FABULOUS F RAG R ANC E S S M E L L I N G N O TE S
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FABULOUS FR AGR ANCES What does 'fabulous fragrances' mean to you? Is it a fragrance that makes YOU feel fabulous, or is it a fragrance that SMELLS fabulous? It’s a question we’re often asked at The Perfume Society, and so we thought it would be good to gather together 13 wonderful examples for you to try. So, whether you’re looking to revisit some laser-edged photography, or wating to settle down with some black tea, perhaps even discover the magic of ginger, it’s time to open up the Fabulous Fragrances Discovery Box. The Perfume Society
theperfumesociety
Perfume_Society
ADSCENTURE HOLOGR APHIC FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: AMBER FLOR AL TOP NOTES: Magnolia, Bergamot, Mango HEART NOTES: Sea Breeze, Jasmine Sambac, Rose BASE NOTES: Tonka Bean, Cedarwood, Sandalwood
ADSCENTURE HOLOGR APHIC
The innovations that happen around us every day can quickly become common place, and that is definitely true of the humble hologram. The excitement of seeing a silver picture that actually moved was mind-blowing when it originally launched, and so it’s fantastic to see this replicated in scent. Holographic provides an almost metallic floral opening, along with a delicious note of mango, before broadening out to a salty sea breeze accord. With a contrasting warm amber and dry cedarwood in the base, it delivers the promised “multi-dimensional voyage” and positively revels in a laser-like jasmine and rose combo. Adscenture is the latest perfume company created by Holly Hutchinson, and promises scents that “conjure a place, a scene, a moment, a country, a feeling”. With full manufacturing caried out in the UK, the company are committed to keeping their carbon footprint low, and that is just one of the reasons why we think this brand is fragrantly fabulous.
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: Adscenture Holographic •
How does Holographic make you feel when you smell it?
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It’s described as being 'multidimensional', but how does that show itself in the fragrance?
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What aromas would you associate with a holographic photograph?
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Would you use different ingredients if you were creating a normal photograph rather than a hologram?
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Which of your friends could you imagine wearing this, and why?
From £60 for 30ml Extrait de Parfum perfumesociety.org
adscenture
adscenture
CREED CARMINA FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: WOODY AMBER TOP NOTES: Black Cherry, Saffron, Pink Pepper HEART NOTES: Rose de Mai, Violet, Cashmere Wood, Peony BASE NOTES: Frankincense, Myrrh, Amber, Musk
CREED CARMINA
How do you embody the essence of femininity while capturing the allure of charisma? Well, that’s exactly what Creed have done with their latest fragrance, which has been described as “strikingly modern”. You have an arresting mix of ingredients, from juicy black cherries through to evocatively spicy saffron, and exquisite Rose de Mai through to a contemporary peony, but it also has a fabulous richness in the base. The captivating frankincense and myrrh add an intensity that is unexpected but, when it’s the last thing that you spray before you go out, it completes both your look and the fragrance. Creed is famous for the worldwide bestseller Aventus, but there is so much more to this company’s history. With a reputation stretching back to 1760, a clientele that included everyone from Napoleon to the future Queen of England, and links to both London and Paris, it’s a wonderful example of storytelling through scent. So, will you be its latest patron?
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: Creed Carmina •
How does this fragrance differ from other floral fragrances that you have smelled in the past?
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What is the dominant note that you can smell in Carmina, and how does it make you feel?
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Black Cherry is a fashionable ingredient in perfumes, but which of your other fragrances contain it?
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This fragrance has a wonderful richness and intensity to it, but where would you wear it?
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What famous person could you imagine wearing this perfume, and why?
From £165 for 30ml eau de parfuM johnlewis.com
creedfragrance
creedfragrance
E AU.MG FLOR FUNK FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: FLOR AL MUSK Y TOP NOTES: Pear, Violet Leaf HEART NOTE: Orange Flower BASE NOTES: Moss, Musk, Sandalwood
EAU.MG FLOR FUNK
The idea of being fabulous is something that’s very individual to each of us, but wearing a fragrance that encourages a feeling of effervescence is the perfect place to start. So a spritz of textural pear and green violet leaf, on top of a deliciously creamy orange flower, puts an immediate spring in your step. Flor Funk delivers exactly what the name suggests, a funky floral fragrance, and the added note of moss and sandalwood also hints at a more “free love” time. So, grab your vintage Halston, match your fashion with your fragrance, and feel fabulous! Niche fragrances have always had the freedom to be bold and make a statement, and that’s exactly what EAU.MG is setting out to do. They want us to be individual, to rediscover how it feels to express our own personality, and all of this through the power of fragrance. Proudly British owned, it’s time you unleashed the rebel inside.
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: EAU.MG Flor Funk •
How would you describe the smell of something that is 'funky'?
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What piece of clothing that you own would you like to see transformed into a fragrance?
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When was the last time that you matched a fragrance to your outfit, and why?
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The pear note in this fragrance is quite textural, but how does it make you feel?
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Who do you think looks fabulous in fashion, and what fragrance should they wear?
From £95 for 50ml Extrait de Parfum eaumgperfume.com
EAUMGperfume
eaumgperfume
ESCENTRIC MOLECULES MOLECULE 01 + BL ACK TE A FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: WOODY GREEN NOTES: Iso E Super, Black Tea
ESCENTRIC MOLECULES MOLECULE 01 + BL ACK TEA
How do you reinvent one of the most famous perfumes in modern history? Escentric Molecules took the idea of wearing a fragrance to a whole new level by encouraging us all to feel “fabulous in our own skin”. Molecule 01 amplified your own personal scent, but we’re treated here to an additional dose of black tea. You get a leathery and hay-like quality as well but, because this is built around the original Molecule 01, you still get the same “smooth, woody, amber note, with a ‘velvet-like’ sensation”. If you loved the original then you’ll love this reinterpretation. Escentric Molecules was founded by the perfumer Geza Schoen and made its name by releasing a fragrance containing just one molecule, Iso E Super. It created a frenzy in the fragrance world, and reinvigorated the interest in the synthetic creativity of perfume. He also launched the Beautiful Minds collection of fragrances, but Molecule 01 will always be his calling card.
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 + Black Tea •
There are only two notes listed, so what else can you smell in the fragrance?
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If you could do a new version of any fragrance, what would it be and why?
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Escentric Molecules was always a unisex brand, so which of your friends would love to receive this as a gift?
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What other ingredients would you like to see added to the original Molecule 01 to create a new perfume?
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Where could you imagine yourself wearing this fragrance, and why?
From £115 for 100ml Eau de Toilette libertylondon.com
escentricmolecules
escentric_molecules
GOLDFIELD & BANKS INGENIOUS GINGER FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: CIT RUS FLOR AL TOP NOTES: Australian Ginger Accord, Bergamot, Lemon HEART NOTES: Magnolia, Jasmine, Rose, Mandarin BASE NOTES: Australian Sandalwood, Patchouli, Vanilla, Musk, Cashmeran, Amber
GOLDFIELD & BANKS INGENIOUS GINGER
Fabulous fragrances most often come from fabulous perfume companies that are run by fabulous creatives, and that is definitely true of Goldfield & Banks. Their collection of perfumes range from luminous limes through to rich resins, and their latest Ingenious Ginger is stunning. You get an almost candied ginger quality alongside a mouth-watering lemon, but it then morphs into a watery floral heart that is given a touch of sweetness from the mandarin. They always proudly use Australian Sandalwood, with its delicious creaminess, but the touch of patchouli and vanilla also provide the perfect support for the ongoing ginger. Goldfield & Banks are based in Australia and pride themselves on building their perfumes around authentic native essences that are found in the country. Drawing on inspiration from deserts, coast and forests, they combine fashion with sustainability to create truly fabulous fragrances. We love companies with strong eco credentials at The Perfume Society, which is why we love Goldfield & Banks.
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: Goldfield & Banks Ingenious Ginger •
Ginger is often thought of as a sharp spicy aroma, but how does it smell in this fragrance?
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Fragrance can transport people to different places, so where does this perfume take you?
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Sandalwood is found in many perfumes, so which others do you own that contain it?
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The name contains the word 'ingenious', but what do you think this is referring to?
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Citruses can be mouth-watering or they can be sharp, but which one do you prefer and why?
From £98 for 50ml eau de parfuM parfum-muse.com
goldfieldandbanksaustralia
goldfield_and_banks_australia
GR ANADO E XPEDIÇ ÃO FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: SPICY WOODY FLOR AL TOP NOTES: Bergamot, Lemon, Black Pepper HEART NOTES: Iris, Frankincense, Pine BASE NOTES: Amber, Cedarwood, Sandalwood
GRANADO EXPEDIÇÃO
There is something wonderful about finding a fragrance that has a delicacy about it, in a world of powerful scents, and that’s where Expediçāo comes into its own. From the opening citrus notes of bergamot and lemon being accompanied by black pepper, through to a powdery iris and frankincense combination that has a ceremonial edge, you are treated to a “journey through the Atlantic rainforest”. The pine note that is in here hints at those majestic trees, and an amber accord represents the warmed earth underfoot, but there is also a stillness in here that is refreshingly addictive. We love history at The Perfume Society, so discovering Granado Pharmácias was a delight. They were founded in Rio de Janeiro in 1870 by José Antonio Coxito Granado, and their fragrances still draw on his original idea of using local aromatics, which was an early form of environmental responsibility. With eye-catchingly colourful designs, the difficulty is choosing where to start.
SMELLING NOTES: EXPLORE: Granado Expedição •
How does wearing a delicate scent make you feel, as opposed to a more traditionally heavy one?
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What location would you like to see turned into a fragrance, and why?
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Forest scents always celebrate the woody side of perfumery, but which others do you currently own?
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Frankincense often adds a ceremonial quality to a fragrance, but how does it make you feel?
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Which one of your friends do you think would be the perfect match for Expediçāo?
From €120 for 75ml eau de parfuM granado.eu
granadoeurope
granadopharmacias
L ANCÔME IDÔLE FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: CHYPRE FLOR AL TOP NOTES: Pear, Bergamot, Pink Pepper HEART NOTES: Rose, Jasmine BASE NOTES: White Musk, Vanilla, Patchouli, Cedar
L ANCÔME IDÔLE
It can be difficult to truly be yourself, but it’s a fabulous feeling when you achieve it. That’s what Lancôme were aiming for when they created Idôle. With a kaleidoscopic quality, it reveals itself by radiating outwards from the central heart of rose and jasmine, just like a kaleidoscope image does, and then allows the top and base notes to show themselves – pear and bergamot provide an exciting bright facet to the floral heart, while sweetened musk and patchouli add a woodiness and support. With a final touch of dry cedarwood, there’s a real feeling of understated confidence. Lancôme has been a high-street staple for decades, both through their skincare and fragrances, but it all started back in 1935. Founded by Armand Petitjean, the company have had many major successes during its history, although one of the greatest is surely La Vie Est Belle. This fragrance started its own fragrance trend, which is why it’s still a worldwide bestseller.
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: Lancôme IDÔLE •
The central ingredients of rose and jasmine are used often in perfumery, but what is different about them in this fragrance?
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This is described as a confident fragrance, but what other perfumes do you own that make you feel confident when you wear them, and why?
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Lancôme has created many fragrances over the years, but which ones have you used in the past?
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When would you wear Idôle and how does wearing it make you feel?
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This fragrance comes in three sizes: 25ml, 50ml and 100ml. Which size is best for you and why?
From £58 for 25ml eau de parfuM boots.com
LancomeUK
lancomeofficial
MALIN + GOET Z S TR AW B ER RY FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: FLOR AL MUSK Y TOP NOTES: Bergamot, Strawberry, Pink Pepper HEART NOTES: Jasmine Petals, Woodland Greens BASE NOTES: Cedarwood, Oakmoss, Musk, Orris Root
MALIN + GOETZ STR AWBERRY
This Discovery Box is called 'Fabulous Fragrances', but we should also have added the word 'fascinating' as well. A strawberry fragrance would bring to mind a tooth-cloyingly sweet scent, but Malin+Goetz have gone in a totally different direction. They have celebrated the lifecycle of the strawberry, from bud to fruit, so you are welcomed by a bright leaflike green blend with a touch of dewiness. This then opens onto a jasmine petal accord, so signifying the blossoming phase, before a delicately sweetened strawberry and iris combination sums up the final fruit. Now, could you pass me the cream? Malin+Goetz have built their reputation on being uncomplicated, committed to the environment, and striving to be as sustainable as possible. Founded in 2004 as a skincare company, their success saw them eventually move into candles and fragrances. With a streamlined New York aesthetic, the perfumes look great in your house as well as being good for the planet.
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: Malin + Goetz Strawberry •
When you saw the name 'Strawberry', what kind of scent were you expecting and how did it differ?
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What fruit would you like to see turned into a fragrance, and why?
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Fruity fragrances are always a popular category, but which ones do you currently own?
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There’s a lot of powdery iris in this fragrance, but what do you think that it adds to the perfume?
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Fragrance layering is a great way to experiment with perfume, so which fragrance that you currently own would you combine this with?
From £82 for 50ml eau de parfuM cultbeauty.co.uk
MALINandGOETZ
malinandgoetz
MIZENSIR PA L I S S A N D R E N I G H T FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: WOODY LE AT HERY TOP NOTES: Nutmeg, Ambrox, Cetalox HEART NOTES: Cypriol, Cistus, Elemi, Guaiac Wood BASE NOTES: Sandalwood, Patchouli, Musk
MIZENSIR PA L I S S A N D R E N I G H T
There’s a fabulous mystery about what happens when the world sleeps and nature awakens, and that’s explored in Palissandre Night. It contrasts the intense with the vibrant, so you get a real pull between cool and spicy notes. There’s a wonderfully crisp opening from the nutmeg and elemi, like that silence at the beginning of the night, but then the combination of guaiac wood, sandalwood and patchouli provide an incredible earthy quality that is addictive. You have a resinous touch at the end from the labdanum, but this almost hints at the warmth that is to come as the world once again wakes up. A perfumer’s absolute freedom can only truly come when they have their own range of fragrances, and that’s exactly what Alberto Morillas has done with Mizensir. In each of the perfumes he aims to obtain the perfect balance of ingredients to satisfy every wearer. He describes his fragrances as “surprising, diverse, original and unique”, and always faithful to his imagination.
SMELLING NOTES: EXPLORE: Mizensir Palissandre Night •
What did the fragrance conjure up in your mind when you smelled it?
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Guaiac Wood has a wonderfully spicy quality, but what other fragrances have you smelled it in?
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How do you imagine the night smells once everyone has gone to sleep and nature has taken charge?
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Is there a particular time of the day or the year when you could imagine yourself wearing this fragrance?
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Cool or warm fragrances – which is your favourite and why?
From £265 for 100ml eau de parfuM mizensirparfums.com
mizensir
mizensir
PA R F U M D E M A R LY A LT H A Ï R FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: AMBER VANILL A TOP NOTES: Orange Blossom Absolute, Bergamot, Cinnamon, Cardamom HEART NOTES: Bourbon Vanilla, Elemi BASE NOTES: Ambrox, Guaiac Wood, Praline, Musk
PA R F U M D E M A R LY A LT H A Ï R
Vanilla is very popular at the moment, with various companies all releasing their own take on this classic ingredient, but they vary from deep and complex to sweet and sugary. Althaïr from Parfum de Marly explores “a majestic, subtle and fresh vanilla that is elegant, generous and charismatic”. The woody vanilla in the centre is surrounded by notes of bergamot and cardamom, which intensify the brightness, while a praline accord mixed with guaiac wood adds a spiced powdery icing sugar effect that is delicious. You’ve also got amber and cinnamon in here and, used together, complete an extraordinary perfume. Parfums de Marly always strives to create fragrances that “dare to go against the grain”, and so deliver unique experiences that truly reflect a blend of the classic and the contemporary. It’s this pairing that has gained it a loyal following and, because of an instance on using the finest ingredients, creates fragrances that each have a unique olfactory signature.
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: Parfum de Marly Althaïr •
When you saw 'vanilla' listed as an ingredient, what were your first thoughts and how did they differ to what you actually smelled?
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What other vanilla fragrances do you own, and how do they compare with Althaïr?
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If you could choose one ingredient to build a perfume around, what would it be and why?
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What is it about this fragrance that you love? This could be a particular ingredient or how it makes you feel.
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Do you think that this fragrance has a gender?
From £195 for 75ml eau de parfuM selfridges.com
parfumsdemarly
parfumsdemarly
P I C T O R PA R F U M FL ASH FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: flor al musk y TOP NOTES: Pink Pepper, Ginger, Raspberry HEART NOTES: Creamy Rose, Ylang Ylang BASE NOTES: Powdery Musk, Vanilla, Tonka Bean
P I C TO R PA R F U M FLASH
The idea of being photographed brings out the model in all of us, with a pose struck and captured forever, and it’s this image of a flash going off that is conjured up here. You’ve got pink pepper and ginger illuminating the scene from the start but, as the fragrance develops, you start to get a vintage lipstick quality coming through with its rose and creamy iris notes. As the flashbulb dies, the scene returns to the semi-darkness with sensual notes of powdery musk and tonka bean but, perhaps from a spilt cocktail, a final touch of raspberry hints at a fabulous evening. Pictor Parfum takes its inspiration from imagery and the process of photography, and it’s this direct association with the act of seeing or creating a photograph that resonated with the brand when they came to create their fragrances. Based in London, they proudly say that their “scents, like a perfect or wonderfully imperfect image, leave a lasting impression.”
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: Pictor Parfum Flash •
What situation from your past comes to mind when you smell the fragrance, as if captured forever as a scented photograph?
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Look at the last photograph on your phone – what were the scents and aroma that surrounded you?
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The perfume has the smell of vintage lipstick within it, but what other makeup products do you remember that had a fragrance?
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Who would you imagine wearing this perfume?
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Are there any other scents that come to mind when you think of photography?
From £145 for 100ml Extrait de Parfum hopeandstory.com
pictorparfum
pictorparfum
ROBERT PIGUET NOTES FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: CHYPRE FLOR AL TOP NOTES: Bergamot, Clary Sage HEART NOTES: Geranium, Orange Flower, Costus BASE NOTES: Oakmoss, Vetiver, Tonka Bean
ROBERT PIGUET NOTES
There’s often a comparison between how a perfume is made and how music is composed, because both use notes and chords, and this idea of 'notes' is celebrated here. Piguet’s favourites have been used to create a fragrance that opens brightly with bergamot and aromatic clary sage, before settling on a sensual blend of costus and geranium. This very bold effect is then added to by earthy oakmoss and dry vetiver, so you get a forest floor quality, and is then completed by the sweetened note of tonka bean. There is a definite vintage quality on display, and I’m absolutely here for it. Robert Piguet could be said to have caused a watershed moment in the perfume industry when he teamed up with perfumer Germaine Cellier to create Bandit and Fracas. They were revolutionary and, just as his fashion became synonymous with style, so did his fragrances. They were seen as the height of luxury and, even today, provide “an innate sense of seduction”.
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: Robert Piguet Notes •
Robert Piguet fragrances were always described as 'true luxury', but how does that come through in this perfume?
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What piece of music do you think matches this fragrance?
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Have you smelled any Robert Piguet fragrances before? If yes, how did they compare to this one?
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How would you describe a fragrance that is said to have a 'vintage style'?
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When would you wear this perfume, and why?
From £130 for 50ml eau de parfuM harrods.com
RobertPiguetParfum
rpparfums
PENHALIGON’S Q U E R C U S H A N D & B O DY WA S H A N D LOT I O N FR AGR ANCE FAMILY: CHYPRE TOP NOTES: Lemon, Lime, Mandarin, Bergamot, Galbanum HEART NOTES: Jasmine, Lily of the valley, Cardamom BASE NOTES: Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Musk, Amber
PENHALIGON’S QUERCUS HAND & BODY WA SH AND LOTION
Some fragrances are almost universally seen as a rite of passage, and Quercus from Penhaligon’s is definitely one of these. Whether you fall in love with its bright clean quality, or swoon over its forest-like base notes, this is a very special fragrance. The citrus medley that opens the scent leads onto the genderless floral heart, with its added touch of green cardamom, before landing on the oakmoss and sandalwood base. Yes, this was seen as a men’s fragrance when it launched 27 years ago but, in today’s world, the edges between male and female fragrances are thankfully wonderfully blurred. There can’t be anyone that hasn’t worn a Penhaligon’s fragrance in the past. Were you an Elizabethan Rose or a Endymion convert, perhaps fiercely loyal to Blenheim Bouquet? The company has seen many triumphs, from its first royal warrant in 1903 to the opening of the Trade Routes in 2014, but its very 'Britishness' proudly shines through in every scent.
SMELLING NOTES:
EXPLORE: Penhaligon’s QUERCUS HAND & BODY WASH and LOTION •
How does showering with this fragrance make you feel for the rest of the day?
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What fragrance have you sprayed over the top of this shower gel and body lotion, and how have their scents combined?
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Who would love being given a bottle of Quercus Hand & Body Wash, and why?
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When you used the body lotion, did you find that your fragrance lasted longer when you sprayed it on top?
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Is there a Penahligon's perfume that isn’t available as a body wash that you would love to see added to their range?
From £44 for 500ml penhaligons.com
Penhaligons
penhaligons_london
perfumesociety.org
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