TRAMONTANA by Tessa Williams

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.

Affordability is often a subject that causes some friction in the fragrance world, because every company is trying their best to balance the books. New releases cost money, from the initial creation through to the final packaging, and this needs to be recouped as quickly as possible. However, perfumes really can be affordable, but you need to be open to trying some hidden gems and overlooked beauties. The Tessa Williams range of perfumes has been around now for ten years, and her goal has always been to provide excellent fragrances at pocket-friendly prices. So, who is Tessa Williams?

Tessa is a journalist and author, probably still best known amongst fragrance fans for the coffee-table book Cult Perfumes: The World’s Most Exclusive Perfumeries. Released in 2013 by Merrill Publishers, this spawned an initial Elements range of home fragrances, which then became Living Colognes, and were eventually joined by Faith, Hope and Love. Her ability to act as the Creative Director for two ranges of fragrances, which took the abstract and turned them into a scented realisation, gave her the knowledge to tackle a further collection of “travel inspired” colognes, and the latest result is Tramontana.

This new release takes its inspiration from the tramontana winds that blow over the Pyrenees, and through Tessa's favourite town of Cadaqués. These winds can be pretty powerful, knocking window shutters and claiming tablecloths as its own, but this town also boasts a speciality that challenges the gusts. Taps de Cadaqués is a spongy-like cake that’s soaked in Cuban rum, and this delicacy has become a favourite of the area. So it's great to realise that the idea of sitting inside with a plate of your own, while the sea-salted wind makes itself know to the town, is finally within reach thanks to Tessa Williams and Tramontana.

The fragrance opens with a green mandarin and sea salt pairing that immediately conjures the powerful winds carrying the coastal scents in its trail, before being joined by a touch of tiare flower and coconut. This floral touch then perfectly links to a delicious blend of honeyed tobacco and caramel, so the promised gourmand quality magically begins to appear. It’s interesting that at this point you then get notes of iris, cherry and cinnamon, and this adds a buoyancy that stops it feeling heavy. After teasing us, the promised Taps de Cadaqués then comes through with its rum and vanilla aroma, before a final tonka-laden amber and sweet leather finishes the perfect autumn fragrance.

Tramontana is available from the Tessa Williams website at tessawilliams.co.uk priced at £35 for 50ml, or as a candle priced at £30. There is also currently an offer running on the website for 20% off with the code VIRGO20. [Sample provided by Tessa Williams]