by Rachel Fiddes
Whether you’re looking for a gift, or a new scent for yourself, read on for our guide to the best new fragrances recently launched.
Gucci Bloom Eau de Parfum
One spritz of this conjures up an abundance of white flowers on a hot summer’s night, somewhere exotic. This isn’t a subtle fragrance – it’s heady with Indian tuberose and jasmine, delivering a double floral hit. The unusual lacquered bottle in a dusky pink looks more like porcelain than glass and has a real vintage feel to it.
Annick Goutal Nuit Confidences Eau de Parfum
This is the sort of perfume that lingers in a room long after the wearer has left. The initial hit of bergamot and pepper moves into a seductive heart of frankincense and tonka bean. Vanilla and white musk give a rich, sweet warmth in the base of the scent that remains on the skin. These powerful ingredients blend together to give a really distinct perfume. The flacon is reminiscent of the night sky with indigo glass fading up to clear, with a silken pompom around the neck of the bottle.
Michael Kors Sexy Ruby Eau de Parfum
Now here’s a sexy fragrance. The initial sparkling hit of raspberry, apricot and pepper dries down to ultra-feminine floral notes of orange blossom, rose and jasmine. The warmth and richness comes from the base notes of cashmere woods and vanilla bean. The red glass bottle is cut like a gemstone for an undeniably glamorous feel.
Elie Saab Girl of Now Eau de Parfum
This is a delicious winter scent, with an almond heart and base notes that bring Christmas cakes and marzipan to mind. Anyone who likes other almond-based scents such as Burberry Brit and Dior Hypnotic Poison will love this. The sparkling top notes of orange, mandarin and pear give a zingy freshness to the sweetness of the almond, while the orange blossom and magnolia in the heart notes give it a floral femininity. The pretty bottle has duck-egg blue porcelain petals set into the art deco-inspired ridged glass.
Jimmy Choo Rose Gold Edition Eau de Parfum
Think of the girl who wears Jimmy Choo shoes and this is her fragrance: glossy and glamorous. The Rose Gold limited edition is a twist on the original Jimmy Choo eau de parfum, with a deeper and more intense blend. Fresh and sweet candid orange and tiger orchid meet the sweet heart note of toffee and the base of warming sandalwood and patchouli.
Tiffany & Co. Eau de Parfum
This delicate, feminine scent isn’t going to knock anyone out as you walk past them, so if that’s how you like your perfume, then this one isn’t for you. The initial hit is sparkling and zesty green mandarin, which moves into a feminine floral heart of iris and a dry-down of sensual patchouli. A really beautiful scent and another safe bet for a gift. The bottle is inspired by a cut diamond and it’s all wrapped up in a signature Tiffany blue box.
Dolce & Gabbana The One Eau de Toilette
This is a new, lighter interpretation of the ever popular The One scent, with the same sensual warmth but an added fresh twist. Not as heady as its previous incarnation, this is a blend of Italian bergamot blossom, mandarin, white peach, lychee, jasmine, orange blossom and ylang ylang. All that fruity floral zing is tempered with a rich sweetness in the base notes thanks to vetiver, amber, vanilla and musk.
Jo Malone English Oak & Hazelnut Cologne
Unusual scent combinations aren’t anything new at Jo Malone – the brand invented the popular lime, basil and mandarin and was a pioneer in the art of combining seemingly un-related fragrance notes that carried equal weight in a cologne. When this landed on my desk, I have to admit it slightly took me by surprise – oak and hazelnut seemed a strange partnership in a women’s perfume but I was impressed. This has a hint of smoky wood that carries a sweetness, mixed with earthy nutty notes and while it has a masculine tone, it retains a real femininity too.
Romilly Wilde Idle Eau de Parfum
This is one of those scents that makes people repeatedly ask “what are you wearing?” Choose this if you like your fragrances bold, unusual and yet strangely discreet at the same time. Fresh notes of bergamot and green mandarin give it a spirited lively start. Linden blossom and jasmine inject floral prettiness, while angelica seed and cardamom give it a musky warmth that lasts longer than most scents. It manages to be woody, musky and floral all at the same time.
Chloe Absolu de Parfum
Ten years ago the first Chloe scent was launched and over the last decade it has had various incarnations, always using the rose as a starting point. This year’s anniversary launch is the Absolu de Parfum, an intense interpretation of the signature fragrance. You get a boost of vanilla around the rose, with a heady kick of patchouli. It’s a rich scent without being overpowering. Simply beautiful.
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