My scents for this past spring/summer season were floral and fruity - it's like they're the prescription to help you cope with the heavy weight of another drizzly summer in London. Jo Malone's English Pear and Fresia (for the second summer running), Le Mimosa by Annick Goutal and Kai EDT. So now rather than go on smelling like a trug of flowers, these scents have gone to the back of the shelf. And out with the cable knits, coats and scarves will come the perfumes that make autumn the spicy season. This year it'll be the new Miller Harris La Pluie for day and Tom Ford Violet Blonde for evening. As the nights draw in you want your fragrances to be rich, seductive and full-bodied - Tom Ford and Lyn Harris' specialities.
New daywear - Miller Harris' La Pluie
This is the scent to top your leathers, knits and trench coat -
La Pluie, or 'rain cloud' features warming Bourbon notes,
calming Lavender and a heart of wet, white flowers. Think more
balmy tropical shower than downpour in Dalston, as Ylang Ylang and
Bergamot envelop you in a snug, sensual embrace. Available
now, it's warm and womanly - perfect for wintery weather.
A night out with Tom Ford Violet Blonde
After my first impression (that it was called Violent Blonde, a name I felt an instant affinity with) I haven't put the bottle down. It's as dark as it is light - a deep Orris sensuality, entrancing Jasmine Sabac and woody base, heightened by the dappled light of citrus Mandarin, sparkling Violet Leaf and soft Baie Rose. It's an instant hit of opulence, a sophisticated and unabashedly glamorous blend that whispers luxury through luscious lips. Frankly, it's a sexy bastard of a fragrance. By using the Orris root (in butter and absolut form) and Violet Leaf, Mr Ford has respun the Violet story for a modern audience. It lingers, it leaves a sexually-charged trail and it imbues power. What more could you want from a bottle this winter? It launches nationwide on October 3rd - stick it in your diary.
And there's always room for a little Chanel...
It is said that Chanel will appear at least once in the 5 top selling fragrances list each year. When you experience the newest member of Les Exclusifs, launching on October 14th, you'll know why. In the 1920s, Mme Chanel famously took jersey - then a shamefully utilitarian fabric, used in men's clothing and uniforms - and gave it the couture glow in her atelier. This year Jacques Polge - Chanel's revered nose - does the same for Lavender, giving new life to this seemingly mundane ingredient in this fragrance, aptly named Jersey. Forget the synthetic sting of a high street Lavender shower gel or that supposedly soporific fabric softener. Using an extraordinary species grown in Montpelier and unique steam extraction Jacques has revealed Lavender's seductive side. Rounded off with Rose, Jasmin, Vanilla and Tonka Bean, this sweet and powdery accord is my choice for the sunny, crisp days of winter.
Text: Grace Timothy
