Monday, 27 March 2023

STEPHAN'S SIX - REBECCA ROSE

Rebecca Rose, the founder of To The Fairest perfume company

The pandemic threw many plans out of the window, and one of these was a new run of the popular “Stephan’s Six” interview series. I recently rediscovered my original notes and so, finally, they can see the light of day. The first of the three is with Rebecca Rose, the founder of To The Fairest. The brand launched in 2019 with the very successful Cécile, but what secrets did Rebecca reveal when we were allowed to meet in 2021?

Monday, 20 March 2023

GERANIUM No.1 by C.Atherley

A jar of Geranium No.1 Bath Salts from C.Atherley, the new company from Cath Kidston Padgham and Heathcote & Ivory
National Fragrance Week is a celebration of all things scented, and it’s seven days during which the perfume industry goes full throttle in its attempt to both educate as well as encourage customers to purchase. The main focus is always centred on liquid perfume, although more recent years have seen candles and diffusers vying for some attention as well, but there’s a whole category that often gets overlooked. I’m talking about bathroom products. These are the first things we reach for in the morning and the post-work relaxers that send us to bed at night. So, let’s raise the flag and discover the new Geranium No.1 collection from C.Atherley.

Monday, 13 March 2023

VILLA SORRENTO by La Perla

Bottle of Villa Sorrento perfume by La Perla
Perfume was once the stuff of extravagant opulence and unbridled beauty, but recent years have seen that change somewhat. The gloriously bespoke bottles that accompanied a new launch have all but been replaced by pedestrian square-sided flasks, and there is very little beauty in a clear glass container. Of course, the juice inside the bottle is what really matters, but making it visually appealing to the eye doesn’t hurt either. When La Perla decided to reimagine their fragrance offering in 2021 it also extended to the bottle, and the result is magical. So, with warmer days on the horizon, it’s time to discover the sparkling Vila Sorrento.

Monday, 6 March 2023

NARCISSE by Fragonard

A bottle of Narcisse perfume from Fragonard, their 2023 Flower of the Year created by Karin Dubreuil
The winter this year has felt like a very long, and a decidedly cold three months. That’s why the first signs of spring were eagerly welcomed by us all. Those green shoots bursting through the soil, promising the flowers that were to come, gave off an excitement if not any actual warmth. This period before the garden truly springs into action can be a little barren with regards to colour, but that doesn’t mean delicate white petals aren’t something to be celebrated. For their 2023 Flower of the Year, Fragonard has fixed its sights on the perfectly formed Narcisse, and it’s as captivating as its Grecian inspiration.

Monday, 27 February 2023

GLADIATOR OUD by Electimuss London

A bottle of Gladiator Oud perfume from Electimuss created by Julien Rasquinet
When companies give perfumers the brief for a new release, there’s always the possibility that it will go in an unexpected direction. We all interpret things differently, whether that’s music or words, and the joy is often discovering how those descriptions have been translated into scent. Some perfumers will accentuate animalic notes, others revel in the piercing aromatics, but a creation will ultimately be born. When Electimuss London began work on their new release, they wanted to realise a fragrance that celebrated the Roman Gladiator in all his glory. Gladiator Oud is the result, and it’s the perfect example of excess within control.

Monday, 20 February 2023

SUNSET HOUR by Goldfield & Banks

A bottle of Sunset Hour perfume from Goldfield And Banks
One of the hardest things for any perfume company to do is try and improve on an already loved fragrance. It often results in numerous flankers, which is industry speak for variations on a theme which may or may not bear any resemblance to the original. These can be fleeting novelties, or misjudged disasters, and so they should always be approached with caution. However, the other option is to present the original fragrance in a freshly inspired bottle. This is usually accompanied by a price increase, which is why the limited edition of Goldfield & BanksSunset Hour is such a welcome change and the perfect scent to take us into spring.

Monday, 13 February 2023

GINGER by LUSH

A bottle of Ginger perfume from LUSH - originally launched by Cosmetics To Go
I know that many people will swear by the mantra “never look back”, but I’m one of millions that is happily enjoying the continued wave of 1980s nostalgia. This was the decade that saw me enter my teens, clumsily plant my first kiss, and begin to notice that the world was rapidly changing around me. From the strikes to the Big Snow, and of course the exciting arrival of the UK’s fourth television channel, these were ten tumultuous years. So, grab your Sony Walkman, and set the VCR to record Crossroads, because we’re heading back to 1988 to discover Ginger from Cosmetics To Go (aka LUSH).

Monday, 6 February 2023

AZZI'S ARCHIVE CANDLES by The Perfumer's Story

Azzi Glasser's new Azzi's Archive Candles
The words “Limited Edition” are enough to strike fear in the wallets of fragrance fans around the world. It’s also usually accompanied by a terrifying thought that you might miss out and, equally as terrifying, that you’ll need to decide which credit card you can fit the purchase onto. Well, just in time for Valentine’s Day, and thankfully at a wonderfully affordable price point, Azzi Glasser has launched a genuinely limited edition collection of candles. In true spring-cleaning style, The Perfumer’s Story has raided its founder’s private collection and released Azzi’s Archive Candles. So, are you ready for some flickering fun?

Monday, 30 January 2023

MARRAKECH by Tessa Williams

Marrakech perfume by Tessa Williams - the bottle surrounded by oranges
As the weather begins to warm up after months of snow, sleet and rain, many people’s thoughts turn to the climates of their favourite holiday destinations or even new ones that are waiting to be discovered. This is regularly mirrored in the perfume releases that begin to appear in early spring, with a multitude of aquatic citruses champing at the bit to escape from the warehouses, but there are already some fantastic travel-inspired fragrances ready to be worn straight away. Marrakech from Tessa Williams launched in May 2022 but, in the rush to “get back to normal”, you might have missed it. So, fancy a little scented travel?

Monday, 23 January 2023

The Coudray Curiosities

The Coudray Curiosities, which are bottles of Agua Divina and Eau Celeste perfume along with Lait d'Iris
The chances of finding a fragrance rarity while walking down the high street are pretty, for want of a better word, “rare”. Large companies are so quick to launch their latest updated version of a bestseller, or storm the shelves with a seasonal “must have”, that there isn’t room for novelty releases from their historic back catalogues. However, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t impossible. Coudray are one of the legendary French perfume houses, next to the likes of Piver, Guerlain and Lubin, and it’s from them that this surprise has sprung. It’s time to go back in time and discover the historic trio of Coudray Curiosities.

Monday, 16 January 2023

BÅRK by ånd fragrance

And Fragrance bottle of Bark perfume
There are two ways that a perfume company can approach new launches; they can either machine gun them out as fast as possible or take a more measured approach. The former is guaranteed to generate sales, but it’s the latter that’s more likely to also create loyal followers. The market is saturated with new releases every month, and so gathering this fan base is vital. That’s the direction that
ånd Fragrance have taken under the ever-watchful eye of founder Simon Constantine, and 2023 sees a new perfume join the collection. So, with Brazilian rosewood under the spotlight this time, it’s time to discover Bårk.

Monday, 9 January 2023

MUSC IMPÉRIAL EAU DE COLOGNE by Terres Dorees

Terres Dorees Musc Imperial Eau de Cologne perfume bottle
Christmas and New Year are the undisputed holidays of excess, and that’s why January is the perfect time to put the brakes on and take a moment to appreciate the simpler things in life. Most tables will have been groaning with food and the base of the Christmas Tree will have been hidden behind gifts but, with a new year of demands on our bank balances, you can still slash the price tags and walk away with a fantastic new fragrance. Uplifting and effervescent perfumes are always a guaranteed winner, so let’s take a trip to France and discover Musc Impérial Eau de Cologne from Terres Dorees.