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Hands up who has been wearing the same perfume for months, even years? It’s easy to get stuck in a fragrance rut but why not step away from that bottle of signature scent and look for a new choice? After all what we need from a fragrance changes just as the seasons do. Choose something warming for winter; fresh and light for spring; sultry, yet citrusy for those balmy summer nights then come autumn turn to something earthy as the leaves begin to turn.
Here’s a calendar of fragrances to take you on an aromatic journey all the way to 2014...
Don't forget to buy your December issue to see Emma Strenner's 'Year In Fragrance'
This niche Swedish fragrance brand uses only 100% natural ingredients and Agonist is a welcome antidote to those icy, dark days in winter in bleak January. Brazilian Orange and Red Bilberries give you a much needed boost before Indian Sandalwood and Bourbon Vanilla give off the aroma of warmth, even if you don’t feel it!
Roja Dove, Perfumer says that ‘in the winter we tend to like scents which are cocooning and enveloping, whereas the summer uplifting fresh scents work better’. This fragrance is the best of both.
Agonist, Arctic Jade, £125.00/ 50ml, www.averyfineperfumeries.com
A green floral boasting notes of ginger, jasmine, musk and amber for a deeply romantic scent. It was created by perfumers Jean Marc Chaillan and Carlos Benaïm who were inspired by confident women, passionate about life and love. Even the bottle oozes sensuality with its gold lined stopper and sleek bottle.Oscar De La Renta, Live In Love, £49/50ml
This fragrance is characterised by classic chypre qualities, which means it is composed of citrus top-notes, a middle of citrus and bottom notes that are oaky and rustic, but has a distinct floral edge. It settles to give an intense, elegant aroma - the perfect suitor for those first days of spring when the mornings are still crisp. The lemon and mandarin mimic the freshness of spring, whilst the musk, honey and sandalwood are still warming and earthy.
Roja Dove, Perfumer says by opting for a ‘mixture of citrus notes and fresh garden herbs’ you’ll feel ‘energized’.
You can always count on Marc Jacobs to come up with an edgy floral and this twist on the original Daisy fragrance gives a wonderfully fresh and spirited alternative perfect for bright spring days. Just one spirtz can make you feel playful with fruity, floral notes of wild rose, apple blossom and plum.
Marc Jacobs, Daisy Eau So Fresh EDT, £48 / 75ml
Santal Blush is part of Tom Ford’s Private Blend Collection, which means two things – you know it will cost a little more than other fragrances, but you also know it will be worth every penny. The pretty rose is perfect for spring, while the sandalwood and spices evoke the excitement of summer days to come.
The first month of summer means it’s time to take the leap from the cocooning fragrances of the winter and spring and opt for a fresh and light floral. Chloé’s signature scent is soft, feminine and light. The powdery hints of lychee and peony keep things youthful and fun before transforming into a warm amber aroma.
This scent transports you back to your summer holidays, roaming around European cities in the heat of the day, miles away from your demanding work schedule back home. It’s fresh, vibrant and citrusy, to accompany those lazy summer days. Notes of grapefruit, lemon verbena, basil and Persian lime make it sound almost too delectable to be a spray - only almost though.
In depths of the summer heat you need light rather than overwhelming scent. Look no further than Acqua di Parma’s Blue Mediterraneo Mandorlo di Sicilia – even the name is enough whisk your mind away to the sun drenched Italian isles. Rich in sweet notes of almond, orange melts and cedar wood it encompasses all the aromas of summer days and nights spent by the sea.
Acqua di Parma, Blu Mediterraneo Mandorlo di Sicilia EDT, £50/ 75ml
A clear-cut, amber perfume. Sticky syrup, subtle oregano and rustic bay leaf create an unusual yet addictive fragrance. After the ingredients have mingled and settled on the skin notes of vanilla, musk and sandalwood come to play. A great scent to warm you up in those first days of autumn, it lasts all day too. Sweet but not sickly, this is perfect for a Halloween night.
Winter has well and truly settled, and it’s time for the final bottle of the year to adorn your dressing table. We can think of none better than the niche fragrance house of Juliette has a Gun. ‘Mad Madame’ represents a woman who is a little daring, a little provocative and a little bit crazy too (sound all too familiar at the Christmas parties?). This green chypre fragrance has notes of blackcurrant bud and rose oxide (an organic compound found in roses and rose oil). Bold, confident and the ultimate accessory for your little black dress.
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