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Nothing boosts mood like a favourite scent. A dab of delicious perfume confers instant elegance and makes even the darkest midweek evening feel like an event.
From spicy winter classics to fragrance that offers a floral hint of spring, here’s what I’m wearing – or would love to wear – this season…
M&S Warmth Eau de Parfum
NOT just a perfume… You know the drill. Wow, M&S really have hit the mark with this delightfully moreish scent. It’s all sandalwood, cedar and cinnamon deliciousness – and an absolute bargain at just £12.
It doesn’t linger in the same way that a more expensive scent would, but at this price you can afford to keep it topped up. It’s often touted as a rival to Le Labo’s iconic Santal 33 – which is a whopping £160 more expensive.
I love both, but the price makes this a perfect bit of January self-indulgence.
Scent notes: Cardamom, cinnamon leaf, cedar wood, sandalwood
Size: 50ml
Malin & Goetz Leather Eau de Parfum
NEW York’s Malin and Goetz (it’s pronounced Gertz if you’re wondering how to ask for it in John Lewis) products are always a treat and ‘Leather’ is the ultimate spicy winter scent.
It does what it says on the tin and smells of expensive handbags and leatherbound books. Whenever I wear it, someone asks where it’s from. Even better? It’s unisex.
At £89 for 50ml, it’s definitely in luxurious treat territory. Unless you bought it for your husband as an early Valentine’s gift and ‘borrowed’ it straight back?
Scent notes: Pepper, clove, lotus flower
Size: 50ml
Maison Crivelli x Jordi Fernandez Cuir InfraRouge Extrait de Parfum
ONE of the sexiest scents I’ve ever encountered, this is French parfumier Maison Crivelli’s cult hit for good reason.
A spritz or two and you’ll be captivated – as will everyone else. It’s seriously expensive at more than £200 for 50ml, but it smells it too.
An intoxicating blend of leather and raspberry, with hints of vanilla and oud (but not enough for it to be cloying). If you’re dating this year, bag a bottle!
Scent notes: Raspberry, citrus cedarwood, orris, cinnamon, osmanthus
Size: 50ml
4. Best woody/floral winter perfume: Year 2059 by Bibbi
Year 2059 by Bibbi
I was given a small sample of this before the scent hit stores and I couldn’t get enough. I wore it to a birthday lunch and ended up spritzing all the women around the table as they loved it too.
If you don’t know the brand – they launched in the UK a couple of years ago – you’re in for a treat (though you’ll have to save up: a tiny 30ml costs £110).
Like nothing you’ve ever smelt before, this intoxicating blend of amber and musk is divine – I used up every drop of my bottle.
Scent notes: Nigerian ginger, cassis, Mexican lime, carnation, davana, saffron blossom
Size: 30ml
Jo Loves Black Cashmeran & Tonka
What a treat – this is Jo Malone’s own brand, after she sold her eponymous label, and I have to agree with her and say I love it too.
With notes of orange, cardamon, vanilla and rum, it sounds like a foodie’s dream but in fact feels deeply sexy.
Not cheap at £105 for 50lm, it does last for hours, as you’d expect from the queen of scent.
Scent notes: Orange, ginger, cardamom, rum, tonka bean, cedarwood, cashmeran
Size: 50ml
6. Best mood-boosting perfume: Charisma Moods
Charisma Moods
Heard of ‘functional fragrance’? The idea is to use scent to change how we feel, and let’s be honest we could all do with a little lift right now.
I was introduced to Moods, a new brand which worked with University of Northumbria’s Department of Psychology to help develop their products, just before I had to attend a party alone, so decided to give their ‘charisma’ scent a whirl for a bit of courage.
The blurb says it gives you Main Character Energy, and while I’m not sure about that, I have to say, I loved the scent: spicy with notes of orange, ginger, sage and vanilla.
Scent notes: Bergamot, lime, ginger, sage, rose, vanilla, sweet orange
Size: 100ml
Escentric Molecules Molecule 01
Launched to great fanfare 20 years ago, this scent has long fascinated me. I spent years trying it out in the perfume halls in Liberty and Selfridges, in the hope that the magic ‘Molecule 1’ would do its thing before finally getting a bottle. Touted as a powerful aphrodisiac, it uses the Iso Super E aroma molecule, which was created in a lab and is supposed to work with your pheromones to create a truly unique scent.
I can’t say it has people swooning at my feet, and it’s so subtle, it’s bordering on Emperor’s New Clothes on me. But the point lies in its different effects on different people. While I can only ever get vague hints of cedarwood, when I wafted it under the nose of colleagues, they both said it was ‘lovely’, with one getting ‘quite a lot of musk’.
Scent notes: Iso E Super
Size: 100ml
L’Eau Papier Eau de Toilette
Nothing quite says ‘French elegance’ to me like Diptyque. When I lived in Paris I used to visit the original store every year to buy a candle for my mum. Our favourite was always the classic Figiuer, and while I still love it for the living room, my tastes have changed when it comes to perfume for me.
These days I’m a fan of the divine Eau de Papier – £135 for 100ml- a woody, musky blend which conjures up a box of old love letters. I’m not alone – it’s one of Space NK’s best-sellers.
Scent notes: White musk, mimosa, toasted sesame, rice steam accord, blonde wood
Size: 100ml
Nuxe Le Prodigeuse parfum
I used to associate this with summer, but, actually, it works brilliantly all year round. It’s the scent of the cult French brand Nuxe’s classic body oil ‘huile prodigeuse’, but bottled (IYKYK).
Another of those hits that people request the name of whenever I wear it. A sensual blend of vanilla and orange blossom, it’s curiously addictive, and a great bargain at just £32.
Scent notes: Orange Blossom, Magnolia and Vanilla
Size: 30ml
Penhaligon’s Halfeti Leather Eau de Parfum
A classic for good reason, Halfeti is a rich blend of amber, leather, and rose with vanilla to boot.
The 100ml bottle (£215) is utterly beautiful and will make you want to take a shelfie (or at least declutter your bathroom). Super-luxe, this is not one for every day. Special occasion scent at its finest.
Scent notes: Incense, plum, bergamot
Size: 100ml
