Monday 18 March 2024

JARDIM REAL by Granado

A bottle of Jardim Real perfume from Granado
There is always something so refreshing in perfumery about finding fragrances that speak of another time, another era, when life was “simpler” and distractions were few. Of course, the actual real life experiences would have been far from simple, just focused in a different way to ours, but scents that don’t follow today’s trends really are a welcome relief. With many historical brands choosing to jettison portions of their back catalogue in favour of trend-following releases, discovering a company that actively honours its past and dedicates time to its creations is a breath of fresh air, and it helps that we’re heading to Brazil.

Monday 4 March 2024

ENGLISH CHERRY BLOSSOM by Shay & Blue

A bottle of the perfume English Cherry Blossom from Shay & Blue
There are few things in life that you can be truly sure of, with the exception of the changing seasons. However, with the continuing issues around climate change, even these are getting a little out of kilter. Though the start and end dates might now seem to vary from year to year, the order at least remains the same. Most people take summer to be season one, followed by autumn and winter, but by spring we’re all definitely ready for a little hint of returning sunshine. That’s why spring is the perfect time to reach for a much-needed bottle of blossom, and you can’t go far wrong with English Cherry Blossom from Shay & Blue.

Monday 19 February 2024

VERDANT by Eau de Boujee

A bottle of Verdant perfume from Eau de Boujee
Every industry has its own set of rules that are supposed to be followed without question, and in the perfume industry that relates to which ingredients are suitable for which season. As a general rule of thumb you are supposed to concentrate on vanilla and ambers in winter, woody notes in autumn, citruses in summer, and green notes in spring. Now, if you’ve been following me for any length of time then you’ll know I think this is absolute nonsense. Wear what you like, when you like, for whatever reason you like, it’s as simple as that. So, with this in mind, it’s time to discover Verdant from Eau de Boujee.

Monday 12 February 2024

UN PATCHOULI by Obvious Parfums

A bottle of Un Patchouli fragrance by Obvious Parfums
Simplicity in scent is something that's often attempted by the perfume industry but, with the exception of companies like Shay & Blue or 4711’s Acqua Colonia collection, results can be quite linear and uninspiring. The complexity of traditional methods ends up being replaced with single notes, or a blend of similar aromas, so there isn’t any excitement in the finished fragrance. One of the companies that have managed to embrace “simplicity” but also still retain “style” is Obvious Parfums. With the moto that their fragrances are “simple, sophisticated and respectful”, it’s time to discover the distinctly different Un Patchouli.

Monday 5 February 2024

SLEEP EASY PILLOW & ROOM MIST by College Green

A bottle of Sleep Easy Pillow & Room Mist from College Green
The days of fragrance being solely used for the production of perfumes is long gone, as can be seen in the multitude of scented products that are available in every high-street store. From soaps to diffusers, and car fresheners to candles, our love of fragranced items seems to have no bounds. It’s this demand for ever more interesting ways to scent our homes that brought about the Pillow Mist craze, although many companies have since moved away from this “difficult to market” product. However, always up for a challenge, College Green have just launched a new Sleep Easy Pillow & Room Mist, and the result is first class.

Monday 29 January 2024

CITRUS OUD by Teniqua

A bottle of the perfume Citrus Oud from Teniqua
The perfect perfume can release long-hidden memories, conjure up forgotten experiences, or even act as the scentscape to new adventures. Its ability to push deep into our senses is just one of the reasons why it’s often thought of as a magical potion. Perfume also often patiently waits to be discovered, or rediscovered, at the exact moment it’s needed. A moment too soon and it can be overlooked, but experienced at the ideal time can create a bond that will last forever.
Citrus Oud from Teniqua was originally launched at the end of 2021, but 2024 was my year to discover its magic.

Monday 22 January 2024

ROCKIN' ROSE by EAU.MG

A bottle of the Rockin' Rose perfume from EAU.MG
Perfumery, like anything else that has an artistic bent, is often less about creating something new and more about presenting something in a different light. The ingredients that are open to a perfumer are, with the exciting advances in synthetics, almost limitless, but there are a few core ones that always demand attention. Patchouli, iris, vanilla, jasmine - all of these have an inbuilt familiarity that feels safe, but showcasing them in original ways is what customers are look for. Now, rose is such a well-known ingredient that finding an original take on it can be hard, but that’s exactly what you get with EAU.MG’s Rockin’ Rose.

Monday 15 January 2024

CÅKE by ånd fragrance

A bottle of Cåke, the new perfume from and fragrance
We place a lot of importance on words and titles in everyday life, and the same is also true in the world of perfumery. The difference with the latter though is that words can very much be open to personal interpretation. If you think about “note lists” versus “ingredient lists”, “fragrance families” versus “fragrance styles”, or even “eau de parfum” versus “eau de toilette”, you’ll begin to see how it’s not as clear cut as it might first seem. So, this brings us to the latest release from ånd fragrance. Cåke is the name but, if you’re expecting a gourmand overdose that means a trip to the dentist, then you’ll be happily relieved.