I'm currently on vacation but my mind and nose of course have been on summer mode for a good couple of months. It must be the fact that I'm Greek and the moment we hit June I'm officially considering it to be summer. The English weather doesn't always help but we have been blessed with a couple of good summers lately that justify the frequent use of "summer fragrances " while still roaming in the city and not being necessarily on holidays.
This summer I've been greedy and chose to wear quite a few fragrances I tried recently and loved:
Kierin NYC - 10 a.m. Flirt
Kierin NYC is a new perfume brand I've been meaning to write about for a coupe of months since they launched at Harvey Nichols with 4 perfumes. The brand prides itself in being clean & conscious: all products are cruelty-free and free of skin allergens, parabens, phtalates, unnecessary stabilisers and animal products. The packaging is fully recyclable as well.
All 4 of them are very unique perfumes full of character however, 10 a.m. Flirt is my favourite as it's quite unique.
10 a.m. Flirt is a very flirty scent with a gorgeous fig note that gets me straight into summer mode.
Key Ingredients: Gardenia - Fig - Cashmere Wood - Sandalwood
Perfumer Mathieu Nardin has managed to blend the fig note with the other ingredients and make a scent that's juicy, fruity, floral and warm at the same time.
Juliette has a Gun - Vanilla Vibes
To celebrate the launch of Juliette Has A Gun’s gorgeous new fragrance Vanilla Vibes, I was invited to ‘Get Festival Ready with Juliette’ at Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge in May.
Inspired by the Burning Man festival, Vanilla Vibes is a new and innovative take on vanilla.
Top notes: Flower of salt
Heart notes: Absolute Vanilla Natural ,Absolute Orchid
Base notes: Tonka Bean, Absolute Benzoin, Sandalwood, Musks Brown
The fusion of two opposites has created an atmospheric scent that marries the salty desert with the elegance of vanilla in a fresh and powerful way. I am not usually a fan of vanilla especially during summertime, however Vanilla Vibes has a salty sun kissed effect on my skin that I find utterly delicious!
The feather headpiece pictured above was inspired by the Vanilla Vibes campaign (and created by Feathers and Thread
Teo Cabanel - Lace Garden
Every summer I will choose at least an elegant white flower based perfume. This year Lace Garden has captivated me.
Top Notes: Lemon, Ylang ylang
Middle Notes: Magnolia, Jasmine, Tuberose
Base Notes: Vanilla, Benzoin, Powdery Accord
A beautiful, elegant, and blooming floral scent that is perfect all year round but I really love wearing it on hot summer nights as it leaves behind an intoxicating powdery, floral trail that makes my presence memorable. You can find it online at Teo Cabanel.
Officine Universelle Buly - Eau Triple Kiso Yuzu
If you, like me, want to wear perfume on the beach under the scorching sun, choosing a non alcohol based fragrance is a must. Buly's unique water-based perfumes have the vibrancy of a normal perfume and leave a scent-trail that follows you throughout the day without being intrusive.
Notes: Yuzu lemon, mint, Japanese laurel
Yuzu de Kiso is a green, citrusy and fruity scent, sparkling and fresh with an aromatic drydown. Perfect for the beach and hot days when you want to spray yourself with something gorgeously refreshing!
Officine Universelle Buly has some of the most beautiful stores and corners around the world and you can get Kiso Yuzu here
Ormonde Jayne - Osmanthus
Osmanthus was my first Ormonde Jayne crush! I love all the OJ perfumes but this one holds a special place in my heart and perfume wardrobe.
Top notes: Pomello, Davana (Sweet Egyptian Herb) and Pimento
Heart notes: Osmanthus Absolute, Water Lily and Sambac (Indian Jasmine)
Soul notes: Cedarwood, Labdanum Resin, Musk and Vetiver
The small delicious flower of Osmanthus has been bottled into an uplifting creation that uses Japanese Osmanthus absolute, beautifully blended with other flowers, sparkling citrus and laid on a bed of Egyptian sweet herbs. Fresh, crisp and very refreshing! I strongly suggest you visit the website and also read the Gourmand Jayne column for delicious scented recipes.
Atelier Cologne - Pacific Lime
A tropical gateway inspired by Mexico
Pacific Lime is Atelier Cologne’s latest creation, a bright lime and coconut perfume which tells the story of an unexpected celebration on a dream beach.
There's nothing more summery than coconut and lime for me. Cocktails, sun lotions and generally anything summer related is forever intertwined in my memories with these smells and they transport me to summer regardless of the season. Pacific Lime is actually more, as apart form the sparkle of the lemons and limes and the tropical vibe of the coconut, it has a soft aromatic drydown thanks to the spearmint and the eucalyptus.
The main ingredients of this unisex fragrance are lime from Mexico, lemon from Italy, coconut from the Philippines, spearmint from America and eucalyptus from China. You can find it at Selfridges among other places. I strongly recommend a visit to their Covent Garden boutique!
Sylvaine Delacourte - Vanori
A sunny , warm vanilla
Sylvaine Delacourte has taken yet another key ingredient and has created 5 scents that celebrate Vanilla and give it other dimensions.
Vanori is a sunny vanilla, creamy, bright and with a brilliant grapefruit bite at the beginning. The exotic flowers of the composition mix with the vanilla that melts and mingles with your skin chemistry to bring out the sunshine. A truly magnificent summer scent!
Notes: Grapefruit - Baie rose - Plumeria - Jasmine - Honey - Styrax - Vanilla - Sandalwood - Benzoin.
You can find Vanori at Les Senteurs
Ostens - Impression Rose Oil Isparta
Rose is a hero ingredient and I will always choose a rose scent for summer. Rose Oil Isparta is Dominique Ropion's interpretation of rose that celebrates it's "dark side" and has created a juicy, jammy rose, very red and voluptuous that blooms perfectly in the summer heat!
KEY FRAGRANCE NOTES: Pink Pepper CO2 LMR, Rose Essential LMR, Patchouli Oil LMR, Labdanum Resinoid LMR, Cashmeran
Les Bains Guerbois - 1978
The revival of Paris's Spa Les Bains Guerbois was accompanied by the launch of a perfume line that evokes an olfactive journey into its rich past of more than 130 years.
Paris 1978 celebrates another endless night in one of the world’s wildest nightclubs. A powdery, boozy scent with fresh juicy notes that bite into a cocktail glass and settle into a rich oriental base might not seem the obvious choice for summer, however it works as Bertrand Duchaufour has created a scent that is joyous, floral, refreshing and powdery at the same time. Head notes: yuzu, bitter orange, whiskey, davana Heart notes: clary sage, rose, heliotrope, blond tobacco Base notes: myrrh, maté, amber, Atlas cedar, Virginia cedar, patchouli
All Le Bains Guerbois fragrances are available at Les Senteurs
Ex Idolo - Lucid Dream
Summer vacation in the forest.
Lucid Dream, a woody-spicy floral, is an olfactory exploration of lucid dreaming, and an ode to the potential hidden in every one of us.
Bright, sunny and aromatic, it leads you through a ray of light from the depths of the forest to the opening where the sunlight meets the treetops and the play of light brings out the forest scents. Bright, smoky and woody with a dash of precious flowers it's a refreshing different choice of a summer scent.
TOP: Effervescent Citrus, Pink Pepper, Davana
HEART: Smoky Osmanthus, Rose
BASE: Incense, White patchouli
Lucid Dream and the other 3 Ex Idolo fragrances are available at Les Senteurs
Amo Ferragamo - Flowerful
Sparkling Energy
I had the opportunity to try it recently at the Aspects Beauty perfume showcase. Spontaneous and charming, the new version of Amo opens with a burst of freshness. Yuzu flower and juicy blackcurrant enhance an aromatic Italian bitter accord before colliding with a blossoming bouquet of pink peony, jasmine and plum blossom in the heart. Finally, this appealing scent unpredictably mellows into a more sensuous affair with a hit of vanilla, creamy blond woods and a cloud of musk for a lingering dry down.
Available at Escentual along with a body lotion and a shower gel.
I hope you enjoyed my choices!
Happy summer everyone!