The Fragrance Foundation U.K. says: ‘Launched in the UK in 1990 the Jasmine Awards are recognised as the most prestigious journalistic awards in the beauty industry. They recognise and reward the talents of journalists & visualisers whose difficult task it is to translate the complex art of perfumery into words and pictures.

A new panel of judges is recruited annually and includes experts from the worlds of journalism, literature, fashion, lifestyle, PR and fragrance consultancy. The panel is chaired by an expert in the fragrance industry.’

This year, the panel was again chaired by Catherine Mitchell, and The Fragrance Foundation U.K. explains that ‘…There are two reasons Catherine Mitchell has been our Head Judge for the past six years – she is committed to raising the bar for quality and creativity and exudes more passion than anyone we know. In a career spanning three decades with International Flavours and Fragrances (IFF), a global leader in the creation of fragrance, biosciences and sensorial experiences, Catherine worked across all elements of the business, across multiple continents. She is an ardent advocate of education and communication to inspire today’s creators, consultants and consumers and ultimately unleash the next generation of talent.’

You can read all about the other esteemed judges for the 2024 panel, here. But meanwhile, we can contain our excitement no longer – here are the shortlisted finalists for each category of the awards this year (squeal!) and we’ll have to TRY be patient to discover the ultimate winners, until the glamor and scent-filled ceremony at The Fragrance Foundation Awards on May 9th!

HUGE congratulations to all the finalists, who spend months of work researching and finalising these ways of talking about fragrance and sharing the storytelling magic of scent. It truly makes us jump for joy to be amidst such company as this…

LITERARY FINALISTS:

Substack, Forest School by Alice du Parcq

The Scented Letter magazine, When Your Back Garden is a Tuberose Field by Jo Fairley

The Scented Letter magazine, Up in Smoke: Fragrances Flagrantly Defying the Smoking Ban by Suzy Nightingale

SHORT PIECE FINALISTS:

Cosmopolitan UK, Good enough to eat: food-inspired perfumes are hot right now by Charlotte Bitmead

GLAMOUR, When did it become anti-feminist for women to want to smell sexy? by Fiona Embleton

perfumesociety.org, Green with En Vie by Suzy Nightingale

CREATIVITY FINALISTS:

IFRA Fragrance Forum 2023, Smell & Tell by Peter ‘Art’ Lewry

Instagram, A Scented Story by Suzy Nightingale & Nicola Bonn @onthescentpodcast

Instagram, Desert Island Spritz: My Chanel Love-List for Autumn-Winter by Alice du Parcq

PRACTICAL GUIDE FINALISTS:

The Scented Letter magazine, The Wash Gets Posh by Jo Fairley

The Scented Letter magazine, Gelat-Eaux How to Wear ‘Ice Cream Scents’ Without Smelling Like Mr. Whippy by Suzy Nightingale

We Wear Perfume, Who Am I? New Ways To Make Your Perfume Personal by Amanda Carr & Tamara Fulton

RISING STAR FINALISTS:

Cosmopolitan UK, Eau de sex: Have fragrances lost their sex appeal? by Charlotte Bitmead

Harper’s Bazaar UK, Green & Pleasant by Medina Azaldin

Highsnobitey, Fragrance, Unfiltered: What Shoppers Want Perfume Brands to Know by Alexandra Pauly

The Scented Letter magazine, It takes them right back by Scott McGlashan

The post The Fragrance Foundation Jasmine Award Finalists 2024 are… appeared first on The Perfume Society.

Maison Tahité is a new niche house specialising in stunning, contemporary versions of gourmand fragrances – using deliciousness rippled through every creation, the collections span Cocoa, Coffee and Vanilla. As it’s Easter, of course we’re focusing on the chocolate, and their Cocoa collection investigates the aromatic universe of this divine raw material, also known as “the food of the gods”. By stimulating the release of endorphins, Cocoa pushes us to listen to our senses and indulge in hedonism. Its enveloping aroma is an invitation to enjoy every moment of life, without the guilty feelings often connected with the “sin” of eating chocolate.

Perfumers such as David Maruitte, Paul Guerlain and Luca Maffei have developed this theme for Maison Tahité in a series of tempting creations; and we know you’re going to fall hard for the sumptuous Cacao2, created by David Maruitte. Maison Tahité says:

‘For those who love strong sensations. An enveloping and reassuring, still intensely emotional fragrance. Fully embodying the Cocoa collection, it sublimates all the nuances of this divine ingredient: Cinnamon reveals its spicy side, Toasted Notes fascinate us, while Cedar and Vetiver enhance its character. Just like biting a bar of extra dark chocolate.’

You have until midnight Wednesday 3rd April to enter – simply list your answers of the pages you’ve found the eggs on:

Terms & Conditions: No cash alternative to the prize will be offered. The prize is not transferable. Only entries accepted from U.K. residents, prize cannot be posted elsewhere. Entries only accepted until midnight Wednesday 3rd April 2024.

Fragrant clues to egg hiding places around our website:

1 – This house specialises in deliciousness, with collections of Cocoa, Coffee, and Vanilla scents to tempt you…

2 – This Fragrance Family is the most recent, and these ‘foodie’ fragrances smell almost edible!

3 – This ingredient is found in Maison Tahité Cacao2 – rich, smooth, and meltingly delectable…

4 – Reading this taste and flavour-full book (originally developed for people who’ve lost their sense of smell / taste due to Covid) will have you drooling…

5 – Historically, this was the sweetest-smelling king, who presided over a perfumed court…

Don’t forget you have until midnight Wednesday 3rd April to email us your answers. So, we wish you all a very happy Easter, and good luck!

The post Easter Egg Hunt – WIN Maison Tahité Cacao2 worth £90! appeared first on The Perfume Society.

Having experienced the third full moon of the year – and the first of true spring – this is traditionally a time to reflect on what has passed and is no longer useful to dwell on; and look to the future with hopefulness and a renewed sense of optimism in our hearts. One brand which so brilliantly connects these soulful moments with their beautiful scents is ARgENTUM, and this year, they’ve even created a Full Moon Playlist to enhance this period of self-reflection.

The post ARgENTUM: Full Moon Playlist appeared first on The Perfume Society.

Here we’re sharing our edit of the home fragrances that can help us wind down, chill out and truly relax – at any time, but these feel especially right for right now…

Ostens Illuminations Rose Candle £65

Ostens reminds us that, ‘In the valleys of Anatolia, Turkey, the harvesting of Rosa Damascena the ‘Queen of Flowers’ begins at dawn.’ And here, that cool morning air, filled with utterly spellbinding scent of these vibrant, jammy, voluptuous roses is captured in your home. The roses are so precious they’re ‘kept in the shade until reaching the copper distillation stills. Once transformed, the rose oil contains a concentrate of all the fragrance components of thousands of fresh flowers.’ Utterly exquisite, you’ll be totally hypnotised by the way this scent billows throughout your space.

La Montaňa Siesta Candle £39

This is one to reach for when you need to press pause on the day. it’s truly a soothing, scented lullaby for your senses, featuring hushed lavender, and a cooling herbaceous breeze of juniper and thyme. A summer swirl of calming herbs and flowers, It’s siesta time: close your eyes and ‘imagine yourself drowsing on a hot afternoon, gently swinging in a hammock in the shade of a tree, with the crickets chirruping, and the sun-baked fragrances of the countryside lulling you to sleep.’ Dreamy!

Stories No. 2 Trio £95 for 3 

Reflecting the top, heart and base notes of STORIES Nº.02 original fragrance, this extra special limited edition trio of candles ingeniously splits the facets on the original scent into three distinct scents for your home. You can choose to light one at a time or all at once (why not?!) for a memory-filled barefoot stroll through dewy grass, a soft, nostalgic drift of pipe smoke, and the the silvery ripples of a stream.Sustainably made, this scented candle collection manages to be ‘inspired by’ yet not identical to the scent you already love. Three times the gorgeousness to enjoy!

Paul Smith Daydreamer £65 

For blissed-out moments of perfumed pondering you can do no better than to light this, sit back, relax, and let your thoughts wander where they wherever they will. Fragrant meanderings are proffered via the immediately head-clearing verbena, calming clary sage and a spring breeze carrying drifts of bee-buzzed lavender and the sense of lightness that comes as a blessing at this time of year. Especially joyous for the soul in this yellow vessel with so-clever blue lid / stand combo; we feel this one will be re-lit throughout the summer, too.

Cochine Tuberose Absolute & Sandalwood £45

Do you dream of lighter, warmer evenings when you might even – gasp – still have a window or the patio doors open to the garden? Allow yourself to be lulled by the balmy, hushed headiness of the ‘alluring and intriguing tuberose notes combined with rich leather and sandalwood in this intoxicating, utterly addictive fragrance.’ It’s one that will calm yet seduce you, and no wonder, being exclusive created by master perfumer, Maurice Roucel. ‘This is the scent of exotic and unforgettable nights…’ says Cochine. And oh, we agree! Blissful.

Written by Suzy Nightingale

The post Can your home fragrance help you relax? Candles to soothe the senses… appeared first on The Perfume Society.

What is a #smellfie? A selfie with your favourite fragrance (or simply the one you’ve chosen that day). It’s that easy.

How to post on THURSDAY 21st March 2024:

On Instagram: hashtag #smellfie and tag @theperfumesociety in your photo

Ever since we first came up with the #smellfie concept we’ve been asking people to celebrate their favourite fragrances on this day, with bloggers, celebrities and perfume lovers from around the world getting involved by posting. It’s really all about showing how much fragrance truly means to us, how it can energise, comfort, embolden or support us – and it’s sharing that perfume passion with fragrance fans all over the globe.

We can’t WAIT to see which fragrances you choose for your #smellfie on Thursday, March 21st! – don’t forget to use that hashtag, and @ to make sure we see them all. Until then, we’ll be wondering which of our scents to choose…

The post Getting #smellfie ready for National Fragrance Day – Thursday, March 21 appeared first on The Perfume Society.

For edeniste, ‘the link between scent and mood has long been known and talked about, but never been scientifically proven when it comes to perfume. Now for the first time, the worlds of cutting-edge olfactory neuroscience and classic fine fragrance are brought together’ – so you can discover your own perfumed possibilities, and get to use your scent as more than merely smelling wonderful, but as a kind of toolkit that contains something for every mood or way you need to feel that day…

Do you need to sleep better, boost your energy levels and want to feel happier (all while being beautifully scented, of course)? I mean really – who doesn’t need all of these things? And sometimes several of them all on the same day?! Well, certainly we’ve never seen our Co-Founder Lorna McKay more excited than when she returned from a press launch of edentiste.

Literally bouncing up and down as she recounted her meeting with the visionary founder, Audrey Semeraro, in the words of the brand, they are ‘Blending the science of emotion and the art of perfumery,’ while for Audrey, it’s about ‘redefining the mission of the perfume industry with the first generation of active wellbeing fine fragrances…’

Each edeniste fragrance has been ‘charged with active molecules clinically proven to boost our mood and elevate our emotions.’ And when they say proven, they mean it. The wellbeing effects of these fragrances haven’t been left to hearsay, as with so many other aromatherapeutic type perfumes, oils and unguents available – the edensite scents have been tested by neuroscientists, literally showing which parts of our brains light up when we positively respond to the perfumes.

But it’s been a long journey to get to this place of perfumed possibilities, and it involved challenging the entire fragrance industry itself. You can read all about the birth of this fascinating fragrance house, in our page dedicated to the edeniste story; but now that we have the full-size bottles available, let’s dive in to the scents themselves…

The edeniste collection encompasses the most divine eaux de parfum and Lifeboost® essences – think of these as olfactive wellness juices to boost energy levels, happiness or even allowing you to drift off to sleep surrounded by the most gloriously soothing scent – the edentiste collection contains ‘the highest-level olfactive neuroscience, combined with the highest level in fine fragrance.’ You can choose to layer the eau de parfum with a Lifeboost® or wear them alone – let your feelings and needs guide you to the right fragrances for each day…

Dream Lifeboost® £68 for 30ml eau de parfum

‘A soothing aromatic herbal musk. The warm-skin facets of Spanish labdanum essence, wrapped in an overdose of feather-soft white musks, fosters peaceful dreams. Open yourself up to a pure, soothing vision of the world that surrounds you and let go.’

edeniste Energy Lifeboost® £68 for 30ml eau de parfum

‘A reviving musky woody citrus. A refreshing splash of citruses from Italy, infused with the energizing essences of peppery bergamot and regenerative grapefruit, boosted with zingy ginger absolute from Ethiopia. As bright and empowering as a tall dewy glass of freshly squeezed juice. Get up and glow.’

edentiste Happiness Lifeboost® £68 for 30ml eau de parfum

‘A joyful woody fruity floral. A sparkling essence built around an exotic mango accord spiked with juicy, colorful notes of raspberry and watermelon, on a base of pure Virginian cedarwood essence. Surrender to the exhilarating beat of its fizzy tropical delight. Feel the bliss.’

edeniste Relax Lifeboost® £68 for 30ml eau de parfum

‘A mellow solar white floral. A solar Madagascan ylang-ylang essence matched with a creamy monoi note – the name means “sacred oil” in Tahiti –, wrapped in pure jasmine sambac absolute from India and relaxing Madagascan vanilla absolute. Relax, feel the sun shining up above, let yourself be rocked by the sound of the waves and trees swaying in the breeze… You’re in Eden.’

edeniste Seduction Lifeboost® £68 for 30ml eau de parfum

‘A sensual amber floral musk. Free your mind with the essence of seduction in a timeless floral elixir enriched with addictive musky notes. A hyper-sensual aldehydic blend with a glamorous vintage vibe and hint of animal magnetism that will mellow your mood and ignite your sensual power. Let yourself glow.’

edeniste Wellbeing Lifeboost® £68 for 30ml eau de parfum

‘An uplifting spicy green floral. A confidence booster with zingy Ethiopian ginger absolute and crisp pink peppercorn absolute from La Réunion. The quintessence of easygoing wellbeing, captured in a luminous accord of fresh spices and green notes enhanced by two of the most precious ingredients in perfumery: Indian jasmine absolute and iris concrete from China. Dive deep into your inner self, feel its uplifting sense of comfort. You’re golden.’

edeniste Jasmin Cruel £130 for 100ml eau de parfum (30ml also available)

‘A caressing solar white floral. We call it cruel, but that’s just because once you wrap yourself in its radiant creaminess, you’ll find it hard to do without it. This is an exuberant bouquet of white flowers at their most sensuous. Indian jasmine absolute is the star here, but Aurélien Guichard brings out its lushness with a glamorous, luscious, coconutty tuberose, underlined with milky sandalwood. Honeyed Tunisian orange blossom absolute infuses the blend with solar energy. Pair with any Lifeboost active and bask in the light.’

edeniste Neroli Sensuel £130 for 100ml eau de parfum (30ml also available)

‘A tender white floral. It’s the name given to the essential oil drawn from orange blossom (here, a glorious extract from Tunisia). It’s also the tender heart of the colognes so beloved by the French from early childhood… Neroli is a uniquely luminous floral essence, capturing the sun-kissed scent-scape of the Mediterranean in its pure white petals. Aurélien Guichard underlines it with zesty green petitgrain, fleshes out its cologne-like vibe with tender notes of crystalline pear and juicy white peach and wraps it in a clean musky aura. Pair with any Lifeboost active and be radiant.’

edeniste Rose Délice £130 for 100ml eau de parfum

‘A delightful fruity floral. This is rose, with a smile. Vibrant, colourful, flirtatious, the Queen of Flowers is showcased here with two rich natural extracts. Bulgarian rose essence brings its glorious radiance, refreshed by a sun-kissed splash of sparkling mandarin from Italy. French May rose absolute from Grasse – the rarest and most precious – adds its opulent sensuality. Notes of red berries, naturally present in some varieties of roses, tinge the vivid bouquet with playfulness. A velvety drydown of vanilla and musk wed scent to skin… Pair with any Lifeboost active and feel the delight.’

edeniste Rose Fatale £130 for 100ml eau de parfum (30ml also available)

‘A regal ambery woody rose. Rose and oud may well be the most iconic accord in Arabic perfumery: a match made in scented Eden. Aurélien Guichard retells their mystical tales with a French touch, pairing rich, carnal, almost jammy rose essence from Bulgaria with a quality of oud distilled to brings out the precious resin’s most elegant facets. Another favorite partner of rose, patchouli essence from Indonesia, spiked with cool nutmeg, bolsters the blend’s rich texture. The skin-soft leather facets of Spanish cistus labdanum absolute shed their ambery light. It’s the ultimate in self-care. Pair with any Lifeboost active and let your feelings rule.’

edeniste Vanille Irrésistible £190 for 200ml eau de parfum (30ml also available)

‘An addictive vanilla. If we called it comfort food for the nose, we’d be remiss. This luminous and addictive duo of sweet and gourmand vanillas from Madagascar is so much more sophisticated… The secret to its radiance is a superb vanilla CO2 extract – one that preserves the most delicate facets of the precious pod. A lash of rum deepens its tones, introducing a second, darker quality of vanilla absolute. Aurélien Guichard underlines Its leather-like accents with a woody accord of mystical Somalian olibanum and smoky Haitian vetiver essences. Pair with any Lifeboost active and give in to your senses.’

edeniste Vétiver Imaginaire £130 for 100ml eau de parfum (30ml also available)

‘An invigorating woody spicy citrus. With natural nuances of citrus, flint, wood, smoke, and earth, vetiver is a compelling fragrance all by itself. A primal, rooting scent that is also a classic of masculine perfumery (of course, it can be enjoyed by all genders). Here, Aurélien Guichard draws out the most sparkling facets of Haitian vetiver essence with a sunny cocktail of Italian fruit: bracingly bitter grapefruit and juicy mandarin, a delicate essence chosen.’

Written by Suzy Nightingale

The post edeniste Perfumes + Neuroscience = Wellness You Can Wear appeared first on The Perfume Society.

This week, Cat began presenting THE iconic mainstay of British daytime TV shows – This Morning – with co-host Ben Shepard; but apart from her broadcasting success, we happen to know that Cat is OBSESSED with fragrance (and even has a party trick of scent identification). So, no wonder she teamed up with friend and esteemed makeup artist Amanda Grossman to launch e11even Fragrance Oil!

To mark Cat’s ever-rising career path, we’re delighted to share with you the fascinating fragrant answers she gave when we interviewed Cat on her Memories, Dreams & Reflections for a previous issue of The Scented Letter Magazine. You can sign up to get your FREE copy of the latest issues sent to your inbox every time they’re launched, or order them in gorgeously glossy print.

Meanwhile, let’s delve in to the scent memories and olfactive reveries that mean so much to Cat (and we bet she’ll be cleaving to one of her Five Favourite Smells more than ever, now she’s on This Morning…)

Suzy Nightingale

The post Cat Deeley – Fragrant Memories, Dreams & Reflections… appeared first on The Perfume Society.

Let’s begin with this really helpful clarification on the difference between a concentrated perfume oil and attar, which comes via the medium.com blog:

‘According to Wikipedia, ‘the word ‘attar’, ‘ittar’ or ‘itra’ believed to have been derived from the Persian word itir, meaning ‘perfume’, which is also believed to be derived from Arabic word itr.

Essential oils are typically derived from botanical sources such as flowers, resins, woods, spices, etc. Most commonly these oils are extracted via hydro or steam distillation methods using deg and bhapka arrangement. Many a times the attar composers run co-distillations for a desired effect.

Traditionally these essential oils are ‘pulled’ into sandalwood or other appropriate carrier oils at the end of the distillation apparatus. The resultant product is then separated from floral waters. The oil part, which floats, is filtered into a separate container and allowed to stand for few days. This oil component is called as an attar.’

This style of perfumery dates back to the 1500s and the Mughal emperors of India, though using oil as a carrier for fragrant ingredients dates back far further still. At the polar opposite end of the perfume spectrum from those more overt shoulderpads-in-a-bottle or va-va-voom, ready-to-party fragrances (which we still love, by the way, never fear!) these types of scents are perhaps more contemplative, calming, and offer moments of meditation that stay close to the skin.

While attars / oils are intense and concentrated scents, you’d be wrong to assume that these will announce your presence at 20 paces. ‘Attars don’t necessarily land on the skin with an impactful whomp, as an eau de parfum might,’ says perfumer Nancy Meiland, whose GAIA attar – and the following attar, SOFIA – proved a huge hit. ‘They tend to be worn closely and mingle on your skin in warm “nuzzles” that you pick up throughout the day.’ The diffusion of these scents is hushed, whispering intriguingly yet also lingering for longer. ‘They tend to be worn closely and mingle on your skin, giving off warm “nuzzles” that you pick up throughout the day.’

As trend forecaster and fragrance writer for wewerperfume.com Amanda Carr observes, though we’re only just (re)discovering them here, attars are still used in very practical ways in India:

‘Attars are used by the Muslim population in India a little like a wellness boost, and the perfumeries I visited were bustling with families buying their season scents to uplift their health and emotional happiness, also unlike an eau de parfum there is no alcohol to worry about. There are traditional guidelines as to when you wear particular botanicals, cooling vetiver for the hot summer days, along with jasmine and rose, with saffron used during the chiller months for its warming properties. The instore perfumers often gave advice – a bit like a pharmacist – as to which botanical attar could help with a particular malaise.’

Nancy explains that she felt ‘intuitively drawn’ to creating her first attar during the early days of the pandemic. ‘GAIA’s ultra-soothing concentrated blend of Calabrian bergamot, nutmeg and jasmine sambac is centred around blue lotus absolute, which traditionally is seen as “a flower that can open your mind and is powerfully protective during times of transformation.”’

So why now this plethora of perfume oils and attars making their way onto centre stage for the Western market, you may wonder? Nancy asserts it’s quite simple, really; saying [in troubled times]:

‘…we want more magic not less.  It’s about working closely with the plants and flower essences and getting to know their properties and benefits.  Then combining them so that they don’t crush each other while enhancing each other’s odour profile – the individual notes should sing out in their fullness and create a harmony of scent. There is an alchemy to an attar that works with nature…’

Nancy Meiland GAIA From £4.95 for 2ml (£65 for 30ml) nancymeiland.com

Looking for other perfume oils and attars to have a play with this season? Try some of these sumptuous examples, below: we feel sure that once you discover the delights (and definite mood-enhancing abilities) of attars, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Priced from pocket-friendly to the ultra lust-worthy treat, there’s something to suit everyone…

If your scents suddenly lack depth, add interest with this deliciously fragrant oil. An unexpected mix of spice-infused bergamot and plum with a ‘your-skin-but-so-much-better’, creamy leather dry-down, the warm tingle of amber then simmers for hours. The roller-ball bottle makes this especially useful for travelling (if you’re lucky enough!) or touching up your scent on the go.

Malin & Goetz Dark Rum Perfume Oil £32 for 9ml malinandgoetz.co.uk

Christopher Yu and Laurent Delafon were inspired to create their Ostens collection by the incredible portfolio of naturals from LMR Naturals. The eau de parfum comes with the option of adding a ‘Préparation Oil’ (and we highly recommend you do), which you can layer or enjoy alone. Every fragrance in the Ostens portfolio of scents is gorgeous in its own right, but we have to say, when layered in this way, they become out of this world divine.

Ostens Rose Oil Isparta £185 for 50ml eau de parfum + perfume oil ostens.com

Strangelove – from the creative trio of perfumer Christophe Laudamiel, supermodel Helena Christensen and naturals expert Elizabeth Gaynes – put thoroughly sophisticated (and utterly addictive) fragrance oils at the very heart of their collection. We urge you to nuzzle into this hypnotically delicious blend of oudh, stimulating mandarin, purified ginger, deeply magnetic sandalwood and luscious dark chocolate for a sultry scent ritual, with the necklace a nod to traditional ways of carrying precious perfume about the body.

Strangelove meltmyheart Perfume Oil Necklace £170 for 1.25ml harrods.com

(PS: You can also try the entire range of Strangelove fragrances eau de parfum for £92 in our shop!)

The LilaNur attars’ prices reflects the meticulous effort to process the precious flowers immediately after harvesting – they’re placed in oil beside the fields they’ve been grown in. Suggesting annointing the palms of your hands and breathing in before applying, it honestly feels like a divine experience – as though your feet have lifted from the ground and angels are singing. A purity and depth we’re unused to, with those few drops carrying you throughout the day.

LilaNur Jasmin Attar Absolu Perfume Oil £340 for 30ml harrods.com

Written by Suzy Nightingale

The post The Scented Ritual of Perfume Oils & Attars… appeared first on The Perfume Society.

Maya Njie (pronounced ‘Maia N-Jai’) has uniquely diverse familial and artistic roots to bring to her fragrance creations. Being born in Västerås Sweden, with a West African heritage, and later moving to London in her teens, Maya went on to study at the University of the Arts. Weaving together these threads via the medium of the senses, Maya began experimenting with smell alongside the the visual mediums of colour and photography. The result? A stunning, soulful, and so-artistic selection…

Within Nordic Cedar, for example, we may never have visited the Swedish Forest it was inspired by, but we feel a sense of towering trees, the reassuring comfort of cedar and earthy patchouli enclosing us as cardamom gifts brightness, ambergris adds a touch of mist.

For Vanilj, the traditional Swedish note of cardamom is used again, the comfort intensified by addictively dark vanilla that swirls boozily amidst ambered musk.

In Tobak, addiction is ramped up via the honeyed smokiness of the tobacco leaf, a trail of animalic musks and leather resonating many hours later.

Incorporating music as another inspirational medium, Les Fleures is named for Minnie Ripperton’s 1970 song, a green floral scent that ripples with bergamot’s brightness, magnolia and sweet fig, an ‘unbound celebration of life, love and creation.’

Those longing to escape might yearn for Tropica – an invitation to imagine ‘trading in a dark, bleak and cold setting for a warmer climate far away, with flourishing green vegetation and remote beaches’ with tropical fruits lushly layered on sandalwood and coconut.

And in Voyeur Verde, nature claims an abandoned car, leaves and creepers entangling the leather seats, a wonderfully verdant burst of rebirth and ‘balmy cypress trees shadowed by the Sierra Bernia mountains.’

Maya Njie Discovery Set £34 

Jasmine is at the heart of the majority of Sana Jardin‘s scents, and formed part of founder Amy Christiansen Si-Ahmed‘s fragrant inspiration to launch the house. As Amy explained to us, for her, the smell of jasmine is a scent memory that will linger forever:

‘The scents I’d encountered on my travels over the years were enchanting to me: the pure and golden shimmer of orange blossom, the mystical, enveloping depth of sandalwood, the seduction of jasmine blooming at night. I felt I could never find that captured anywhere on a department store shelf.’

‘Sana Jardin is the world’s first socially conscious luxury fragrance house created primarily as a vehicle for social change and the economic empowerment of women through The Beyond Sustainability Movement . Sana Jardin believes in the sacred and ancient power of scent to heal, transport and inspire.’

Savage Jasmine Night-blooming jasmine, wrapped around intoxicating musk. 

Sandalwood Temple Moroccan neroli oil, enveloped it in Atlas cedarwood, Haitian vetiver, creamy vanilla and East Indian sandalwood.

Tiger By Her Side Showcases Moroccan rose alongside Somalian incense and Indonesian patchouli.

Berber Blonde Filled with the light of Sana Jardin’s signature orange blossom, alongside Moroccan neroli oil and musk.

Celestial Patchouli Exotic aromas of patchouli, leather, cinnamon bark and Australian Sandalwood give way to the abundant warmth of rose, jasmine, osmanthus and Moroccan orris.

Nubian Musk A sensuously inviting blend of musk and vanilla, rose, jasmine, Moroccan grapefruit flower, Haitian vetiver and Australian sandalwood.

Revolution de la Fleur This is a sultry, sun-filled melody of Madagascan ylang ylang, Moroccan jasmine, frangipani, rose, vanilla and sandalwood.

Jaipur Chant Heady & Seductive Tuberose. Indian tuberose, the goddess of flowers, blooms in the still of night.

Incense Water Here rose is refined to a soft shimmer; an effect brought about with Moroccan May rose.

Vanilla Nomad A gourmand fragrance that coaxes out the sensual side of vanilla.

Sana Jardin Discovery Set: £30

Take a powerful raw ingredient pioneer (Elizabeth Gaynes), one of the world’s most famous former supermodels and trailblazing female entrepreneurs (Helena Christensen!) and a perfumer-provocateur (Christophe Laudamiel), and what do you get? STRANGELOVE – which has achieved cult status for its utterly addictive, opulent scents…and we’ve fallen in love with all of them!

Now you can try the ENTIRE NICHE COLLECTION at home with this decadent discovery set. Each strangelove scent showcases stunning raw materials: with sustainable oudh as the precious catalyst for the collection – from deadofnight, with euphoric Indian champaca and creamy gardenia enfleurage to lostinflowers, the surprising (and oh-so-addictive) dark chocolate and orris butter fragrance. We can’t wait to hear which one really gets your heart beating.

Built around a subtle base of precious oudh [also spelled ‘oud‘], carefully blended with other precious ingredients gathered from all over the world, this is a house that refuses to compromise on quality, and with the very best (meticulously, sustainably sourced) materials at their fingertips. Christophe Laudamiel, punk rock star of the scent world, has created all the fragrances – so read on to delve deeper into each beguiling scent…

deadofnight – empowers its devotees to take risks and dive into their desires.

fallintostars – propels a mystical experience of boundless wonder, as lovers transcend time and space to journey into a parallel universe.

lostinflowers – evokes the thrill of new love, capturing that electric moment of discovery when two destined wanderers finally collide: lost in time, lost in romance, lostinflowers.

meltmyheart – inspires romance and indulgence for devoted lovers.

silencethesea – captures the intimacy of the lover’s gaze: soundless, eternal, profound.

Strangelove Discovery Set: £92

Contemporary artist Sarah Baker’s photography, sculpture and films are inspired by ‘fashion, luxury and celebrity’ (particularly high camp 80s feisty female stars); but little did she know that when she created a fictional fragrance house as part of her artwork, her passion for the project (and the public’s reaction to it) would result in a real-life fragrance house. Having recently ramped up the ravishing longevity of their fragrances by adding Extrait to their collection, these bold, genre-defying and yet still utterly wearable scents are stronger and more provocative than ever.

The entire Sarah Baker collection is clever, characterful and cheerfully takes up place in your fragrant world. Now, you can try them in a discovery set and change your own character at will…

Atlante: A mermaid emerging from the sea. Real beach vibes.

Charade: Big white flower with a cutting edge of rustic leather. Sophisticated and contemporary.

Jungle Jezebel: Bombastic banana bootylicious beast. Love it or hate it? We love. Join us.

Gold Spot: A spotlight on filmstars who love their luxuries, indulging themselves in bed all day with broadsheets and butterscotch bonbons.

Greek Keys: A yacht ride in the Greek Islands. Fresh, Oceanic, Luxurious.

Tartan: After a long walk in the Highlands, enjoy your first sip of whiskey next to the fire in the library.

Leopard: Power fragrance that must be worn with shoulder pads. Not for children.

Loudo: Playful and sweet, yet nostalgic and serious. Deliciously woody.

Sarah Baker Extrait Discovery Set: £45

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Here’s our edit of three fragrance houses your nose needs to know…

Is your fragrant future in the cards…?

Joy Isaacs is the founder and CEO of ARgENTUM, a luxury skincare brand which recently launched a range of stunning fragrances based on soul-searching, tarot-inspired ‘Archetypes’. Although she’s been fascinated by tarot and its symbolism since 2010, Joy insists: ‘I don’t think it’s some magical oracle in the sky.’ Instead, she believes ‘…we all hold our truth buried in our subconscious and are willing to project it onto many things – for example, people, life circumstances, poetry, music and of course, imagery (art). It allows us to tap into what is just below the surface and access what is really going on – with our own personal truth.’ Thus, explains Joy, ‘Our Archetype cards invite you to uncover symbolic imagery that reflect inherent energies – patterns that are common to us all.’

Using beautiful black-and-white illustrations by artist Sam Gray, ARgENTUM’s twelve cards are shuffled and used as part of a ‘fragrance reading’, whereby – rather than randomly picking a perfume – the fragrance finds you. This initial scent-matching isn’t set in stone; it’s used merely as a starting point, a way of editing down your possible fragrance choices to a more manageable number, while also making you think more deeply about them. (For those who can’t make it in person to ARgENTUM’s Notting Hill boutique – which is honestly worthy of a pilgrimage – the experience has been skilfully recreated on their website.

What we’re wearing: ARgENTUM Discovery Kit – Air Collection £28 for 4 x 2ml eaux de parfums

‘As an element, air encapsulates a masculine energy of thought and communication. Born at sunrise in the crisp breath of Spring ~ air is imaginative and intelligent, but without flow can become stifled and cruel. Moist and warm, air symbolises a nurturing energy that celebrates your knowledge and ideas, the beginning of something intangible and without permanent form. This brisk and exhilarating element stimulates the mind and cuts to the heart of your quest for connection.

• Become: All encompassing, balancing, beginnings
• Creator: Creative energy, trust, manifestation
• Sage: Wisdom, knowledge, awareness
• Ruler: Balance, adaptability, vulnerability

Wearable feel-good vibes…

For Vyrao, it’s all about wearable good vibes, and anyone who’s had a sluggish day or simply felt dull, blah and down in the dumps can attest – spritzing a scent can be an instantaneous remedy and our sense of smell is a potent way to make us feel brighter, more confident, and ready to face the world. With such potential power at our pulse points, Founder Yasmin Sewell sought a way to harness this energy so it could be at our fingertips whenever we need it. Having been ‘a lifelong advocate for personal self-care, wellbeing and energetic connection,’ Yasmin’s also trained in Integrative Quantum Medicine and Reiki, and so was well placed to reach out to Louise Mita, President and CEO of The Art Of Energy, Inc., and creator of Integrative Quantum Medicine, who’s studied metaphysical alchemy, healing, and martial arts since 1968.

Together, they took a deep dive into researching specific ingredients they could use in the fragrances to help the wearer feel better. Explains Yasmin: ‘Science has shown that positive emotions and feelings can contribute to better health. I believe that in the future more of us will come to understand and accept the influence of energy as part of our overall well-being. We’ll know how to channel it, clear it, raise and work with it, and Vyrao is at the heart of that purpose. Vyrao helps us connect to ourselves.’

What we’re wearing: Vyrao High Five Collection, £79 for 5 x 7.5ml eau de parfum

If you’re new to this more soulful way of wearing scent, the High Five collection really is the best way to dip in and gain a better understanding – both of what you like, but also (more importantly) what your soul is crying out for. It may surprise you… Included in the first five fragrances from the brand, you will get to experience:

• Free 00: To feel alive and uninhibited is Free 00.
• I am Verdant: A fragrance sprouting fresh green growth.
• Witchy Woo: Wake up the powerful alliance of your courage and creativity.
• Magnetic 70: For attraction and protection.
• Georgette: For self-love.

Finding fragrant harmony…

When her PR and communications job took her to Hong Kong, little did Elementals founder Deana Wyland-Fries know, it would change the direction of her life forever. There she discovered feng shui – and soon learned that it is not merely a belief or superstition in China, but a science and a way of life. As she explains: ‘For centuries, the Chinese have believed that, everything in our universe can be allocated to one of five elements – water, wood, fire, earth and metal. Not only are these elements found in our environment, but also within ourselves. What’s more, we are born with an element that dominates our lives, dictating character, relationships, career and health. If our element is out of balance, we experience a sense of discomfort within…’

Ultimately, Elementals combine the simplicity and harmony of feng shui with the classical beauty of fine French perfumery. The result is a collection of surprising, innovative creations that seek to nurture mind, body and soul – while smelling, of course, utterly divine. Deana explains: ‘Because I am working with energy, I do not apply the classical olfactory pyramid in my creations…  there are three main energies in the Universe: Heaven’s Chi, Human Chi and Earth Chi. In Chinese culture, these represent the three energies that, when working in harmony with one another, create perfect balance.’

What we’re wearing: Elementals Wood £148.50 for 100ml eau de parfum

Here we find ‘Heaven notes’ of bergamot, cedar and grapefruit to enhance concentration, with ‘Human notes’ of orris, tagetes and geranium, and a base, or ‘Earth notes’ of patchouli, Palo Santo (a sacred wood often used in meditation) and guaiacum (also known as guaiac wood). Wood represents the rising of energy, and the season of Spring, when blossoms are beginning to bloom again and signs new life are in abundance…

Written by Suzy Nightingale

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