High notes
Vibrant blossoms and precious wood are used to evoke a range of emotions, writes Karen Fong
The season's latest scents explore fruity sweetness and exotic flavours, taking inspiration from traditions, history and mystery.
Scents and their ability to create emotion are put into practice with Coach's new Poppy perfumes, each representing an aspect of a woman. The classic Poppy Blossom Eau de Parfum symbolises romance with lychee, mandarin, rose centifolia and vanilla. Poppy Citrine Blossom is vibrant with blackcurrant, jasmine petals and creamy benzoin, and Poppy Freesia Blossom is sweet with bergamot, raspberry, white orchid and brown sugar.
In much the same way, Issey Miyake's vibrant new version of the popular Pleats Please, now an eau de parfum, is designed to create a mood of joy and happiness. An ode to violet, it enchants with top notes of vanilla, middle notes of peony and sweet pea, and a voluptuous base of wood, patchouli and cedar.
Giorgio Armani's latest, Sì, embodies Italian chic with a scent meant to evoke strength, softness and sensuality. At its heart are three unique accords: blackcurrant nectar, modern chypre and light, musky wood.
The precious oud features in three scents this season. The new scent by Terry de Gunzburg, Terryfic Oud, uses the highly prized wood as a base note for its unique, smoky fragrance. For the top, fresh Calabrian bergamot, red berries and raspberry give the scent a sweet finish, while the floral heart comprises rose and iris along with spices such as saffron and cumin.
Dolce & Gabbana introduces two new fragrances featuring oud in the Velvet Collection. Velvet Tender Oud has sweet notes of almond wrapped in potent damask rose essence and rose centifolia, while its Desert counterpart is about incense, rich and smoky tones, and lingering notes of musk.
Crabtree and Evelyn's Heritage Colognes embody nostalgia, with seven compositions recalling the classic aromas of the Mediterranean coastline and Europe's ancient cities. The Old Windsor Eau de Cologne symbolises traditional English pursuits with a blend of bergamot, bitter orange, verbena, English lavender and sandalwood.
For men, Bleu de Chanel is a timeless, woody fragrance that's all about strength and elegance. With notes of pink pepper citrus accord, dry cedar, Indian ginger and sandalwood, it aims for a perfect balance of power and subtlety.
Jean Paul Gaultier once again uses the iconic sailor's jersey for his new fragrance. Featuring blue and white stripes, the Le Male bottle matches the female version with bright red heart-shaped tattoos. The notes are typically sensual and virile with lavender, mint and vanilla.
