EROS ENERGY by Versace

There can be no doubt that in the United Kingdom we have hit autumn with a vengeance. The wind is howling, the rain is falling, and a “crispness in the air” actually translates as “bloody cold”. However, it’s the vastly changing seasons that make this wonderful island such a special place to live. Having said that, it does feel a little early to be reaching for the amber-imbued sweetness that is reserved for the winter months. Happily Versace have come to the rescue with the beautifully timed Eros Energy. With some tantalisingly crisp citrus and woody facets, it feels like Versace have hit gold once again.

There cannot be anybody who hasn’t heard the name “Versace” and been inspired by their ground-breaking fashion, but they were actually quite late to the table with their fragrances. The self-titled Gianni Versace scent launched the perfume range in 1981 and, helped by Alain de Mourges stunning bottle, it went on to be a worldwide bestseller. The 1980s proved to be a decidedly slow start for the brand, with only two more releases in that decade, but 1994 changed all of that. The Jeans perfume collection was born and, over its ten year reign, saw an impressive fourteen variations.

Companies can’t rest on their laurels however, and customer tastes were changing, and so Versace needed a new spellbinder. It came in 2004 with Antoine Lie’s Crystal Noir, and it put the brand back on the map. There was a plethora of releases over the next twenty years, but a launch in 2012 started a new scented legacy. Eros arrived as an aromatic fougere and, over the next nine years would be reclothed five times - twice in female garb - before reappear this year in its new gloriously yellow livery. Echoing the fading sun but looking forward to the season to come, Eros Energy was born.

The inspiration for the new perfume comes from the Mediterranean coastline and combines “the freshness of the scenery, the wildness of the air and the luxuriousness of a Versace vacation”. It’s a powerful brief for any fragrance, but you understand why it’s then described as a fragrance that depicts “strength, knowledge and kindness”. The inspiration of any perfume can only go so far, because the wearer always adds their own story on top, and exploring this scent really felt like the perfect bridge between the autumn yellows and the ice-white winter that is to come. It’s a fascinating fragrance, and a joy to wear.

Eros Energy opens with a mouth-wateringly uplifting citrus medley, highlighted with grapefruit and blood orange, and it absolutely radiates the final appearances of the summer sunshine. However, it also hints at the golden celebratory hues that are on the horizon. The development of the scent sees the spicy aspects of pink pepper, clove and blackcurrant, and this brings to mind those crisp autumnal walks wrapped up in a soft wooden scarf. However, the final notes of earthy oakmoss and vetiver, along with sweetened patchouli, are expertly blended with an incense-imbued musk that raises an excellent scent into an exciting experience. Perfect for any season, this is destined to be a must-have under every Christmas tree.

Eros Energy is available from thefragranceshop.co.uk, priced at £74 for 50ml, £95 for 100ml and £126 for 200ml. [Sample provided by Aspects Beauty]