THE RESURGENCE OF GARDENIA
Strong, sweet and eye-wateringly
expensive. It may be a wedding bouquet
staple, but gardenia is not to be
dismissed as staid – bear in mind Billie
Holiday used to tuck a bloom behind her
ear to perform. And if you’ve ever tried to
grow gardenia, you’ll know how fragile it
is – and its fragrant oil is tricky to produce,
so most perfumes that claim to contain
gardenia use a synthetic substitute – with
varying degrees of success. The patchy
reproduction of gardenia adds to its elusive
appeal, but this year sees some pretty
authentic iterations – cool, not cloying,
in all its exotic, earthy glory. Perfectfor warm weather, British perfumer
Atkinsons has rendered it at the heart
of a spicy, oriental fragrance – paired
with ylang ylang you appreciate its rich
creaminess. This fragrant white flower
also features in Nina Ricci’s new Nina
Rouge – a gourmand (‘good enough to
eat’) offering, where it repeats on you,
alongside raspberry, ginger and vanilla.
In April, Armani Privé Gardénia Antigua
hits the shelves – here, the intoxicating,
silky floral accord plays off more powdery
notes. And in Coach’s big budget Dreams
launch, which is available from March,
gardenia comes off as buttery smooth
against bitter orange and juicy pear.94 HELLOFASHION.COM
Atkinsons, Nina
Ricci, Coach
and Armani are
gearing up to
launch gardenia-
based fragrancesTHERESURGENCEOFGARDENIA
Strong,sweetandeye-wateringly
expensive.It maybea weddingbouquet
staple,butgardeniais nottobe
dismissedasstaid– bearinmindBillie
Holidayusedtotucka bloombehindher
eartoperform.Andif you’veevertriedto
growgardenia,you’llknowhowfragileit
is – anditsfragrantoilis trickytoproduce,
somostperfumesthatclaimtocontain
gardeniausea syntheticsubstitute– with
varyingdegreesofsuccess.Thepatchy
reproductionofgardeniaaddstoitselusive
appeal,butthisyearseessomepretty
authenticiterations– cool,notcloying,
in all its exotic, earthy glory. Perfectforwarmweather,Britishperfumer
Atkinsonshasrenderedit attheheart
ofa spicy,orientalfragrance– paired
withylangylangyouappreciateitsrich
creaminess.Thisfragrantwhiteflower
alsofeaturesinNinaRicci’snewNina
Rouge– a gourmand(‘goodenoughto
eat’)offering,whereit repeatsonyou,
alongsideraspberry,gingerandvanilla.
InApril,ArmaniPrivéGardéniaAntigua
hitstheshelves– here,theintoxicating,
silkyfloralaccordplaysoffmorepowdery
notes.AndinCoach’sbigbudgetDreams
launch,whichis availablefromMarch,
gardeniacomesoffasbutterysmooth
against bitter orange and juicy pear.94 HELLOFASHION.COM
Atkinsons,Nina
Ricci,Coach
andArmaniare
gearingupto
launchgardenia-
based fragrances