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Here’s a fun fragrance fact: studies by Dr Alan Hirsch at the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago revealed that when men smell a blend of lavender and pumpkin pie, it can lead to an “increase in blood flow to the penis”. This highlights just how powerful scent can be – it’s not just about smelling good – and explains why certain fragrances can provoke reactions that are difficult to put into words.
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Scents come in so many forms, from traditional florals to musk, from woods to fruits. They also come in all sorts of guises, from candles to room fragrances and even laundry detergents like our favourite, Juliette Has a Gun Not a Detergent ($49).
In the hunt for our favourites for the year, we settled on 10 must-haves. First up is the woody fragrance YSL Beauty Myslf EDP ($161 for 60ml), with its heady blend of patchouli, orange blossom and bergamot. As we all know, the gender division for fragrance is dead and buried, so this deliciously fresh scent is for everyone.
Florals are always on high rotation, but our pick for the year is Parfums de Marly Delina EDP ($498 for 75ml), with notes of damascena rose and lily-of-the-valley, and surprise hits of lychee, rhubarb, bergamot, vanilla and musk. The absolute lust-haveness of the heavenly candy-pink bottle is an added bonus.
For a zesty citrus hit, try the lush Victoria Beckham Beauty Portofino ’97 EDP ($330 for 50ml), inspired by Posh and Becks’ 1997 getaway to the Hotel Splendido in Portofino, Italy. Top notes are reminiscent of a summer breeze, with bergamot and black pepper drying down to amber and incense.
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On the earthy front, Maison Margiela’s Replica From the Garden EDT ($235 for 100ml) is all fresh tomato leaf with patchouli. For a musk emersion, try DedCool Milk Layering Fragrance ($149 for 50ml), with a musk centre that rolls through bergamot and amber.
For a spritz of hair fragrance, we love Phlur Vanilla Coconut Hair & Body Fragrance Mist ($20), layered with pink pepper, pink apple, lily, jasmine petals and cashmere.
If you’re after a solid travel perfume, you can’t go past Diptyque 34 Boulevard Saint Germain Solid Perfume ($108 for 3g). It has notes of amber, cinnamon and patchouli and is best melted between your fingertips and worn on wrists, inside your elbows, décolleté and the base of your neck.