Some call Valentine’s Day a load of old commercial hogwash, whilst others see it as a chance to show someone they love just how much they mean to them. I prefer beautiful gestures to over-priced gifts myself, but a carefully chosen, uniquely beautiful little something will guarantee a swoon from me every time.
And let’s not forget that Valentine’s Day is the perfect reminder to love oneself as well, a chance to stop and think about how the kind and loving way you treat those you love should also extend within. And yep, that includes gifts to self!
With that in mind, I’ve started putting together a few Val’s Day edits to get you in the mood, the first featuring some scent-sational (sorry, had to be done!) fragrances that are guaranteed to please…
For the hedonist:
Tom Ford Figue Érotique
Described as “an uninhibited study of pleasure” (SO Tom Ford, amirite), Figue Érotique is a brand new scent from the house that is already getting rave reviews. Figue Érotique has been crafted to capture the arc of the fig, beginning with exhilarating green freshness and rising to the exquisite moment before the fruit bursts, flooding the senses with the exclusive Kadota fig accord’s resinous nectar. It opens with the green freshness of vert de bergamote and fig leaf accord, then floods the senses with the resinous, honeyed nectar of the aforementioned, fig accord, a salty and floral note. Muscovado accord, a scent of dark, indulgent sugar with subtle hints of spice rounds out the scent. Sexy and oh so TF.
For the unabashed romantic:
Maison Margiela On A Date Eau de Toilette
Inspired by a “magical date” on a late Summer evening overlooking the magnificent vineyards of Provence in the golden hour light, this beauty was crafted to capture the sparkling and addictive fruitiness of ripe grapes soaked in warm sunshine and the delicate yet decisive character of wild roses. Sparkling notes of rose and a rich, intense and textured heart of blackcurrant convey the excitement of the perfect date, while patchouli gives the fragrance a sensual and magnetic woody signature.
For the francophile:
Abel The Apartment
Over a decade in the making, last year Aotearoa-based fragrance house Abel officially relaunched its 100 percent natural fragrances—reformulated for performance, repackaged for sustainability, and ready to redefine the fragrance industry. This next chapter for Abel proves that the future of fragrance is not only possible, it’s already here, and The Apartment epitomises just how serious they are about disrupting the industry one unique scent after another. A dark floral gourmand, Abel Founder, Frances Shoemack describes the scent as “a playful musing on the opulent (and very Parisian) surroundings of the L'Appartement Étoile”. Wearing The Apartment is an invitation to escape to a luxurious moment in time, and it quickly became one of my signatures for its mix of white florals, velvet textures, and heady allusion to rum and cacao.
For the intellectual:
Aesop Karst
One of a collection of Eaux de Parfum that draw inspiration from environments which unsettle the borders between real and imagined, here and elsewhere, Aesop’s mesmerising Karst is a moody yet fresh fragrance reminiscent of cliffside vegetation and the seashore, with mineral top notes and stormy, metallic base accords. I love its fresh, herbaceous, marine qualities, and that it is designed to be worn and enjoyed by all genders. Smart, mystical and really rather special, the mix of Juniper, Cumin and Sandalwood at its heart had me from the get-go.
For the eroticist:
Vyrao Ludatrix Eau De Parfum
A fragrance house that isn’t shy of a little provocation, Vyrao has created Ludatrix Eau De Parfum for eroticists amongst us. Naughty notes of lipstick and latex entwine with powdery rose, while energising Sichuan pepper and orris cast a truly enticing and empowered spell. Tantalising ambrette for igniting arousal is layered with voluptuous cedarwood, sandalwood and olibanum for positivity and protection, while a potent blend of ambrox and musk is included for a little unabashed sensuality.
For the dreamer:
Ellis Brooklyn Apple Love Eau de Parfum
When I interviewed Ellis Brooklyn founder, Bee Shapiro at home in New York, her love for the city was almost palpable – it’s in the name of her fragrance house, for starters! This scent is her love letter to the Big Apple: the energy, sophistication and headiness of the iconic city. "New York has been a magical place for me,” she says, “a place where I felt like I could finally be the true me. It's a city that has its very highs and very lows, and in-between all the madness, there is a genius that is enchanting and forever memorable. APPLE LOVE is my fragrance ode to the sweet sophistication and glamour of the city." It’s a scent that’s so easy to love, with notes of juicy, photorealistic apple that transitions to an ultra-smooth blend of peach skin, muguet, plum blossom, sugar cane and vanilla. Just delicious!
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