, lily of the valley, coriander and violet leaf creates a luminous floral haze, at once airy and slightly nostalgic, as if you have stepped into a storybook illustration of a forest clearing. Amber, driftwood, sandalwood and white woods in the base add a gentle warmth and a brushed‑wood texture, grounding all that freshness into something quietly sensual and very wearable.

£140 for 100ml eau de parfum moltonbrown.co.uk

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Juliette Has a Gun Miami Shake

Miami Shake was sheer, unabashed fun: an ice‑cream parlour of a perfume, but with the wink of grown‑up musk beneath the sprinkles. Strawberry provides a bright, cheeky opening, ripe and slightly sun‑warmed, before a heart of whipped cream, orange blossom and ice‑cream‑cone accord turns the whole thing into a soft‑serve fantasy. In the base, vanilla absolute and creamy musks linger like the last smear of melted sweetness on the tongue, giving the fragrance surprising longevity and a skin‑hugging coziness. It is the sort of scent that makes you smile as you spritz – a neon‑sign gourmand you can wear with a leather jacket or a sundress, depending on your mood. ​

£100 for 50ml eau de parfum spacenk.com

 

 

 

 

 

Marc‑Antoine Barrois Aldebaran

Tuberose as seen from space – a single white flower shining like a star against the ink‑dark sky. Built around tuberose absolute, it opens with a truly unique cool, green, stem‑like brightness that quickly unfurls into creamy petals, luminous yet never blowsy. Paprika threads in a soft, rosy heat at the heart, adding a blush of spice that keeps the floral from feeling too pristine, while maté brings a subtle smoky‑tea nuance, like a shadow at the edge of the light. Tonka bean in the base wraps everything in a gentle, almond‑vanilla warmth, rounding the edges of the tuberose and extending its glow into an almost otherworldly halo. It is poised, modern and slightly hypnotic – a floral for days (and nights) when you want to feel like the main event.

​£120 for 30ml eau de parfum harrods.com

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Maison Crivelli Safran Secret

Safran Secret is the olfactory equivalent of walking into a saffron field veiled in mist – golden threads glowing through grey air. The composition pivots around a rich saffron note, spiced with cinnamon at the top so it feels both luminous and warmly tingly, like sunlight catching dust motes. In the heart, A sense of rosiness and blushed skies weave together a sense of petals and a textural leathery-touch in elegant tension, creating a mood that is part velvet, part well‑worn armchair. The grounding woodiness at the base brings a smouldering, resinous depth, leaving a trail that is smoky and cocooning without ever losing that saffron brightness. This is fragrance that manages to be both mysterious and comforting – perfect for those who like their spice with a philosophical side. Dare we say, it’s also a scent that demands a certain thoughtfulness, a kind of intellectualism, bottled, if you will. Despise libraries and learning and depth of any kind? Move on. But if you value thinking, taking time, digging deeper – you’ll welcome this invitation to pause and consider awhile.

​£220 for 50ml extrait de parfum selfridges.com

 

Connock England Verdant

Doing exactly what its name promises, this is a lush exhale of green that feels like stepping through a garden gate into a tangle of foliage and blossom. What a head-clearing rush of thankfulness and bliss this brings (something we have relied on to dispel the many dark clouds that infiltrated throughout the year, and for which we remain truly thankful). The top notes of galbanum, eucalyptus, blackcurrant, fig and lemon are a gust of cool, green brightness – hedgerows, crushed leaves, snapped stems and citrus all at once. In the heart, peppermint, geranium, English rose, lavandin, carnation and clove create a beautifully balanced bouquet that whispers of cottage borders and herb patches brushed by the breeze. Sandalwood and amber in the base add just enough warmth and smoothness to keep the greenery from feeling stark, giving Verdant a wearable, skin‑snuggling finish that still retains its airy, outdoorsy soul.

​£40 for 30ml eau de parfum connockengland.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

Ormonde Jayne Vetiveria

Vetiver, but in its best tailoring – crisp, bright and globe‑trotting. Inspired by the islands of Indonesia, it opens with an invigorating rush of Sicilian lime, Timur pepper, sage and juniper berry, an aromatic‑citrus cocktail that feels like standing on a cliff with the wind in your hair. An unusual pairing of snowbell, lavender, jasmine and orange blossom in the heart softens the edges, lending a gentle floral shimmer that keeps the composition from becoming too stern or rooty, if you know what we mean? In the base, vetiver takes centre stage, a vibrant verdancy that’s texturally threaded with moss, rockrose and tonka bean, creating a dry, earthy, slightly smoky warmth that lingers beautifully on skin and scarves (but we adored wearing on scorching hot days, too!) It is uplifting yet grounded – a vetiver that feels just as right for a city commute as for a barefoot wander.

​£195 for 88ml eau de parfum ormondejayne.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kajal Kolada

Kolada brings a playful, cocktail‑hour spirit to the line‑up, channelling the joy of a tropical drink in the hand and sand between the toes. A juicy, fruity‑creamy opening conjures the idea of a piña colada – think sun‑ripened fruit, a caress of coconut and a breeze carrying hints of florals from a nearby bar terrace. As it develops, the addictive sweetness is tempered by a gauzy floral and woody backbone, so while it stays firmly in the feel‑good, escapist camp, it never quite becomes a tooth-rotting sugar rush you may have at first feared. The result is a cheerful, mood‑boosting scent that smells like holiday snapshots and clinking glasses, ready to teleport the wearer to brighter days whenever needed. And oh boy, how we have needed them this last year, especially. Wonderful to dive in to a gloriously transportive scent such as this, and flick the metaphorical v-signs as you spritz to your heart’s content.

£195 for 100ml extrait de parfum bloomperfume.co.uk​

 

 

 

 

 

Goldfield & Banks Tales of Amber

Oh my, this is epic. It reads like a slow, cinematic pan across a sun‑drenched landscape – all burnished horizons and warmth as it settles and sighs on your skin. True to the brand’s Australian roots, it treats amber not as something sticky and syrupy, but as a glowing, mineral‑rich warmth. Citrus and aromatic facets flicker at the start, suggesting dry heat shimmering off rocks, before resinous, amber-y notes swell in the heart. Woods and soft spices underpin the structure, creating an impression of sun‑warmed bark, dried grasses and skin that has spent the day outdoors. It is an amber that feels expansive rather than enclosed – as wearable on a brisk British evening as it would be on an outback trail at dusk. One to wear if, for example, you’re attending an event or sharing a space with a social vampire (you know the type? Someone who sucks the joy from the air when they arrive?) Simultaneously a chic comfort blanket and a backbone of strength, we’ve been addicted to from first sniff.

£227 for 100ml extrait de parfum harrods.com​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BDK Parfums Vanille Caviar

You think you know vanilla? Well, this one’s worn with a raised eyebrow: gourmand, yes, but with refinement and texture that keep it firmly in perfume, not pudding, territory. Built around a Madagascan vanilla absolute, it layers in creamy, almost custard-y facets with touches of resin and woods, giving the impression of vanilla pods split over polished wood rather than a dessert trolley. Hints of spice and possibly a whisper of citrus or floral brightness stop the sweetness from cloying, while musks and woods in the base stretch the composition into a long, close‑to‑the‑skin trail. Put simply, it’s the sort of vanilla that works just as well with a cashmere jumper as with an evening dress – comforting yet quietly sultry with a bit of sass. You think you can last without me, it seems to say; well we’ll see about that. Something we all need to remember, and spritz on as a scented shield against negativity, stupidity, or any other pathetic slights slung our way as the new year dawns!

£190 for 100ml eau de parfum harrods.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acqua di Parma Buongiorno

An utterly joyous standing ovation to the morning – banish thoughts of the bleary alarm‑clock kind. This is where windows are flung open onto Tuscan hills and the kettle hums in the background. Lemon, spearmint, rosemary, basil and petitgrain create a bracing, aromatic top, as if you have crushed herbs between your fingers while slicing citrus over a wooden board. A heart of lavandin and mandarin leaf adds a softer, sun‑kissed floral facet, rounding out the herbs with a Mediterranean, linen‑fluttering in early morning sunshine kind of blissfulness. Cedarwood leaves, amber accord and white musk in the base lend warmth and a lightly woody structure, making the scent feel less like cologne and more like genuinely comforting hug that nonetheless gently pushes you out of your own nonchalance – ideal for days when you want clarity, and a reminder that leaving darkness, the light will find you. Smile: you are in for a new adventure…

£217 for 100ml eau de parfum acquadiparma.com

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Bravo for bergamot! Citrus sparkle for colder weather

Clinging to the craggy Calabrian coastline, bergamot trees gleam like polished jade against rock and sea, their glossy leaves and peculiarly knobbly fruits belying the fact that this is one of perfumery’s brightest, most hard‑working ingredients. And here we say: bravo for bergamot!

Let’s delight in this fragrant treasure…

Harvested from October to February, the citrus spheres swell from vivid green to sun‑tinted yellow, often so weighty they snap delicate branches, yet only around a hundred tons of true bergamot oil are produced each year. It remains a crop that stubbornly refuses to thrive anywhere else with the same complexity – a scented secret jealously guarded by this small corner of southern Italy.

Inside that rough skin lies an oil that perfumers treasure for its astonishing range – from effervescently fresh and almost floral in October to more peppery, zesty and herbaceous by February. Scraped from the peel with traditional ‘peeler’ devices, the deep green essence emerges as a rounded, many‑faceted material that can feel like sunshine, silk and cool stone all at once. As perfumer Pia Long so perfectly puts it, bergamot is a ‘wonder material’ with so many facets that other notes can effortlessly ‘hook onto’, the Little Black Dress of perfumery that simply ‘goes with almost anything’.

 

 

 

 

No wonder the top noses so often single it out as their most‑used ingredient, even if it rarely gets the diva treatment reserved for more glamorous notes. It was there at the birth of modern perfumery in the early 1700s, sparkling through Farina’s original Eau de Cologne and effectively founding the entire ‘fresh’ olfactory family. Centuries later, Sylvie Ganter of Atelier Cologne still calls bergamot a ‘happy fragrance’ note – ‘sparkling, joyful and elegant’, bringing light and transparency even to dense woods and oudh, and making her smile as if she’s ‘on vacation’ each time she wears it.

Guerlain’s Thierry Wasser goes further, describing bergamot as ‘the alpha and omega of Guerlain’, the joyful, smiling burst that opens everything from Eau de Cologne Impériale to La Petite Robe Noire. For him, it is ‘lightness’ and ‘a bursting side to the head notes’, sourced meticulously from long‑term partners in Calabria and declared, with affectionate flair, ‘a staple, darling! We love it!’ Shalimar, often thought of purely as a grand vanilla‑amber Oriental, secretly leans on an astonishing 30% overdose of bergamot to keep its depths buoyant, what perfumer Sophia Grojsman once described as ‘dark but transparent’ – a near‑impossible effect without that citrus radiance.

In winter, bergamot becomes not just refreshing but deeply, almost soul‑reviving: the olfactory equivalent of opening a window in a stuffy room and letting a cold, bright wind swoop through. Its energy works like a wake‑up call for perfumes that might otherwise feel too heavy in low temperatures, adding lift, movement and an extra sparkle against wool coats, scarves and frosted air. Top notes that might seem fleeting in summer suddenly feel longer‑lasting on chilled skin, so that first whoosh of bergamot hangs like a halo over the darker notes beneath.

 

 

 

 

Bergamot’s magic lies in the way it ‘marries’ tempestuous florals with earthy, resinous bases, smoothing any rough edges so the composition feels seamless – the invisible hand that turns potential clashes into chemistry. Think of it as sunlight through stained glass, illuminating every colour rather than outshining them; or like the first sip of Earl Grey tea, where that airy citrus lifts the tannic heft of black leaves. Bergamot does the same for fragrance structures, adding an almost tea‑like floralc-y and gentle sparkle that reads as sophistication rather than spiky sharpness.

There is science to this serenity, too. In the 1970s, when a component called bergapten was found to be phototoxic on sun‑exposed skin, demand for bergamot oil crashed and synthetics rushed in to fill the gap. But natural bergamot proved irreplaceable, and new production methods that remove those risky molecules – creating ‘bergamot FCF’, or furanocoumarin‑free oil – allowed perfumers and perfumistas to breathe a sigh of relief and return to the real thing. Today, bergamot is once again a pillar of citrus, chypre, woody and even gourmand compositions, lending uplifting brightness without any scrubbed‑out austerity.

 

 

 

 

For perfumer Lyn Harris, bergamot is one of the ‘most important’ citrus oils precisely because it is so beautifully balanced: rounded, versatile, a perfect base for any citrus bouquet and equally at home enlivening chypres and Orientals. Pierre Gueros notes that while lemon, orange and grapefruit are used for sheer impact and fruity freshness, bergamot is prized for its tea‑and‑lavender nuances, its lack of harsh edges and its ‘soft, classical sparkle’. In the Middle East, he found it to be the only citrus acceptable in fine fragrance because it was not associated with cleaning products – a telling reminder of how elegant and knowingly nuanced this material feels on skin.

And in colder months, that elegance translates into a very specific kind of comfort: not cosy, exactly, but quietly exultant, like crisp winter sunlight glittering on snow. Bergamot‑rich scents can be exhilarating yet never brash, offering clarity when the world feels grey and a sense of movement when moods stagnate. We love their energising nature – the way a single spritz can make shoulders drop, lungs expand and thoughts feel a little more spacious, whether you’re facing a frosty commute or twinkling party lights. When the days are shortest, what we love is how bergamot’s radiance can feel like a personal dawn, repeated with every spritz.

Below, a line‑up of some of our favourite bergamot‑centric fragrances that shimmer beautifully in colder weather, each with its own style of citrus glow…

 

 

 

 

Nishane Wulong Cha

A brisk, silken gust of bergamot, orange and mandarin sweeps through cool air, bright yet never shrill, immediately conjuring the idea of iced tea sipped in winter sunshine. Oolong and nutmeg add a cashmere‑soft, gently spiced steaminess that folds around you rather than projecting too loudly. Musk and fig ground the freshness in a velvety, almost creamy trail, making this feel both invigorating and soothing.

£175 for 50ml extrait de parfum harrods.com

 

 

 

LL_MENS_MONTBLANC_EXPLORER.jpg

Montblanc Explorer

Here, an Italian bergamot accord cuts through the chill like a clean, glacial breeze, sharpening the senses before earthy vetiver and patchouli unfurl. The citrus spark stops the woods and leather from ever feeling heavy, lending a crystalline edge that keeps everything brisk, modern and outdoorsy. It is the olfactory equivalent of zipping up a favourite jacket and heading out into the cold with intent, purposeful but polished.

£39 for 30ml eau de parfum theperfumeshop.com

 

 

Akro SMILE

This feels like bottling the moment someone makes you laugh on a grey day: sage and bergamot fizz in the top, crisp and green‑gold, while raspberry adds a playful, neon blush. There is a luminous clarity to the structure that makes it wearable at any time, yet it never tips into minimalism – it is joyfully present. Originally blended as a private ‘happy’ talisman, it now beams that optimism outwards with every mist.

£160 for 100ml eau de parfum lookfantastic.com

 

 

 

Floris Bergamotto di Positano

Imagine standing on a winter shore, the memory of summer warmth lingering in the air – that is the mood here, where bergamot and mandarin sparkle against salty marine notes. A heart of orange blossom and green tea feels like light on water, softened with a touch of vanilla creaminess so the brightness never bites. Woods, amber, ambrette and ginger hum underneath with mellow, sun‑stored warmth, like skin remembering an Amalfi holiday beneath your coat.

£120 for 50ml eau de parfum florislondon.com

 

 

Experimental Perfume Club Bergamot Incense

A study in contrasts, this scent sets bergamot’s zesty, herbaceous facets against the meditative curl of frankincense and the cool poise of iris. The result is a halo of citrus that glows rather than glares, illuminating the resinous shadows without dispelling them. It feels like a contemplative walk on a clear, cold morning – bright air, long blue shadows, and a quietly luminous energy that stays close to the skin yet transforms your whole mood.

£125 for 50ml eau de parfum experimentalperfumeclub.com

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Liberate the lemon! Free these citrus scents from seasonal exile…

Are your lemon scents languishing on the shelf in wait of summer and sunshine? We urge you to liberate them from seasonal exile and hug them back to your bosom for winter! Because actually, their effervescent sparkle and uplifting aromas can be the perfect perfume to reach for in the colder season…

The citrusy aroma of lemon is so often thought of as the sparkling garnish in perfumery, yet it is far more than a mere squeeze of zest at the top of a composition. Bright, lively and almost effervescent, lemon has an extraordinary ability to make other notes feel as if someone has drawn back a curtain and let the light in. Lemons and flowers, especially, are a perfect marriage in fragrance, just as a twist of lemon in cooking cuts through richness and sharpens flavours; that same clarifying quality helps petals feel fresher, clearer, more radiant on skin. So, while it may be familiar from classic colognes and breezy summer splashes, lemon is quietly working its magic in far more fragrances than you might suspect.

Its story winds back through centuries and across continents, with arguments about whether those first lemons hung from trees in north-east India, Burma or China, long before they travelled with traders and farmers. What is clearer is that Arab growers helped carry this evergreen beauty toward Europe, where it eventually took root and began to flourish, and that later still lemon seeds were transported across the ocean as part of that great wave of botanical migration. Today, lemons are cultivated almost anywhere there is enough sun, their fruit beloved in kitchens and medicine cabinets as much as in perfumers’ laboratories. The oil itself is obtained by cold – pressing the peel, a method that preserves its brightness and captures an aroma uncannily close to sniffing a twist of fresh zest held right beneath your nose.

 

That’s perhaps why lemon in fragrance feels so instantly recognisable – and so instantly cheering. It brings an almost tactile sparkle, at once refreshing and comforting, like opening a window in a stuffy room or taking the first sip of icy lemonade. In olfactory architecture, lemon is usually a top note, the early firework that flares and then softens, but while its overt juiciness may be fleeting, it changes the entire mood of what follows. Think of it as olfactive sunshine bottled, a golden filter through which woods, florals, spices and musks are gently, beautifully reframed.

Because lemon is so strongly associated with summer days and Mediterranean afternoons, those bottles often get relegated to the back of the shelf once the central heating clicks on and the knitwear emerges. Yet there’s something deliciously counterintuitive about wearing a bracing citrus when the air outside has a nip to it. In the cold, lemon behaves differently on skin; the sparkle feels crisper, more crystalline, as though the zest has been chilled in frost. That brightness can be wonderfully bracing on grey mornings, cutting through fog – both literal and mental – and lending a sense of clarity to the day.

 

 

Layered over cashmere, enveloped in a scarf, those same citrus notes that might seem almost too sprightly in high summer become a kind of portable light therapy in winter. The contrast between cold air and warm skin makes lemon’s radiance feel more focused, less diffused, so that each spritz is like stepping briefly into a sunbeam before tucking yourself back into your coat. If your mood is flagging, or your energy feels as colourless as a January sky, reaching for something sharply, joyously lemon – laden can be an instant mood shift. These are fragrances that deserve to be worn, not left languishing until the first daffodils appear.

So, if you have bottles you automatically label as “summer scents”, now is the moment to liberate them from seasonal exile. An extra dose of sunshine is arguably most needed precisely when there is none to be found outside, and a bright, lemon-laced perfume can feel like a brisk walk along a sunlit seafront, minus the sand in your socks.

With that in mind, here’s our edit of gloriously lemon-y favourites that feel made for winter wearing. Think of them as your scented daylight savings: a way to borrow back a little radiance, one spritz at a time…

 

Farina 1709 Eau de Cologne

Lemon shines in its most iconic role, twirling at the heart of a true Cologne classic that feels as though it has been freshly poured from a Venetian glass cruet in some light-drenched apothecary. Zesty lemon and kindred citruses fizz across the skin in airy waves, so translucent they are almost gauzy, before soft herbal and floral nuances and a delicately musky, woody undertone begin to glow through. In winter, that bracing opening feels like splashing your face with chilled water before stepping into the day, the tart peel note slicing cleanly through indoor fug and radiating a subtle, well – groomed freshness from beneath scarf and sweater.

Try a sample in our Essence Deluxe Discovery Box!

 

 

 

Kajal Sawlaj

Here, lemon is not a shy squeeze at the rim of the glass but a gleaming arc of brightness that slices through a richer, more opulent composition, lifting the blend with forked – lightning flashes of citrus. A vivid burst of lemon and other sunlit fruits and spices lights up the opening, gilding aromatics and florals before deeper, leathery, resinous and woody notes gather like shadows at the edge of the frame. That interplay makes it an especially beguiling winter wear; the lemon keeps the structure feeling airier than its warmth might suggest, so that the fragrance moves around you like a heated halo, the zest sparkling above a luxuriously smouldering base.

£171.14 for 100ml eau de parfum 50-ml.co.uk

 

 

 

30ml bottle of Argentum Everyman

ARgENTUM Everyman

This feels like a quietly luminous second skin, built around that connection between citrus brightness and tender green. Fresh circles of lemon rise first, airy and almost dewy, before dissolving into a gorgeously verdant bouquet where star anise, aromatic clary sage and wild daffodil weave together with a soft, salty – sweet breath of mimosa and powdery cassia. In winter, the lemon’s radiance slices through the chill with a gentle clarity, while the rich base of patchouli and cedarwood hums close to the body, giving the scent a mossy, cocooning depth that makes it feel like walking through a frost – tipped garden in perfect, contemplative calm.

£78 for 30ml eau de parfum in our Shop

 

 

 

 

 

Boadicea the Victorious Lavish

Opening with a truly generous squeeze of lemon, the zest tumbling over bergamot in a cascade of glinting droplets that instantly feels like standing beneath a skylight flooded with sun. As the fragrance settles, rose and a creamy scattering of nutmeg unfurl, warmed by vetiver, guaiac and other smooth woods and amber beneath, so that the initial brightness deepens into something plush and cocooning. Worn in winter, that big lemon opening is joyously almost too much in the best way, a dazzling contrast to leaden skies before it relaxes into a sophisticated glow around you, the zest still shimmering at the edges of a soft, spicy, woody warmth.

£37 for 10ml eau de parfum boadiceaperfume.com

 

 

 

 

 

Ghawali Noble

Pairing lemon with a juicy bite of apple in the top, giving the citrus an almost crystalline crunch, think: frost-dusted fruit in a chilled bowl. That vivid opening quickly drifts into aromatic facets and a gentle floral heart of lily of the valley, before cedarwood and musk wrap everything in a serene, polished softness that feels quietly regal rather than showy. In the colder months, the lemon here behaves like a streak of light across satin, illuminating the composition just enough to keep it feeling airy while the musky woods purr closer to the skin; it is the kind of understated radiance that works beautifully under a cashmere coat, offering a private flicker of brightness you can carry with you all day.

£175 for 75ml parfum selfridges.com

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Peel the Love: Mandarin Scents to Lift Your Mood

Mandarin in perfumery is often described as a soft-focus citrus, think: juicy, sweetly tangy and gently sparkling rather than bracing or sour, with a playful brightness that instantly lifts the opening of a fragrance while adding a subtle, almost floral, sunny warmth…

Used as a top note, it can make compositions feel more joyful and approachable, smoothing the edges of sharper, more bite-y citrus notes and weaving happily between florals, woods and seasonal spices to bring an easy-going radiance and a sense of “natural” freshness to a fragrance compositions.

Mandarin somehow seems the most user-friendly of citrus ingredients: not in-your-face fresh as lemon and lime, nor tenaciously zesty as orange, it’s a happy-making scent linked to fortune and good luck in Chinese culture, and a reminder of happy childhood memories for many of us.

Sarah McCartney of 4160 Tuesdays shared her thoughts with us on mandarin, and how it’s often mixed with other fruity notes to grant it some extra oomph: ‘It’s childhood Christmases for me. I’d use more of it except that citrus fruit essential oils are restricted these days, and I almost always want to get some grapefruit in there too. It has more character than sweet orange; it seems naughtier to me. It’s a special treat and it’s packed with sunshine.’

 

 

 

 

Sarah continues: ‘Oddly enough, I find that my customers describe certain synthetic fragrances as ‘fresh and natural’. Tangerine is one of the genuine natural fragrances that has the same effect. It’s light and flighty though, so it works as a top note then flits off, leaving an impression but not hanging around to be judged. Mandarin works nicely as long as you don’t mind its lack of commitment!’

Mandarin’s fizzing brightness is instantly uplifting, with a sweetness that feels juicy and mouthwatering, a playful, fruity juiciness and a rounded citrus glow laced with gentle, neroli-like blossom facets. It is exactly the kind of note perfumers reach for when they want to ‘lift’ the opening of a fragrance and add a smiling, sunlit sparkle to the top notes. In compositions, mandarin also cosies up effortlessly to warm spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon and clove – just as it does in festive cooking and the scented atmosphere of our homes at Christmastime.

 

 

 

 

 

Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Mandarino di Sicilia

Ahhh, this feels like bottling that first sharp inhale when you step into Sicilian sunshine! And it is the mandarin that does all the heavy lifting. Here, the green mandarin is picked early, so its zest smells almost leafy and luminous, immediately brightened by bergamot, lemon and juicy red orange to give a sparkling, almost spritz-like opening. As the scent settles, the mandarin’s greener facets are echoed by bracing petitgrain and spearmint, stretching out that citrus buzz rather than letting it fade away after a few minutes. Cedarwood and soft musk then step in to frame the fruity brightness, polishing the mandarin into something more dressed-up and elegant, like swapping a linen shirt for a sharply tailored blazer, all housed in that deep-blue bottle that looks as cool as the fragrance smells.

£153 for 100ml eau de toilette spacenk.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

4160 Tuesdays London 1969

In London 1969, mandarin is the mischief-maker that keeps this “hippie citrus” grinning from ear to ear. It joins orange, lemongrass, grapefruit and cedrat in the opening, adding a juicy, slightly sweet twist that stops the citrus cocktail from feeling too sour or soapy – more festival-ready fizz than health-club spritz. As the fragrance develops, the mandarin’s warmth melts into Moroccan cedarwood, sandalwood and incense, its cheerful brightness catching on curls of smoke and polished wood like sunlight hitting a hazy gig poster. By the time the Indian patchouli, labdanum and musk base comes through, that mandarin has left a fond echo, giving the whole composition a nostalgic, free-spirited glow rather than a straight-up retro haze.

£95 for 50ml eau de parfum 4160tuesdays.com

 

 

 

 

 

Diptyque Corail Oscuro

Corail Oscuro treats mandarin as a flash of light under dark, rolling waves. Right from the first spritz, the mandarin sparkles like tiny bubbles rising in a glass, cutting through the salty mineral accord and keeping the composition buoyant rather than brooding. Rose bourbon absolute softens its edges, but the citrus doesn’t disappear; instead, it dances over the marine-tinged base, making the scent feel like skin warmed by sun after a swim, rather than a chilly, aquatic cliché. That contrast between mandarin’s crystalline brightness and the sea-bed darkness is what makes the fragrance so compelling, echoed visually by coral-like black lines and watercolour washes on the bottle and sleeve.

£255 for 100ml eau de parfum libertylondon.com

 

 

 

 

 

Vallense Source

Source uses mandarin as the opening flare – that moment the lights dim and the evening really begins. The first impression is a spicy, juicy pop of mandarin tangled with black pepper, which gives the fruit a grown-up, almost sparkling-wine twist instead of simple sweetness. As frankincense, cypriol and praline unfurl, the mandarin note acts like a glowing thread, stopping the smoky, gourmand heart from feeling too heavy and keeping everything just this side of addictive rather than overwhelming. When amber, benzoin and Vallense’s signature musk accord finally take over, the citrus has mostly melted away, but its memory lingers as a kind of inner radiance, which is exactly what makes this award-recognised scent feel so confidently “dressed for the occasion.”

£202 for 100ml eau de parfum vallensefragrances.com

Vallense Discovery Set available in our shop

 

 

 

 

 

Soki Cleopatra

In Cleopatra, mandarin is the golden crown that never quite slips. The fragrance bursts open with Orange Gelato and sunlit mandarin, a truly mouthwatering citrus duet that feels more like dessert on a marble terrace than a sensible daytime spritz. Crucially, that mandarin brightness doesn’t vanish after the first selfie; it threads right through the heart of Orange Blossom, Neroli and Jasmine Sambac, turning what could have been a purely floral bouquet into a glowing, orange-tinged halo. As the base of liquid Amber, plush Vanilla and smooth Sandalwood wraps around the skin, the mandarin’s sparkle is still perceptible, giving the warmth a luminous edge and making Cleopatra feel less like a typical “sweet oriental” and more like a confidently radiant aura you actively put on to rule your day – or your night.

£79 for 50ml eau de parfum shop.sokilondon.com

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Oakmoss: The Perfumer’s Gift

Oakmoss is one of perfumery’s greatest gifts: a forest‑deep, time‑travel note that shaped entire fragrance families and still quietly anchors some of the most sophisticated scents on your dressing table…

Despite its name, oakmoss isn’t a moss at all but a lichen – Evernia prunastri – which festoons the trunks and branches of oak trees across Europe and North Africa, thriving only where the air is clean. Depending on whether it is dry or damp, it can vary from pale green to almost black, transformed via solvent extraction into the inky, paste‑like absolute that perfumers prize.

 

 

 

Ask perfumers to describe oakmoss and you will hear the same images recurring: a walk through a forest after rain, the coolness under old trees, the scent of damp bark, lichen and shaded earth. On skin, oakmoss feels dark‑green and textural, earthy and woody, with mineral facets suggesting cold stone, along with whispers of leather, smoke, resin and even a faint salt‑lick of sea air. There is a sensual side, too: many describe a soft, almost musky and ambered sweetness nestling in the depths of oakmoss, which gives a fragrance both body and an enveloping, slightly powdery caress as it dries down. Crucially, it lends structure – the “backbone” that supports sparkling citrus or airy florals. The key element to oakmoss is an air of mystery: think of it as being the ambergris of the land.

 

 

 

Technically, oakmoss is invaluable. By knitting together citrus, aromatics, florals and woods, oakmoss brings balance and a sense of verticality, so a composition feels three‑dimensional and polished. Used in smaller touches, perfumers slip oakmoss into woody, fougère and even ambery compositions to suggest shadow, depth and that elusive “understory” of nature beneath the more obvious notes.

For all its beauty, oakmoss has a problematic side. Certain components of natural oakmoss have been implicated as possible skin sensitisers. In response, regulatory bodies have imposed strict limits on its use. These restrictions meant that many beloved classics – particularly chypres that once used generous amounts of oakmoss in their concentrate – had to be reformulated, with quantities drastically reduced or natural moss removed altogether.

 

 

 

But all is not lost for oakmoss devotees. One major response has been the development of fractionated qualities in which the sensitising molecules have been selectively reduced to trace levels, while preserving much of the characteristic odour profile. Alongside this, perfumers lean on a palette of substitutes and supporting players to recreate the mossy illusion: patchouli, vetiver, labdanum, cedar, green aromatics and modern ‘moss’ aroma‑chemicals all help to conjure that shady, bitter‑green depth. There’s still much to swoon over – consider these…

 

 

 

 

Ormonde Jayne Evernia

Interlacing florals fall gently over the powdery tenacity and subtle earthiness of oakmoss – this anchors the composition and connects each note with graceful depth. Its presence weaves through cashmeran, sandalwood and musk, bringing elegant structure and sensual longevity. Evernia’s oakmoss underscores the scent’s elegance, linking freshness to a lingering dry-down.

£235 for 88ml eau de parfum ormondejayne.com

 

 

 

Goldfield & Banks Silky Woods Elixir

A darkened forest is conjured, where creamy vanilla and radiant oud ripple beside misty fig and rose. Within this deeper elixir, oakmoss emerges to lend its trademark cool, enveloping greenery – shaping the path from woody base to sweet top, extending allure and earthy persistence. Subtle, nuzzly green transforms every shift in texture for lasting intrigue.

£227 for 100ml parfum elixir harveynichols.com

 

 

 

 

Miller Harris L’Air de Rien

A gloriously nostalgic, bookish air and golden musks settle over a ground rich with velvet-y musk. Oakmoss brings a dry softness and a unique sense of intimate mystery – vivid images of old libraries, weathered covers and autumn leaves pile up as its earthy base knits smoky vanilla, amber and neroli together, lending the whole blend warmth, comfort and an irresistible, lived-in texture. Achingly chic.

Currently £112 for 100ml eau de parfum instead of £140 millerharris.com

 

 

 

Yellow square bottle of Eros Energy fragrance by Versace

Versace Eros Energy

As autumnal woods brush up against a mouthwatering citrus medley, oakmoss acts quietly but decisively to anchor the energy and brightness of these vivid notes – giving gentle, mossy contrast and grounded earthiness alongside patchouli. It stabilises the shifting accord, guides the scent to its elegant base, and supplies texture for an adventurous, multi-season scent profile. The perfect scent for those craving luminosity atop the more usual nuzzle-me notes of a moss-forward fragrance.

Try a sample in the Scents of Couture Discovery Box £13.20 for 9 samples in the Shop

 

 

 

 

 

Penhaligon’s Daphne Bouquet

Spring’s joyful daphne blooms burst with radiant optimism while moss grounds the bouquet in elegant verdancy. Oakmoss here is a subtle yet crucial thread – wrapping floral sweetness with a cool, earthy embrace that evokes garden paths and royal traditions. Its chypre resonance brings gravitas and freshness, deepening every green nuance and connecting us gently to Highgrove’s lush spirit.

£175 for 100ml eau de parfum penhaligons.com

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Ataratma – where scent meets soul

Ataratma – a fragrance house with a spirit as intriguing as its name (a portmanteau of Sanskrit words for ‘scent’ and ‘soul’) – wafts into our lives just as autumn demands a caressing, soul-stirring embrace.

Ataratma London set out to be far more than just another pretty bottle on the shelf (though those flacons are rather fabulous, we must admit); instead, wanting to be a journey for the senses and the spirit alike. Drawing ancient wisdom into the swirl of every spritz, here the perfumes aren’t so much worn as inhabited – mood-shifting, grounding, truly transformative. So: let’s dive in, shall we…?

From the off, Ataratma’s olfactive and optimistic mission emerges: this is scent as spiritual practice, where every fragrance is infused with intentions drawn from Ayurveda and the latest insights from neuroscience. If that sounds ambitious, just wait until you smell what they’ve managed – perfumers like Nelly Hachem-Ruiz, Paul Guerlain and Fanny Bal (yes, the A-list) have brushed their perfumed palettes across the line-up. But don’t worry if the wellness factor all sounds a bit much for you. There’s absolutely no need to concentrate on that aspect if you don’t want to. The main draw for us is the fact that the connection runs far beyond concept; these fragrances are, quite simply, ravishing. No worthy undertones, no retreat-in-a-bottle clichés – just beautiful, lasting pieces of wearable art for your skin. As they should be.

 

 

Ada Panday [pictured above, centre, in striking orange) is Ataratma’s founder, and weaves her passion through each scent in the collection. Hailing from a world of jewellery design, Ada brings a magpie’s love of beauty combined with a longing for resonance that goes beneath the surface. Each bottle reflects her belief that perfume should empower, strengthen and uplift as much as it delights the senses. And delight it does: rich concentrations (every scent is poured at 25–30%) ensure the fragrance lingers, subtle but persistent, an aura connecting you to what truly matters. Working with Creative Director Claire Sokell Thompson (whose previous portfolio includes Thameen London and Electimuss) they truly have created something extra special.

Ataratma launched this year with with four initial collections – Atma (spiritual connection), Ananda (happiness), Kama (love), and Zakra (strength) – and nine scents to explore your own story through fragrance. Each pillar draws on both ancient rituals and innovative research: Ananda’s Chakra Champaca blooms with bright white florals and pistachio – instantly uplifting, airy but opulent. Smitam Santal flutters with a smile in the language of tuberose, sandalwood and cardamom, shimmering with optimism. Kama Carnal curls close to the skin, voluptuous with neroli, coconut water and vanilla, while Rati Patchouli feels like a spaciously elegant swirl of a dance – vibrant, passionate, unforgettable.

 

 

But what elevates these perfumes is the fusion of their philosophies with lab-level ingredient sourcing. Many ingredients are selected for their proven effects on mood – think geranium for balance, cypress for calm, sandalwood for courage, all sourced via LMR Naturals by IFF (the gold-standard for responsible, sustainable perfumery). Nothing is hurried, nothing bulked out; even the essential oils are steam-distilled to preserve every nuance at its brightest.

Perfume, for Ataratma, becomes beyond pleasure and into the realms of a treasured daily ritual – a modern scented ceremony, if you will, for those of us in search of greater harmony. And oh boy, how we increasingly need that in these turbulent times. So how comforting, then, to discover a collection of perfumes where wearing one is like carrying a secret amulet: invisible yet powerfully felt.

In a world of fleeting trends and scented noise, Ataratma’s debut feels like a long exhale – sophisticated and reassuring, full of stories, artistry and soul. The Discovery Set a chance to live with the scents before you choose, and even redeemable against a full-size. Because if there were ever a time to find not just what smells beautiful, but what feels right for who you are and what you wish to become – it is surely now.

The only question is: which version of the real ‘you’ d’you fancy evoking in fragrance today…?

Explore the fragrances

The Ataratma Discovery Set can be found in our Essence Deluxe box.

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Pumpkin Spice Latte Season: perfumes giving PSL

Love them or loathe them, Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back. Yes, the PSL has returned to herald the season of crunchy leaves, oversized scarves and questionable woolly hats. For some, the very idea conjures disdain – too sweet, too hyped, too “basic” – but really, isn’t that missing the point? The iconic PSL blend smells downright divine, its tumble of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and ginger swirling into a haze of autumnal comfort.

And in truth, there’s very little actual pumpkin in a Pumpkin Spice Latte. The “pumpkin” is mostly nostalgia talking. So, for those of us who prefer to wear our seasonal indulgences rather than drink them, the PSL profile is surprisingly easy to recreate in perfumed form – or to gently layer into being. But where did this contemporary cultural phenomenon begin?

Before Pumpkin Spice fever became a marketing machine, it started in coffee-central, Seattle, back in 2003. A small team at the Starbucks Liquid Lab – led by Peter Dukes, then Director of Espresso – were asked to come up with a new autumn drink. Pumpkin pie was a classic American comfort, but no one had thought to bottle its scent and warmth into a cup of coffee before. The first test took place in just 100 stores across Washington, D.C. and Vancouver. Cue immediate mania.

 

 

The PSL went national the following year, and by the time Facebook and Twitter joined the party, it had become less a drink and more a cultural phenomenon. With it came a tidal wave of pumpkin-spiced everything – candles, lip balms, even washing powder – and an aroma that’s now synonymous with ‘sweater weather’ itself.

If you love PSLs but think wearing one might sound kitsch, remember that (apart from those with PSL proudly in their name), these aren’t as overt. And layering can be your fragrant friend – you are in complete control, and can create your own seasonally spiced extravaganza to your own tastes.

 

 

Now, whatever your opinion of the PSL, we’re encouraging you to fight through the froth and allow yourself to fall for these gloriously spiced scents. We suggest…

 

 

 

 

Etat Libre d’Orange Like This

Inspired by actor Tilda Swinton’s idea of “home in a bottle,” Etat Libre d’Orange Like This was composed by Mathilde Bijaoui with yellow tangerine, ginger, pumpkin, immortelle, Moroccan neroli, Grasse rose, vetiver, heliotrope and musk. It feels like autumn wrapped in cashmere – cosy but clever. Ginger whirls with velvety pumpkin sweetness, evoking the scent of a pie emerging from the oven. A fragrance you’ll want to wear while watching leaves fall, from your favourite window seat.

£70.95 for 100ml eau de parfum allbeauty.com

 

 

 

Lush Pumpkin Spice Body Spray

Pairs perfectly with an oversized scarf and a trip to the pumpkin patch. Clove and ginger mingle with golden carob resin and carrot seed oil, creating an instant hit of nostalgia and a generous dose of compliments. Carob resinoid brings deep, caramel decadence – a wink to anyone who dares call Pumpkin Spice “basic”. Carrot seed oil softens the spices with gentle warmth, as comforting as a morning latte between mittened hands. Made with organic ethanol from sugar cane in a circular, zero-waste system, it’s the perfect scent to spritz over chunky knits and let autumn envelop you.

£28 for 200ml body spray lush.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goldfield & Banks Ingenious Ginger

For those who prefer suggestion over sweetness, Goldfield & Banks Ingenious Ginger captures PSL warmth with a fresher twist. Its star ingredient, Australian Red Back Ginger, feels citrusy and solar rather than sticky. Bergamot, mandarin, magnolia, vanilla, amber and sandalwood whisper of sunsets across the Atherton Tablelands. Sunrise notes shimmer bright and juicy, while sunset notes bring floral, ambered spice that feels like a PSL enjoyed under tropical skies.

£140 for 100ml parfum harrods.com

 

 

 

Jo Malone London Ginger Biscuit Cologne

Truly one of THE most deliciously festive fragrances they’ve ever created, this smells like a bakery at golden hour. Ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon swirl around roasted hazelnut, caramel and vanilla-tonka richness, the whole thing buttery and crumbly at the edges. Perfect for layering with other Jo Malone scents to add that spiced creamy effect without veering into dessert territory. A PSL enjoyed in a vintage china cup and wearing silk pyjamas rather than a paper cup at the bus stop, perhaps?

£128 for 100ml eau de parfum jomalone.co.uk

 

Other PSL-adjacent scents perfect for layering? Try these!

 

The Merchant of Venice Accord di Profumo Tonka Venezuela – Rich, sensual and tempting, this celebrates the tonka bean’s toffee and cocoa aspects. The nuts fall and are roasted, their resinoid distilled into an addictive scent recalling caramel, coffee and imagined delights, an ideal note for deepening any composition.

The Merchant of Venice Accord di Profumo Patchouli Indonesia – Velvety woods and soft greenery tangled with earthy tobacco notes – a PSL base in perfume form, grounding, enveloping and irresistibly wearable. Crafted from hand-dried, fermented leaves distilled into oil on the island of Sulawesi, its depth completes the blend beautifully.

The Merchant of Venice Accord di Profumo Zafferano Iran – Saffron, the red gold of spices, glows in this luminous blend where zesty freshness meets amber, cistus and honey. A mist of this feels like sprinkling your perfume wardrobe with sunlit spice, in any season. But it’s so right for right now, in our humble opinion.

£65 for 30ml eau de parfum harveynichols.com

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Perfumed Pages: Scents That Tell a Story

Because autumn is THE perfect time to get cosy with.a good book, we are celebrating the fact that literature is no longer confined between the covers; it’s seeping out, swirling through the air, and snuggling on your skin thanks to an ever-growing wave of scents directly inspired by novels and writers.

Who knew so many perfumers had a penchant for penning olfactory love letters to literary heroines, rebels, and devilishly dashing rogues? Read on to discover how these perfumes don’t just grab inspo from great prose but bottle the essence of each story. There’s simply no excuse for writer’s block when inspiration smells this enchanting!

So, if you’ve ever fancied a new chapter in your scent wardrobe, why not try weaving a little literary magic through your everyday? Suddenly, getting lost in a good book just became a spritz away. The only question is: which of these perfumed pages would you fancy leafing through in fragrant form, first…?

 

 

 

 

4160 Tuesdays Vianne’s Confession

Plunge headlong into the cobbled streets and gilded shadows of Marseilles in autumn, painted with all the chocolatier’s secrets and soul-searching from Joanne Harris’s Vianne. This isn’t a scent for those who favour sweet treats; instead, Vianne’s Confession is a brooding, confessional blend. Wisps of incense and smoky labdanum marry bitter cacao, rose and geranium, with salt and tomato leaf lending their savouriness. Oakmoss, cypriol and attar mitti (distilled from rich earth itself) root the fragrance in ancient stone and whispered mysteries. The sillage is ‘smoochy’ – a term only fitting for a perfume that seems part velvet, part ritual, all wrapped in moonlit chocolate and literary longing.

£75 for 30ml eau de parfum 4160tuesdays.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

D’Otto 2×4

In true Austenian fashion, 2×4 is less a spritz and more a slow-burn romance between conflicting hearts. Taking its cue from Pride and Prejudice’s Elizabeth and Darcy, each ingredient unfolds like the careful revelation of a well-guarded secret. Wisteria, Indian jasmine, and lily of the valley evoke the freshness of a countryside ballroom in full bloom, while damask rose adds an intimate blush of passion. The heart is an exotic bouquet of Thai orchid, tuberose, ambergris, and cashmeran, echoing the genre’s love for drama beneath decorum. As the novel’s tension deepens, water lily and Mexican tuberose gently melt into a woody, enveloping trail – sensual, enveloping, and designed to linger in memory the way Austen’s prose does.

£245 for 100ml extrait de parfum harrods.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marc-Antoine Barrois B683

Named for the Little Prince’s mysterious planet and the designer’s birthday, B683 wears the compelling casualness of a true dandy – and with beautiful assurance. Perfumer Quentin Bisch’s modern leather isn’t flashy; it’s the kind you’d trust for a clandestine rendezvous or hang inside a secret writing nook, richly lived-in. Spicy streams of black pepper, saffron, chilli and nutmeg tumble into violet leaf and musk, conjuring the paradoxical thrill of a story’s first page; both restrained and wild. The whole is grounded in sandalwood, patchouli and oakmoss, lending the stability and gravitas of a prized hardback spine. It’s the olfactory equivalent of finding the perfect phrase; quietly spectacular and effortlessly stylish.

£120 for 30ml eau de parfum selfridges.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Floris Wilde

Oscar Wilde (a well-known customer of Floris) had a distinct penchant for dandyism and boundary-pushing prose, so artfully rendered in this clever composition. Sparkling bergamot and citrus blossom open with a flourish, just as Wilde himself would enter a room: all charisma and cutting wit. A heart of ginger, green carnation and white jasmine thrums with theatrical passion – for romance, freedom and star-crossed lovers. The base, a warming swirl of sandalwood oil, olibanum and benzoin, cements its decadent legacy. An understated presence disguised in elegant tailoring, Wilde is just as adept at beguiling as a perfectly chosen epigram, a fragrant tribute to living and loving without apology.

£180 for 100ml eau de parfum (also available from £30 for 10ml) florislondon.com

 

 

 

 

 

Ghawali Closer Apart

Inspired by the fevered dreams and desires of Gatsby’s Roaring Twenties, Closer Apart is all about obsession and magnetic allure. It opens on a flirty burst of mandarin oil, pear and ginger, as effervescent as a champagne toast in a glittering mansion. The heart throbs with caramel, rose and lavender – think moonlit longing, whispered confessions, and the ache of unattainable love. Cedarwood, ambrocenide and musk wrap things up in delicious warmth, echoing the story’s undercurrent of yearning and complicated intimacy. Wear it and you’ll embrace Fitzgerald’s decadence with every inhale, hopelessly seduced by the tension between closeness and distance.

£175 for 75ml parfum selfridges.com

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Why We’re Moonstruck by These Scents…

Why are perfumers so inspired by moonlight and the stars? Well, this Halloween we’re not here for ghoulish scares or pumpkin-spiced anything – instead, we choose to explore the theme of fragrances inspired by the moon, exploring how we’d rather sink into the soft shimmer of moonlight itself. Because moonlit fragrances do not bother themselves with seasonal costume changes – they’re magical at any time.

But let’s admit this: there’s something about late autumn’s evenings that truly draws out their mysterious side and beckons us on a starlit stroll.

 

 

 

 

Perfumers, ever the poets and stargazers, know how to bottle this elusive glow; and to achieve it they reach for dreamy notes – think powdery iris for that silvery haze, whisper-soft white musks for skin-like radiance, and aldehydes to add a phosphorescent fizz of sparkle. Flowers that release their secrets after dusk, like jasmine and tuberose, drift often through the compositions, their petalled-perfume powers trailing seductively just as midnight falls. The most enchanting moonlit scents remind us of starlight caught in a bottle, and of secrets exchanged in the silvery hush.

Below, let’s wander through a selection of fragrances inspired by the moon and its nightly magic, each radiating a different facet of lunar luminosity…

 

 

 

 

Mabelle O’Rama Lunar Dust

A sensual, woody skin scent inspired by the moon’s cool, powdery surface and its gentle lunar glow. Like night skies revealing their stars to those who wait, this fragrance unfolds with ethereal grace on the skin. Shimmering iris gives way to the warmth of amber and cosmic white woods, leaving a lingering, phosphorescent trail that feels wrapped in celestial comfort.

£85 for 30ml eau de parfum mabelleorama.com

 

 

 

 

Penhaligon’s Luna

Luna is an homage to the bright, dappled beauty of moonlight – as seductive as it is soft. This fragrant ode to the Moon Goddess opens with a radiant burst of lemon and bergamot, balanced by a glowing heart of jasmine, rose and the crisp glint of juniper berry. The tranquil base of fir balsam, ambergris, and musk envelops you like the silvery caress of midnight air.

£85 for 30ml eau de toilette penhaligons.com

 

 

 

 

Van Cleef & Arpels Moonlight Patchouli

Patchouli is the central thread here, but illuminated by the moon it becomes a study in shadow and light. Powdery iris accentuates the interplay of darkness and radiance, while Bulgarian rose blooms in the heart, joined by the mysterious embrace of suede. Cacao and berries snuffle beneath patchouli’s earthiness, adding depth to a composition that feels both cool and nurturing – like moonbeams dappling a forest floor.

£164 for 75ml eau de parfum harrods.com

 

 

 

 

Affordable niche Fragrance

Soki London Artemis

The goddess Artemis guides us to the moon through a grove shimmering with silver. This lit-from-within woody creation begins with juicy peach, nectarine and plum, capturing the magic of moonlit fruit suspended in the air. Osmanthus glimmers at the heart alongside verdant green leaves, all resting on a base of sandalwood and cedar – so smooth, it feels like starlight on the skin. Wear this to channel your inner moon deity, ready for enchantment with every spritz.

£79 for 50ml eau de parfum theperfumeshop.com

 

 

 

 

 

Maison Crivelli Tubéreuse Astrale 

Imagine tuberose, that queen of the night, unfurling beneath an endless expanse of stars. Tubéreuse Astrale conjures a landscape where powdery tuberose gleams alongside the soft touch of suede, resulting in a sparkling yet comforting scent. Every breath feels like inhaling the moon’s pale aura – somewhere between a silvery sigh and a velvet cloak of stars.

£205 for 50ml extrait de parfum harveynichols.com

 

 

 

 

So, whether you’re pulling on your warmest jumper for an autumn moon walk, or simply longing for the mystery and magic that only moonlight can inspire, these scents prove you don’t need a calendar or costume to surrender to lunar inspiration. And next time someone asks what you’re wearing, just tell them: it’s the scent of moonbeams, darling! Then let them wonder in your scented trail of stardust…

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale

Magical-feeling herbal scents – for ‘spooky season’ & beyond…

Magical herbs have been woven into the fabric of folklore and perfumery for centuries, their aromatic qualities inspiring legends of healing, protection and enchantment. In ancient times, thyme and sage were heaped on embers to ward off evil, mint was tucked under pillows to bring dreams of prosperity, and basil was treasured as a sacred plant believed to open pathways to other realms.

 

What better time to reach for one of these herb-infused fragrant brews, then? Let’s delve deeper…

As autumn’s chill descends and shadows stretch longer, it’s instinctive to reach for perfumes filled with spiced warmth and comforting woodiness. Yet, herbaceous notes offer something altogether different — a spell of frosted clarity and grounding joy that feels especially magical to wear in colder months.​​

 

 

 

 

In fragrance, herbs don’t only serve to add a fresh-green twist of crunchy verdancy; these botanicals can conjure an olfactory alchemy, transforming the wearer’s mood and imbuing each composition with nuanced complexity. Layered with citrus, verdant moss, vetiver or crystalline woods, aromatic herbs lend both brightness and depth — a whisper of forgotten secrets or the cool breath of wild air. Wearing such scents in autumn and winter reveals their shifting personality as they warm and evolve on the skin, weaving a memorably evocative spell around the wearer.​​

Let’s explore some of the most magical-feeling herbaceous perfumes for spooky season and beyond, each harnessing a different botanical and its ancient mystique.

 

 

Bottle of About Thyme fragrance by Thursday Fragrances

 

Thursday Fragrance About Thyme

Centred around the luminous, grassy-green note of thyme, this fragrance feels like a walk through a sun-warmed Mediterranean herb garden. Lemon and bergamot bring sparkling vitality, lifted further by a soft touch of lavender and grounded by vetiver, sandalwood and tonka. Thyme itself is fraught with mythical resonance — once strewn in Greek temples for courage, it still carries an air of uplifting clarity and protection. Wearing About Thyme is like anointing oneself in sunlight and fresh mountain air; the herb spirals up from the skin, dry and bright, revealing undertones of woody cosiness as the temperature drops.​​

Try a sample in the Thursday Fragrance Discovery Set £20 for 3 x 2ml of their eaux de parfums in the Shop

 

 

 

30ml bottle of Innocent by Argentum

ARgENTUM Innocent

This gentle breeze of minty herbs, tropical basil and clary sage is sensorially swirled with bright green apple and topped with a squeeze of lemon. Basil stands at the symbolic heart here: revered since antiquity for its supposed magical power to keep evil at bay, it brings a playful, almost effervescent touch alongside sage’s wisdom and cleansing energy. The dry-down reveals plush layers of sandalwood and ambrette, allowing those green herbal nuances to pulse with quiet warmth. This is modern alchemy – an uplifting, micro-biome friendly composition that feels like catching a bracing breeze in a bottle.​​

£78 for 30ml eau de parfum in the shop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4160 Tuesdays Paris 1948

A classic chypre, Paris 1948 opens with soft sprays of peach, grapefruit and an elegantly herb-y peculiarity that may perplex at first but will surely entrance vintage fragrance fans. The basil adds crisp coolness, threading through velvety roses, cedarwood and honeyed orange blossom with a green glamour. Chypre afficionados will especially revel in its mossy, musky base of oakmoss, hay and labdanum. Taken together, these notes evoke deep autumn woods, with basil’s magical legacy lending a sense of wisdom and mysterious provocation beneath the plush fruits and florals.​​

Currently £48 for 50ml eau de parfum 4160tuesdays.com

 

 

 

 

 

To the Fairest Élan Vital

This verdant, grounding fragrance spins a tapestry of vetiver, oakmoss, patchouli and white nettle. Nettle is the hidden magic here – a plant still brewed for nourishing soups and once used in spells to promote strength and resilience. As the scent settles on skin, it unfurls the earthy depths of moss, golden leaves, and gently smoky patchouli, evoking a woodland sanctuary where the line between wild reality and enchanted dream is blurred. Wearing Élan Vital is like donning a leafy cloak, its green notes whispering of ancient forests and unfaltering steadiness.​​

£85 for 50ml eau de parfum tothefairest.com

 

 

 

 

Roos & Roos Globulos

The mystical energy of eucalyptus is at the core of Globulus, its camphoraceous mintiness lending a crisp whoosh of invigorating freshness. Eucalyptus globulus (hence the odd name!) was long believed in folklore to banish bad spirits and “clear the air.” Here it combines with sparkling green cardamom, torn mint leaves, sage, and a crystalline moss base for a fragrance that feels like breathing winter dawn from your own skin. There’s both frosted clarity and a clean, modern grounding to this composition – perfect for those who crave purity with a spellbinding twist.​​

£119 for 100ml eau de parfum thefragranceshop.com

 

 

 

 

In these darkest, most bewitching days of the year, perfume can conjur a very modern kind of alchemy, where one drop can wrap you in forest shadows, or illuminate your soul with the power of herbs. For those seeking more than ordinary cosiness, these herbaceous scents promise a subtle, magical transformation. Why not let their spell weave around you this ‘spooky season’ and beyond…?

 

Written by Suzy Nightingale