The Garden of Delights Smelling Notes

THE GARDEN OF DELIGHTS

So many fragrant first memories are in gardens. With an abundance of blooms to choose from, not just roses and lavenders, fruits, nuts and herbs all have their (sunny) spot. Some have a delicate scent, some overpowering, but in a perfumer’s deft hand – and nose –they can be lured out or tamed as necessary. Time spent pottering and pootling in gardens has inspired this collection of fine fragrances.

The Perfume Society theperfumesociety Perfume_Society

ADSCENTURE SECRET GARDEN

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL FRUITY

TOP NOTES: bergamot, coconut, peach

HEART NOTES: frangipani, ylang ylang, jasmine, osmanthus fusion

BASE NOTES: vanilla santal, cedar, musk, amber

Who doesn’t long for a secret space where you can switch off from the everyday madness of daily life? Well, that’s what you’re treated to in Secret Garden from Adscenture. It celebrates the timelessness of a bouquet of white flowers, with jasmine and ylang ylang right in the heart, but there’s also a fruity tropical touch thanks to the carefully balanced coconut and juicy peach. You might find yourself staying in this garden for quite a while, because who wants to rush a moment of relaxation, so enjoy the glorious end-of-day warmth that you get from the sun-kissed sweetened amber.

Adscenture is the latest perfume company created by Holly Hutchinson, and promises scents that “conjure a place, a scene, a moment, a country, a feeling”. With full manufacturing carried out in the UK, the company are committed to keeping their carbon footprint low, and that means less of an impact on all of the secret gardens that we hold dear.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: adscenture secret garden

• What are the flowers that you can smell in the fragrance, and how do they make you feel?

• What book would you reach for to accompany your time in the garden?

• It’s described as a bouquet of white flowers, but what other colours do you see when you smell the fragrance?

• We often talk about coconut, but do you find the smell watery, milky or crunchy?

• Who would you like to share a moment of escape with in the Adscenture Secret Garden?

From £60 for 30 ml Extrait de Parfum perfumesociety.org

adscenture adscenture

COSMOSS SACRED MIST

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL GREEN

TOP NOTES: orange flower, bergamot

HEART NOTES: jasmine, tuberose, geranium

BASE NOTES: oakmoss, cedarwood, tonka

We often talk about fragrance being able to tap into our memories and emotions, but finding one that centres and calms you is a discovery that we had to share. Inspired by Kate Moss and created by Victoria Young, Sacred Mist instantly treats you to the aroma of peppered neroli, with its stresscleansing quality, before a unisex blend of romantic tuberose and grounding geranium help to release those tightly-bound thoughts and feelings. There’s also an empowering quality that shows itself as the fragrance develops, because you’re surrounded by sweetened oakmoss and dry cedarwood, so it’s definitely business on your terms.

The fashion for wellness fragrances has resulted in a massive boom in this part of the perfume market, but Cosmoss by Kate Moss is a little different because it offers a full ritual. Alongside the fragrance, you have morning and evening teas as well as skincare, all promising to work in harmony with the skin to “rejuvenate body and soul”.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: cosmoss

sacred mist

• How did smelling the fragrance make you feel? Grounded, centred, calm…

• After wearing the fragrance, is there somebody that you think should also try Sacred Mist?

• What would you say causes you stress and anxiety, and how can a relaxing fragrance help you with that?

• We can often be critical of “celebrity” fragrances, but how has this one changed your mind?

• The green aspect of this fragrance is very popular at the moment. What other “green” fragrances do you own?

From £68 for 30 ml Eau de Parfum harrods.com

cosmossbykatemoss cosmoss

ROCKIN ROSE

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL MUSK

TOP NOTES: pear, violet leaf, melon

HEART NOTES: muguet, rose, sea breeze

BASE NOTES: sandalwood, musk

“You taste with your eyes” is always true when you sit down to your favourite desert, but Rockin Rose from EAU.MG is bringing our sense of smell back into the mix as well. If you imagine a fruit salad that has been soaked in rose water then you’re not far off the mark. You’ve got crisp pear, juicy melon, some candied violet flowers, and they’re all supported by that beautiful eau de rose. There’s the aroma of driftwood in here as well, a hark back to the last of this year’s seaside adventures, but then who says they have to end?

Niche fragrances have always had the freedom to be bold and make a statement, and that’s exactly what EAU.MG is setting out to do. They want us to be individual, to rediscover how it feels to express our own personality, and all of this through the power of fragrance. Proudly British owned, it’s time you unleashed the rebel inside.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: EAU.MG Rockin rose

• What are your favourite fruity notes and how do they make you feel?

• Everybody has different scent memories of holidays – what are yours?

• There are so many different types of roses, but what kind of scent is your favourite? Crisp, velvety, sweet…

• When would you wear Rockin Rose and why?

• Who would you gift a bottle of Rockin Rose to?

From £95 for 50 ml Extrait de Parfum eaumgperfume.com

FLORAL STREET

SWEET ALMOND BLOSSOM

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL

TOP NOTES: pink pomelo, passion fruit, mandarin

HEART NOTES: apple blossom, heliotrope, matcha tea

BASE NOTES: vanilla, tonka bean, sandalwood

FLORAL STREET

SWEET ALMOND BLOSSOM

The sight of a fruit tree in blossom is something that always excites us at The Perfume Society, because it means a new season is on its way. Sweet Almond Blossom was inspired by the Van Gogh painting and combines mouth-watering pomelo and juicy passion fruit, but places this over the effect of apple blossom. Its white and pink petals definitely come through in the fragrance, and the addition of heliotrope, with its cherry pie echoes, gives a gourmand quality to the scent. With a final brush stroke of sweetened sandalwood, it’s a pursefriendly alternative to a real Van Gough.

Floral Street is an award-winning fragrance house based in the UK, and was founded by Michelle Feeney. She wanted to bring fine fragrance to the modern woman, and empower them to explore the many facets of themselves through scent. With bottle designs that cry out to be displayed, Floral Street have managed to instil their uncompromising ethos into world-class perfumes.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: FLORAL STREET

sweet almond blossom

• What painting would you like to see brought to life in a fragrance, and what would it smell like?

• Do you prefer the smell of a ripe fruit or the fruit blossom, and why?

• What colours do you see when you smell the fragrance?

• If you have paints or crayons at home, paint how the fragrance makes you feel … and please send us a copy.

• Some people actually smell in colour (synaesthesia). What other perfumes match the colour that you see when you smell this fragrance?

From £28 for 10 ml Eau de Parfum spacenk.com

GRANADO PHARMÁCIAS JARDIM REAL

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL

TOP NOTES: bergamot, mandarin, pink pepper

HEART NOTES: orange blossom, jasmine sambac, magnolia

BASE NOTES: sandalwood, musk, patchouli

Scented armchair travel has become ever more popular over the past few years, and so travelling to 19th century Rio de Janeiro in Jardim Real is the perfect opportunity to flex your olfactory muscles. The bright citruses of the bergamot and mandarin blend perfectly with the waxy jasmine and magnolia to transport you to its exuberant parks and gardens. There’s a palpable romance in those floral notes, but earthy patchouli and sophisticatedly smooth sandalwood provide a leafy canopy to relax and take in the sights. If you can’t hop on a flight then the next best thing is to spritz instead.

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 Jardim Real

• What places does this fragrance conjure in your mind?

• If you could travel to any time in history, where would it be and what fragrance would you be wearing?

• Jasmine is an ingredient that you find in many fragrances. Which other ones do you own that feature it and how do they compare?

• Floral notes are often described as romantic, but how else could you describe them?

• Whether it’s a large open space or a perfectly contained balcony, which fragrance would conjure up the scent of your own garden?

From €120 for 75 ml Eau de Parfum granado.eu

JULIETTE HAS A GUN MAGNOLIA BLISS

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL FRUITY

TOP NOTES: bergamot essence

HEART NOTES: magnolia essence, mirabelle plum

BASE NOTES: ambroxan, musks

JULIETTE HAS A GUN

MAGNOLIA BLISS

Our deep dive into flowers moves away from the garden temporarily because Juliette Has A Gun is pulling us towards the sand dunes with Magnolia Bliss, and we’re not putting up any fight. It’s a celebration of beach summer sunsets, and you’re immediately treated to a sparkling bergamot and deliciously subdued magnolia. The sunset across the horizon is added to by the mouthwatering aroma of sweet plum and, in their usual skilful way, even the expanse of sand that’s falling between your toes is transformed into scent. With summer fading away so quickly, let’s keep it going for a little longer.

When you’re the great grandson of Nina Ricci, you know a thing or two about fragrance, so Romano Ricci launched Juliette Has A Gun as a way of restoring the artistry of perfumery. He said fragrances shouldn’t just be “nice”, they should each have an identity. In the same way as fashion, his perfumes are emblems of style and originality.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: Juliette Has A Gun Magnolia Bliss

• Which beach are you transported to when you smell the fragrance?

• Beach-inspired scents are often reminiscent of suntan lotion, so what are the differences in this one?

• The plum note in Magnolia Bliss is very prominent, but how would you describe its aroma?

• “Bliss” can mean different things to different people. What is the smell of “bliss” to you?

• This fragrance is described as “peaceful”. What aromas can you smell that conjure the scent of “peace”?

From £95 for 50 ml Eau de Parfum johnlewis.com

MIZENSIR VERT EMPIRE

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FRESH AROMATIC

TOP NOTES: mandarin, cardamom, paradisone

HEART NOTES: angelica, petitgrain, ambroxan

BASE NOTES: sage, Australian sandalwood, benzoin

When we think about gardens our thoughts often go to the summer, but the end of winter is also a beautiful time. With snow melting, and the first blossoms beginning to appear, that evocative aromatic and mineral quality that you get from the air and the soil is represented here with cardamom and petitgrain. The aroma of sage suggests the hardy plants that have lasted the temperatures, and a tart mandarin hints at conservatory fruits that are teasing whether to flower. While smooth sandalwood and leathery resin cleverly point to weather-beaten bark, rest assured that spring is definitely on the way.

A perfumer’s absolute freedom can only truly come when they have their own range of fragrances, and that’s exactly what Alberto Morillas has done with Mizensir. In each of the perfumes he aims to obtain the perfect balance of ingredients to satisfy every wearer. He describes his fragrances as “surprising, diverse, original and unique”, and always faithful to his imagination.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: Mizensir

Vert Empire

• Which parts of your own garden do you think of when you smell the fragrance?

• The end of winter can make gardens a little sparse, but what aromatic plants do you have that soldier on?

• There is a coldness to Vert Empire that comes from the cardamom. What other ingredients smell cold to you?

• What flower do you wish survived through the winter? What fragrances do you have that feature it?

• This fragrance is inspired by a particular season, but what colour do you see when you smell it?

From £185 for 100 ml Eau de Parfum harveynichols.com

mizensir mizensir

MOLTON BROWN HEAVENLY GINGERLILY

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL WHITE

TOP NOTES: cardamom, ginger, osmanthus

HEART NOTES: rose, lily, orange, orris

BASE NOTES: tuberose, solar notes, cedarwood, vanilla

MOLTON BROWN HEAVENLY GINGERLILY

There are certain fragrances that have become modern classics, and Heavenly Gingerlily from Molton Brown is one of them. Whether you’ve tried it before as a shower gel or a body lotion, or perhaps you’ve been seduced by the bathing oil, you’ll find that its combination of clove-edged rose and powdery iris sits intoxicatingly above tuberose and honey-like osmanthus. There is a celestial brightness in here as well, the cardamom and solar notes providing the promised “heavenly” quality, but the occasional returning glimpses of orange add a mystery that is both playful and intriguing. We’ll have to admit it … we’re smitten.

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

Heavenly Gingerlily

• What aspects of the fragrance do you find yourself drawn to when you think of the word “heavenly”?

• Layering the same scent in a shower gel and fragrance can intensify the scent. What fragrances have you done this with in the past?

• Is there a flower that you associate with heavenly constellations, and why?

• Osmanthus contributes so many different facets to a fragrance, e.g. plum, apricot and honey. What fragrances do you own that contain Osmanthus?

• The fragrance is often described as “seductive”. If you smelled this on another person, how would you describe it and why?

From £120 for 100 ml Eau de Parfum moltonbrown.co.uk

moltonbrown moltonbrown

PENHALIGON’S HIGHGROVE BOUQUET

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL MUSK

TOP NOTES: geranium, lavender, hyacinth

HEART NOTES: weeping lime headspace, French mimosa, tuberose

BASE NOTES: cedarwood, orris fusion, musks

PENHALIGON’S HIGHGROVE BOUQUET

Perfumes historically had links to royalty, with many of the nobility famously being patrons of their favoured fragrance house, and so creating one based on the Highgrove Gardens really was a coup for Penhaligon’s. They’ve managed to combine piercing hyacinth with geranium and lavender, so you get a sky-blue hue, before a clove-like carnation and yellow pollen-laden mimosa adds a powderiness that is deliciously overwhelming. With a honeyed leaf aroma mixing with a dry cedarwood to conjure those powerful trees, you have a fragrance that was created for a Prince, but is now fit for a King.

There can’t be anyone that hasn’t worn a Penhaligon’s fragrance in the past. Were you an Elizabethan Rose or a Quercus convert, perhaps fiercely loyal to Blenheim Bouquet? The company has seen many triumphs, from its first royal warrant in 1903 to the opening of the Trade Routes in 2014, but its very “Britishness” proudly shines through in every scent.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: Penhaligon’s Highgrove Bouquet

• If you had to chose a “royal” flower, what would it be and why?

• Based on the smell of the fragrance, what images of the Highgrove Gardens come to mind?

• If you were King or Queen, what would be your fragrance be and why?

• Geranium has often been associated with masculine fragrances. Why do you think that could be?

• Is there a person in your life that you think would be the perfect wearer of Highgrove Bouquet?

From £155 for 100 ml Eau de Parfum highgrovegardens.com

SHAY & BLUE AMBER ROSE

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL AMBER

TOP NOTE: May rose

HEART NOTE: dulce de leche

BASE NOTE: white amber

How do you modernise rose fragrances without losing their charm? Well, you find a way to maintain the romance while featuring their headstrong side. Amber Rose is intriguingly sparse in terms of information on what’s inside, so what did we find? You get a redcurrant note right at the beginning, so a playful tartness, before a peppered rose arrives. This gives an edginess to the floral that then melts into the caramel, but not before revealing a hint of peony. The final wash of skin-soft white amber, which is clean rather than sweet, lives up to the promise of “a temptress in disguise”.

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”.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: Shay & Blue

Amber Rose

• What ingredients did you smell when you sprayed the fragrance? There are no wrong answers.

• Do you prefer a more romantic or headstrong rose, and why?

• There are so many rose fragrances. What sets this one apart from the others?

• What ingredients would you use to “modernise” a rose fragrance, and why?

• If this is a more modern interpretation of a rose perfume, what type of clothing would you wear it with?

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

shayandblue shayandbluelondon

VERSACE DYLAN PURPLE

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL FRUITY

TOP NOTES: Italian bitter orange, Italian bergamot, pear juice accord

HEART NOTES: purple freesia, pomarose, mohanial

BASE NOTES: iso e super, cedarwood, ambrofix, belambre, sylkoide

Creating a fragrance that embodies a colour is an exciting alternative inspiration from the many other releases, but how do you do it? Well, Versace did it with Dylan Blue, and they’ve done it again with Dylan Purple. It’s based around a purple freesia note, so you have that floral brightness, but they’ve combined it with touches of apple, plum and a fruity rose. They’ve also taken a hint of smooth cedarwood, added in some mouthwatering Italian citruses, and blended a delicious pear juice accord. We reckon you’re all going to be hunting this out in a cocktail form.

Versace is one of the most famous names in the world of design, so it was always expected they would cut into the world of perfume as well. Who can forget the famous Jeans collection that started in 1994?! Things have moved on since then, although their eye-catching style has remained, and it’s left The Perfume Society passionate about “purple”.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: Versace Dylan Purple

• If this fragrance was a cocktail, what ingredients would you use?

• What other fragrances do you own that make you think of the colour purple when you smell them?

• Versace have created a blue fragrance and purple fragrance, which colour should be next?

• Dylan Purple feels both sophisticated and playful, so where and when would you wear it?

• In what different ways does a floral fragrance and a fruity fragrance make you feel?

From £56.50 for 30 ml Eau de Parfum theperfuMEshop.com

versace versace

YARDLEY LONDON

ENGLISH ROSE BODY MIST

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: FLORAL

TOP NOTES: citrus, rose, tea accord

HEART NOTES: rose bud, magnolia, violet, cassis

BASE NOTES: woody notes, patchouli, musk

YARDLEY LONDON

ENGLISH ROSE BODY MIST

“How do I make my fragrance last longer?” Well, moisturising the skin is the answer, and adding a base fragrance is even better. The English Rose Body Mist from Yardley is an easy way to both moisture and make your favourite floral notes last longer. The delicate blend of rose and blackcurrant are given brightness thanks to the citrus and tea accord, but the touch of violet and woody notes makes the perfect post-shower preparation for the scented day ahead. It also contains sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, glycerin and vitamin E to leave skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

What can you say about a legend? Yardley began life in the 1770s and quickly gained a reputation for the finest soaps and scented waters. From Royal Warrants through to its famous English Lavender, the company has managed to survive wars and changing tastes to stay on everyone’s perfume lists. What does the future hold? We’re excited to find out.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: Yardley London

English Rose body mist

• Body mists are often overlooked in favour of stronger fragrances. Why do you think this is?

• When you tried it under your fragrance, did you find that your perfume lasted longer?

• The blackcurrant in this body mist adds a fruity sharpness to the fragrance; what other perfumes do you have that contain blackcurrant?

• If you could create your mist, what type of ingredients would you include?

• Who do you know that would love a bottle of English Rose Body Mist, and why would they love it?

From £7.99 for 200 ml Body Spray yardleylondon.co.uk

yardleylondonuk yardleylondonuk

SBC SKINCARE ARNICA MOISTURISING GEL

FRAGRANCE FAMILY: AROMATIC

TOP NOTES: rosemary, lavandin, bergamot, sweet orange

HEART NOTES: rose, ylang ylang

BASE NOTES: patchouli, frankincense

ARNICA MOISTURISING GEL

Fragrance in skincare is a subject that can often divide customers, but that is usually when we’re talking about fragrance that doesn’t offer a benefit to the skin. SBC Skincare, and in particular their award-winning Arnica Moisturising Gel, features aromatic formulas with exceptional relieving benefits. It contains a blend of rosemary and sweet orange, a floral heart of rose and ylang ylang, and a delicate final touch of patchouli and frankincense. These, along with the star arnica ingredient, help to moistures and alleviate muscle tension, while also acting as a great base to help your fragrance last longer.

You might not have heard of SBC Skincare before, but this award-winning British company has been around for more than 30 years. With small batches produced in the UK, and their iconic problem-solving collections focusing on skin health, wellbeing and recovery, there’s never been a better time to discover a range that’s created by beauty therapists just for you.

SMELLING NOTES:

EXPLORE: SBC SKINCARE

ARNICA MOISTURISING GEL

• The scent on this gel is shortlasting, but did using it help to make your perfume last longer?

• Do you like your skincare to have a fragrance, or would you rather it was fragrance free?

• Are there certain fragrances that you love to smell when you use skincare? Orchid, banana, rose…

• How easily did the Arnica Moisturising Gel absorb into your skin compared to other products you have used?

• If you could create a fragrance for a skincare product, what scents would you include?

From £9 for 100 ml MOISTURISING GEL sbcskincare.co.uk