SABOTAGE by Art de Parfum

Who wouldn’t like to turn the clock back and relive moments from the past. You could make different choices, take different routes, or just revel in the situations that made you who you are today. Reliving these memories can often be achieved by smelling a fragrance that puts you squarely back in your chosen moment, but what if you want to relive an entire decade? The department store shelves are groaning with the tried and tested perfume releases, but how about plumping for a new scent that conjures up the past? Sabotage from Art de Parfum cleverly takes us to the 90s, and it’s a decade not to be missed.

When you think about the fragrances that had been popular in the 80s, scents like Poison, Drakkar Noir and Obsession, the next decade was always going to need a new direction. The unisex revolution arrived in the form of CK One, Clinique’s Happy was a worldwide pick-me-up, and L’eau d’Issey Pour Homme became the marker for aquatic fragrances. In a nutshell, scents veered towards fresh rather than heavy. The 90s was also the decade when we saw a real resurgence of the night club, and the fragrances that were worn on the dance floors are burned into many memories.

When Ruta Degutyte founded Art de Parfum in 2015, it came out of a life lived around scent. Whilst her career hadn’t been in perfumery, she realised how evocative and transportive fragrance could be. From the aroma of sipping a gin and tonic to the scent memories of dancing the night away, reconnecting the wearer with moments from their lives felt like an obvious way to instil a sense of excitement to scent. Ruta launched with five fragrances, eventually increasing to eight, before Sabotage arrived in 2023. Promising a return to the 90s, it’s time to revisit it on its third birthday.

Sabotage arrived with the tagline, “I was trying to be good, but then I realised it’s just a matter of time.” Well, as someone that enjoyed everything that London had to offer in the 90s, that pretty much sums up the decade! Ruta Degutyte wanted Sabotage to combine the disruptive edge of the time with the optimism that was also present, because these were days that truly were a mix of darkness and light. Partying was happening at the same time as praying, so the scent styles of the 90s really are etched into the minds of a generation. So, grab a Bacardi Breezer as we get ready for some scented time travel.

Sabotage opens vibrantly with a citrus medley of pink grapefruit, bitter orange and mandarin, and really does conjure those dance-floor lights and high energy music. There’s an aquatic touch in the opening as well, referencing those iconic fragrances of the 90s, before a hint of tuberose starts to come through. This narcotic flower cleverly references the indulgent side of the decade, and is paired with a contrasting aromatic blend of camphor-like wormwood and basil. As the scent develops you are treated to a dry cedarwood and billowing white musk, before a final glimpse of clove reminds us of that 2am stagger into the daylight. Sabotage is a fantastic nod to the 90s, and provides a much-needed optimistic note for today as well.

Sabotage is available from the Art de Parfum website at artdeparfum.com, and is priced at £125 for 50ml. [Sample provided by Art de Parfum]