With the similarity between music and perfume, it’s no surprise that the former often acts as inspiration for the latter. I’ve talked before about the crossover of “notes” and “chords”, and even the array of ingredient bottles being described as a perfumer’s “organ”, and so it’s always fun to find a new fragrance that takes up the thread. Perfumes have been inspired by specific pieces of music, or particular pop bands, but an operatic season is a slightly different approach. Eight & Bob have taken the world-famous Glyndebourne Festival as their starting point, and the resulting La Musique de Christie hits all of the right notes.
The men’s grooming market is one that is forever being touted as “the next big thing” and “the sector to focus on” but, in reality, it’s one that has happily ticked along for generations. Whether we’re talking about the legendary Macassar Oil, the traditional Geo F. Trumper Shaving Cream, or even the new Eight & Bob Bath and Body range, men’s grooming products have always been an established part of daily routines. In more recent years the bestsellers may have changed, eye balms in favour of aftershave splashes, but tradition always powers through. That’s where Milano Cento comes in with their new Shaving Cream.
An aristocrat, a butler and a US president ... it's not a combination that screams fragrance house to you but that is exactly what this one does. The colourful story of Eight & Bob has provided an enviable history for the company and, whilst it might need to be taken with a large pinch of salt, it definitely entertains its fans. This year sees the release of Champs de Provence, which is the company's sixth fragrance since they "relaunched" in 2012, and it promises to capture the "freshness and beauty" of the Provençal landscape. It's an area that I adore and visit often, so I was intrigued to see whether it really did take me back.
A corporate solicitor is not the first person that you would imagine as the brains behind a new British beauty brand, but that is exactly what Robert Hallmark was. He trained in law, and for seven years worked in Birmingham and London before setting up Gruhme in March 2013. Now, I love his fragrance, Gruhme No.14, but I was interested to find out what led him to release that particular fresh scent. Would the answer lie in "Stephan's Six"?
