words by Nicola de Burlet
As the days start warming up and our summer holidays are edging ever closer, could it be time to switch up our scents in line with the season? I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel fully put together without a spritz of my favourite perfume. But what if that scent came with a side order of wellness?
We all know that scents can transport us back in time to a special place or time with just one spritz and our capacity for scent memory has no bounds. However, it seems that, like our hybrid skincare, we are increasingly seeking out harder working fragrances that are not only science backed but have formulas that deliver a bit more than just a wonderful smell. Enter a new generation of scents that not only feel modern and refreshing but pack a wellness punch too – just what we need for that new season energy!
These are some of our favourites…
Energised? Grounded, focused, calm? The Nue Company calls itself a functional fragrance brand and tap into different parts of the brain to create scents that influence mood, emotion and wellbeing. So much so that their fragrances have been described as stress relief in a bottle by some loyal fans. Try Water Therapy – inspired by “blue medicine” the belief that water can have a powerful impact on our state of mind and parasympathetic nervous system, this fragrance blends sustainably sourced extracts with patented technology to mimic the calming sensory effect of water by blending notes of seaweed salt, cardamom and rose for a crisp, but calming water like vibe.
Available at SpaceNK £125 for 50ml
Looking to stay centred and balanced this summer – I got you. With notes of mint, incense and sandalwood, Palo Santal from new fragrance brand on the block Idiom evokes the unique aura of the sacred Palo Santo wood. Created using a sustainable headspace technique that preserves the milky ethereal calm of this mystical wood, this fragrance brings calm and happiness whenever it is spritzed. Notes of mint, sandalwood and cardamom brings a lingering caramel base evocative of a summer breeze.
Palo Santal EDP £38 for 30ml from Idiomfragrances.com
No holiday booked – no problem! This fragrance from Jo Loves was inspired by the paradise that is Parrot Cay and will transport you to sun-kissed beaches and endless summers. The vibrant citrus top notes act as an instant mood booster, reducing tension and anxiety whilst the heart and base notes of Vetiver and Patchouli, known for their grounding and centring properties respectively, aid concentration and focus : a fragrance in perfect balance.
Pomelo a fragrance Joloves.com £120 for 100ml
The Orebella fragrances are cleverly designed in a bi-phase formula that blend outstanding scents with skin wellness. Each perfume contains a proprietary elixir made up of nourishing botanicals, hydrating snow mushroom and high grade essential oils, which hydrate the skin and leave a gorgeous glow – perfect for summer. I really loved the Salted Muse parfum as a perfect summer scent, with notes of Sea Salt, Olive Tree and Cedarwood, it sums up a summer’s day at the beach, with notes reminiscent of sun cream, salt water and sun kissed skin, blended with Lavender essential oil to promote relaxation and Vetiver Root essential oil to ground and calm.
Available at Look Fantastic £95 for 100ml
The OG of feel-good fragrances, Eau Dynamisante from Clarins, is an iconic scent that launched back in 1987 when wellness wasn’t a thing and we liked our fragrances stronger and bolder than our shoulder pads. It was an outlier at the time but has stood the test of time – with a 95% natural formula of 14 aromatherapeutic plant extracts and essential oils. Notes of bitter orange, petit grain, eucalyptus and white thyme and rosemary combine to invigorate the senses and energise the body. This is more than a fragrance – it’s a skin treatment too, designed to revitalise, tone and restore skin suppleness – apply generously and relax.
The Fig Neroli fragrance from niche brand the Experimental Perfume Club evokes lush greenery in the shape of crispy basil and fig leaves and mixes it with the brightness of orange blossom, transporting you to a mediterranean garden.
With notes of petitgrain, peppermint and cedarwood, this fragrance is both refreshing and invigorating at the same time, drying down to a wonderful creamy skin scent after the sun has gone down and you are sipping your cocktail.
