Hot on the scent of new fragrance releases.
Captivating new perfumes, both original bouquets and updated classics, will make their mark this summer, writes Elisabeth King.
One of the best things about summer is the stream of new fragrances hitting stores. Whether you’re seeking a glamorous spritz for a big event, a contemporary floral to pack for a holiday or a lavish gift, it’s time to refresh your fragrance wardrobe with a new scent or a novel interpretation of a true classic.
Mon Paris by Yves Saint Laurent (from $99)
Yves Saint Laurent nailed ultra-feminine floral scents with the launch of the original Paris fragrance in the 1980s.
The city he loved was also the inspiration for Mon Paris, but that’s where the similarity ends. A contemporary chypre, this smells sweet at first, but gradually heart notes of Arabian jasmine, peony and pear evoke a mixture of modern confidence and old-school class.
Jolie Fleur collection by Tory Burch ($195/each)
This US fashion designer epitomises the casual, polished Hamptons lifestyle. Burch is also quite the green thumb and has collaborated with some of America’s leading landscape architects. This trio of fragrances – Jolie Fleur Rose, Verte and Bleue – was inspired by the roses, lily-of-the-valley and tuberose blooming in her garden. The crisp green notes of Verte (pictured) make it the perfect choice for an alfresco lunch.
Chanel No.5 L’Eau (from $164)
Tweaking a classic can be a fraught activity, let alone a global icon such as Chanel No.5. But the prestige French fashion house has put a lighter, more subtle spin on the world’s most famous fragrance to attract the millennial generation. The DNA of No.5 is still apparent, but the dominant note of May rose mingled with citrus notes and white musk produces a carefree, powdery effect. It will appeal to young women who appreciate a mix of modern and vintage but it’s also a sexy, contemporary choice for older women, for night or day.
Coach Eau De Parfum (from $69)
Coach, the stylish New York-based leathergoods brand, produces modern luxury from handbags to fragrances. The bottle of this sparkling floriental references the company’s signature design details in features such as the turn-lock atomiser, which mimics a handbag closure. This is a youthful yet sophisticated rose-centred fragrance, with plenty of musk and wood in the drydown to go the distance. A lovely gift for yourself or a chic friend.
La Femme Prada (from $110)
A must-try for floral fans in search of a grown-up fragrance that doesn’t become cloying or heavy. Everything about this elegant scent semaphores luxury, from the heavy glass bottle to the lushness of frangipani, tuberose, iris and ylang-ylang notes. Beeswax and spices deliver a warm drydown that intensifies as the night wears on. It smells luxuriously expensive without being overly sweet.
Deep Euphoria by Calvin Klein (from $90, not shown)
Australian actress Margot Robbie is the face of this latest addition to the Euphoria family. There’s only a hint of the original, however; in this new formulation, the vibrant depth of ‘Black Magic’ rose mixes with white pepper, geranium and patchouli to create a sensual chypre/floral. Warm and breezy, it’s ideal to pack for a holiday destination where the climate is sultry.