There is nothing I like more than packing a suitcase, picking up the plane tickets, and heading to the airport. The excitement of those new discoveries, the thrill of meeting up with old friends, and the urge to drive coastal roads once more almost carries you into your allocated seat. This year the thought of overseas travel will unfortunately simply remain a dream for many of us, but that doesn’t have to stop you hitching a scented flight to warmer climates. It's time to wind down the window, look out over the beautiful azure sea, and breathe in the aromas of the Côte d’Azur as we discover Riviera Drive from Atelier Des Ors.
It’s that special time of year again when Guerlain launches its latest Aqua Allegoria and this year it has gone in a decidedly more fruity direction. Passiflora, which is also known as Passion Flower, is the name of the 2018 creation by Thierry Wasser but the fragrance is much more about the fruit than the flower. It is described as “the spirit of passion fruit with an aquatic note” and is designed to be “invigorating, sunny and spontaneous.” So, with the Aqua Allegoria range now numbering ten, and competition for spaces relaxed at least for this year, let’s see just how Passiflora fits into the expanded lineup.
He’s arguably Britain’s most famous bear and, even after fifty-nine years, has once again managed to awaken the child in us all. Paddington Bear may not be the first character that you think about pairing with a fragrance but that’s exactly what I did after seeing his latest film, “Paddington 2”. A bear from “darkest Peru” could make you think of deep animalic scents or the feeling of soft fur, but for me it was something a little more playful. Paddington’s most famous attribute, besides his wellington boots and blue jacket, has to be his love of marmalade, and to my mind that instantly conjured up Mandarine Basilic by Guerlain.
Summer means one thing in the world of Guerlain, time to refocus on the new Aqua Allegoria fragrance. The idea of sunshine in a bottle is the cornerstone of the company’s seasonal release and this year is no exception. Bergamote Calabria is the creation of Thierry Wasser and Delphine Jelk, who now co-sign the majority of fragrances that come from this historic house. Bergamote Calabria originally launched back in February but Aqua Allegorias really come into their own as the weather gets warmer, and as we grab something at Duty Free. So, what does this new release have to offer?
Yesterday saw a new addition to Guerlain's “Parisiennes” line called Promenade des Anglais, which is named after the famous walkway that runs the length of Nice. The point of the “Parisiennes” is to showcase fragrances from the company’s past, whether these be limited editions or discontinued classics, but some of the choices have caused a few raised eyebrows. A couple of the original releases were quietly dropped in 2009, although Attrape Cœur did reappear as Harrods Exclusive Royal Extract. So, which Guerlain fragrance is now called Promenade des Anglais? Let's head back to 2008 to find out.
