‘Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you.’ A rhyme whispered in Valentine’s cards for centuries; though here at The Perfume Society, our hearts beat faster for the bloom as used in perfumery (obvs). Far from mere rhyming fodder, violets have unfurled their powdery, beguiling petals through fragrance history, leaving a trail of powdery romance and perfumed intrigue in their wake…
Imagine ancient garlands of violets crowning heads to ward off headaches, or Athenian revellers sipping violet-scented wine – a floral remedy turned indulgence. These delicate flowers, symbols of fertility and fragility, have been surrendering their essence to perfumers since Arab alchemists first coaxed their scent into oils. Yet it was Napoleon’s rose-tinted devotion that truly cemented their legacy. His wife, Empress Marie Louise Bonaparte, nurtured a violet-growing empire in Parma, where the air still hums with Viola Odorata’s purple whispers. [Psst: Read our fascinating spritz through fragrant history for many more such anecdotes…]
Modern noses know violet as a soft, powdered kiss – a cousin to iris, but with a sugar-dusted femininity. Yet that tender bloom in your perfume? Likely conjured by alchemy. In 1893, chemists unlocked the secret of ionones, the aroma molecules that make violets sing. Today, these synthetics dance through fragrances like invisible ballerinas, adding raspberry-tinged woods or dewy sweetness.
But perfumers tread carefully: too much, and the nose grows numb, lost in a violet fog. As a perfumer on the fascinating blog Alchemologie, in an article about creating a natural violet accord reports, ‘Alpha ionone [natural molecules which produce the smell in a violet] is a tricky substance to work with. It awards the sniffer with a temporary anosmia after one or two whiffs… particularly difficult as you have to take constant breaks to allow your nose to catch up.’ As the feature suggests, it’s another take on the phrase ‘shrinking violet’!
From ancient crowns to molecular magic, violets remain the shy seducers of perfumery – petals dipped in nostalgia, yet forever blooming anew. Perfect for February, when love stories old and new can linger fragrantly in the frosty air… So, why not try these violet-tinged scents and see which you fall for?
Guerlain Insolence
An audacious violet, Insolence is a love letter to valour. Berries and orange blossom dance with an unapologetic violet, creating a powdery whirlwind of femininity. This fragrance embodies the spirit of uncompromising passion, leaving a trail of sweet rebellion in its wake.
A modern floral symphony, Palatine showcases violet as a contemporary muse. Opening with crisp mandarin, bergamot, and pear, it unfurls to reveal a daring violet petal at its heart. The scent settles into a velvety embrace of musk and creamy sandalwood, instilling confidence and freedom with every spritz.
A desert mirage in a bottle, Mojave Ghost captures the ethereal beauty of rare blossoms in arid landscapes. Powdery violet mingles with delicate magnolia and sandalwood, while musky ambrette and crisp cedar provide an earthy foundation. This genderless scent evokes the raw spirit of wilderness, leaving a graceful, lingering sillage on the skin.
A regal bouquet fit for a queen, The Favourite weaves violet into a tapestry of sophistication. Iris and musk greet with a darling smile, while sandalwood provides a majestic stage. This fragrance tells a story of power and elegance, with violet playing a supporting role in a court of floral intrigue.
A playful homage to vintage glamour, Lipstick Fever flirts with violet’s classic charm. Iris absolute and raspberry notes evoke the waxy sweetness of a freshly applied lipstick, while patchouli and vanilla add depth and sensuality. This scent is a cheeky wink to femininity, bottling the essence of a perfectly made-up pout.
The Perfume Society’s Luxurious Discovery Box is a gorgeously curated gift idea, bringing together an incredible line-up of samples from niche and luxury houses, and featuring a huge variety of luxury, niche houses and hidden gems just waiting to be discovered by whomever is lucky enough to receive it. And listen, maybe that person deserves to be YOU…
We think the Luxurious Discovery Box really is perfect gift for any occasion, but especially for a loved one – and if you’re feeling particularly generous, why not include an I.O.U. ‘voucher’ promising to purchase the full size of their favourite? The only snag with that brilliant idea? There are so many fabulous fragrances included in this box that your recipient is likely to fall head over heels for several!
Remember, February isn’t just for romantic partners. This Luxurious Discovery Box makes a thoughtful gift for a best friend at ANY time, or for someone who’s been through a tough time and deserves a gorgeous treat; or indeed, as we say, a spot of scented self-care for yourself, maybe?
The Luxurious Discovery Box: Just £35 (£31 + P&P for VIPs) for sixteen samples from FIFTEEN fragrance houses!
Memoize London’s Aurora (2ml extrait de parfum ) is a captivating journey that begins with a fascinating marine quality, swiftly followed by a fruity medley of pineapple and tangy rhubarb. As it evolves, a luxuriously smooth jasmine emerges, before settling on a base that combines delicious amber and noble sandalwood. The result? A fragrance that’s both graceful and enchanting, perfect for those seeking a scent that’s truly memorable.
For lovers of opulent aromas, BDK Parfums’ Vanille Leather(2ml eau de parfum) is a must-try. Dominique Ropion has crafted a masterpiece, dressing up a leather accord with a bouquet of white flowers – honeyed tuberose, sweet jasmine, and carnal orange blossom. The addition of earthy patchouli and oakwood lends an almost dark chocolate quality to the scent. With breakout notes of pink peppercorn and powdery orris, all wrapped up in Madagascan vanilla, it’s Luxurious Discovery personified.
Molton Brown’s Mesmerising Oudh Accord & Gold (1.5ml eau de parfum) is where “Luxurious” transforms into a gilded, glittering dream. Opening with sharp notes of black pepper, cardamom, and bergamot, it broadens to reveal precious saffron and black tea. A wash of rose welcomes the star of the scent – a resinous base of oud and leathery styrax, accompanied by a honeyed tobacco quality. It’s the ideal party perfume, guaranteed to turn heads.
Mastenbroek’s London Dusk (2ml eau de parfum) is a playful yet sophisticated scent that captures the essence of London from twilight till dawn. It opens with an innocent blend of coconut and fig, supported by sparkling water notes. As it develops, a carefully measured saffron and incense provide a golden smokiness, hinting at distant parties and morning mist. The dry down reveals an earthy vetiver mixed with sweetened sandalwood, beautifully capturing the transition from night to day.
Suave by Brioni(1.8ml eau de parfum) lives up to its name with a charming, confident, and elegant composition. The fragrance opens with vibrant pink pepper and tart mandarin, complemented by piercing galbanum. It then weaves down to earthy vetiver and smooth leather, before settling on a resinous amber and sandalwood base with a hint of oud. It’s the perfect scent to accompany the snappiest suit.
The legendary Aventus by Creed(2ml eau de parfum) needs little introduction. This bestseller opens with a disarming pineapple note, developing through resinous birch and floral jasmine, before settling on an earthy oakmoss and animalic ambergris base. A modern classic that continues to captivate fragrance enthusiasts worldwide.
Goldfield & Banks’ Mystic Bliss (2ml eau de parfum) is an olfactory interpretation of the Southern Lights. It opens with a pairing of fig and cassis, shot through with green cardamom and clary sage. The heart features a recreation of the native kunzea flower, adding an aromatic purple hue. As the scent evolves, a restless incense appears along with a sweetened amber accord, creating a truly mystical and mesmerising experience.
Parfums de Marly’s Valaya (1.5ml eau de parfum) is a study in delicate radiance and scented contrasts. Effervescent notes of white peach and bergamot dance with lily of the valley, creating a veil of scent that drapes effortlessly on the skin. A touch of dry vetiver provides contrast, while orange blossom adds a weightier floral quality. The final touch of patchouli and a whisper of oud ensure this is a keeper.
Maison Crivelli’s Oud Stallion (1.5ml extrait de parfum) offers an unexpected take on equestrian-inspired scents. Warm spicy saffron and cardamom are swiftly joined by a leather and oud pairing, creating a lasting sensual intensity. The addition of Turkish rose adds a genderless quality, while cedarwood lends a pleasing dryness to the composition.
Edeniste’s Oud Ghazal presents a grown-up interpretation of cherry notes. The opening features a black cherry accord reminiscent of Black Forest gateau, balanced by an arresting pepperiness. As it develops, oud emerges alongside a cognac note, before a bold labdanum makes its presence known. A final touch of earthy vetiver adds surprising brightness, delivering on the promise of a ‘modern gourmet oud’.
Oman Luxury’s Paramour (2ml eau de parfum) is a racy blend that proves it’s good to be bad sometimes. A fruity citrus opening of raspberry and grapefruit is complemented by an erotic floral blend. The deeper notes reveal a sensuous sweetness thanks to caramel and tonka bean, while patchouli provides an anchoring darkness that satisfies the senses.
Ormonde Jayne’s Muscat, (2ml eau de parfum) evoking the port and its surroundings, is a celebration of discovery. Golden saffron, spicy cinnamon, and deep rose absolute are cleverly blended with earthy oakmoss and green cardamom, creating a vibrant rather than heavy oud accord. A touch of ceremonial sweetened frankincense adds just the right amount of seduction.
The Merchant of Venice’s Gold Regatta, (2ml eau de parfum) inspired by the Regata Storica in Venice, opens with a fig and seaweed accord that focuses on textural saltiness. This leads to honeyed immortelle and a driftwood effect, before revealing a sweetened amber base. It’s like a mini-vacation in a bottle.
Lacoste Original (2ml eau de parfum) offers a modern interpretation of the brand’s legacy. This bright fougère opens with pink pepper and bergamot, leading to a vibrant heart of lavender and clary sage that’s reminiscent of crisply ironed polo shirts. The base of earthy patchouli and smooth sandalwood completes this sophisticated fragrance.
Officine Universelle BulyEau Triple Fragrance (9ml eau de parfum ~ Note that you will receive one fragrance from the La Douzaine Parfumée collection) offers a selection of their Eaux Triples – one of the following will be selected as a scented surprise in each Luxurious Discovery Box; and each represents a unique olfactory journey. From the sumptuous sandalwood and cardamom of Al Kassir to the fruity, green, frosty notes of Kiso Yuzu, there’s a scent here for every mood and occasion. You will receive one fragrance (in a generous 9ml travel size!) from this selection:
AL KASSIR: A sumptuous fragrance, with hints of sandalwood perked up by geranium and cardamom.
BERKANE ORANGE BLOSSOM: A bewitching armful of fresh orange blossom and leaves.
KOMI FOREST: Russia and its pine trees after the rain, with woody, mineral accords.
PERUVIAN HELIOTROPE: A romantic bouquet of white flowers, Tonka bean, and violets.
SCOTTISH LICHEN: The irresistibly green scent of the Highlands, bewitched with sage, galbanum, and patchouli.
MAKASSAR: An intense oriental blend of woody iris, amber, and blond tobacco.
ENGLISH HONEY: The waxy, powdery scent of honey, musk and cedarwood.
MEDINA OUD: A mystical fragrance, crafted with accords of agarwood, rose, saffron, and amber.
DAMASK ROSE: A magnificent bunch of roses, spiced with ginger and vetiver.
SUMI HINOKI: A deep note of smoked Hinoki wood, cypress, and incense.
MEXICAN TUBEROSE: Tuberose at its best, where white flowers are highlighted with vanilla, clove, and musk.
KISO YUZU: A fruity, green, frosty fragrance with yuzu citrus, mint and Japanese laurel.
Finally, another extra special treat from Officine Universelle Buly Pommade Concrete(10ml) – a glorious hand and foot cream true that’s the epitome of a Luxurious gift. With its rich shea butter base and nourishing blend of natural ingredients, it leaves skin silky-smooth and delicately scented with soothing camomile, making it the perfect indulgence for tired hands and feet that need a bit of nurturing.
As you can see – and soon, will be able to smell – this Luxurious Discovery Boxtruly is a treasure trove of olfactory delights. Whether you’re a seasoned fragrance aficionado or just beginning your scent journey, there’s something here for every taste and mood to captivate and inspire. So go ahead, indulge in a little luxury – your favourite people (and you) deserve it!
National Dress in Red Day is here, and this time we’re leaning in to the theme. Fragrantly, of course!
Yes, we get it, National Dress in Red Day might sound like a hashtag-friendly gimmick, but in fact it commemorates an important day to raise awareness for heart disease. But how about taking this theme further, in a fragrantly theatrical vibe?
At The Perfume Society, we’ve long believed fragrance is the ultimate accessory – an invisible mood board – so why not let your outfit play co-star and make your scent see-able?
Suddenly, a crimson silk slip worn beneath a leather jacket isn’t just fabric; it’s an olfactory amplifier for that resinous, smoky oudh, and the nuanced textures within. A scarlet pashmina doubles as a sartorial echo of rose absolute’s velvety warmth. Your wardrobe can become a perfumed playground.
Red’s allure is primal: the flush of desire, the warning of danger, the pulse of life itself. It’s no wonder perfumers harness the symbolism of the colour red – in juice tinted like crushed berries, bottles and glossy packaging glowing like embers, or names evoking passion’s flame. Red fragrances aren’t shy – they’re declarations. Here’s how to wear seven of our scarlet-themed faves…
Coach Love
Strawberry gloss meets rose-laced optimism. Playful, juicy, and unapologetically pretty – like twirling in a red polka-dot dress with a heart-shaped clutch.
Blackcurrant’s dark gleam, flaming roses, and vanilla’s creamy resolve. Power-dressing in a bottle – suits optional. Say YES to this confidence-boosting red scent!
Red thyme’s peppery crackle, vetiver’s smoky trail. For sharp tailoring (worn with sunglasses, no matter the weather, we reckon) and sharper comebacks.
So – will you join the red regiment on February 7th? Or (better yet) borrow its audacity year-round? After all, we’ve had enough of grey weather, and life’s too short for ‘beige’ days.
We’re reclaiming February for Galentine’s. Forget heart-shaped helium balloons and overpriced prix-fixe menus at Valentine’s – instead, we’re celebrating the real loves of our lives: our ride-or-die squad. The ones who’ve seen us through questionable haircuts, and dating disasters. This isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about leaning into the joy of connection, laughter, and the deliciously niche hobby we all share:
Obsessing over perfume.
Yes! Picture this: a cosy night in (pyjama dress code: mandatory) with your inner circle, a spread of indulgent snacks, a glass of something fizzy, and a treasure trove of perfume vials contained in a Discovery Box, begging to be explored.
No, we’re not talking about decanting your existing collection – though that is a noble pursuit. Imagine instead unboxing a ready-to-sniff, specially curated selection of olfactory surprises, from avant-garde niche, through luxury glam, designer names and reimagined classics; each scent begging to spark a ‘Wait, this smells like…’ moment.
Long-Distance Love-In
Geography got you down? Transform your screens into scent teleporters. Coordinate delivery dates for your Discovery Box parcels (let’s call it ‘synced scent shopping’), then hit ‘join meeting’ with cocktails in hand. Play scent-themed charades or collaborate on a shared spreadsheet ranking each fragrance’s date-ability (‘Would swipe right… but only for a jazz bar rendezvous’).
The Rules? There Are None (Except Maybe ‘No Spoilers’)
Blindfold optional, but highly encouraged! Take turns spritzing mystery scents onto blotters (or wrists, for the brave). Does No. 3 evoke 80s power shoulder pads and a Chaka Khan bassline? Is No. 7 the olfactory equivalent of a velvet smoking jacket lounging in a Soho members’ club? Was No. 9 a flashback to a holiday romance? Award bonus points for the most outlandish analogies – the goal is to laugh until your cheeks ache, not critique accords like sommeliers.
Beyond the Bottle
The magic lies not necessarily in finding your signature scent (though that’s a happy bonus), but in the shared experience of discovery. That gasp when a smoky vanilla transforms into something inexplicably nostalgic. The collective ‘No. Way.’ as a leather-bound fragrance conjures memories of that ill-advised ex, but later. These moments become inside jokes, secret handshakes in fragrant form.
So, ditch the romantic relationship schmaltz and embrace the deeply personal joy of exploring fragrance with your fiercest allies. After all, nothing says ‘I adore you’ quite like debating whether a tuberose-forward perfume deserves to scent a heist movie montage [that fragrance definitely exists, btw: try Sarah Baker Flame & Fortune! ]
Let’s incorporate the following fabulous Discovery Boxes into our Galentine’s celebrations – click on the links for full contents, and descriptions of each fragrance in the box. Meanwhile, here’s some ideas for how you can use each box to create an unforgettable fragrant fiesta…
This box is perfect for a night of olfactory daydreaming and storytelling, and sharing secrets kept within your closest fragrant friends group.
Scent-sational Storytelling: Have each friend choose a fragrance and craft a short story or scenario inspired by it. Is Montblanc Explorer Ultra Blue the scent of a daring deep-sea adventure? Does Maya Njie Tobak evoke memories of a cosy fireside chat?
Fragrance Charades: Act out the ‘fantasy’ each scent represents without words. Watch your mates giggle as they try to guess if you’re scaling a mountain (D’otto 1+7) or starring in a scandalous drama (Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal Pour Homme).
Hand Cream Pampering: End the night with a relaxing hand massage using the Yardley London English Rose hand cream, chatting about your favourite scents from the evening.
This box screams opulence – perfect for a night of perfumed poshness, pampering, and olfactory indulgence!
Luxury Scent Bingo: Create bingo cards with fragrance notes commonly found in luxury perfumes (oud, leather, gold, etc.). As you sample each scent, mark off the notes you detect. First to ‘bingo’ wins the sample of their favourite!
Perfume Personality Quiz: Develop a quiz that matches each luxurious fragrance to a celebrity or character. Is Creed Aventus the James Bond of scents? Does Molton Brown Mesmerising Oudh Accord and Gold remind you of a glittering Hollywood starlet?
DIY Spa Experience: Use the Officine Universelle Buly Pommade Concrete to give each other posh hand massages while discussing which scent made you feel like royalty.
This diverse box is ideal for a variety of Galentine’s fun, fragrant games, and to ease your way in to exploring scents beyond that usual ‘signature’.
Blind Date with a Scent: Wrap each sample and have friends ‘speed date’ the fragrances, jotting down first impressions. Would they swipe right on Micheal Kors Gorgeous or Lalique Soleil?
Yardley London Flowerful Bouquet Building: Using the five Yardley London samples, challenge your friends to layer and create their own unique ‘bouquet’. Vote on the most creative combination!
Scent-sory Journey: For each fragrance, have everyone close their eyes and describe the place, time, or memory it evokes. Does Floral Street Sunflower Pop transport you to a summer festival? Does Argentum Become remind you of a private members club at a spa retreat?
Grand Finale: The Ultimate Mix & Match
If you decide to really make a night of it and go for all three boxes (lovely Hen Night activity, or birthday bash idea, we’re also thinking), try combining samples from all three boxes for these final activities…
Signature Scent Creation: Let each friend create their own ‘signature scent’ for Galentine’s, by layering their favourites from the night. Name these bespoke blends after inside jokes or shared memories.
Fragrance Awards Ceremony: Host a light-hearted awards show, with categories like ‘Most Likely to Seduce a Celebrity’, ‘Best First Date Fragrance’, or ‘Scent I’d Wear to Take Over the World’.
Remember, the heart of this perfume party is celebrating friendship. These activities aren’t merely about finding the ‘best’ perfume for you, but about creating memories, having a laugh, and appreciating the unique tastes of your cherished circle.
And of course these perfume parties don’t have be for Galentine’s (or whatever you like to call it these days): they can be for any night you fancy a fragrant gathering of besties. So, spritz, sniff, and let the giggles flow as freely as the perfumes you try, in whichever Discovery Boxes you plump for!
Ah, roses and Valentine’s Day – a duo that’s become so synonymous as to be practically cliché, but we at The Perfume Society believe there’s a rose scent for every fragrance lover (no matter their taste, gender or age), and a fragrance lover for every rose. Even if you think you hate roses, we urge you to try the rosy recommendations that follow and reconsider, because rose is used in a HUGE variety of fragrances, even if you’re not overtly aware of its presence.
Indeed, contemporary fragrance houses are using rose in fascinating and exciting ways that might just change your mind. But before you dismiss this bloom as mere romantic cliché, let’s embark on an olfactory adventure that might just revolutionise your perception of the rose in perfumery.
Imagine, if you will, a world where roses aren’t just roses. They’re not confined to cellophane-wrapped bouquets or saccharine greeting cards. These roses are chameleons, shapeshifters, the unexpected guests at life’s grand soirée. And what’s more, they’re in most fragrances, even when you don’t realise it, playing supporting roles or stealing the spotlight.
And today’s perfumers? They’re treating roses like blank canvases, creating diversely characterful scent profiles that would make even the most jaded nose do a double-take.
Let’s mingle with these fragrant personalities, shall we? And while we explore them, consider which rose scent might be the kind of person you’d gravitate towards, or perhaps want to be, yourself…
First up, we have Molton Brown’s Rose Dunes – the romantic, nomadic traveller of the bunch. This rose has been traversing golden sands, warm and velvety, opulent and mysterious, with a whisper of saffron and the lingering scent of oudh smoke. There’s a hint of leather too – perhaps from the vintage convertible it cruises around in.
Now, meet Diptyque’s Rose Roche – the stoic adventurer. This has classical touches but certainly isn’t an old-fashioned rose; it’s a desert bloom which appears delicate but has great determination. There’s a mineral freshness here, with a clear, lemon-fresh focus amidst the green fruitiness of centifolia rose, grounded with tranquil and lightly-handled patchouli.
Ella K’s Rose de Pushkar is the spiritual guru of our rosy gathering. Can you sense the whisper of ancient wisdom? This rose is draped in saffron robes, trailing incense smoke, equally at home in a bustling market or a serene ashram. Armfuls of roses swirl amidst oudh, sandalwood, patchouli and white cedar. It’s fruity and fun, bursting with colour and vibrancy, but utterly Zen at heart: the friend who always knows just what to say to soothe your soul.
But perhaps you prefer your companions with a bit more edge? Enter Atelier Materi’s Rose Ardoise – the urban artist. This rose wears leather jackets and hangs out in underground clubs. It’s got a coolness, a metallic sheen that reflects the neon of city nights. It’s the friend who always knows the coolest new spot in town, instantly puts everyone at their ease, and charms their way through life, adding spice to every gathering, gorgeously.
Need someone to brighten your day? Goutal’s Rose Pompon is your perpetual optimist. This is the scent of someone who greets each morning with a smile, who finds joy in the simplest things, like dew sparkling on cobwebs, and frolicking in rose petals. Wrapped in fluffy musk at the base, both Bulgarian and the powdery, honied Taif rose are entwined in companionship, and the whole scent is an ode to joy.
And finally, we have Ojar’s Red Redemption – the comforting confidant. If roses could bake, this would be the result. It’s a rose dipped in honey, rolled in wood shavings, and served with a side of empathy. It’s the olfactory equivalent of that friend who always has a shoulder to cry on and a batch of freshly baked cookies at the ready.
So there you have it – a rosy repertoire that defies expectation. From sun-worshipping beach bums to serene spiritual guides, from edgy artists to eternal optimists, there’s a rosy character waiting to make your acquaintance. And who knows? You might just find your new best friend or alter-ego in a bottle. Because in the end, isn’t that what perfume is all about? Not just smelling good but discovering new facets of yourself with every fragrant spritz.
That’s why rose really can meet your every need – a rosy romance that could bloom when you try one of these beauties, and last for life…
Why not show some self-care this Valentine’s (or whenever, just because)? We spend so long thinking of others, and yes ’tis the season for romance etc etc; but maybe you’re done with the oodles of over-priced single roses, have already given loved ones lots, or simply aren’t in (or into) romantic relationships right now?
Well we’re with you, and happen to think you deserve to treat yourself for a change. So, have a browse and decide which of these you like the sound of, then fall back in love with yourself with some of these scents… (Okay, okay – you can treat someone else, too, if you really want; but you know what they say? Self care isn’t selfish, so make sure you do you, first).
Co-founders Sarah Blair and Jeffrey Darling created Map of the Heart – award-winning fragrances that come from a passion for telling stories and their understanding that scent can transport the wearer in a split second. Proudly Australian, each fragrance by perfumer Jaques Huclier has a seam of sandalwood at its core, and it throbs life through the perfumed pulse of this niche house’s scents, using indigenously and sustainably sourced Santalum spicatum. Understanding that scent can transport the wearer just as words, images and films can whisk us to another world – this set showcases their wearable art forms, and is a wonderful gift for the artistic travellers who deserve some new adventures to explore.
Molton Brown are right on the trend (as always) of grown-up versions of good-enough-to-eat fragrances, here 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!
edeniste Love Lifeboost™ £68 for 30ml eau de parfum
We adore the description the house give this scents, saying it’s ‘A gesture of scented self-care that twists the traditional ideals of love into a new and meaningful ritual of confidence, compassion and generosity, to oneself and to others.’ And it’s not just words – edeniste back up every claim of the way their fragrances make you feel with extensive research. Having worked with top neuroscientists to prove the efficacy of the way our brains react to the scents, this new addition couldn’t be more timely. Ripe cherries, green leaves, radiant jasmine and tuberose with a duo of roses feel like a wearable giggle of delight, the smooth, woody dry down a hug that keeps going.
Oh, this wisteria’s as lush and beautiful as an idyllic cottage, the kind where those stunning flowers have scampered up and settled en-masse, garlanded so stunningly as to make you gasp. Says Cassandra Hall, the vivacious founder of the house: ‘We have a long history with wisteria, from the flower-festooned walls in Granada on our first wedding anniversary to the wisteria we tried to grow in a pot next to our front door in England. But now (finally!) we have it growing abundantly in our garden here in Spain and it’s a divine scent that says ‘home’ to us. Wisteria is a stunning, one-of-a-kind fragrance anywhere, but when it’s flowering in pure mountain air, the beauty of its perfume is life-affirming.’ Affirm your life now by burning this beautiful candle, and lightening even the greyest of days!
We can just imagine the fun that Givaudan’s Sonia Constant and Quentin Bisch – a most mischievous creative pairing – got up to here, fully intending to lead us into temptation, casting an olfactory spell via a succulent, sensual cocktail of vanilla, pear, almond, belladonna, musk, bergamot and roasted tonka, which dance around each other like nothing so much as naughty nymphs. Having smelled this sample we think you might succumb to the full-sized rose-bedecked bottle, but you’ll definitely agree it’s 100% fun. This is for those of us who like to kick up their heels (even if it’s just a kitchen disco), so let your hair down and live it up with La Belle!
Valentines Day – love it or loathe it – is just around the corner, and it’s still the day that generates the most fragrance sales, peaking at 42% of all prestige beauty products sold. So if you’re thinking of splashing out on a fragrance for your significant other, follow our guide to ensure a scented success…
If you just have no idea where to start
Don’t panic and just buy something random! The best idea is to get a curated Discovery Box of fabulous mini sizes and samples from a wide range of fragrance houses, that way they can start exploring and trying them all in the comfort of their own home, and most importantly, in their own time. Each box is carefully put together to include something for all tastes – so they’re bound to fall for one of them.
Once they’ve found ‘the one’ (or perhaps several) you can then buy a full size later, safe in the knowledge they’ve already fallen for it.
If you already know what they love (and they don’t want to change)
Great! But instead of buying just another bottle, why not have a look at matching products available, such as a gorgeously decadent bath oil, rich body cream or even a fragranced hair mist. It’s often possible to find travel-size versions of perfumes at this time of year, and if you really wanted to push the boat out – how wonderful it would be to book a couple of nights in a nice hotel or day spa trip, and add the ticket to the box of mini sizes in a golden envelope! (Well, we can dream…)
If you already know what they love (and they DO fancy a change)
This is a fantastic starting point, now all you need to do is type the name of that scent into our genius Fragrance Finder, and the clever algorithm – based on information we source directly from the fragrance houses and perfumers themselves – will suggest six new fragrances that, while different from the original you typed, share a similar mood, character or key ingredients.It really works!
If you’ve an idea of fragrances they like, but aren’t sure which they have
A ‘selection box’ of scents showcasing a range of fragrances from the same house is your best option, here. Brand Boxes give you breathing room if they happen to have already got one of them, but haven’t yet explored the rest of their range. It’s a brilliant way to ensure they’ll love such a thoughtful gift, while encouraging them to smell their way through others they perhaps wouldn’t have thought about trying!
Just-launched, this Dream Scents Discovery Box is SO perfect for right now. Not only because love is in the air, and this collection would make a wonderful gift for someone you adore; but because we’ve especially curated these scents to encourage you to escape via fragrant fantasies…
We know that times have been tough for so many, and continuing uncertainties make everything feel less than secure. We also know for a fact that fragrance can help. Smelling wonderful is not merely some frivolity – connecting to scent and allowing your imagination to take flight genuinely helps. There’s a reason that fragrance sales soared worldwide during lockdowns. Which of your loved ones would be most thrilled to receive this incredible collection of niche, new and hard-to-find scents, we wonder?
Intentions, resolutions, promises, fantasies — whichever form they come in, dreams and aspirations are never more achievable — not to mention more necessary — than now. So here at PSHQ we’re hoping to help you capitalise on this with our new Dream Scents collection of fragrances. From dreaming of new beginnings to far-flung destinations that house exotic ingredients to finding new levels of confidence, we hope these scents help to unlock the power of dreaming for each and every one of you.
Watch the unboxingon our IGTV channel, and revel in your own fragrant flights of fancy while wondering who to send this to… We suggest if you’re having it sent as a valentines gift, it’s best to order by February 10th to ensure it gets there on the big day.
The Dream Scents Discovery Box is priced £24 + p&p* to VIP Club Members & £27 + p&p to everyone else – be sure to log into your account to take advantage of the special VIP Club price. Inside, you’ll find this amazing line-up of niche scents we know your inteneded recipient will fall in love with.
In fact, don’t you deserve a box, too…?
Juliette Has A Gun Lipstick Fever5ml eau de parfum
Juicy raspberry greets us, tempting us to take a bite, followed by an almost-edible violet note, whose powdery virtues are swiftly compounded by the arrival of softest iris. Patchouli and vanilla then finish the fragrance off with a voluptuous, gourmand quality that whispers of the woman who wears this fragrance – a seductive and worldly Parisienne who knows precisely what she wants.
Creed Spring Flower 2ml eau de parfum
Vibrant fresh green notes combined with succulent fruits including peach, apricot, melon and apple shimmer over an exquisite floral heart of jasmine and rose. A subtle musk base provides just the right note of playful sensuality.
Maison Francis KurkdjianGentle Fluidity Gold Edition5ml eau de parfum
The dominant impression in this gender-fluid creation is of silky- smooth Chantilly cream, whipped with a sprinkling of spicy nutmeg to add a tingle of heat to the sublimely lingering amber of the dry-down.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Gentle Fluidity Silver Edition5ml eau de parfum
Marrying nutmeg to amber in the top notes, a bitter berry aspect drifts from the heart, buoyed by a surprisingly floral coriander seed essence that smells of summer blossoms and sunshine, somehow. In the base we snuggle down to get musky tones – the amber smoothing the dry-down here, the vanilla delivering an irresistible sense of warm skin.
Atelier Materi Cacao Porcelana2ml eau de toilette
White cacao yields sensuous notes of walnut and milk with hints of tonka bean. After opening on sweet, syrupy top notes, Atelier Materi’s Cacao Porcelana unpacks its bitterness, sustained by powdery and woody notes. Light tobacco, patchouli and sandalwood scents give Cacao Porcelana a sensual, even fleshy signature.
Maison Crivelli Iris Malikhân1.5ml eau de parfum
This fragrance is a fusion of opposites and surprises. Resinous beginnings make us feel sure we’re going in a green direction – yes, a fresh, piney, green direction. Definitely. But what’s this? Soft-powdery orris and sweet-powdery mimosa, the green facets of mimosa making for a seamless handover. So, by the time we get to the amber-leather dry down, we’re no longer surprised at how tame the leathery note is under the mesmerising spell of perfume creator and Maison Crivelli founder, Thibaud Crivelli. Maison Crivelli Rose Saltifolia1.5ml eau de parfum
Inspired by a stroll by the sea, through a field of roses exposed to the salty sea air, Rose Saltifolia combines a delicate and very fresh Centifolia rose with silky seaweed to create a totally unprecedented gender-free perfume.
Maison Crivelli Santal Volcanique5ml eau de parfum
Spicy and explosive ginger grabs our attention, piqued with a little effervescent lime, which together ensure we’re fully engaged. Why? So that we don’t miss a second of the charred sandalwood that then comes to the fore of course, in all its smoky, milky, evocative wonderfulness.
Valentines Day – love it or loathe it – is just around the corner, and here at The Perfume Society, we believe it should be about treating someone you love with a scent that’s perfect for them(and that can be anyone you care about, not only someone you’re romantically involved with!)
Have you got a friend who could do with some kindness coming their way, or a loved one you’ve not been able to see in person for some time? Follow our guide, and we’ve several suggestions to help you find some truly fabulous fragrances that will truly suit them, and which they’re bound to fall for…
If you already know what they love
Well you’re off to a good start! Now all you need to do is type the name of that scent into our genius Find-A-Fragrance, and the clever algorithm – based on information we source directly from the fragrance houses and perfumers themselves – will suggest six new fragrances that, while different from the original you typed, share a similar mood, character or key ingredients. It really works!
Or, why not have a look at matching products available for their favourite fragrance, such as a gorgeously decadent bath oil, rich body cream or even a fragranced hair mist. It’s often possible to find travel-size versions of perfumes at this time of year, or, if you really wanted to push the boat out, many fragrance houses offer engraving or other forms of personalisation for a full-size bottle.
If you have no idea what they like (or they want to try something new)
The best idea is to get a Discovery Box of fabulous mini sizes and samples from a wide range of luxury, niche and top-end designer fragrance houses. That way they can start exploring and trying them all in the comfort of their own home, and most importantly, in their own time. Each box is carefully curated to include something for all tastes, and once they’ve found ‘the one’ (or perhaps several) you can then buy a full size, safe in the knowledge they’ve already tried it on their skin. It’s a particularly brilliant way to get people trying fragrances they’ve perhaps never heard of, or wouldn’t have thought about spraying in a shop. We know SO many people who’ve discovered their all-time scent loves this way!
How to know if a fragrance will suit them?
Think about how they dress, or the way they decorate their home – this is an excellent indication as to their character, and therefore the style of scent they probably prefer. Are there particular materials they’re drawn towards, or colours they normally go for? Fragrance, texture and colour and have many qualities in common.
Look for scents packaged in those colours – huge amounts of time and money are spent ‘matching’ the juice to the mood evoked by those hues – or described with those words, such as ‘velvety’, ‘suede’ or ‘crisp cotton’ in the notes. Or consider their interests: sporty gym types might prefer fresher scents, artistic types might prefer a more opulent aesthetic.
Once you’ve narrowed it down – either by using Find-A-Fragrance or perhaps finding them a new scent from a house they’re already drawn to – the best solution is to buy them a Brand Set: these showcase a wide selection of scents from the same house, and chances are if they already like one, they could swoon for another in that range.
Remember – scent selection isn’t always a matter of joining the dots, some people like fragrances you’d never guess at! They may even surprise themselves with their favourite. And really the best thing is that thrill of exploration while discovering their new scent love is a gift that keeps on giving (and showing how much you love them) for years to come…
There’s all manner of fragrantly themed books on our shelf of scented reading, but did you know that among the many stunning coffee-table books and more scientific, technical tomes; there are a number of romance novels and floral volumes we think you’ll fall in love with?
Spring is just around the corner, we know, but until it fully blooms we’re still somewhat in hibernation mode. So why not grab a cup of coffee or indulge yourself with hot chocolate, wrap yourself in a cosy blanket and take some time to snuggle up with one of these brilliant perfume-related books…?
The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro
This ‘richly evocative novel is a ‘secret history of scent, memory and desire’ and begins in the 1950s with newly-married socialite Grace Munroe’s life being turned upside down by the arrival of a mysterious letter, naming her as the beneficiary in the will of a woman called Eva D’Orsay. Requested to attend the offices of the lawyers handling her inheritence, the main problem is that Grace has never even heard of this woman. But her journey of discovery will lead to the heart of the perfume world, travelling to Paris and exploring the life and death of this shadowy benefactor who, it turns out, was the darling of high society in the 1920s. Traversing decadently through the decades in New York, Monte Carlo, Paris, and London, Grace discovers Eva was a famed fragrant muse, and someone who inspired one of Paris’s greatest perfumers to immortalise her in three groundbreaking fragrances. As Grace finds out more, and indulges her own senses, she will be changed forever when forced to choose between the image of what society experts of her, and who she really is…
‘I experience the world through smell – I always have.’ So begins this novel by Maggie Alderson, and we couldn’t agree more. Maggie was inspired to write this novel by spending time in our own Perfume Society office, attending launches and meeting perfumers, learning the history of perfume and developing a burning passion for it along the way. Central character, Polly, is a perfume blogger who loses herself in the world of fragrance while her own world falls to pieces around her – something many of us can empathise with. Polly, having grown up surrounded by the beautiful perfume bottles of her ultra glam (ex-model) mother, and learning to explore the world by sniffing ‘…everything!’ she is now distracting herself with, among other things, ‘Guy, the mysterious, infuriating and hugely talented perfumer.’ Completely gripping, the story of a life in crisis and wonderfully observed, it’s a perfect cosy read for anyone who also experiences the world through smell (that’ll be most of you, then!)
Any novel that contains the phrase ‘perfume is the truth’ has us whooping for joy, and in her beautiful novel, Caboni reminds us that scent has the greatest power to ignite our memories – something the main character, Elena Rossini, knows only too well. Granted a rare gift of a superior sense of smell, Elena’s passion for perfume has been passed down through generations of her family; but as this ability means painful memories about her mother are carried on the breeze, she can never truly escape her past. When a betrayal destroys her dreams, fragrant events are set in motion when Elena’s best friend invites her to Paris, and she grabs at the chance to start afresh. Searching for a composition within her family’s historic archives, Elena’s new goal becomes the replication of a secret scented recipe that nobody in her family managed to master…
