Summer 2024 Smelling Notes

WELCOME TO YOUR SUMMER 2024 BOX !

Summer is the season when we traditionally start to reach for the citrus and aquatic fragrances, but spare a thought for the gorgeous greens as well. By combining these three qualities together you don’t just get uplifting scents, you also get a wonderfully cooling quality that’s always needed in the summer sunshine.

So, whether you’re looking for a romantic city break to Paris, longing to dip your toes in the ultra-blue sea, or even just want to lie back and watch the sunrise, grab your passport and prepare for some scented travel as we unpack the Summer Seasonal Scents Subscription Box.

The Perfume Society theperfumesociety Perfume_Society

AR g ENTUM

LOVER

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL MUSK

TOP NOTES: Green Geranium, Pink Peppercorn

HEART NOTES: Iranian Rose, Raspberry

BASE NOTE: Musk

Summer hopefully means a burst of sunlight, if you’re lucky, along with a welcomed warmth on the skin. This is beautifully realised in Lover. The opening burst of pink pepper and citrus sets up that sunshine illusion before delicious notes of rosy raspberry conjure a relaxed comfort that is so associated with warmer months. You’re also gifted an aromatic green quality, thanks to the geranium, that adds a long-lasting interest on the skin. With a final dusting of sand-like musk, you really are transported to a beach setting, with the gentlest tease of water lapping at your feet.

We love new ways to wear fragrance at the Perfume Society, so when Argentum created their collection of alcohol-free eau de parfums we knew we had to try them. The water-based formulas created by perfumer Delphine Thierry make them perfect for the hair and the skin, and even moisturise at the same time. So now you really can “perfume positively”.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: Argentum lover

• What do you notice about the difference between this water-based fragrance and the traditional alcohol-based fragrances?

• This fragrance has 94% ingredients from natural origin – how does this change the way you approach it?

• When would you wear this perfume, and why?

• Raspberry notes are popular in perfumery at the moment, but how do they make you feel?

• How does the performance differ between spraying it on your hair to spraying it on your skin?

From £228 for 70 ml Eau de Parfum perfumesociety.org

BDK

312 SAINT-HONORÉ

FRAGRANCE

FAMILY: woody musky FLORAL

TOP NOTES: Pink Peppercorn Extract, Pink Peppercorn Leaf, Angelica Root

HEART NOTES: Orange Blossom, Tonka Bean, Iris

BASE NOTES: Ambroxan, Ambery Musk, Oud Wood

BDK 312 SAINT-HONORÉ

BDK is a firm favourite at The Perfume Society, and the fragrance they’ve launched to celebrate the new Paris boutique is exceptional. The bright opening has been created to mirror the glass of the address, with pink pepper leading the charge, before the signature-esque orange blossom and tonka bean add a sensuality that is captivating. Perfumer Alexandra Carlin has then added woody notes with washes of cedarwood, along with hints of a concrete-like accord, to summon up the textures of the store and the company’s modern approach. With a final hint of resinous oud, it’s time to pack for Paris!

The words “exceptional” and “exquisite” are freely used in the world of perfumery, but they definitely apply to BDK Parfums. Launched by David Benedek back in 2016, he has developed an outstanding collection of perfumes and candles that are a must for every collection. If you’re looking for a little piece of Paris at home, then look no further.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: BDK 312 sainthonoré

• How does this fragrance conjure up the aroma of Paris?

• What ingredients would you choose to portray the French city of love?

• Which of your friends would love this perfume, and why?

• Orange blossom is always called a sensuous ingredient, but what other fragrances do. You have that contain it?

• Is there another city or street that you would like to see immortalised in a fragrance, and why?

From £175 for 100 ml Eau de Parfum harveynichols.com

EXPERIMENTAL PERFUME CLUB PISTACHIO HAIKU

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: GORMAND green

TOP NOTES: Fig Leaf, Pistachio Leaf

HEART NOTES: Pistachio, Hazelnut

BASE NOTES: Cedarwood, Vetiver, Benzoin

EXPERIMENTAL PERFUME CLUB

PISTACHIO HAIKU

Along with the warmth of sunshine and delicate breezes, summer is also about the dry heat that’s a joy after spring. Experimental Perfume Club have given us an insight into this in their new fragrance Pistachio Haiku. Built around, and opening with, crushed hazelnut, a slightly waxy pistachio sits alongside in this perfume. It’s followed by touches of fig, the textural skin rather than the fruit, and finishes with the earthy blend of cedarwood and vetiver. There is a pinch of sweetness added thanks to a dash of tonka bean, and it definitely made us crave a Ladurée hazelnut macaron.

The Experimental Perfume Club was born out of a realisation that fragrance fans wanted a more hands-on approach to scent. Emmanuelle Moeglin, a graduate of the famous ISIPCA perfume school, developed a way to combine her fragrances into one bottle – so creating a bespoke blend. Now based on London’s historic Monmouth Street, it’s the new “must visit” for perfume lovers.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: EXPERIMENTAL PERFUME CLUB PISTACHIO HAIKU

• The aroma of fig is very popular in current fragrances, but how would you describe it?

• Have you ever created your own perfume, and how did the experience make you feel?

• Where would you wear this perfume, and why?

• What would be your top three ingredients to blend into a perfume, and why?

• Are there any other perfumes in your collection that contain a nut aroma, and how do they compare with Pistachio Haiku?

From £45 for 10 ml Eau de Parfum experimentalperfumeclub.com

MOLTON BROWN

SUNLIT CLEMENTINE & VETIVER

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: CITRUS woody

TOP NOTES: Mandarin, Clementine, Lime

HEART NOTES: Iris, Hazelnut, Fig

BASE NOTES: Bourbon Vetiver, Suede, Moss

MOLTON BROWN

SUNLIT CLEMENTINE & VETIVER

Ever since the world became captivated by Estée Lauder’s Bronze Goddess, the battle for summer scenting has become a tradition. Molton Brown have thrown their hat into the ring this year with the vibrant Sunlit Clementine & Vetiver. It is a citrus cocktail in perfume form! Opening with mandarin, clementine and lime – mouth-watering or what? –it then blends with a hazelnut and fig combo that adds a delicate depth. The base of the fragrance becomes about the surroundings with earthy vetiver meeting smooth suede notes, with the support of soft moss. It’s like a summer picnic in the park.

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

SUNLIT CLEMENTINE & VETIVER

• What other fragrances do you own from Molton Brown, and how do they compare to Sunlit Clementine And Vetiver?

• How does the aroma of mandarin make you feel in the fragrance?

• Which ingredients would you use to create a fragrance that conjures up summer?

• Vetiver is often described as the aroma of a hessian sack, so what memories does it conjure for you?

• Where do you image yourself wearing this fragrance, and why?

From £120 for 100 ml Eau de Parfum johnlewis.com

MONCLER

SUNRISE POUR FEMME

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL woody

TOP NOTES: Pear, Violet Leaves, Grapefruit

HEART NOTES: Peony, Freesia, Lilly of the Valley, Jasmine

BASE NOTES: Sandalwood, Amber, Cedarwood

MONCLER

SUNRISE POUR FEMME

Creating an exciting yet delicate bouquet is a real art, but that is exactly what you are treated to thanks to the expertise of Christophe Raynaud, Antoine Maisondieu and Quentin Bisch. The floral heart of peony, freesia, lily of the valley and jasmine is pierced with a crunchy pear and grapefruit blend but, in a very clever addition, the hint of violet at the beginning creates a sensuousness that links perfectly to the amber in the base. This perfume is described as “a contrast between softness and strength”, and the final touch of sandalwood plays perfectly with both of these.

Italian luxury meets alpine living with Moncler, thanks to its original home town of Monestier-deClermont in France. Founded back in 1952, it would be an incredible 69 years before it launched its debut duo of fragrances, but it’s quickly established a lasting reputation for perfume that truly mirrors its reputation for fashion. You don’t need snow anymore to enjoy Moncler!

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: MONCLER SUNRISE POUR FEMME

• How does the perfume conjure the effect of a sunrise, and how does it make you feel?

• Violet as in ingredient is experiencing a revival, but how would you describe its scent?

• Which of your friends would love this perfume, and why?

• This perfume is aimed at women, but do you think that fragrance has a gender, and why?

• What ingredients would you pick to bring to life the idea of a sunrise?

From £76 for 60 ml Eau de Parfum theperfuMEshop.com

MONTBLANC

EXPLORER ULTRA BLUE

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: CITRUS MARINE WOODY

TOP NOTES: Italian Bergamot, Pink Pepper

HEART NOTES: Marine Accord, Grey Amber

BASE NOTES: Patchouli, Woods

MONTBLANC

Who doesn’t enjoy plunging into crystal clear blue water with sunshine warming your back? Well, you really do get to experience this thrill from the comfort of your own home with Explorer Ultra Blue. Built around an airy aquatic note, it’s also been given a saltiness that takes you closer to the ocean. Working in harmony with the vibrant bergamot and pink pepper in the opening, this has that mood-boosting effect that days spent by the sea can bring. With its final notes of patchouli and cedarwood creating a driftwood-like quality, you’re definitely encouraged to beach-bathe a little longer.

From pens to watches, and perfumes to bags, Montblanc is the epitome of quality and craftsmanship. Since its beginnings in 1906, every item that bears its six-pointed snowcap is guaranteed to have been created by the finest makers. From its first fragrance Presénce, through to Legend, and on to Explorer, we’re always treated to perfumes that make lasting memories.

EXPLORER ULTRA BLUE montblanc montblanc

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: MONTBLANC

EXPLORER ULTRA BLUE

• The perfume uses the word “blue” in the title, but what ingredients do you think give that quality to the fragrance?

• Summer is about the beach to many people, so where are you transported when you smell Ultra Blue?

• When would you wear this perfume, and why would you choose it?

• Pink Pepper adds a bright edge to the opening of Explorer Ultra Blue, but how would you describe the ingredient’s aroma?

• What other items do you own that are made by Montblanc, and how does their quality compare to the perfume?

From £38 for 30 ml Eau de Parfum sephora.co.uk

SHAY & BLUE

BLUEBERRY MUSK

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: light floral

TOP NOTES: Blueberry, Orange

HEART NOTES: Magnolia, Orange Blossom

BASE NOTES: Musk, Cashmere Wood

SHAY & BLUE

Shay & Blue are proof that fragrances can be fun, and also show that summer isn’t just about beaches and travel – it’s also the delicious berries and fruits that we turn to. Blueberry Musk feels like the ultimate fruit salad, and there’s even a bit of a 1980s vibe to it. The blueberries and orange segments are blended with slices of banana and crisp apple slices, all covered with a delicately sweetened juice. The perfume does also has a floral heart of magnolia and a cashmere wood, that could almost hint at fuzzy peach skin. Who’s craving a fruit salad?

Perfumes that are “made for everyone and anyone” are definitely the way ahead, as we start to break the myth that flowers are for girls and woods are for boys. Shay & Blue are a small team of rebels who create fun fragrances that are 100% natural and, in their words, ask us to “be bold – be different – be better”.

BLUEBERRY MUSK shayandblue shayandbluelondon

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: SHAY & BLUE BLUEBERRY MUSK

• Fruity notes, like blueberry, are often described as “mouthwatering”, but how does this perfume make you feel?

• How does Blueberry Musk compare to other fragrances that you’ve tried from Shay & Blue?

• The mix of fruit and floral has an almost summer cocktail quality to it, but how would you create a similar aroma as a drink?

• Floral fragrances are often more associated with women’s perfumes, so how have they made this fragrance genderless?

• What berry would you like to see turned into a fragrance, and why?

From £25 for 10 ml Eau de Parfum shayandblue.com

SHLOKSHA AQUA FERN

FRAGRANCE FAMILY:

Fougère

TOP NOTES: Seabreeze, Lemon, Hints of Saltiness

HEART NOTES: Vanilla, Wood Leather, Basil

BASE NOTE: Cedarwood

One of the joys of summer is being able to explore new locations, but it’s not always about journeying to new countries. Aqua Fern from Shloksha feels like the perfect embodiment of a forest walk under a sun-warmed canopy, where the humidity is all-embracing. With sparkling citrus falling onto a fern-inspired blend of tonka bean, oakmoss and lavender, it’s actually the aquatic “sea breeze” quality that takes this classic fougére fragrance style in a different direction. With a final crispness provided by the cedarwood, it’s definitely time to grab your walking boots and a bottle of water, and go exploring.

Shloksha is an eco-conscious perfume house based in the UK that focuses on showcasing traditional materials but in a creative way, so that new facets are revealed. When you hear that they describe their fragrance development on the skin as a “slow roller-coaster ride of feelings”, you know that you’re in for a playful experience, without the vertigo!.

SHLOKSHA AQUA FERN shlokshauk shlokshaltd

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: SHLOKSHA AQUA FERN

• Aquatic fragrances have always been popular, but how does this one compare to other ones that you’ve tried?

• Which of your friends would love this perfume, and why?

• Cedarwood is often described as the aroma of pencil shavings, so what memories does it conjure for you?

• Where would you wear this perfume, and how would it make you feel?

• What makes Aqua Fern perfect to wear during the summer?

From £34.95 for 15 ml Eau de Parfum shlokska.co.uk