“OOOH YOU SMELL SO GOOD!"
Quiet luxury fragrances to collect compliments
I always find this time of year to be a sensory overload. The vibrant colour palette nature serves up, the whiff of chimney smoke in the air, the unmistakeable scent of mulching leaves (which sounds revolting, yet somehow we romanticise it), Autumn is undeniably a fragrance in itself. Yet, it’s also the season where I wholeheartedly embrace a change in perfume.
I didn’t wear perfume for a long time. I was pregnant and breastfeeding my son and the idea of putting anything on my skin that he could breathe in made me feel a bit uneasy. I missed it. I didn’t realise how much until recently when I went through my beloved fragrances, inhaling each one and instantly unlocking a forgotten pocket of memories.
I’m a fussy fragrance recipient. I don’t like sweet or sickly notes, anything heavy is a big no-no and if the bottle has plastic flowers or bees on it, I’m out. As I’ve gotten older I’ve settled into more masculine scents, musky top notes, smokey undertones and if there’s leather, tobacco or neroli involved, I’m there. While you may be thinking I should just go hang around an old East End boozer and call it a day, I promise you, it’s a sexy, heady concoction that wears beautifully on the skin.
So, having built up quite a fragrance wardrobe over the years, I thought I’d share the ones that I have on heavy rotation and garner the most compliments from friends and strangers alike. Although it’s difficult to get a sense of a fragrance through words (can we please make smell-o-vision happen again!), I’ll do my best.
TRUDON VIXI
Although I’d class this as more of a spring/summer scent due to the subtle notes of Nepalese sandalwood, sage, bitter orange and jasmine essence, I love to wear it all year round. It’s the kind of fragrance that is perfect for everyday — it’s light, fresh and clean. A real people pleaser.
HERMES BARENIA
Perfumer Christine Nagel presents her chypre for Hermès with this brand new fragrance. But first let’s talk about this stunning bottle. Inspired by the Collier de Chien bracelet, it’s metal studs give the ladylike curves of the bottle an edge that only Hermès can get away with. With top notes of butterfly lily and miracle berry, combined with oakwood and an intense patchouli, it’s deeply feminine and sensual. Although strong on the first spritz (it is a EDP after all), it settles wonderfully and lasts all day and night.
HERMES OSMANTHE YUNNAN
This is without a doubt my most complimented fragrance. Inspired by the Forbidden City in Beijing, you get a real sense of exotic escapism with this scent. With hints of tea, orange and floral Osmanthus, it’s light yet rich and wears beautifully on the skin. There’s a very subtle spiciness about it that balances the floral notes and gives it a whole new depth.
COTY PARIS INFINEMENT
I was lucky enough to go to the launch of this revolutionary scent from Coty and was blown away by the creation of this fragrance collection. Featuring 14 scents, the collection is divided into three sections: Dawn, Day, and Dusk. I had so many favourites but the two that really resonated with me were:
APRÈS L'AMOUR: A heady cocktail of amber, virgin tobacco accord and ginger, I think it was designed to be worn with a red lip and tuxedo blazer in a dark bar.
ENCORE UNE FOIS: I get a lot of questions about this scent. It’s warm, rich and perfect for autumn/winter. It’s a deep combination of vanilla, vanilla bourbon and ambery Peru balsam. It’s sweet and creamy without being overpowering.
CLIVE CHRISTIAN E CASHMERE MUSK
I love the feeling that when you buy a Clive Christian perfume you’re getting something really special. The packaging, the history, the luxurious fragrances, they’re absolutely timeless. With top notes of baies rose, base notes of musk and heart notes of fleuriste fusion, it’s a really feminine scent and perfectly suited for a lunch with the girls or Sundays with family. If you like clean and unfussy fragrances without compromising on impact, this is for you.
TOM FORD SANTAL BLUSH
This is my first Tom Ford perfume and I’m hooked! I’d say this is more suited for those chilly Autumnal date nights as it has a dark sexiness to it that you’d expect from Ford. Combining luxe ylang-ylang, warm cinnamon, and sumptuous woods, Santal Blush is a scent you can nuzzle into and smell on your clothes days after wearing it.
MAISON FRANCIS KURDJIAN REFLECTS D’AMBRE
With the MFK fragrances atop my bathroom vanity, I feel like I’ve been transported to a beautiful Parisian apartment as the bottles are simple and impeccably chic. Inside, you can find amber, spicy notes of pink pepper and accents of grandiflorum jasmine. I’m not going to beat around the bush - it smells expensive. It’s a truly stunning scent and one that attracts SO many comments when I wear it.
