Perfume is my thing. Wearing a crap outfit? Hair not done? Make up looks like you've done it in the dark? All of these things are over looked if you smell expensive.
To me, "you smell amazing!" is in my ultimate desired-compliment list (second only to my ever longed-for "your skin looks amazing").
Fragrance can change a mood, attract attention, make a statement and will always fit no matter whether you can do up the button on your jeans or not.
There are various different types of fragrance and as a general rule I like my fragrance to last. The more oil in a fragrance, the stronger it is. This is why perfume lasts better on those with oily skin than those with dry, and also why fragrance smells different on different people.
- Parfum: a 15% to 30% strength will last up to 6 hours
- Eau de Parfum EDP: 8% to 15% strength will last 3 to 5 hours
- Eau de Toilette EDT: 4% to 8% strength will last 2 to 4 hours
- Eau de Cologne EDC: 3% to 5% strength will last up to 2 hours
So let's go through my favourites:
1) Creed Virgin Island Water
I have to get the large bottle of this because I douse myself in it every day in summer.
Top notes: Sicilian White Bergamot, Jamaican Lime, Sicilian Mandarin
Heart notes: Herbaceous notes, Ylang Ylang, Indian Jasmine
Base notes: Tonkin Musk, Tropical Woods
It basically smells like summer. A little malibu, with some lime at the top. The Creed fragrances are notoriously long lasting because of the way the fragrance is concentrated into a form called Millesime - this is basically on the more concentrated end of the Eau De Parfum scale.
2) Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt
This smells more like the sea itself, like you are sat on the coast in Italy, rather than sipping cocktails in Barbados. I absolutely love it. Definitely my favourite day time summer scent.
I was a huge fan of the Blue Agava and Cocao but they discontinued it, much to my annoyance.
Whilst these are both Eau De Colognes, because Jo Malone use more oil and less filler than high street brands, I find this lasts just as long as the cologne intense or eau de toilettes.
3) Jo Malone Oud and Bergamot Cologne intense
This combines the warm middle eastern woody scent of Oud with much crisper notes of Bergamot. I also love the Oud and Amber. This is definitely an evening fragrance (although I wear it any time) as it is a deeper more sexy scent. You will smell this on your clothes even when they have been in the wardrobe for weeks.
4) Marc Jacobs Decadence
I first tried this at the airport on the way to America. When I came to put on my travel outfit again at the end of the trip, I could still smell it. I was hooked. If you can get over how annoying the bottle is (the lid gets removed immediately). This is strong and sexy but not in a middle eastern scent way. It is fruity and woody at the same time, and you can definitely smell the amber in it.
5) Prada Eau de Parfum Amber
Begamot, Patchouli and Sandlewood combine to make this a warm but fresh scent. I love it and have gone through several bottles
6) Penhaligons Halfeti
This is the type of fragrance that will get attention. It is usually the scent that Penhaligons pump out of their boutiques to draw people in. Centred around Turkish Rose (nothing like the granny rose fragrances you've smelt before) with jasmine, sandlewood and oud to complete the Far East inspiration . This is definitely a unisex fragrance and smells equally great on men or women.
7) Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche
This is the least concentrated of all the fragrances but will still linger if applied correctly (see below)
This is your cocktail sipping, sun lotion wearing fragrance that everyone loves. Not to be mistaken for the Eau De Parfum version which smells AWFUL.
8) Liz Earle Botanical Essence No 9 (eau de parfum)
This is initially a fresh and fruity scent with top notes of blackcurrant and bergamot combined with zesty but warm ginger, patchouli, vetiver and vanilla leave a warm and woody finish which makes this fragrance perfectly rounded.
9) Jo Malone Orange Bitters Cologne
This has the lovely citrus scents to lift the fragrance but the base is still warm and woody with sandalwood and amber
10) Jardin de Fragonard Rose Ambre Eau De Parfum
This has a similar scent to the hideously expensive Tom Ford Santal Blush. Difficult to find the the UK but readily available in Europe.
Again, this features my favourite bergamot, but combine with rose, patchouli, almond oil and vanilla which gives it a lovely warm scent.
11) L'Occitane Roses et Reines Eau de Toilette
This smells like pure crushed rose petals. If you want a fragrance that doesn't smell like perfume but instead smells like freshly washed hair and clothes that have been dried in a summer breeze - this is the one
My favourite "budget" buys
New Look Dusk Eau De Parfum
Smells exactly like Miss Dior. Fraction of the price and the scent lingers amazingly well
New Look Petal Crush Eau de Parfum
Has the same headiness as Lancome La Vie Est Belle. More of an evening scent but again, stays very well.
Zara Vibrant Leather Eau de Parfum
Another woody strong scent based on Patchouli, leather and vanilla.
Application tips.
DO NOT spray on wrists then rub together. You crush the fragrance and change the scent
DO NOT spray directly on skin of the neck or chest. The high percentage of alcohol and other products not only directly dehydrate and damage the skin, but can be amplified in the presence on sunlight. You can see in fact on some people, some dark pigmentation around the neck (excluding melasma of course). This is where fragrance has been sprayed and sensitised the skin to sunlight over many years. Instead spray on the back of the neck, in the hair and on clothes.
DO NOT keep your fragrances in the bathroom or anywhere with direct sunlight. This will degrade the fragrance much faster and if you are shelling out money for Creed or Jo Malone, you want it to last.
DO apply your body lotion first, preferably unscented, then spray over. This will extend the life of your fragrance significantly
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