Fashion and fragrance have a long history of collaboration, from Chanel and Worth through to Gaultier and Versace, but there's another side of the rag trade that has inspired perfumed patterning. The male tailoring industry is one that manages to encompass all age groups and social standings and, thanks in part to the sharp silhouettes and tweed accents of the Peaky Blinders, the resurgence in tailor-made clothing brings with it a need for a fragranced flourish to finish the ensemble. So, if you’re looking for refined elegance with a traditional cut, look no further than Mayfair from The Savile Row Company.
With October firmly on the horizon, it’s definitely time to reach for the jumpers, scarves and woollen coats. Wrapping up warm becomes a morning ritual as you step out into the crisp air, and we often think more about getting to our destination rather than enjoying the journey. That’s why adding an additional layer of perfume before you leave the house can make battling the elements a little less of an ordeal. Counteracting the coldness of the season has traditionally been done by reaching for a gourmand or amber fragrance, and so finding the combination of both in Tramontana by Tessa Williams is perfect timing.
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.
