The traditional bottle of cologne used to be a staple in every household, but it fell out of favour in certain countries when the eau de toilettes and eau de parfums overtook it in popularity. There was the obvious comparison of strength and longevity, the cologne being more fleeting than its rivals, but in the new push for “quiet fragrances” the humble cologne is fighting back. France never abandoned this celebrated splash, and it's one of its oldest companies that is trumpeting the return. Jean d’Aigle has a history stretching back to 1945, and its Chypre Eau de Cologne is ideal for autumn as it celebrates its 80th birthday.
Succulent fruits, bursting with overripe juices, is what many people think of when autumn shows its face. The days of warm breezes and sand between your toes are replaced by woolly jumpers and the click of the heating. These fruity aromas also appear regularly in the new perfume releases at this time of the year, partly as a hark back and partly to signal the approaching festive decadence. Now, overly sweetened fragrances are not to everyone’s taste, and even including a fruit in the name can be troublesome. Thankfully Jessica Buchanan of 1000 Flowers has dared to challenge preconceptions with the textural Figuier Sauvage.
How do you reinvent and reinvigorate a popular period that includes both personal and humanitarian growth? It’s a broad canvas, and not one that many companies would tackle without an element of apprehension. Movements that took the world by storm are deeply anchored in both the subconscious and lasting cultural effects, and so deviation from the original philosophy needs to be cautiously approached. That’s why the launch of Sana Jardin’s Air of Aquarius perfume is so pitch perfect. Forget the patchouli-laced memories of the seventies, it’s time to embrace a mind-expanding interpretation for a new age.
If you’re a perfume fan then you can’t have failed to notice that the number of new releases every year continues to grow. An exact figure is impossible to calculate, but we’re definitely in the thousands rather than the hundreds. This is a far cry from the days when companies would launch a new fragrance possibly every three to four years, it now feels more like one every three to four months. So, finding “your” perfume amongst the noise can be an almighty challenge. Enter Fario who, with the release of their Autograph fragrance, have tackled the issue of originality head-on in their debut signature scent.
When we think of tropical plants and luscious gardens, we're often taken to places such as the Seychelles or the Côte d’Azur with their succulents and creamy florals. What we forget is that the United Kingdom is also blessed with incredible homegrown plants, flowers and shrubs. Trying to find damsons, or the Scottish primrose, outside of the UK is next to impossible. It’s these country-specific plants that inspired the various botanical gardens around the world and, while Kew Gardens is often first to spring to mind, it’s the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh that’s celebrated in Kingdom Botanica from Kingdom Scotland.
This week marks National Relaxation Day, which is held annually on August 15th. First celebrated in 1985, it’s a day when we are all encouraged to “slow down and unwind”, and “focus on taking care of ourselves”. The fast-paced lives that most people lead these days can make self-care a forgotten ritual, but we really do need to make an effort to find time for a moment of calm if we’re to win in the battle against daily stresses. That’s where the act of fragrancing our homes can play a big part, and C.Atherley’s new Mabel Grey-inspired Geranium No.3 Candle is the perfect scented antidote to the daily grind.
When Gorilla Perfumes closed the doors of their Islington store on January 22nd 2017, there was concern that their ground-breaking fragrances would also be locked away. Many perfume companies have disappeared over the years, and it’s not for want of trying, but finding a big enough customer base is the problem for many brands. Thankfully the perfumer behind Gorilla Perfumes was Simon Constantine, son of the founder of LUSH, and so the fragrances found a new home in the LUSH collection. There were many fascinating Gorilla Perfumes releases, but one of the most playful has to be the glorious Tank Battle.
The Amber family of perfumes is one that often finds itself relegated to the colder months, when its resins come alive under layers of coats and scarves, but there is so much more to enjoy if you just take the chance. Vanilla notes, sweetened woods, even some patchouli-laced cocoa; it’s all waiting to be discovered on warmed skin and under the fading sunshine. Admittedly finding the perfect balance of warmth to match every season can be challenging, but it’s been expertly executed under the skilled nose of Sonia Constant. Amber K is the latest addition to her Ella K collection, and the result is truly mesmerising.
There is no denying that the world of perfume is most definitely an expensive one to inhabit and, with most fragrances beginning in the realms of £100, that’s why the “dupe” market has gained such a foothold in the past few years. There obviously isn’t any defence for copying someone else’s work, whether that be a fragrance, a candle, or even a shower gel, but convincing the more modest-budget customers to try an original perfume can be a struggle. So, what if I told you there was a whole range waiting to be discovered? It’s time to take a closer look at Fragonard, and in particular Homme Élégant.
