My Favourite Winter Fragrances
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Fragrance is something that is extremely valuable to me - and it's something that gives me a lot of pleasure. I have such an appreciation for a nice smelling perfume that reminds me of a certain place, time or moment in my life. Scent is so incredibly powerful and it’s amazing how it really can transport you somewhere completely different. It's like a little mini vacation in your mind. Besides that it can give you confidence, make you feel sexy, make you feel comfortable etc. Fragrance can be whatever you want it to be and there are so many to choose from! By the way you can watch my Top Ten Winter Fragrances on Instagram here.
In general I prefer scents that are a bit musky. I love the unexpectedness of being all glammed up looking all cute, but then you smell like a heavier cologne. That contradiction between femininity and masculinity is really interesting and exciting to me. I'm a powerful woman and I think it takes a certain amount of confidence to wear a perfume that represents that. I remember feeling so nervous about discovering new fragrances, but once you get going and you figure out what you like it is so much fun! Who doesn't want another accessory to work with?
Cuir Obscur by Byredo reminds me of my solo-trip to Paris. It smells of patchouli and leather and is just so sexy and sensual. It also has notes of ylang ylang and rose which softens it quite a lot plus top notes of amaretto and nutmeg which makes it a bit spicy. I feel so confident when I wear it and makes me feel like I can get away with just about anything. It's exclusive to Harrods and I can definitely see why they wanted to get that exclusivity.
Tom Ford’s Grey Vetiver perfume was traditionally a men's fragrance (whatever that even means? I believe fragrance is always genderless). Vetiver is my all time favorite scent because it’s so extremely grounding and relaxing. This is a woody fragrance with notes of oakmoss, orange flower and nutmeg. It's a seductive fragrance that anyone can wear. I also really love the minimalist bottle.
Santal Blush by Tom Ford is another one of those fragrances that instantly reminds me of the person that gave it to me. I remember going to the Tom Ford counter in Selfridges and picking it out (a glorious experience if you ever get the chance). Fragrances can evoke memories and emotions in a way that not many other things can. We all have specific scents in our life that remind us of a special someone. Maybe it’s that one lipstick brand that reminds you of your Mom, or maybe it’s the smell of cut grass that reminds you of your Grandpa cutting the lawn. Santal Blush is a spicy wood oriental fragrance. Think creamy sandalwood, a fusion of florals and grounding woods to create a soft, but demanding fragrance. Looking at the bottle alone makes me want to get naked.
Once I had a very unique fragrance experience in Paris (is how all good stories start). The store is called Nose. We all know how much the visual plays a part in what fragrances we choose to purchase. The bottle influences one's decision making so much that we sometimes miss out on opportunities to discover new fragrances. Nose came up with a concept to avoid exactly that problem. When you go into the store you have to fill out a quiz with what type of scents you tend to like and they present you 5 fragrances without the bottle. This way you get to choose which fragrance you like the most while being completely unbiased. I picked a perfume called Silphium by Stora Skuggan which is woody and spicy and has a really unique bottle which I wouldn’t usually gravitate towards if I'm honest! This is probably the most unique fragrance I wear - it's very special.
Tom Ford Black Orchid is a fragrance that took me quite some time to start liking. I didn't really take to it when I first smelled it in the bottle. I didn't take to it the second or third time I smelled it in the bottle in fact! It wasn't until I smelled it on a rather good looking man in the summer's heat that something clicked for me. Funny how that happens... Anyway, I digress. It's quite a rich, dark fragrance with notes of bergamot, black orchid of course and black plum. There's also black truffle and patchouli in there which makes it rather sensual. Definitely one worth checking out - it's very timeless.
Diptyque's Eau Duelle was one of the first luxury fragrances I bought and that's completely down to my best friend Amelia. She always wore it and I had genuinely never experienced fragrance quite like that before. It was so complex to me at the time, but it also felt very comforting. I think that's because it smells of vanilla which is a scent I have always adored. It also smells bit of leather, black tea and some spicy stuff in there for good measure!
Azaleo Bois Bohème is my friend Soraya's brand and I have to applaud her for creating such a beautiful range of perfumes - it is not easy and she managed to do it perfectly. Bois Bohème was designed to evoke the intimacy of being surrounded by love wrapping you in velvet according to the website. Notes of creamy sandalwood, black pepper and juniper whilst its iris heart note brings a smooth and soft texture to the fragrance. I love it.
Comme des Garcons Wonderoud is another fragrance I started wearing because of a *ahem* lover. Don't judge - I know you're all out there doing the same things as I am! It's beautiful - filled with luscious woody scents from oud to sandalwood (as you can tell I love sandalwood) as well as patchouli and vetiver (there it is again) which creates a fresh, but earthy scent. The bottle is lovely too because it lays flat rather than standing up like most bottles.
Impression Cashmeran Velvet by the brand Ostens is definitely the newest fragrance to my collection. It's no surprise that I like it though because it features a lot of my favourite notes, sandalwood, cedarwood, vanilla bean, patchouli etc. Cashmeran Velvet is a synthetic molecule that mimics the scent of warm, comforting woods with a slightly charred and smoky quality. I'm a fan. Can't wait to check out their other fragrances.
Last but certainly not least is Sana Jardin's Tiger By Her Side which I partly love because of the name, let's be honest. It reminds me of my beautiful tiger striped greyhound Reggie and the fact that he is always by my side - even if I can't see him. I wear this fragrance when I need a cuddle, but also have to get on with things. Very specific feeling, but it comes up more than you'd think. This is a heady fragrance which conjures fresh fields of Moroccan Rose and Indonesian patchouli with incense and amber at the base. This one is close to my heart.
