What could be better than a basket of pretty pink roses, a pile of easter eggs and a bottle of fragrance to put a smile on your face? This delightful little gift arrived on my desk and of course the first thing I went for was the chocolate. Whilst munching happily I had a sniff of the scent. I am not usually a fan of florals, preferring a more fig and spice base, but this blew me away.
Smelling the fragrance in the bottle it has a waft of nostalgia about it, like something my granny would have worn, but without the head spinning mustiness. Once dabbed onto my wrists, the smell comes alive and is as fresh as a daisy but with a powdery sophistication. It blends bergamot, lemon, rose, orange blossom, jasmine and amber, which in a nutshell means it smells like a summer bunch of flowers but in a grown up way.
So what is this scent I have fallen in love with? Quelques Fleurs LOriginal, £41 for 30ml (eau de Parfum), was first blended in 1775 by a world-renowned fragrance family, the Houbigants, in Paris and was adored by royalty including Marie Antoinette. It has since become one of the most important florals, inspiring new classics such as Chanel and Tom Fords fragrances.
Its available now at the Roja Dove Haute Parfumerie in Harrods and in selected perfumeries (01420489700). If you like things flowery, have a sniff!
