Scentsofhistory

From the potent blast of Opium to the fresher whiff of CK One, which old fragrance reminds you of days past? THURSDAY

BY ANNA BURNSIDE A FRUITY blast of Dewberry, possibly mixed with extra strength hairspray.

The clean, citrus blast of CK One that could be coming from Arthur or Martha.

Or the headache-inducing experience of going up several flights in a lift beside someone wearing too much Rive Gauche.

Scent is one of our most powerful senses, linked directly to memory. It’s why one whiff of Davidoff Cool Water can make someone happily married to a handsome Tom Ford Black Orchid wearer all giddy and nostalgic.

Now Yardley, whose floral scents are a direct route back to bath cubes and guest soaps loved of women of a certain generation, are reworking some of their old favourites to appeal to millennials.

The range – Lilac Amethyst, Rosie Ruby, Flora Jade, Daisy Sapphire and Poppy Diamond – sneaks in key words that feature in other fragrances.

Marc Jacobs makes a Daisy. Michael Kors does Sexy Ruby.

Millennials have all the time in the world to create their own memories. But can you still buy the scent of your younger years? FOR many women now in their 40s, Cacharel’s Loulou is the smell of a big night out. Launched in 1987, it’s a big, ripe fragrance, with heavy florals on top of potent vanilla. It’s still with us, still in the distinctive turquoise atomiser that is not a million miles away from the Miu Miu bottle that has taken its place in many former fans’ hearts. YARDLEY’S original floral fragrances were the smell of a generation. The firm have been making scents in the UK since 1770, using classic blooms such as bluebells, violets and lily of the valley – as well as lavender.

Women wore it to wave their husbands and sons off to World War I – and probably to their funerals too.

The original is still available beside a tweaked new version, both at impressively bargainous prices.