TOP NOTES
New and freshly reformulated fragrances in exquisite bottles are breaking new ground this summer. Elisabeth King is hot on the scent.
Heading into the warmest months, many designer and luxury brands have launched new and reinvented fragrances, eminently suitable for gifting or treating yourself. These gorgeous concoctions combine creativity in packaging design – a key element of any prestige fragrance – with premium ingredients to stand out from the crowd: 1
L’Artisan Parfumeur Mont de Narcisse eau de parfum ($209/100ml) Cult brand L’Artisan Parfumeur specialises in reinterpreting the heritage of classic French perfumery. Narcissus notes add an austere yet rich complexity to this unisex fragrance, suitable for wearing day or night. It starts fresh and cool with bergamot, before the cardamom and pepper notes add spice and warmth to deliver an intriguing, green-tinged trail of scent.
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Tiffany & Co Intense Holiday Edition eau de parfum ($175/50ml) The American luxury jewellery icon re-entered the fine fragrance scene in 2017 with a signature scent that became a global favourite. This limited edition showcases a more grown-up version, with a deeper iris note and smooth, powdery effect.
The mirrored flacon mimics Tiffany’s trademark diamond cuts, topped with a reflective glass stopper and detailing in the famed duck-egg blue. A memorable gift choice or indulgence. 3
My Burberry Black Elixir de Parfum eau de parfum ($190/30ml) Tenacious notes of jasmine and rose absolute make this limited edition from the British fashion brand one of the most sensual releases of the season. Master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian has created a heart of sugared almonds and vanilla with a distinctive base of sandalwood and preserved lemon. Although this fragrance is a rejig of My Burberry Black, it has a unique character of its own. The horn-like stopper subtly references the buttons of a classic Burberry trenchcoat.
4 Estée Lauder Beautiful Belle eau de parfum ($130/50ml) Beautiful has been a definitive bridal scent for more than 30 years. The chypre-style scent has been compared to “a bouquet of 1000 flowers” and remains a local bestseller. Beautiful Belle picks up the baton with a floriental twist. Its lush blend of tuberose, pear blossom, gardenia and mimosa is perfectly pitched for today’s less traditional bride and all lovers of romantic florals.
5 Tory Burch Nuit Azur eau de parfum ($200/100ml) Designer Tory Burch owns one of the most glamorous homes in the Hamptons, but she took her inspiration from the Mediterranean for this floral/woody musk fragrance, which bottles the smell of a summer’s night. A great after-dark spritz, it opens with a fresh blast of violet leaf, fig and Sicilian mandarin. Cedarwood in the drydown lingers close to the skin long after the peony, freesia and Jasminum sambac (Arabian jasmine) notes develop their floral aura.
6 Chanel No.5 L’Eau Red Edition eau de toilette ($278/100ml) The rectangular Chanel No.5 bottle has undergone only minimal changes since its 1921 launch. Now, for the first time, it has been given a major makeover just before Christmas. For the special editions of both the original scent and this lighter, fresher No.5 L’Eau, the flacon is tinted deep scarlet. Coco Chanel described red as “the colour of life”, and this hue is used extensively in the fashion house’s clothing and accessories as well as make-up.