Whether you’re thinking about music, film, theatre or perfume, there are certain examples in every genre that demand to be referenced as the ultimate interpretation. This can be because they have captured the public’s imagination, maybe won the applause of the critics, but ultimately they stand alone on a pedestal. When it comes to perfume, there is arguably only one ingredient that truly bucks this trend. Oud has been a mainstay of the fragrance market since 2007, but its tenacity has made it challenging for many. It would take fourteen years for its heart to be truly revealed, and that was in Silky Woods from Goldfield & Banks.
There are certain fragrances and styles that have earned a well-deserved place in history as “go to” scents, and this is even more incredible when they stretch across centuries. Tastes have a frustrating habit of changing, and so once-favoured perfumes or ingredients can become lost to time, but there are still some that doggedly hang around and refuse to be pushed into the corner. One such ingredient is the humble lime, and it’s this that is showcased so brilliantly in Shay & Blue Sicilian Limes. Originally launched in 2013, and created by perfumer Julie Massé, the time is definitely ripe for a revisit.
One of the hardest things for any perfume company to do is try and improve on an already loved fragrance. It often results in numerous flankers, which is industry speak for variations on a theme which may or may not bear any resemblance to the original. These can be fleeting novelties, or misjudged disasters, and so they should always be approached with caution. However, the other option is to present the original fragrance in a freshly inspired bottle. This is usually accompanied by a price increase, which is why the limited edition of Goldfield & Banks’ Sunset Hour is such a welcome change and the perfect scent to take us into spring.
Summer is the season when people are generally encouraged to switch up their fragrance wardrobes and reach for the effervescent citruses over the more resinous perfumes. Now, I’ve never really believed that scent has a season, it’s the same argument as scent having a gender, and so I’ve always gravitated towards citruses throughout the whole year. There’s nothing nicer than a crisp fragrance on a cold winter’s day, and to find a new citrus that can straddle summer, autumn, winter and spring is always a treat. So, grab your passport because we’re bound for Australia to discover Bohemian Lime from Goldfield & Banks.
