The word “luxury” is one that is used very freely in the world of perfume, but it doesn’t always feel as though it suits every intended subject. There are many aspects that can let the whole experience down. This could be an ill-thought-out piece of packaging or, in some instances, scents that don’t live up to expectations. To be a truly luxury brand you need all of the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle to fit together perfectly. One of the most recent examples of a company that has got it exactly right is Electimuss London. Now in its seventh successful year, let’s go back to the beginning and rediscover the indulgently decadent Black Caviar.
Attempting to make changes to an established industry is always difficult, especially when we’re talking about the perfume industry. There are so many expected stages, including everything from the process to the final reveal, that it can often feel like a new fragrance is just the latest off a conveyer belt of launches. There are companies and individuals fighting this perception, actively trying to do things differently, and their successes absolutely deserve to be celebrated. One such partnership is Thomas De Monaco and Fredrik Dalman. They’ve challenged both convention and communication in their first joint venture, Raw Gold.
The launch of a new fragrance company is often accompanied by a “bells and whistles” approach to marketing, and the inevitable combined saturation of every social media channel. It absolutely gets you noticed, and very quickly, but whether this initial interest is lasting is another thing. That’s why more and more companies are taking the slow and steady approach, in the hope that they will create loyal customers that are genuinely interested in the brand. Elementary did exactly this when they launched at the end of 2019 and, now in their third year, it’s time to revisit the creative duo and rediscover Lowbrow Jazz.
Every time you speak with a member of staff in a department store, or pick up one of the various perfume discovery boxes that are available, your recommendations will often be decided “for” you rather than “with” you. The sales assistant may be on commission for a certain brand, the boxes may be filled with what’s available rather than what’s requested, and so it’s not really a true indication of what suits you. In-depth and unbiased perfume consultations are available in some stores, but what happens if you’re not near one of them? Enter Fiole, which promises to be “the world’s first virtual perfumery”.
Whenever I interview people for “Stephan’s Six”, the question about their first scent memory often gravitates towards deliciously scented food. The aroma of fresh bread, the sweet scent of buttercream, or even zesty homemade lemonade, these subconscious childhood fragrances can really shape our future perfume preferences. No one can forget the experience of biting into an unripe gooseberry, or getting to lick the uncooked cake mix off the spatula, so finding all of these sensations combined in a perfume is an unexpected treat. Får from ånd fragrance is the latest in their collection, and it’s every Bake Off fan’s dream.
When we talk about the newest fragrance, or the latest must-have release, our thoughts will instantly turn to those images of the bottles that we’ve seen in magazines or online. We instinctively look forward at what is to come, but there is a treasure trove of perfumes that are also waiting for us in the past. The idea of “newness” is often confused with “latest” but, if you stop and think about it, everything is “new” to someone. With finances getting a little tighter, some historic searching can turn up some fantastic fragrances at inexpensive prices. So, with that in mind, it’s time to rediscover Halston 1-12.
I’ve never been able to pin down a particular season that I love over the others, and I think that’s because each of the four have their own individual appeal. Summer is the time for hot weather and shorts, autumn means watching the leaves turn from green to brown, and winter definitely sees the appearance of Christmas trees and spices. However, spring always feels like it’s the start of something new. The first blossoms on the tree, the daffodils pushing through, but all with a very present touch of crispness in the air. We’re not far off the start of spring now, so what better way to get in the mood than with Fleur Verte from 1000 Flowers.
If the past two years have taught us anything then it’s surely the importance of space. We all spent so much time stuck at home that it gave us a much-needed opportunity to look around at a lifetime of amassed belongings and ask, “Do I really need all of this?” In the world of perfume we’re always encouraged to go bigger and invest in the largest size, whether we want it or not, but a few companies are thankfully starting to go in the other direction. Le Jardin Retrouvé has just launched a new 15ml size in all of their fragrances, and there’s no better way to try out this space saver than with the classic Eau des Délices.
If you’ve had the same weekend that I’ve had then it’s mostly been spent worrying what Storm Eunice was planning to inflict upon us. I got off fairly lightly, four ridge tiles crashed down off the main roof and landed on the kitchen extension, but it did mean that there was a definite need for something that could provide a little additional calm and relaxation. With the insurance claim under way, I turned to the gentle flicker of a candle flame. Luckily for us all, Ancienne Ambiance have the limited edition Bella Bergamotta to soothe away our troubles, but you’ll need to be quick if you want to get your hands on one.
