 Summer Rose Eau Fraiche by Stella McCartney, £39, www.boots.com
This limited edition scent for the summer months has a wonderful old fashioned quality, conjuring images of older ladies in their Sunday best eating freshly baked scones, but with a modern and sophisticated spin. The inspiration for this classically English fragrance comes from walking among a rose garden first thing on a summer morning with the dew lingering on rose petals, as Stella McCartney explains, “I wanted to capture the beauty and fragility of the most beautiful flower just before it begins to wilt.”
The top notes are a refreshing blend of lemon and green apple, the heart is summery rose and pretty peony, while the base note of amber lends a seductive depth. The bottle has a delicate and feminine rose print that wouldn’t look out of place on any dressing table. It’s the perfect floral fragrance that once spritzed makes you feel you’re enveloped in a gorgeous bouquet of the finest rose blooms.
 Tresor in Love eau de parfum by Lancome, £35, www.lancome.co.uk
It’s been 20 years since Lancome released the iconic fragrance Tresor, adored by women the world over, including my mother who was always delighted to receive a bottle for her birthday or at Christmas. This updated offering is more youthful and looks set to follow in the footsteps of its older sibling.
The Art Deco inspired bottle is sleek and sophisticated especially as it appears to be wearing a little black satin rose at its neck. The top note is uplifting nectarine, the middle notes are rose and bright jasmine while the rich base note is wood of cedar. The scent is sweet yet sensuous and settles down to an almost powdery aroma making it ideal for balmy summer evenings.
 Daisy eau So Fresh Petite Flower On The Go! by Marc Jacobs, £25, www.daisymarcjacobs.com
This updated version of the original Daisy fragrance is cheerful not only in appearance but in aroma. The packaging will make you and those around you smile when you whip it out to spritz. The pretty pink pastel petals encase a glass bubble containing the scent. The only disappointment is that it doesn’t stand up straight, it only lays flat, as I would have liked to display it in all its cute finery with my fragrance collection.
The sweet bouquet is created with top notes of fruity raspberry, ruby red grapefruit and refreshing green leaves, the core is rich in jasmine petals, wild rose and violet while the base contains musk, cedar and plum, making it a great daytime fragrance that’s ideal for carrying around in your Marc Jacobs tote.
 Aqua Allegoria Lys Soleia eau de toilette by Guerlain, £37, www.harrods.com
This newest addition to the Aqua Allegoria collection of fragrances was launched in mid-April and once sprayed conjures images of tropical islands. Stressed out on your way to work, just had an intense meeting, missed your deadline? Inhale this and you will be transported back to your carefree holiday with white sand beneath your feet and blue skies up above.
The top notes are fresh with tangy bergamot, lemon zest and palm leaves, while the middle notes are a heady blend of while lily and ylang ylang petals and the base is a gorgeous blend of tuberose, vanilla and musk. The bottle is encased in a lattice of gold metal and looks like something you’d find in the souks of Marrakesh. I challenge you to spray this and not feel like slipping on a bikini and sarong and arranging flowers in your hair.
 Bluebell eau de toilette by Penhaligon’s, from £58, www.penhaligons.com
Penhaligon’s is a favourite perfumer of mine, going into the shops is like stepping into a Victorian apothecary, all dark wood and glass jars filled with superb smelling creations. All the fragrances are made in England and the domed bottles are the same ones the founder William Penhaligon created back in 1872, clear glass with a ribbon-wrapped stopper to complement the fragrance inside.
The Bluebell fragrance was created in 1978 and is evocative of childhoods spent scampering around the woods searching for spring flower filled clearings. The top notes are a citrus mix, the base is a blend of galbanum and warming clove and cinnamon while at the heart is hyacinth, lily of the valley, cyclamen, jasmine and rose. A pure and floral aroma that hits you with happiness every time it’s sprayed. I always get asked where the fragrance is from when wearing it and it couldn’t be more fitting for the summer months. |
