The world of perfumery is built upon multiple traditions, whether that’s a fragrance's classification or through to those pesky note pyramids, but one of the most obvious is the notion of how people discover a perfume. The majority will still go into a store and smell the latest release on a paper blotter, before taking the plunge and spraying themselves liberally, and this might lead to the gift of a precious 2ml sample from the salesperson. Now this has been the norm for decades, but Artimique is challenging this with her beautiful Heart Charm, and the UK-based Sainte Cellier is backing her every step of the way.
When Brooke Belldon drew on her long-term passion for fragrance to launch the retail website Sainte Cellier, she quickly gained a reputation for stocking a carefully curated selection of the best that niche perfumery has to offer. Brooke has been a well-known face in the fragrance community for over a decade but, even after becoming a go-to voice for the niche market, still playfully describes herself as “an obsessive collector and enthusiastic student”. With such a wealth of knowledge, it was great to finally sit down with her and discover her scented memories during “Stephan’s Six”.
Green scents are for spring, citrus fragrances are for summer, woody perfumes are for autumn and amber concoctions are for winter. This is the rule that many fragrance fans still adhere to with a vengeance, and it’s always surprised me. The point of perfume is that it’s individual and transportive, whether that’s in a physical or emotional sense, so to have a fragrance pigeonholed to a particular season is something that we really need to stop doing. The perfect example is Green Spell from Eris Parfums. Originally thought of as a spring-inspired delight, it’s time to discover why it’s perfect for colder months as well.
The anticipation of a knock at the door heralding the arrival of the post has become a highlight for many over the past year. Being stuck at home meant that everyday activities were seriously affected, and that included shopping for anything that wasn’t a necessity. So it’s hardly surprising that this period saw the launch of many subscription services, and an increase in the availability of discovery boxes, with the perfume industry definitely leading the charge. Obviously the quality of the offerings varied dramatically, but one company that has absolutely nailed it is HooHaa. If you haven’t heard of them then it’s time that you did.
Every so often I get sent a fragrance just for fun. By that I mean that it's not something that is commercially available. Sometimes it's a modification, sometimes a trial, and sometimes an unused test. This was what happened last year when 4160 Tuesdays, more specifically Brooke Belldon, found an unreleased fragrance in the workshop and sent me a sample. A combination of luck, Brooke's squirrelling and my love of gin meant that I was unexpectedly given the ultimate feel-good fragrance. Throw in my not being able to read Brooke's handwriting and this years INVISIBLE PALLADIA was born.
