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I am not really a perfume person, as such; heavy scents just don’t suit me. But I love cologne-style fragrances. I am a total sucker for anything citrusy and fresh. The only snag with cologne-style smells is that they tend to have less staying power than their more refined eau de parfum relations.
However, I was thrilled to discover a hybrid between the two, in the form of the long-winded but lovely ‘Oranges And Lemons Say The Bell Of St. Clement’s’ — a deliciously uplifting and fresh eau de parfum by British perfumier James Heeley, who, interestingly, is one of just a handful of owner-founder luxury perfume houses in Europe.
My sister gifted me a bottle of Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 and I’ve been in love with it ever since. Made of a single molecule, rather than having defined notes as a traditional perfume does, it reacts to your skin to create a unique scent. Difficult to describe, I adore its unusual fragrance, and I am constantly asked about it when I wear it. I also find it’s not overpowering in the way a lot of other perfumes can be.
My other favourite is Thé Noir 29 by Le Labo – I only have a travel-sized bottle of it and it’s fast running out! It has notes of bergamot, fig and bay leaves, with depth from cedar wood, vetiver and musk, but as a dedicated tea drinker, I like to think it’s the extraction of black tea leaves that really has me hooked.
Firstly I am obsessed with fragrances, I have one for every season, mood and chapter of my life. I think when you have your own signature fragrance, it sets a lasting impression. I’ve still to find my one true fragrance however, these are my favourites from over the years. I love scents that are fresh and almost masculine.
First up is Lazy Sunday from the Replica, Maison Margiela. This is fresh and romantic, and the bottle is so dreamy and spritzes really well. Next is Amber & Moss from P.F Candle Company. This is so fresh. I have the room spray version – I spray this all over my laundry and furnishings, but it has amazing longevity and smells divine. You’ll like this if you prefer a cologne scent.
Finally, my winter fragrance this year is going to be Maghrib from UNIFROM. This is a new take on perfumes – they’re a unisex brand and everything is made from oils and made to be rolled on. It’s supposed to be long-lasting and kinder to skin but also unique. They offer a discovery pack where you can try and test out the scents before purchasing a full-size bottle.
My love for La Bougie’s Mission Fig scent is loyal and unwavering. So much so that it’s gone beyond the perfume fragrance and across the board to the candle, diffuser set, body lotion and linen spray. It’s earthy and addictive, and a couple of sprays go a long way. Plus, it’s an Irish brand, so that’s just the cherry on top. On the days when I want to mix things up, I’ll liberally douse myself in Flora Gorgeous Magnolia from Gucci. It’s a more floral fragrance, but it’s got that patchouli essence in there that gives it a deeper, more intriguing quality.
I’ve long been a fan of Jenny Glow perfumes, the Wood & Sage one in particular – it’s almost an exact dupe for the Jo Malone version but a fraction of the cost (you’re welcome). I also love the Molton Brown fragrances, anything by La Bougie or the new Nomade Nuit d’Egypte Eau de Parfum by Chloé.
Le Labo was created in 2006 with their first store in New York. They are known for their hand-blended perfumes and they refer to themselves as “slow perfumery”. Their fragrances have their main ingredient as their name, along with numbers. Some brands name their perfumes by the number of samples they’ve made or chose the final version from, but that’s not the case with Le Labo. The numbers in Le Labo’s fragrance names mean how many ingredients are used to make that perfume. Isn’t that interesting?
Le Labo only uses carefully selected ingredients and their perfumes are made-to-order, which makes their product expensive (but understandably so). It’s not something I can just buy without testing first, but luckily, they offer samples for all of their existing fragrances! I have tried Noir 19, Santal 33, Another 13 but my favourite at the moment is Matcha 26. I can’t really detect matcha so much, rather, it feels more like a Japanese incense.
It’s not offensive, it’s a relaxing scent and is something one can wear anytime and anywhere. Fig is one of the main ingredients but it’s not really sweet, it’s more woody to me. The woody-ness isn’t the wild kind, nor dirty, muddy kind. It’s like a well-loved and well-taken care of, modest and clean Japanese older wooden house, if that makes sense.
Perfumes have always been a love of mine. I worked in Boots for a few months when I was in college and my first big girl purchase was a 100ml bottle of Georgio Armani’s Si. Although I have several perfumes at home, there are three that I always find myself reaching for. I am currently obsessed with Estee Lauder’s Bronze Goddess — it’s such a luxurious scent that lasts all day and is my go-to in the colder months. If I’m looking for something lighter I’ll always reach for Narciso Rodriguez Eau de Parfum Poudrée. Finally, I love YSL Libre for occasion wear — it just makes me feel expensive when I wear it.
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