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Perfume is one of life’s luxuries that I adore. Your sense of smell can transport you to a different time and place in an instant. Whenever I smell The Body Shop White Musk, I’m instantly brought to my Nanny and it’s such a magical feeling. I think that’s why people tend to wear the same perfume forever.
It’s also why brands bring out updated versions of their heritage scents. Think YSL’s Opium, a hugely heady scent that packs a huge punch that was so popular in the 1980s but for today’s trends we don’t want such strong potent fragrances. They recently released YSL Black Opium Eau De Parfum Illicit Green, 75ml, €102, which has the signature Opium spice but also has green mandarine and creamy fig to really soften those heady notes.
I’m not one of those people who wear the same fragrance forever. I will, of course, go back to my favourites (and I almost always end up with a floral scent) but I love trying new fragrances. At the moment my favourite perfume is Santal 33 from Le Labo, 15ml, €71. In fairness, Le Labo can do no wrong in my eyes. I even buy their washing detergent, Le Labo Santal Detergent, €46.44 – I’m too bougie for my own good. Le Labo recently launched in Brown Thomas and I’m equally delighted that I don’t have to wait for my refills anymore and raging that more people have access to my fave Santal 33.
Kilian, a beautiful fragrance house founded by Kilian Hennessy is launching a new fragrance on May 1 called Kologne, 50ml, €205, a new take on the classic cologne which was first designed by Italian Giovanni Maria Farina in 1709 in Cologne, Germany. The classic fresh citrus scent has been given a beautiful makeover by Kilian and I’m here for it! It has the classic freshness of a cologne but with just a hint of something a little deeper and special that brings it straight to 2022 with a bang.
Armani Privé make the most incredible fragrances, like proper special. Although expensive, a little goes a long way so you can be super mean with the spritzes as the bottles do last longer than most fragrances. In fairness, most proper fragrances have lasting power and you only need to use a little. Armani Privé has just launched two new fragrances both inspired by the vivid colours of Africa and the tanzanite stone. Magenta Tanzanite, 100ml, €301, is formulated to represent the awakening of the savannah. With the warmth of roasted tobacco leaf and coffee blended beautifully with the spicy freshness of ginger and bergamot. Indigo Tanzanite, 100ml, €301, is formulated to represent the plains of Africa at night. Opening with the freshness of bergamot and almond but with the warmth of amber and patchouli giving this fragrance a heady deeply zeal. I adore both of these scents but Magenta hits me strong!
Clarins have relaunched their Aroma range, and with that the new Eau Extraordinaire, 50ml, €29. I’ve loved the original forever and this new version is fresh and floral. As well as smelling incredible, it has been formulated to revive and jolt you awake with aromatherapy notes. I’ve used it when I’ve gotten in from a long day working on set and it genuinely gave me a bit more energy to enjoy the evening. Apparently, it’s great to use after yoga to help prolong the benefits of feeling balanced.
PS Pro Beauty has just launched in Penneys, and they have launched a fragrance called Pomegranate and Black Tea, 100ml, €10, designed to smell like an incredibly well known and often copied pomegranate fragrance. I was so presently surprised by the quality of the scent, it smells so like the fancy pricey one but it has a spicy edge to it that I love – I’m going to say that I kinda prefer it. The downside is that the fragrance wears off quicker than a prestigious brand, but at €10 for 100ml you won’t mind spraying very liberally.
Leonard Daly is a make-up artist, beauty consultant and IMAGE.ie beauty columnist, @leonarddaly.
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