A FRESH TAKE

“The beauty of fragrance is that it speaks to your heart … and hopefully someone else’s,” said Elizabeth Taylor. The Hollywood starlet knew what she was talking about, which is why perfume has endured as one of the most potent ways to say ‘I love you’.

Scents are instant mood-lifters too, and with spring finally on the horizon, a fresh new fragrance helps us feel we’re finally entering a time for renewal. From cheer-givers to unexpected ingredients or sustainable craftsmanship they are all filled with the promise and anticipation of brighter days ahead. Whether new, or new to you, there are plenty of intoxicating fragrances on offer to herald in the new season.

Jo Malone London Red Roses

A bouquet of red roses is all very well, but how long will they bloom? Jo Malone London Roses is like a bouquet in a bottle. Beside the title flower, notes include lemon, mint, violet leaf and honeycomb, combining to form a sweet undertone for the petals, highlighting their deep scent; and a touch of green freshness for the leaves, buds and stems.

Tom Ford Costa Azzura

Dreaming of a luxury sun-soaked escape? Transport your senses via the exhilarating aroma of sea air, fresh aromatic notes, evergreens and citrus mingle with deeper woody scents — a crisp medley of cypress, oaks and aromatics. This unisex fragrance is an ideal transition scent, perfect as we welcome the warm spring days towards the end of the season and remain enticing long into the summer months.

Le Labo Rose 31

A rose for men destined to be stolen by women, Rose 31 takes the most feminine of all notes, darkens, dries and spices it up to create a veritable emblem of masculinity. Tantalisingly ambiguous, the fragrance switches between the floral and the spicy with a generous dose of the woody and the animalic thrown in to heat things up. A naughty hint of cumin in the heart of the scent is a prologue to the sensual base of oud and vetiver. Dark, dangerous and sublimely refined, this is top choice for refined tastes.

Estée Lauder Beautiful Magnolia

A hypnotic floral and green eau de parfum with notes that draw you in, from beginning to end this is a true crowd pleaser. Delicate yet powerful, its magnolia, cedarwood, and illumine musk make for a refined scent ideal for the season’s crisp first days. Undeniably spring-y, it’s an ideal choice for Mother’s Day, Valentine’s or any moment you want to celebrate femininity.

Creed Aventus For Her

Aventus For Her is the irresistible feminine counterpart to the legendary Aventus and is an olfactory celebration of strong women, making it a poignant gift for the special women in your life. This fresh/floral fragrance is inspired by some of history’s most powerful women—empresses, queens, and heads of state, who were Creed clients—as well as modern women everywhere who confidently shatter glass ceilings. Opulent and sensual, this fruity floral scent opens with accords of crisp green apple blended with fragrant pink pepper and sparkling Calabrian bergamot before blossoming into a heart of dewy rose, exotic sandalwood with an irresistible base of amber, ylang ylang and peach.

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle

Irresistibly sensual, this sparkling, bold floral-woody fragrance recalls a daring young Coco Chanel, but it’s thoroughly modern composition has a strong yet surprisingly fresh character thanks to a sensual heart of transparent accords including Grasse jasmine and May rose. The scent unfurls with the vibrant accents of patchouli and vetiver. Few can turn down a Chanel scent, and this one is just as glorious as the rest. Soft, sensual and fresh, it’s perfect for summer evenings and long sun-filled days.

Escentric Molecule + Iris

Escentric Molecules is a high concept fragrance house, with a bold minimalist approach of putting out scents composed entirely of one or two ingredients. Sounds crazy, right? But not when you smell Escentric Molecule + Iris, composed solely of aroma-chemical Iso E Super and Iris Pallida, one of perfumery’s most expensive materials. What was created as a gift for the girlfriend of the perfumer, Geza Schoen, soon turned into a global hit. There’s nothing powdery about this iris, it’s bold, airy and tenacious. Sounds like a recipe for the season ahead, no?

Armani My way

My Way was developed with sustainability in mind. Its multi-layered notes are built out from climate-conscious ingredients sourced from all over the world. A hint of bergamot from Italy’s Calabria, fused gently with orange blossom derived from Egypt. A light and feminine mix of tuberose and jasmine gives the fragrance delicate nuance at its core. These meet the scent of cedar wood sourced from Virginia, white musk, and vanilla sourced from Madagascar that rounds out the scent’s worldly-yet-elegant profile. It conjures memories of travels past, and offers promise of new ones, not to mention a future where we are free to explore the world, and ourselves, again.

MORE TO READ

You’ve thought of and just found the perfect gift, but what about those all-important date night plans? We’ve got romantic date ideas all lined up in Dinner For Two.