Fragrances the bd team tested (and loved) this week.
Although the beautiful Georgia May Jagger is the face of this fragrance, the actual scent seems far more grown up. Described as a creamy, sexy floral composition”, the top note of neroli adds a depth that is not usually found in florals and perfectly balances the usually sweet Tahitian Tiare Flower. However, it’s the base note of palissander wood that makes this seem a more enduring fragrance. For me, this fragrance has the right amount of headiness to carry you through an evening out. In true Cavalli-style, the bottle is sexed-up with a pink-tinged python skin collar sitting above the pink glass and gold metal bottle. - Janet
I’m not an easy customer when it comes to fragrances... in fact, I’d go as far as saying I’ve never finished a full bottle of perfume without finding something about the scent I didn’t like and abandoning it. As I wasn’t looking for anything too sweet, someone suggested I try this scent from Narciso Rodrigues. This EDT blends floral notes like jasmine and pink peony with citrus notes to create a wearable, sexy fragrance. Even though it’s slightly lighter than the original Narciso For Her EDT, for me this is the perfect nighttime scent. - Lucy
When I think about describing this fragrance, I can only think of only one word – elegance. The fresh fragrance is a floral bouquet of mimosa, jasmine, orange blossom and tuberose, drying down with warm accords of amber and patchouli. The feminine fragrance bottle is a personal favourite of mine - I love the embellished white flower featured on the front and the dainty spray button. This fragrance has been perched on my desk for the last few weeks, and it has definitely had more than three sprays a day, that’s for sure! I have found my new personal scent in the beautiful Valentina Acqua Floreale. - Maddie
Issey Miyake Limited Edition L’Eau D’Issey Eau de Parfum Absolue
It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with fragrances. While I like many that pass through the office, it takes a special scent to really blow me away. Issey Miyake’s L’Eau D’Issey Absolue was one such fragrance. As soon as I sprayed it, I was immediately taken by the floral sophisticated scent. While I don’t mind the top notes of candied apricot and lotus and the amber and woody base notes, it’s the heart notes of white flowers, jasmine and lily of the valley that make this one of my all-time favourite scents. Some florals can come across too sickly sweet or young, but this one does neither. Housed in an elegant gold bottle, Issey Miyake impresses again! - Yelena
Lanvin Me Eau De Parfum
I have never tried a Lanvin fragrance before, but when I saw the pale blue box decorated with an embossed gold tie sitting on the shelf, I knew I had to give the newbie a try! And I’m glad I did just that, because after opening the box I was wowed again with the small but elegant decorative touches on the fragrance bottle such as its gold chain that attached to a blue diamante on the bottle front. Already the fragrance seemed soft and feminine, but to really put it to the test, I had to switch to my other senses and smell. Lo and behold, the fragrance didn’t disappoint. Lifting the lid, my senses dove into notes of classic elegance, with a modern hint of sweetness. While its classic flavour comes from the inclusion of liquorice, its sweetness comes from fruity blueberry. And with a heart of tuberose, the scent is floral, feminine and just for me. - Liz
Calvin Klein’s new fragrance Sheer Beauty Essence is quite different from the original fragrance, Sheer Beauty. It starts out smelling fresh and fruity with top notes of nashi pear and white peach, then quickly softens with feminine inspired floral scents of gorgeous magnolia, lilac and beautiful peony. To me, I feel it's very much a daytime fragrance, easy to wear with its classic fresh and floral notes, but still remaining true to the Calvin Klein name of sophistication. - Kym
At first I couldn’t place what this scent reminded me of, but after letting Robert Cavalli’s Acqua linger for a few seconds, I was taken back to a place of long summer days and memories of far-off places. This fragrance is holidays in a bottle, without the cliché expected notes that one would expect. Inspired by the Mediterranean with soft wafting jasmine and sexy musk notes, it inspires something carefree, luxurious and distinctly feminine. Team this with a sapphire blue bottle, and I think I’ve found my remedy to winter blues this season. - Nat
Bottega Veneta Eau Légère
It took about 0.567 seconds for me to fall in love with the original Bottega Veneta scent, and even faster for me to make Bottega Veneta Eau Légère my new must-have fragrance. Combining my two favourite notes – musk and leather – in a floral juice, this is everything I want in a scent: it’s feminine, sexy and classic. A gentle and softer version of the original, Eau Légére is a great daytime fragrance for those who love strong scents, and perfect for night time if you lean towards the more subtle end of the scale as notes of gardenia freshen and lighten the scent.. The bottle is simpler this time round although just as elegant. - Michelle
Old favourites
While we love to try out the new scents that land on our desks, it would be remiss of us not to acknowledge some of the stalwarts of the fragrance world.
Tabu
Recently celebrating its 80th anniversary, the iconic fragrance retains the strong, empowering notes of Jean Carles’ creation - the oriental/floral scent that was known as The forbidden fragrance”. Top notes of basil, lemon and citrus lead into a heart of rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang and mimosa before drying down to a base of sandalwood, amber and musk vanilla.
Tweed
Created in 1925, Tweed is an old-school fragrance. The woody floral scent is quite feminine and sensuous, and has stood the test of time to remain popular among women to this day.
Taylor of London – Calming Lavender
From the English brand established in 1887 is a range of fragrances including Calming Lavender that was inspired by the English countryside. This fresh, floral scent has notes of lavender and green herbs with a woody undertone.
