WINTER S E A S O N A L
S M E L L I N G
N O T E S
W ELCO M E TO YO U R WINTER 2 023 BOX! Winter is the season when we traditionally start to reach for our richer smelling fragrances, with their resins and vanillas, in an attempt to battle the colder weather. These types of scents usually fall into the amber and woody categories, and perfumers love to play with both their depth and their variety. So, whether you’re looking to dress up and feel gorgeous, hankering for some much-needed Australian sunshine, or even dreaming of high-end motoring excitement, grab your woollies and hot chocolate as we open up the Winter Seasonal Scents Subscription Box.
The Perfume Society
theperfumesociety
Perfume_Society
BENTLE Y MAGNE TIC AMBER FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: WOODY AMBER TOP NOTES: Bergamot, Rosemary HEART NOTES: Olibanum, Cardamom BASE NOTES: Virginian Cedarwood, Labdanum, Vanilla, Tonka Bean, White Amber
BENTLEY MAGNETIC AMBER
How does a winter journey to Panama sound? Escaping the cold weather for warmer climes. Well, that’s what Bentley have given us all with their new Magnetic Amber. Created by perfumer Karine Dubreuil-Sereni, it contrasts fresh and warm notes – rosemary pairing with vanilla, cardamom sparring with white amber, and a deliciously warm frankincense embracing dry cedarwood. It’s like grabbing a scented passport, climbing into the driving seat of a fast car, and enjoying a winter vacation. Just in case you miss your home comforts though, there’s a tiny hint of gingerbread in here as well. The name Bentley is synonymous with cars, and we mean luxury cars, but their collection of fragrances has also turned many heads since they launched. Designed both inside and out with the same attention to detail as the classic motors, it’s definitely a collection that we think is well worth exploring – even if you don’t have a driver’s license!
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: BENTLEY MAGNETIC AMBER •
Which of the other fragrances that you own contrast fresh and warm notes?
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What scented location would you like to travel to, and why?
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Cardamom is a very popular ingredient at the moment, but how does it make you feel?
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Your car is your personal space, so how do you like it to smell?
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There’s a little hint of gingerbread in the perfume, but what memories does that evoke?
From £165 for 100ml Eau de Parfum harrods.com
BentleyMotors
BentleyMotors
GOLDFIELD & BANKS SILK Y WOODS ELIXIR FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: WOODY GOURMAND TOP NOTES: Saffron, Fig HEART NOTES: Praline, Rose, Peru Balsam, Orris BASE NOTES: Oud, Guaiacwood, Vanilla, Musk, Oakmoss, Cypriol, Woodleather
GOLDFIELD & BANKS SILKY WOODS ELIXIR
How do you improve a fragrance that is already exceptional? Well, Goldfield & Banks have done it with their intensified Silky Woods Elixir. The original fragrance is still present, with its gourmand base of saffron, vanilla and musk, but they’ve cleverly added fig, rose, Australian agarwood and the precious Oud Assafi. You really do feel as though you’re going deeper into the forest, with the undergrowth and bark aromas, but there’s also a touch of praline that adds the intriguing note of sweetened nuts. Can you smell expensive? Well, this is as close as we’ve ever got. Goldfield & Banks are based in Australia and pride themselves on building their perfumes around authentic native essences that are found in the country. Drawing on inspiration from deserts, coast and forests, they combine fashion with sustainability to create truly fabulous fragrances. We love companies with strong eco credentials at The Perfume Society, which is why we love Goldfield & Banks.
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: GOLDFIELD & BANKS SILKY WOODS ELIXIR •
How does a scent that takes you into a forest make you feel?
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Praline is an ingredient that is found in many fragrances, but what does it add to this one?
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What occasion would you wear this fragrance at, and what reaction do you think you’d get?
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What other fragrances do you own that have richer versions?
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Which aromas do you image being at the centre of a forest?
From £215 for 100ml Extrait de Parfum harrods.com
goldfieldandbanksaustralia
goldfield_and_banks_australia
INITIO O U D F O R G R E AT N E S S FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: AMBER SPICY TOP NOTES: Lavender, Saffron, Nutmeg HEART NOTES: Natural Oud Wood, Natural Agarwood Oil BASE NOTES: Patchouli, Musk
INITIO O U D F O R G R E AT N E S S
We love a little scented alchemy at The Perfume Society, and that’s what you get in abundance with Oud For Greatness. The whole fragrance is built around oud and agarwood but, in a change to most similar scents, you get a nobility rather than an overbearing resin. It’s mixed with an excitingly aromatic lavender and nutmeg, but the appearance of a golden saffron adds an exotic quality that is mesmerising. The woodiness from the patchouli adds a grounding aroma and, from the first spray on your skin, you’ll be reaching for the woollen scarf and the walking boots. Initio Parfums Privés are firm believers that there is a strong link between smell and emotion, and it’s this that allows each of their fragrances to conjure up specific moods and memories. They design their scents with the thought that the aroma is a form of magic, and all of us at The Perfume Society have definitely fallen under their spell.
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: INITIO OUD FOR GREATNESS •
How does the fragrance make you feel when you smell it?
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Alongside the oud ingredient, what are the other aromas that you can pick up?
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What other oud fragrances do you own, and how is this one different?
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Which occasion can imagine yourself wearing this fragrance at?
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Saffron is a popular ingredient, but what other fragrances do you have that use it?
From £305 for 90ml Eau de Parfum escentual.com
initioparfumsprives
L ALIQUE ENCRE INDIGO FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: SPICY WOODY TOP NOTES: Bergamot, Juniper, Pink Pepper HEART NOTES: Bay Madagascar Oil, Saffron Accord, Black Tea Jukro Accord BASE NOTES: Vetiver, Patchouli, Amber Accord
LALIQUE ENCRE INDIGO
Winter is all about cold weather, snow on the ground, and a sharp frost in the air, and Encre Indigo is the scented embodiment of all of these. It has a brightness to it that is wonderfully piercing thanks to the opening hit of bergamot, juniper and pink pepper, but the arrival of a delicious bay oil adds a green crispness that’s like icicles. There’s a black tea accord in here as well, which is a popular ingredient in many fragrances at the moment, and its watery touch links seamlessly with an earthy vetiver for a New Year celebration. Lalique’s first link with perfume was as the bottle designer for the famous Francois Coty, as well as the likes of Guerlain and Worth, but they eventually launched their own fragrance line in 1994. Those original bottles had a unique sense of fluidity and radiance, and it’s this idea that they now also bring to each of their perfumes.
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: LALIQUE ENCRE INDIGO •
What type of weather does this fragrance make you think of?
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Is there a particular piece of clothing that matches this fragrance, and why?
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Do you have any other fragrances in your collection that conjure up snow and ice?
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Which fragrances do you usually wear during winter, and why?
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When would you wear this fragrance? Morning, afternoon, evening etc.
From £75 for 50ml Eau de Parfum qvcuk.com
LALIQUE
lalique
MCM ORIGINAL FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: FLOR AL WOODY TOP NOTES: Raspberry, Apricot HEART NOTES: White Peony, Jasmine Absolute, Violet Leaf BASE NOTES: White Moss, Vanilla, Ambrox® Super, Sandalwood
MCM ORIGINAL
Fresh garden fruits are one thing we miss during the winter at the Perfume Society, and so finding a fragrance that has two of our favourites is a real treat. The raspberry and apricot at the top of this perfume instantly make you recall those summer days but, and this is the fascinating bit, the white peony and jasmine cut across it with a hint of snowy white landscapes. The journey continues with dry white moss, creamy sandalwood and Ambrox’s woody notes and creates, in your childhood eye at least, the scent of stepping through that wardrobe to a snowy Narnia. Drawing on its German heritage, and always with an eye on the disruptive, MCM is a luxury lifestyle goods and fashion house founded in 1976. They love exploring ways to revolutionise classic design with futuristic materials, and always pair this with music and art, so their move into fragrance continues their drive to be bold, rebellious and aspirational.
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: MCM ORIGINAL •
How do the delicate notes of raspberry and apricot help the beginning of the fragrance?
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We thought of Narnia when we smelled this, but what other stories come to mind, and why?
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There’s a delicacy to this fragrance, so when and where would you wear it?
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Many ingredients can make you think of snow, so which ones do it for you?
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This perfume comes in 30ml, 50ml and 75ml. Which is the ideal size for you, and why?
From £52 for 30ml Eau de Parfum thefragranceshop.co.uk
MCMWorldwide
mcmworldwide
M I CH A EL KO RS GORGEOUS! FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: FLOR AL WOODY TOP NOTES: Pink Pepper, Bergamot Oil, Mandarin Oil HEART NOTES: Jasmine Sambac, Tuberose, Ylang, Orange Flower, Tobacco Accord BASE NOTES: Cashmeran, Cedarwood, Suede Accord, Tonka, Guaiacwood, Styrax, Benzoin
MICHAEL KORS GORGEOUS!
Taking a name like 'gorgeous' is a brave move when it comes to naming a perfume, because it’s setting very big expectations, However, Gorgeous! by Michael Kors is … gorgeous! This is the perfect winter party fragrance because, at the same time as being complex, it’s also delicate. The floral heart in here contains jasmine, tuberose, ylang ylang, and orange blossom, so all of the beauties, but it’s topped by mandarin and black pepper and tailed by a lightly spiced suede effect. Perfume should encourage your companion to lean in, and that’s an absolute guarantee with this one. Michael Kors is a world-renowned, award-winning designer of luxury accessories and ready-to-wear clothing, and his full line of fragrances is also available worldwide. We love any Michael Kors product, from his first perfume Michael for Women in 2001 to Gorgeous in 2021, and slipping one of his perfumes in one of his bags is the ultimate night out.
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: MICHAEL KORS GORGEOUS! •
What colour do you see in your mind when you smell Gorgeous?
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Which of the floral notes do you smell the most?
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Who would you like to lean in to smell this on you? Sshhh … keep it to yourself.
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How does this fragrance represent the word 'gorgeous'?
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If you could gift a bottle to a friend, who would it be and why?
From £33.99 for 30ml Eau de Parfum theperfumeshop.com
MichaelKors
michaelkors
SHLOKSHA G O D FAT H E R ’ S P U D D I N G FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: FRUIT Y GOURMAND TOP NOTES: Sherbet lemons, Raspberry Crystal, Blackcurrant HEART NOTES: Red Berries, Cuban Cigar, Kent Hops, Chocolate BASE NOTES: Oudh, Indian Patchouli
SHLOKSHA G O D FAT H E R ’ S P U D D I N G
Winter is about indulgence, and one of the biggest indulgences has to be the sweets and the chocolates. So, you’ll need a sweet tooth for this one, but it’s well worth taking a bite. Just take a look at the notes – sherbet lemons, raspberry, blackcurrant, red berries, chocolate! However, this is more than just a sweet confection. There’s also a touch of bitterness from the hops and a richness that comes from a perfect pairing of oud and patchouli, so it takes the chocolate more towards Bournville than Dairy Milk. If you’re looking for a playful perfume, then this is it! 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!
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: SHLOKSHA GODFATHER’S PUDDING •
Chocolate notes can make the wearer feel very comforted. How do they make you feel?
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Which one of your sweettoothed friends would love to try this fragrance?
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Fruity fragrances have always been popular, but which are your favourite perfume fruits?
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Sherbet lemons can also conjure the smell of champagne bubbles, but what memories do they evoke for you?
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What other sweet-inspired fragrances do you own?
From £34.95 for 15ml Eau de Parfum shlokska.co.uk
shlokshauk
shlokshaltd
VERSACE DY L A N T U R Q U O I S E FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: FLOR AL WOODY MUSK TOP NOTES: Mandarin Essence, Lemon, Primofiore Essence, Pink Pepper HEART NOTES: Blackcurrant Buds Absolute, Jasmin Petals, Freesia, Guava BASE NOTES: Clearwood®, Vibrant Woods, Musks
VERSACE DYL AN TURQUOISE
We love watching what fragrance companies release at The Perfume Society, and Versace never fails to disappoint. So, when they launched Dylan Turquoise, we went totally tropical for this fantastically festive floral. You’re treated to a wonderfully realistic guava juice accord alongside an exquisite blend of jasmine and freesia, but it’s the scented hit of the most beautiful citrus cocktail that first entices you. However, the delicate blackcurrant notes really seem to summon up the promised turquoise hue and, with a final touch of patchouli and a gloriously diaphanous musk, you really are in for the perfect winter treat. 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 tantalised by 'turquoise'.
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: versace Dylan Turquoise •
When you smell the fragrance, what is it that smells “turquoise” to you?
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Which of your friends would love to receive this as a Christmas or New Year gift?
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The guava juice accord brings a fruity quality to the fragrance, but what else do you think that it adds?
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What other Versace fragrances have you worn in the past, and what memories do they evoke?
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How does this fragrance make you feel? Safe, comforted, relaxed etc
From £52.50 for 30ml Eau de Parfum BOOTS.com
versace
versace
We hope you love your box – and enjoyed these Smelling Notes Explore our other Perfume Society Discovery Boxes – and print issues of our award-winning magazineThe Scented Letter – via: perfumesociety.org/SHOP
The Perfume Society
theperfumesociety
Perfume_Society