You probably have a perfume that you wear day in, day out; your 'signature' scent. But sometimes there comes a point where, you know, it's time to move on and add a new one to your collection. The thing is, the world of fragrance can be a bit of a minefield which is why we spoke to Lorna McKay, co-founder of *The Perfume Society, *for a few pointers on what's going to be big in the world of fragrance this year.
She talked us through we’re all going to be smelling with the wise words of ‘listen to your nose’. Because, ultimately, you’ve got to like what you’re wearing, regardless of whether it's 'in'. And obviously try them on your skin (and let it sit) before you buy. Here's a few ideas to get you started...
Gourmand
‘Gourmand’ is the fancy name for fragrances which basically smell like food – vanilla, coffee, berries, sorbets – that kind of stuff. In the best possible way, of course. ‘I think they’ll be a resurgence of hedgerow berries like strawberry and plum, along with this heavier foodie smell,’ Lorna tells us.
Juicy Couture I Am Juicy, £36 for 30ml EDP, Boots.com; Moschino Fresh Couture, £36 for 30ml EDT, Boots.com; Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Nuit Blanche, £45 for 30ml EDP, Boots.com.
Heavy
Typically people move towards lighter, fresher scents in the summer but Lorna doesn’t reckon that will be the case this year. ‘They’ll go all the way through. I think people are looking for bigger and bolder scents. I’m not sure why, maybe it’s a confidence thing,’ she explained.
Thierry Mugler Alien, £62 for 40ml EDP, Boots.com; Marc Jacobs Decadence, £48.50 for 30ml EDP, Boots.com; Dior Poison Girl, £45 for 30ml, available from Boots.com from 16 March.
Rose
Hold off, it’s not going to be the same, cloying version that your Nan envelops you in every time you see her. ‘We tend to think of it as an old-fashioned, granny kind of smell. But this is a contemporary rose. It’s rose with a difference; it’s lighter, it’s fresher, it’s brighter,’ Lorna says.
Giorgio Armani Si Rose, £67.50 for 50ml EDP, Boots.com; Elie Saab Rose Couture, £33.50 for 30ml EDP, Boots.com; Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Rosa Excelsa, £48.50 for 30ml EDP, Boots.com.
Unisex
There’s a move towards ‘shared fragrances’ this year, Lorna told us; as in, scents designed for both men and women to wear. This isn’t a new concept (CK One is an absolute classic) but Calvin Klein's latest release CK2 proves it's starting to get big again, and other brands are bound to follow suit. In the meantime, these 'male' fragrances by Chanel and Viktor & Rolf smell equally amazing on women.
Calvin Klein CK2, £25 for 30ml EDT, Boots.com; Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb, £50 for EDT, Boots.com; Chanel Bleu De Chanel, £47.50 for 50ml EDT, Boots.com
*You can order on boots.com or in store today by 8pm and collect free in store from 12pm tomorrow. *
See boots.com/ordertodaycollecttomorrow for more info. Monday-Saturday only. Geographical exclusions apply. Subject to availability.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.