I know what you are thinking.
Do I really need to talk about parfum in a pandemic? Yes, I do because I have an allergy to sweaty smelling people.
It is not a crime to sweat, but it is to not bathe regularly (when you can afford to do so).
Therefore, if you are not a child, have more important issues to address (survival) and are not old, then you better smell damn good when I stand next to you this summer.
I am going to start off in the men’s department, because this is the most intoxicating male fragrance I have encountered.
CodeDeco’s Malabar
This is a complex layered fragrance, which initially is quite fresh and citrusy (bergamot and mandarin) on application. However, it settles down to a heavier, soft, lightly spiced very masculine fragrance. I could smell this on my beau for (literally) forever and a day. The scent lingers for a long time because of the high % concentrate in the parfum itself.
Only available in Singapore, but that’s why we have Shop and Ship! Comes in at just shy of US$ 140 for 50ml
Tom Ford’s grey vetiver
Again this is so fresh and light for summer. It is a combination of a bit of Old Spice and fresh citrus fragrance. I almost feel as if this is unisex, but I have not as yet, acquired the confidence to wear it outside my house.
Available for sale in 2 sizes (50ml for under US$100 and 100ml for about US$160
Moving on to female fragrances….(and enter my lament, because prices are plain stupid. I remember less than 10 years ago a Love in White 30ml bottle would cost just shy of £100, including sales tax. Now, the 75ml costs US$380)
My absolute favourite for the summer is Pure White Linen by Estee Lauder, followed by Love in White by Creed, Ciel and Tuberosa by Amouage, Beige by Chanel and Miller Harris’ Tuberosa
Pure White Linen by Estee Lauder
I bet no one expected to see this on the list, but this is an absolute duty free staple for me (remember those times!?)
I like the clean floral laundry smell of parfums, which this has. It is designed for the American market as is Love in White
Price at US$ 68 for 50ml
Love in White by Creed
This is a hugely unpopular perfume amongst perfume afficinados: honestly, I don’t know why because were it not for the hideous price (£200+ for 70ml) I would wear this all the time.
Instead, I reserve it for special occasions. As I write this, I am reminded that I don’t remember the last time I wore this, so time to crack open a new bottle!
Ciel and Tuberosa by Amouage
Amouage perfumes are unapologetically expensive and high end. But this product brings sophistication and quality rolled in one. What I really like is that these perfumes are precise – the tuberose perfume smells exactly as you would expect tuberose to smell. Also, these perfumes are extremely long lasting, so a little goes a long way.
Miller Harris Tuberosa
I have a love hate relation with Miller Harris – this is the only fragrance that I like from this brand and naturally, the brand may have stopped making it
Exactly the same thing happened to me when Miller Harris stopped making this limited edition Jasmin fragrance – which is probably the best smelling perfume of all time.
The next best thing is this Tuberosa parfum which is supremely soft feminine smell that I wear quite regularly.
Chanel Beige
Anyone my age (which is old), has been through most Chanel perfumes, which is not in itself a crime, except when everyone starts to smell like you. With Chanel’s standard offering that happens all too often and most recently with the launch of Gabrielle.
But that’s not at all true about Biege. It apparently has honeysuckle – and honestly, I had to look up what honeysuckle is….It mellows down to a sweet floral (but not sickly smell) with a tweeny, weeny powder finish – which is genius.
It is a sophisticated parfum for grown-ups. It would have been completely lost on me in my 20s, but not so much as I approach 40.
Priced at US$ 200 for 2.5 fl oz
Perfumes I absolutely hate
Most perfumes from Byredo, Dior and Tom Ford Neroli.