Christmas is just around the corner and the tinsel is about to be cajoled into yet another outing, but that also means it’s time for a little bit of scented seasonal celebration. Every household has their own set of traditions that mark the month-long festivities, and one of mine is my annual recommendation of which piece of flickering magic to have as pride of place in your home this year. We always have our personal favourites, but I’m going to try and get you to try something new. This year sees us travel from Paris to Bonnyrigg via Dorset, so the time has finally arrived to reveal my Top Five Candles for Christmas.
When we read a book or listen to music, we're in control of the images that are conjured in our minds. From putting a face to the dashing hero or visualising a band as they record your favourite song, the freedom of your imagination is as important as the inspiration itself. When it comes to fragrance it can often be a little more constricting. We’re given the inspiration for the scent and pretty much guided as to how we should feel, but it doesn’t always hold firm. Gold Spot from Sarah Baker Perfumes is intended as an homage to Hollywood glamour but, in my mind, it takes you to the dangerously addictive world of adultery.
Men’s grooming has always been a potentially profitable business for any company. That is, as long as the products on offer manage to capture the imagination and develop a loyal following. Most men simply buy what they need from the local supermarket or pick it off the shelf of the high street chemist, it's easy, but it wasn’t always like this. Back in the Victorian period, hair and body preparations were displayed in neat rows and embossed glass bottles, and this plastic-free approach is thankfully returning. So, 229 years after it first launched, it’s time to rediscover Rowland’s Macassar Oil courtesy of The Dandy Gent.
Green scents are for spring, citrus fragrances are for summer, woody perfumes are for autumn and amber concoctions are for winter. This is the rule that many fragrance fans still adhere to with a vengeance, and it’s always surprised me. The point of perfume is that it’s individual and transportive, whether that’s in a physical or emotional sense, so to have a fragrance pigeonholed to a particular season is something that we really need to stop doing. The perfect example is Green Spell from Eris Parfums. Originally thought of as a spring-inspired delight, it’s time to discover why it’s perfect for colder months as well.
