Please click on this link for my YouTube and Substack reviews of: Christian Dior Dior Paradise; Neela Vermeire Creations Neith; Etat Libre D’Orange Let’s Pretend; L’Objet Delphes. The post is not behind a paywall and you shouldn’t have to subscribe to be able to read it. Persolaise The post Christian Dior Dior Paradise, Neela Vermeire Creations Neith, Etat Libre D’Orange Let’s Pretend, L’Objet Delphes reviews – 2026 appeared first on .
At 5:30 pm on Wednesday 15th July, I’ll be hosting a Meet The Perfumer event at Harrods in London, during which I’ll be talking to Givaudan perfumer Jordi Fernandez about Nihilismus, his latest creation for Etat Libre D’Orange. If you’re able to join us, it would be wonderful to see some of you there. Tickets [...] The post An Evening At Harrods With Etat Libre D’Orange & Jordi Fernandez appeared first on .
Kingdom Scotland: A Fragrant Journey Through Scotland’s Wild Places The most memorable fragrances have a sense of place. They transport us somewhere – a landscape, a memory, a fleeting moment captured in scent. Few niche perfume houses understand this better than Kingdom Scotland, whose collection is deeply rooted in the country’s extraordinary natural beauty and cultural heritage. Founded by Imogen Russon-Taylor, Kingdom Scotland creates fragrances that feel intrinsically connected to the Scottish landscape. Each scent tells a story of a particular place, translating Scotland’s dramatic coastlines, botanical treasures and ancient geology into olfactory form. Kingdom Botanica is perhaps the most immediate expression of Scotland’s rich plant life. Fresh, green and aromatic, it celebrates the country’s flourishing botanical heritage. The fragrance feels perfectly paired with a visit to Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden, where rare species, medicinal plants and native Scottish flora thrive across 70 acres of beautifully curated gardens. Walking through the glasshouses and herbaceous borders, it’s easy to recognise the inspiration behind this verdant scent. The sea takes centre stage in Albaura, a fragrance inspired by Scotland’s rugged coastline and the elemental meeting of land and water. Salty air, mineral notes and windswept freshness conjure images of the Isle of Skye, where dramatic cliffs plunge into the Atlantic and weather systems shift by the hour. Whether standing at Ne
As the days grow longer and sunshine lingers into the evening, there’s no better time to refresh your fragrance wardrobe. We’re delighted to unveil our new Seasonal Scents Summer Box: a carefully curated collection designed to transport you through sparkling coastlines, sun-drenched gardens and balmy summer nights, one spritz at a time. This season’s edit brings together exciting new launches alongside some truly exceptional perfume discoveries. From the regal elegance of Aqua Sapphire by Boadicea the Victorious, a radiant aquatic fragrance shimmering with crystalline citrus and marine notes, to Valiant, an uplifting woody-aromatic scent that balances freshness with quiet strength and sophistication. For those seeking confidence in a bottle, Power Self by Initio offers a modern, magnetic composition where creamy woods, musks and bright florals combine to create an empowering aura. Meanwhile, Scotland’s independent fragrance house Jorum Studio invites us into more unconventional territory with Unspoken Gesture, a beautifully textured creation that feels both intimate and artistic, blending nutty nuances, powdery florals and musky facets. The box also showcases some of the most exciting launches of the year. Elevation by Les Eaux Primordiales captures the sensation of clear mountain air with luminous citrus, aromatic herbs and elegant woods. Enchanted Masquerade by Floral Street is a playful, vibrant fragrance where colourful fruits, petals and soft musks create a joyful sens
Please click on the following link for my Substack post on new scents that are taking us back to the eighties: Top 10 modern eighties perfumes. Persolaise The post Don’t Mind My Shoulder Pads – Top 10 Perfumes Leading The Eighties Revival appeared first on .
If you’ve donated and didn’t receive your Zoom invitation, please contact me and I will resend your invite. Join Luca Turin and me for a live online seminar on new perfume launches, industry trends, and insider observations from the fragrance world. Luca will be joining us from Milan during Esxence, the world’s largest niche perfumery exhibition. I will be speaking from Ukraine. Scientist, critic, polymath, and co-author of Perfumes: The A–Z Guide, Luca needs little introduction. Expect lively discussion, strong opinions, and plenty of opportunities for questions. This event supports a cause close to my heart. Since this spring, I have been working with the Kramatorsk Volunteer Organization in eastern Ukraine, helping evacuate civilians from frontline communities. The team is made up entirely of local volunteers. They receive no salary. Their leader, Bogdan Zuyakov, works at a local music school and spends his free time organizing evacuations, transporting hospital patients, and helping people escape the war zone. I join the team’s missions whenever I am in Kramatorsk, and I have seen firsthand how vital this work is. As the front advances and drone warfare expands the danger zone, the window for evacuation is shrinking. Unfortunately, one of the team’s vehicles recently broke down. Without vehicles, evacuations stop. Together with my fellow volunteer Ben Kochenburger, we have already raised more than $10,300. We are now just $4,700 away from our goal of $15,000, which will a
Please click on this link for my Substack reviews of: Tauer Patch Absolue; Liquides Imaginaires Ame De Fleur; Nez 1+1 Symbiosa; Les Eaux Primordiales Elevation; Matiere Premiere Metal Lavender; Born To Stand Out Free Coco; Nuxe Men Le Parfum; Trudon Carmen; Serge Lutens La Nuit Tombee; Reservation debut collection. The post is not behind a paywall and you shouldn’t have to subscribe to be able to read [...] The post Serge Lutens La Nuit Tombee, Trudon Carmen, Tauer Patch Absolue and other reviews – 2026 appeared first on .
Eau de Cologne has always carried a certain mystique. Crisp, bright and effortlessly wearable, it occupies a unique place in the fragrance world — one that stretches from the powdered wigs of 18th-century Europe to the minimalist bathroom shelves of today. While modern perfumery constantly reinvents itself, cologne remains timeless precisely because of its simplicity. The story begins in the German city of Cologne, where Italian perfumer Johann Maria Farina created a revolutionary scent in 1709. Inspired by the freshness of spring mornings after rain, his fragrance was unlike the heavy animalic perfumes popular at the time. Built around sparkling citrus notes — bergamot, lemon and orange blossom — Eau de Cologne felt clean, uplifting and refined. It quickly became a sensation among European aristocracy, favoured by emperors, royals and travellers alike. Traditionally, cologne referred to fragrances with a lighter concentration of perfume oils, often dominated by citrus, herbs and aromatic woods. Their appeal lay in their immediacy: refreshing rather than overwhelming, intimate rather than theatrical. And yet, despite centuries of changing tastes, that effortless freshness still resonates today. Modern fragrance wardrobes are increasingly built around versatility. We no longer reserve scent for evening occasions or formal events; fragrance has become part of daily ritual and personal wellbeing. In this landscape, cologne feels more relevant than ever. A crisp neroli blend befo
Aquatic fragrances capture the feeling of sea air, cool water, and clean skin warmed by the sun. Since their rise in popularity during the 1990s, they have become a staple category in modern perfumery, especially during spring and summer. Light, refreshing, and effortlessly wearable, aquatic scents are designed to evoke freshness without the heaviness of traditional oriental or gourmand perfumes. At the heart of many aquatic fragrances is a distinctive synthetic note known as calone. Introduced widely in perfumery in the late twentieth century, calone delivers a crisp marine effect often compared to ocean spray, watermelon rind, or salty sea breeze. It became the defining ingredient behind iconic marine fragrances and remains central to many aquatic compositions today. Perfumers often combine calone with citrus materials such as bergamot, lemon, grapefruit, and mandarin to amplify brightness and energy. Herbal notes like rosemary, lavender, and mint contribute a cooling sensation, while green accords help create the impression of fresh air and wet foliage. Marine fragrances may also include watery floral notes such as lotus, water lily, or jasmine to soften the composition and add elegance. To recreate the smell of driftwood, sand, and coastal landscapes, perfumers frequently use woods and musks. Cedarwood, sandalwood, ambergris accords, and white musk add depth while maintaining the transparent quality that defines the genre. Salt notes and mineral accords have also become i
Please click on the following link to be taken to my Substack reviews of the perfumes below: Guerlain Tabac Sahara, BDK Velvet Tonka extrait, Matiere Premiere Vanilla Powder extrait and other reviews. Guerlain Tabac SaharaBoy Smells Suede Pony & TantrumMatiere Premiere Vanilla Powder extraitBalmain DestinElorea Haenyeo, Jang, Git, Hanok, Inflorescence, Gentle Shower, Hazy Blue, Be By My Side, Heaven, Earth, Water & FireQhue Provenance, Ode De New York, EmperiumBDK Velvet Tonka extrait|Electimuss Aquila Absolute, Vesper Reverie, Trajan, Imperium, Reverie HazeGoldfield & Banks Rose MagnitudeKilian Her Majesty Persolaise The post Guerlain Tabac Sahara, BDK Velvet Tonka extrait, Matiere Premiere Vanilla Powder extrait and other reviews – 2026 appeared first on .
A groom’s wedding fragrance occupies a curious space: it should feel distinctive without trying too hard, memorable without overwhelming the room. Unlike everyday scent — often chosen quickly, worn habitually — a wedding fragrance becomes intertwined with one of the most emotionally charged days of your life. Years later, a trace of vetiver or cedarwood can instantly recall the exact moment you adjusted your cufflinks before walking down the aisle. The temptation for many grooms is to reach for something ultra-bold and conventionally “masculine” — dense leather, aggressive oud or intensely smoky woods. But weddings are not nightclub environments, and fragrance behaves differently over long days filled with close embraces, warm dancefloors and endless photographs. Anything excessively sharp, sweet or overpowering can quickly feel tiring, both for you and everyone around you. The best groom fragrances tend to possess restraint. Think polished woods, soft spices, aromatic herbs or elegant citrus layered over warm musks. A beautifully tailored scent should work like a perfectly cut suit: enhancing presence rather than shouting for attention. It’s also worth considering how your fragrance complements the atmosphere of the day. A relaxed countryside wedding may suit earthy vetiver, lavender or dry cedarwood, while a sleek city ceremony might call for iris, black pepper or refined amber accords. Summer weddings benefit from fresher structures — bergamot, neroli, rosemary — while col
Bridal fragrance is never just another accessory. Long after the flowers have faded and the dress is packed away, scent remains startlingly vivid — capable of transporting you back to a fleeting moment with a single inhale. Choosing your wedding perfume, then, deserves as much thought as choosing the shoes, veil or lipstick. The first rule? Avoid wearing something entirely unfamiliar on the day itself. A wedding fragrance should feel like an elevated extension of you, not a dramatic olfactory costume. If you usually gravitate towards soft musks and airy florals, a dense oud or heavy gourmand may feel overwhelming by hour three of the reception. Instead, look for a scent that amplifies your signature style with a little more radiance, polish or sensuality. It’s also wise to avoid fragrances that are excessively powerful. Weddings are emotional, intimate occasions, often spent in close proximity to guests. Overly sweet or aggressively smoky perfumes can quickly become cloying, particularly in warm weather or crowded venues. The aim is allure, not domination. When choosing your bridal fragrance, consider both the setting and the season. For summer ceremonies, luminous citrus, neroli, orange blossom and sheer white florals feel effortlessly elegant. Winter weddings invite richer textures: velvety rose, amber, sandalwood or soft spice. The venue matters too. A breezy coastal celebration calls for something lighter and sparkling, while a candlelit country house can carry deeper, mo
