Perfume is often compared to music because of the similarities found in their creation and their make up. Whether you’re thinking about “chords”, “notes” or “accents”, the cross-over is easy to see. However, there’s another industry that also goes hand in hand with perfumery, and that’s the world of fashion. When you think about tailoring, the stitching together of multiple parts to create one complete garment could easily be compared to the mixing of multiple ingredients to create one complete fragrance. This is where we find ourselves with Brion Eau de Parfum Suave, the latest exciting perfume release from Brioni.
The word “traditional” is one that often gets mixed up with “heritage” when we talk about perfumes, because each harks back to a past time. The latter is more geared to a company or style, whereas the former can broaden out to encompass a particular scent or preparation. This idea of a “traditional” fragrance can easily be aligned to many that are still in production, and also those that have been discontinued, but there is one that has stood the test of time. Bay Rum is a perfume that has been enjoyed for decades, in both salons and at home, and The Dandy Gent is championing its barbershop revival.
If there is one thing that we can all agree on, it’s that creating an enduring and beloved collection of fragrances is a goal that many companies have tried but few have actually accomplished. It’s an absolute skill to cement a DNA in every successive fragrance whilst, at the same time, adding new facets and unexpected directions to the latest release. One company that have achieved this more than once, and continue to fly sky-high in the ever-expanding perfume market, is Versace. With a legacy dating back to 1981, it’s time to discover the newest addition to their fragrance stable as we explore Eros Najim.
The dark days of the pandemic may seem like a lifetime ago now, as we all busy ourselves once again on life’s hamster wheel, but it has meant a massive shift in the perfume market. Those two years focused our attention away from personal fragrance, that beautiful juice found inside a glass bottle, and instead made us think about the scent of our surroundings. With so much time spent indoors, and without the option to travel, we all wanted some scented escape. That initial fragranced flurry saw many candle brands unfortunately fall by the wayside, but the demand had been ignited and it heralded the arrival of Purnima Fragrances.
Niche Perfumery is a term that’s hard to categorise these days, because the goal posts of what is produced by the large brands has shifted dramatically. Originally thought of as an alternative to the large corporations, most high-street brands now have a “niche” department creating more unusual offerings, and so the lines have definitely blurred. Once the domain of an independent producer creating in small batches, the focus is now firmly on the quality rather than the quantity. Many companies have tried to gain a foothold in the niche sector, with varying success, but the latest to proudly bloom is the Wales-based Ortir Apothecari.
There's a big push at the moment for simplistic designs and uniformity across the fragrances offered by perfume brands. With the bottles remaining constant, it’s often just the label that changes. While the bottle clearly won’t affect the fragrance inside, the pleasure of holding a sculptural item in your hand definitely accentuates the act of applying your favourite perfume. Some bottles are iconic, think of Guerlain’s Shalimar or Jean Paul Gaultier’s Le Male, and they certainly played a part in their legendary status. Bringing scent and design together is a definite skill, and that can absolutely be said of Soleil Lunar by Lalique.
With May now upon us, and the weather showing a determination to warm up, it’s the perfect time to enjoy those lazy evenings with friends. The familiarity that comes with comfortable companionship really shouldn’t be underestimated, especially when we’re constantly confronted by the “newest”, the “latest”, the “biggest”, and the “brightest”. This idea of familiarity meeting comfort is one that fragrance companies often work long and hard to achieve in their new releases, because it gives customers a feeling of security, and so to find it in abundance in Jonathan Ward’s new Mink Opal perfume is quite the achievement.
The seasonal release from any perfume company is often looked forward to with a greater anticipation than their main ranges, because the excitement of discovering the latest treat, and also knowing that it’s a limited edition, turns the act of wearing fragrance into something even more special. Summer and Spring launches were historically dominated by Bronze Goddess from Estée Lauder and the Aqua Allegoria collection from Guerlain, but all of that was challenged in 2010 when Fragonard began its own seasonal scent range. This year sees Fleur de Citronnier take centre stage, and the result is an uplifting delight.
The worlds of fashion and fragrance have always gone hand in hand, and it’s a tradition that shows no signs of slowing any time soon. These two industries survive on their ability to be inspirational and, more importantly than ever in an oversaturated perfume market, wearable. The mention of fabric “notes” or “velvety” finishes are a great way to spark the imagination when it comes to a customer’s appreciation of a scent, but it also feeds into that all-important fragrance description. One of the most recent additions to the fashion crossover is the re-emergence of tie-tastic Hugh Parsons, and the evocative Camden Town.
