The term “best seller” is one that gets thrown around with ease these days. Everything seems to qualify for the description, from fragrances through to books, so you often wonder what they’re actually being compared with? The days of the true “international best seller” are long gone, because customers demand constant variety and novelty, but it wasn’t always that way. Forty-six years ago a perfume was released by Max Factor that truly took the world by storm and, excusing a few reformulations, is still in production. Familiar to many, but possibly new to some, it’s time to rediscover the legend that is Halston by Bernard Chant.
There’s always been heated discussion over whether perfume should be classified as art. It stems from a basic disagreement over whether “fragranced frippery” is in the same league as a renaissance painter. Whichever camp you side with, the topic of “perfumed art” tends to accompany the release of scents that are deemed “challenging” (which may translate as unwearable) or those created specifically for an art installation or exhibition. However, the undisputed artistic skill of a perfumer is to translate a concept into a finished fragrance, and that is definitely on display with the finely tuned Machine Shop from Ankermade.
If there is one thing that I’ve relied on over the past twelve months then it’s surely been my bathtub. I would happily spend all day in there if I could, reading book after book, because it helps me to switch off, to escape, and to flip the metaphorical sign that says “do not disturb”. It’s also the perfect place to enjoy fragrance, and I’m not just talking about the many candles that have recently appeared. With over a third of the UK now favouring a bath over a shower, what goes into the water has never been more important. So, whether you want to be energised or calmed, College Green is guaranteed to have something for everyone.
The idea of being transported to another place and time is one that's often used when describing fragrance. The way it locks onto our innermost memories, almost making them come alive again, can be a wonderful experience. I get this same feeling of disappearing into a different world from reading, and there’s been no shortage of time for that recently. So, when a literary classic is the inspiration for a fragrance then you're guaranteed my undivided attention. Far From The Madding Crowd by Sarah Baker Perfumes is one such example, and there’s never been a better time to experience some nineteenth century swordsmanship.
Apparently there is nothing that says “I love you” more than a bouquet of red roses. Well, that’s what the florists would have you believe as we approach Valentine's Day. As a distinct alternative, my undying affection can always be bought with a bottle of Moet, and Odette Toilette has told me in the past that she’s anyone’s for a Toblerone! However, if you are choosing to go down the roses route, fragrance is also a popular choice. A lot of these floral scents can end up being cloying in the extreme, but there is help at hand. Combining passion with perfume, Love Story from Vines House Parfum is deliciously desirable.
You can’t have failed to miss the huge surge in independent candle companies that have launched over the past twelve months. With us spending the majority of our time at home, candles became the “must have” home product to help relax, stimulate, or calm the senses. The majority of these new brands simply bought pre-existing fragrance oils (how many times have you seen a variation on Pomegranate Noir?) but thankfully some decided to create from scratch. When Howard Crosskey launched Crosskey Avenue it followed multiple trials to perfect his own fragrances, and his debut trio of candles is a scented success.
The dream of launching your own perfume brand is one that many fragrance fans consider at some point, although few continue beyond that initial thought. The time that needs to be invested, not to mention the financial backing, can make it unattractive in the long term. However, if you do have the courage to take it further then you unlock a world of creativity. This is exactly what Laurie Arbuthnot did when she founded Wild Coast Perfumery in 2017. Located on Vancouver Island, her inspiration comes from the incredible surroundings, and it’s these that have resulted in the equally spectacular Genoa Bay Eau de Cologne.
One of the hardest challenges facing the fragrance industry, even in the days when you could actually get near a shop, was how to bewitch your customer into buying your perfume. A cold wall of bottles staring starkly back may have worked in the past, but companies are always having to dream up inventive ways to entice people to purchase. Getting the product onto the skin is always the challenge, that is unless you’re the undisputed Queen of persuasion. Jo Malone changed the perfume industry forever with her scented services, and the tradition continues with her newly relaunched Fragrance Paintbrush.
January is traditionally the month that we either hop on a plane to catch some post-winter sunshine or start planning the annual summer holiday. That’s why, with travel still heavily restricted, you could be forgiven for thinking that the only option is to put on another jumper and crank up the heating. Wouldn’t it be great if you could just close your eyes and feel yourself transported to a warmer climate? Well this is exactly what's on offer thanks to the new Discovery Pack from Terre del Garda, and in particular Tassoni 225. So, from resinous pines through to uplifting citrus, prepare to travel to the Italian shores.
