BLOOMING BEAUTIFUL
The latest intoxicating fragrance arrivals are dominated by light florals and feature sustainable credentials or nature as a focus.
This time of year a wide selection of new perfumes arrives in store as we get ready for summer and begin lining up gifts for those on our Christmas lists. As we peruse counters for appealing scents, there are a few notable elements that are apparent among the new releases.
It’s no secret that sustainability is a key buzzword in beauty, even though the extent of effort involved in committing to the idea varies. Nowhere is this more visible right now than in the perfume world.
Brands are clamouring to demonstrate that they are committing to minimising environmental impact during production and packaging, along with highlighting the storytelling around natural ingredients and how they are sourced.
There is an increasing focus on linking scent with the natural world – be it with botanically inspired notes or ingredients that are actually derived from plant sources.
Even the royals are getting in on the action. The then-Prince Charles recently launched his own perfume, Highgrove Bouquet, in collaboration with storied British perfume house Penhaligon’s. The blooming, summery floral scent is inspired by the organic gardens of his private residence and the recyclable, plastic-free packaging reflects the new King Charles III’s environmental vision.
Meanwhile, Dior has reinvented its famous J’adore bouquet in an innovative water-based fragrance that eliminates alcohol from the equation. The highly concentrated blend of J’adore Parfum d’Eau is soft on skin
“LINKING SCENT WITH THE NATURAL WORLD IS AN INCREASING FOCUS FOR BRAND.”
and has a fresh, spontaneous vibe compared to the original. Light florals are undeniably the most dominant category among perfumes right now. Many could be summed up with a similar sentence: bright and pretty top notes, with a heart of white blooms and a warm base of sandalwood and amber. If that doesn’t sound like anything groundbreaking you’d be right, but the new batch nonetheless seems brighter and more buoyant than before. In particular, cloying white blooms like orange blossom, jasmine and gardenia have been modernised to be lighter and often with a hint of their fresh, green companions.
Earthy patchouli has finally given way to soft blonde woods as the base note du jour, turning up in the majority of releases be they perfumes or colognes.
Musk and amber are also popular lingering base notes in many releases.
For stronger statement scents, woods occasionally step into the spotlight as the main character, particularly in unisex releases like those from Tom Ford.
Finally, rich and delectable gourmand scents built around sweets and vanilla can still be found, but more commonly juicy elements of citrus like bergamot, mandarin and even mango like in the new Marc Jacobs Daisy Ever So Fresh are gaining our attention, particularly as the warm weather arrives.
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