Scents are uniquely interpreted by each individual when an aroma passes sensory neurons in the upper part of the nose to reach the olfactory epithelium, filled with odorant receptors responsible for our sense of smell. Information is then processed and transmitted to other parts of the brain connected to the limbic system, where memories and emotions are formed. It is for this reason, fragrances have the fascinating ability to instantly transport us back in time, with just one whiff. Akin to a song for the nose, each of us has an exclusive memory bank of scents that remind us of a particular person, place or moment in time. The sweet and spicy smell of cinnamon? It’s Christmas for me. Salty air and fresh seafood…my home town by the seaside.
Perfume has always played a significant part in my life, and I take immense pleasure in selecting a scent depending on my mood, where I’m going, and sometimes, who I’m meeting. Much consideration has gone into the selection process of custom-building a personal fragrance library, and I often find myself captivated by aromas that encapsulate the essence of summer sojourns. Blossoming florals, sparkling citrus notes and sugary spices. These are the uplifting accords that characterise summertime, offering an escape from the everyday – found in these luminous juices…
PARFUMS DE MARLY PERSEUS
Eau de Parfum
Imagine a scent that captures the warm embrace of the first radiant sunbeam that awakens Château de Marly, the royal residence at the heart of the inspiration of Parfums de Marly. Perseus succeeds in achieving precisely that. Characterised by invigorating notes of grapefruit, blackcurrant bud and bergamot, balanced by a heart of green mandarin, geranium and vetiver, the sparkling scent dexterously evolves into a cashmere wood base – fashioning a nuanced and juxtaposed sense of freshness, that’s both calming and intoxicating. Parfums-de-marly.com
ACQUA DI PARMA BLU MEDITERRANEO MANDARINO DI SICILIA
Eau de Parfum
A love letter to Sicily and the succulent citrus fruits that flourish in its unique microclimate, Blu Mediterraneo Mandarino di Sicilia is an ode to the magnificent landscapes that birth the scent’s star ingredient, the green mandarin (harvested unripe for its vibrant olfactory characteristics). Mixed with an effervescent blend of bergamot, lemon, and juicy red orange, the fragrance ripens with spearmint and petitgrain, settling into a musky cedarwood base eliciting an instant escape to the sun-drenched island. Acquadiparma.com
LOEWE PAULA’S IBIZA COSMIC EAU DE PARFUM
Eau de Parfum
Notes of fresh mango, vanilla and coconut cream layered with aromatic cypress resin, bathe Paula’s Ibiza Cosmic with a sense of the Balearic life. Suffused with playfulness, the scent is amplified by the softness of sandalwood, the depth of cedarwood, and the minerality of amber. Underlining the spellbinding composition, a signature accord created by the house brings the raw, resinous aspects of the Spanish rockrose to deepen the fragrance. A true celebration of escapism, one spritz transports its wearer to the soulful shores of Ibiza in an instant. Perfumesloewe.com
PENHALIGON’S SOLARIS
Eau de Parfum
A precious ode to the sun, Solaris wraps the pulse points in warm and uplifting top notes of neroli, lemon and blackcurrant before descending into the blossoming radiance of ylang-ylang, jasmine and tiare flower. Enthralling the senses with its unquestionable luminosity, the fragrance sets to the eternal solidity of vanilla, cedar and sandalwood, completing its celestial grace. A timeless amber floral scent that knows no borders, Solaris effortlessly manages to reveal itself as both gentle and robust. Penhaligons.com
GUERLAIN PATCHOULI ARDENT
Eau de Parfum
Part of a new fragrance collection from the Parisian maison, Patchouli Ardent’s key ingredient, patchouli – whose enchanting aroma has wafted far beyond the borders of the South Asian countries in which it originates – reveals its most radiant facets paired with a beautiful heart of rose and cedar, enhancing its usual dark and mysterious character to a surprisingly vibrant and luminous effect. The scent’s leather and musk base accords leave a captivating trail of exotic allure, undeniably casting a hypnotic spell over all who encounter it. Guerlain.com
