The seven new
fragrances to try
1 BEST OF BRITISH
Bamford Woodland Moss, £95 for
50ml EDP This smells like a leisurely Sunday
country walk in a bottle. Inspired by English
woodlands, the simple, natural, earthy notes
of patchouli, sage and rose make it perfect
for anyone who claims not to be “a perfume
person” but still wants to smell good.2 THE CELEBRITY BLOCKBUSTER
Fenty Eau de Parfum, £130 for 75ml
Who doesn’t want to smell like Rihanna? This
is musky but fruity at the same time, thanks
to hints of tangerine, blueberry and Bulgarian
rose. Spritz it onto the centre of your chest
— apparently that’s how Rihanna wears it —
when you’re heading out to dinner with
friends or for a date night.3 THE HANDBAG HERO
E11even Perfume Oil, £80 for 20ml
This unisex fragrance might be small but
it’s also mighty, with A-list fans including
Rosamund Pike and Lena Dunham, who
wore it on her wedding day. Balanced notes
of floral, spice and citrus combine to provide
an instant pick-me-up.4 THE AT-YOUR-DESK SPRITZ
The Nue Co Mind Energy, £85 for 50ml
It might sound a bit woo-woo, but this unisex
“fragrance supplement” claims to boost
mental energy and help clear mind fog
using stimulating notes of clary sage, pink
peppercorn and clove. Think of a velvety,
fresh, warm smell — it’s ideal for spritzing
on at work when you hit the 3pm slump.5 THE FESTIVE FRAGRANCE
Tom Ford Private Blend Ébène Fumé,
£178 for 50ml EDP If you want something
festive but still ultra-luxurious, this is it.
Fresh Christmas trees, mulled wine and a
cosy fire come to mind, thanks to its notes of
earthy woods, citrus and rich pine needles
combined with black pepper and violet leaf.6 THE PARTY PERFUME
Zara Vibrant Cities Magnificently Dubai,
£18 for 40ml EDP The strong, heavy base
notes of cedarwood, oud and leather in this
high street fragrance will last all night long
and travel across the dancefloor.7 THE SHOWSTOPPER
Guerlain Shalimar Millésime Vanilla
Planifolia, £89 for 50ml EDP Clear some
space on your dressing table — you will want
this vanilla-focused scent to take pride of
place. The woody, spicy and ever so slightly
leathery fragrance is perfect for winter nights.Aim for the
pulse points
“Blood is nearer to the surface of the skin on
your wrists, inside of the elbow and dip of the
collarbone,” says perfumer Roja Dove. “Apply
fragrance to these points, as heat is what
causes perfume to project and it intensifies
the notes.” But don’t rub it between your
wrists — “This crushes the molecules.”
Instead, allow the mist to settle on to skin, air
it naturally and wait a few moments for it to
settle before pulling on clothes, as fabrics can
soak up the scent from the skin.Know your notes
Believe it or not, “body chemistry is
extremely important when considering
a lasting scent”, says Parfum Muse’s
fragrance concierge, Andrew Kyriakou.
“This is determined by numerous factors,
but the main one is your diet.” According to
Kyriakou, a lack of iron in your diet can affect
a fragrance and make it smell off, so if this
applies to you, “look for perfumes that are
heavily scented with vanilla or tonka bean,
as these notes don’t often change, due to
their heavy molecules”.Don’t forget to
moisturise
“When skin is dry, perfume can evaporate
before you get a chance to appreciate it,”
Kyriakou says. To avoid this he advises
moisturising your skin with an unscented
body lotion before applying your perfume,
“as this will allow the fragrance to lock
on to your skin”. You can also try spraying
a little perfume into your body lotion to
make your scent last longer.Mix it up
Love your summer fragrance but find it’s
not intense enough for the colder months?
Don’t be afraid to experiment, Kyriakou says.
Layering your perfumes can help you find
ones that blend well. How best to go about it?
“Start by spraying the heavier perfume, then
top it off with a lighter fragrance.” ■Spritz and stay^
HOW TO MAKE SCENT LAST^
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The Sunday Times Style • 37