Over COVID, fragrance as a sector grew when other beauty segments stagnated. I do feel we are in the after-glow of that pandemic-induced love of all things that smell amazing.
I don’t need to tell you that there has been an explosion of new fragrances in existing ranges and completely new start-ups. The next big thing is likely to be AI-designed perfume, which you can pick in your local departmental store.
Naturally, I have been getting severe FOMO (fear of missing out), so this will probably be one of many perfume reviews of new fragrances to me.
Its important at the outset to tell you that I am not using some sophisticated perfume barometer, because that’s not how normal people buy perfume.
Smells are so deeply personal, that they either appeal to you or not. I have been perfume and sniffing them like glue for longer than I care to remember. One of my first paychecks in Switzerland went to pay for Kilian’s Love Don’t Be Shy. Before Kilian was bought by a big behemoth, I knew of it.
I went on a mission and smelt the following fragrances:
Amouage perfumes: Guidance and Lineage
Amouage, the Omanian luxury fragrance house have two fragrances: Guidance and Lineage
The pink pastel-shaded bottle is sublime. It has a sweet candy-like fragrance of PRADA but without being overtly sickly.
It’s pleasant enough for a young person (i.e., in their 20s) but lacks any sophistication or character for me. Notes in the fragrance are
- Top Notes: Pear, Frankincense, Hazelnut.
- Heart Notes: Saffron, Rose, Jasmine Sambac, Osmanthus.
- Base Notes:Cistus, Sandalwood, Akigalawood, Ambergris, Vanilla.
This scent is a hard pass for me.
The blue pastel bottle is less appealing on appearance. Its supposed to smell like the sea and be a bit spicy. I guess the theme is you are on the beach, and it’s supposed to remind you of a sophisticated beach holiday, as it has myrrh, frankincense, pepper, and ginger. Essentially the kind of vacation unknown to me.
Not only is this fragrance confusing but it just did nothing for me. I didn’t buy this either.
Both Guidance and Lineage are US$ 360 for 100ml. Click here for Amouage’s website
https://www.amouage.com/uae/100ml-guidance.html
Amouage perfume: attars
The sales assistant at Amouage was extraordinarily knowledgable: I was super-impressed by her. When I told her I wanted to try a fragrance attar (the original form of a parfum oil), she insisted that I try the lightest fragrance.
She dabbed the tiniest drop of vanilla barka on my hand, and it was divine. I am not a fan of vanillin, but this was very subtle. You are supposed to use the product on your pulse points.
This oil is an intimate perfume – its to wear for your pleasure and that of your lover. It’s gorgeous, and I would buy it. Did I buy it? No, it cost AED 2,060 (or over US$ 560 for 12ml).
Diptyque perfume revisited
Diptyque has its origins in interior decoration – that’s how the founders started the company and then expanded to fragrant candles.
Over the years, Diptyque has expanded to fragrances, and the last time I used a Diptyque scent was about 10 years ago. I used Do Son all the time and wildly sprayed it through my hair. I loved it and so did everyone around me.
Yesterday I tried two of the later releases. One was a bestseller called Orpheon. Its woody, with tonka bean, cedar and juniper berries.
It absolutely did nothing for me. I don’t understand what emotion the fragrance is meant to achieve. I feel as if I should be apologizing but it is beyond my comprehension who these people are that buy this fragrance.
Available for sale at most Diptyque stores. It cost US$205 for 75ml.
https://www.diptyqueparis.com/en_us/p/orpheon-eau-de-parfum-75ml.html
Unfortunately, I have more perfumes here that you can strike off your list