Seasonal Scents Subscription Box Autumn 2023 Smelling Notes

SEASONAL SMELLING NOTES AUTUMN

WELCOME TO YOUR AUTUMN 2023 BOX !

Autumn is the season when the fruit and veg are harvested, the weather starts to turn colder, and our fragrance choices are caught between the citrus of summer and the warmth of winter. It’s a time when perfumers can really experiment as we all search for those “crisp-edged” perfumes.

So, whether you’re looking to unleash your inner warrior, hankering for some much-needed nostalgia, or even dreaming of a tropical twist, grab your scarf as we open up the Autumn Seasonal Scents Subscription Box.

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WIDIAN BANIYAS

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: AMBER VANILLA

TOP NOTES: bergamot, artemisia, lavender

HEART NOTES: geranium, cedarwood, agarwood

BASE NOTES: patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, evernyl

Autumn is the time when we start to reach for warmer clothes, the ones that have laid undisturbed in the wardrobe during summer, and this is epitomized by Baniyas from Widian. There’s the crisp bergamot and aromatic lavender, that hints at the changing season, but also a sweet comfort from the sandalwood and agarwood, and this definitely brings back memories of being layered up as a child against the elements. However, the dry earthiness of the patchouli and cedarwood, and an exciting dose of vetiver, are delightfully reminiscent of those much needed woodland walks with just the trees for company.

We love any excuse to travel at The Perfume Society, so were obviously excited when Ali Aljaberi founded Widian in 2014 with the goal of capturing the contemporary Arab spirit. From wonderful scents through to the beautiful bottle, which is inspired by the Sheikn Zayed Mosque, each fragrance takes you on a journey through the heritage of the Middle East.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: WIDIAN BANIYAS

• When you smell this fragrance, where do you imagine yourself being?

• What do you look for in an autumn fragrance?

• What smells come to mind when you think about dressing up for cold weather?

• We’re talking a lot about aromatics, but is there a flower that you associate with autumn?

• If you weren’t at home, where would you travel for autumn and how would it smell?

From £242 for 50 ml Extrait de Parfum harveynichols.com

A LA LUNE LONDON TRINITY BLOOD

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: METALLIC AMBER

TOP NOTES: metal, blood, smoke, blackberry

HEART NOTES: myrtle, patchouli, red wine

BASE NOTES: vetiver, myrrh

When you’re offered the chance to “be the author of your own destiny and be invincible”, how could you refuse? Some say that we fight the coming of autumn, wanting summer to stay as long as possible, and that warrior-like quality is definitely in this fragrance. There’s a sword-edged metallic opening that gives way to fruity blood accord, think mineral meets blackberry, and then a triumphant peppery vetiver shows that we’ve clearly battled in the open air. You’ve also got a smokiness in here, perhaps from distant chimneys, and someone has definitely added some ceremonial myrrh to the embers.

A La Lune was formed by a collection of creatives that have used their multi-cultural backgrounds to release fragrances that absolutely celebrate diversity. One of their core principles is that there is a bond between what people wear and how they feel about their bodies, and this is something that we definitely agree with at The Perfume Society.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: A la Lune london TRINITY BLOOD

• How would you describe the smell of a sword edge?

• The blood accord in this fragrance pairs with the blackberry? What other fruits could they have used, and why?

• What fragrances make you feel like an “armoured warrior”?

• This is a very evocative fragrance. Using the notes and the description as inspiration, what else can you smell?

• Who or what do you think that you could defeat with scent?

From £89 for 30 ml Eau de Parfum alalune.co.uk

MOLTON BROWN WILD MINT & LAVANDIN

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FRESH AROMATIC

TOP NOTES: wild mint

HEART NOTES: lavandin, nutmeg

BASE NOTES: orris, tonka bean

MOLTON BROWN

WILD MINT & LAVANDIN

If I had to describe autumn then it would be a crispness in the air, a thin scarf keeping out the approaching skin-biting winter cold, and the crunch underfoot as the leaves start to fall. Molton Brown have captured this perfectly. The freshness that comes from the wild mint and the lavandin, a hybrid of lavender, is exhilarating, but there’s a decadent surprise. You’re treated to a massive dose of powdery and buttery iris, so you can really feel that cashmere around your neck. With a warming touch of tonka bean, I’m left wondering where I’ve put my welly socks?

The often copied, but never surpassed, pinnacle of bath and body products, Molton Brown have been captivating us all since 1971. Founded by Caroline Burstein and Michael Collis, they’ve come a long way since their first scent (now called Orange & Bergamot) caused queues around the block. The stores are still a go-to, but now it’s for niche fragrance lovers.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: MOLTON BROWN

WILD MINT & LAVANDIN

• Iris is a wonderful ingredient for adding a powdery and creamy quality. What other fragrances do you have that use iris?

• What scents conjure the feeling of walking on crisp leaves?

• Lavender is not everyone’s favourite ingredient, but what do you like about it?

• Who would you gift this fragrance to, and why?

• What aromas come to mind when you think of wearing a scarf to keep out the cold?

From £16 for 7.5 ml eau de parfum moltonbrown.co.uk

moltonbrown moltonbrown

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: GOURMAND

TOP NOTES: lemon peel, rum

HEART NOTES: Chantilly cream, praline

BASE NOTES: brown sugar, vanilla

Fruits ripening on the trees, and then the joy of harvesting, is another pleasure that this season brings. The question becomes what to do with all of those juicy delights? Bake was inspired by a cupcake, and “the evocative power of sweet treats”, but also sums up the quandary of whether to bottle or bake. You’ve got a mouthwatering lemon and rum combination that’s reminiscent of a rumtopf, a cream and praline pairing that’s the perfect finishing touch to any dessert, and a delicious brown sugar and vanilla blend that conjures crumbles and pies fresh from the oven. Choices, choices!

AKRO understands that our favourite scents aren't always flowers and fruits, which is why Olivier Cresp and his daughter, Anaïs Cresp, created a range of perfumes that they describe as “the temptations of everyday life”. They also say that there’s nothing as alluring as naughtiness, and we wholeheartedly agree.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: AKRO BAKE

• What are your favourite food scents and how could they be used in a fragrance?

• Are you a sweet or savoury person, and is it the same for fragrance as well?

• Is there a particular dessert that brings back memories of a place or time?

• On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is Muscovado sugar and 10 is candyfloss, where are you on the gourmand fragrance scale?

• What dessert would you like to have made into a perfume, and why?

From £80 for 30 ml eau de parfum fenwick.co.uk

MAP OF THE HEART V.8 ABUNDANCE

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: WOODY SPICY

TOP NOTES: bitter orange, pink pepper, incense

HEART NOTES: flame tree, akigalawood

BASE NOTES: Australian sandalwood, white sandalwood, benzoin

MAP OF THE HEART V.8 ABUNDANCE

Fragrances have the ability to conjure mood and feeling, as well as place and time, but creating the scent of contentment is harder. That’s exactly what you’re going to love about V.8 Abundance Imagine the moment when bright sunlight cuts through a crisp autumnal day; well you’re given that in abundance with a pairing of bitter orange and pink pepper. The feeling of calm continues with two creamy sandalwoods, the woody patchouli aroma of akigalawood, and even a touch of dry cedarwood. Now, we know contentment is different for everyone, but this is a great place to start.

Map of the Heart draws on Sarah Blair and Jeffrey Darling’s passion for story and, as you’ll discover in V.8 Abundance, acknowledges that fragrance can be both transporting and intoxicating. The multi award-wining company believes that everything comes from our heart, that it’s who we are, and that also includes scent.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: MAP OF THE HEART V.8 ABUNDANCE

• How does the opening blend of bitter orange and pink pepper make you feel?

• When would you wear this perfume and why? For work, at home…

• What does contentment mean to you, and how would that smell?

• How does this fragrance make you feel calm and grounded?

• What other fragrances do you have that make you feel content?

From £85 for 30 ml eau de parfum mapoftheheart.com

mapoftheheart mapoftheheart

GRANADO PHARMÁCIAS NOSTALGIA

GRANADO PHARMÁCIAS NOSTALGIA

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL WOODY

TOP NOTES: pink pepper, bergamot, mandarin

HEART NOTES: lily, orange blossom, rose

BASE NOTES: musk, amber, cashmeran

There’s a stillness and a quietness that comes with the autumn season, even though it’s also a busy period with harvests and then preparation for winter, and this merging of two opposites is mirrored in Nostalgia. A blending of the house’s traditional and modern sides, the fragrance’s delicate citrus opening seems to melt into the lightly floral heart of white blooms and rose. This gives an expansiveness to the perfume that is then supported by an ingredient called cashmeran. As the name suggests, think of the smell of a cashmere jumper, close your eyes, and enjoy the silence.

We love history at The Perfume Society, so discovering Granado Pharmácias was a delight. They were founded in Rio de Janeiro in 1870 by José Antonio Coxito Granado, and their fragrances still draw on his original idea of using local aromatics, which was an early form of environmental responsibility. With eye-catchingly colourful designs, the difficulty is choosing where to start.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: GRANADO PHARMÁCIAS NOSTALGIA

• People often say that the smell of a cashmere jumper reminds them of a parent. What does it remind you of?

• Nostalgia aims to combine tradition with modernity. Has it achieved that, and why?

• We think that this fragrance smells like “silence”. What does “silence” smell like to you?

• What other fragrances do you have that make you feel nostalgic?

• This fragrance stays close to the body. When is the perfect time to wear a fragrance like this?

From €120 for 75 ml eau de parfum granado.eu

granadoeurope granadopharmacias

THAMEEN LONDON INSIGNIA

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL

TOP NOTES: bitter orange, whisky accord, milky fig accord

HEART NOTES: damask rose, geranium, bay leaf

BASE NOTES: vetiver, sandalwood, Cuir Velours de Laire

As the year changes from cold to warm, and then to cold again, so does our choice of tipple. The year begins and ends with champagne, and summer belongs to Aperol Spritz, but autumn definite sees whisky gaining ground. Insignia takes a beautiful whisky accord but mixes it with a touch of milky fig, to create an almost aristocratic cocktail. There’s a velvety rose and aromatic geranium in here as well, which hints at the robes that an insignia would be worn on, and a suede-like leather adds a decadent plushness. This is our top choice for autumn parties.

We do love a home-grown brand at The Perfume Society, and that definitely goes for Thameen London. Founded in 2013, they draw on British culture and heritage, and use them as the inspiration for their exceptional scents. This year sees the launch of their new Britologne collection, and we can’t wait!

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: THAMEEN LONDON INSIGNIA

• This fragrance is built around a whisky accord. How would you describe the smell?

• What other fragrances do you own that use the scent of a spirit as one of the ingredients?

• The fragrance is described as being “aristocratic”, but how would you describe that smell?

• There are many different leather aromas used in perfumery, but which one is your favourite, and why? Biker leather, suede, vintage handbag…

• Who would you buy this fragrance for, and why?

From £235 for 50 ml Extrait de Parfum selfridges.com

SOKI LONDON APHRODITE

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL FRUITY

TOP NOTES: mango

HEART NOTES: lotus, palm trees

BASE NOTES: coconut milk

We know that not everyone looks forward to the weather changing from the sunshine of summer to September’s bite, but you could always opt for a tropical autumn instead. Ruth Mastenbroek is the nose behind Aphrodite and it definitely “transports the wearer to a sensual paradise”. Like a recipe for a beach cocktail, you’ve got mango, lotus flower and coconut milk, but there’s still more to come. You also have an aquatic green note, that brings palm trees to mind, and a final touch of labdanum for that sun-kissed skin aroma. It’s definitely sweet, it’s mischievously playful, it’s absolutely Aphrodite.

At The Perfume Society we believe that fragrance should be accessible to everyone, and that view is shared by Sophie King, aka Soki. A YouTube fragrance influencer, she set out to create a fragrance that was both affordable and long-lasting. Empress was that perfume, and the follow-up is Aphrodite and we’re all excited to see what comes next.

SMELLING NOTES: EXPLORE: SOKI LONDON APHRODITE

• The note of mango in Aphrodite is very prominent. How does its fruity smell make you feel, and why?

• Fruity floral fragrances are often said to be more suitable for “younger” people. Do you agree with this, and why?

• Where do you think of when you smell this fragrance, and why?

• This is a playful fragrance, so who do you think would love to receive this as a gift?

• What other fruity floral fragrances do you own, and when do you usually wear them?

From £69 for 50 ml eau de parfum shop.sokilondon.com