Spring is officially here and with it is the chance to wear lighter florals and bright fruity notes
Spring is here and for someone with a perfume library of over 200 scents, it makes it a very exciting time of year. The season sees a big transition from heavy and woody scents to those that are a little lighter and more floral.
Here at the Mirror I’m the team’s perfume expert, having flown around Europe to learn more about the craft and even visited the perfume capital of the World, Grasse, to make my very own scent. When it comes to the world of fragrance it’s hard to get me to stop talking.
While I do have a number of winter scents I’ll be sad to retire during the warmer weather, including Lush ticky Dates, I’m excited to dive back into the hits I can’t help but reach for as soon as the days start stretching out before us. Here are some old, and new, springtime favourites I’ll be reaching for.
Eden Sweet Peach | 35 by Kayali
Top Notes: Sweet Peach, Red Apple, Bergamot
Heart Notes: Freesia, Rose, Jasmine, Nectarine, Frangipani
Base Notes: Oakmoss, Patchouli, Vanilla, Praline, Musk, Amber Woods, Sheer Tonka, KAYALI Signature Accord
Kayali’s Eden range has been one of my favourites for years, Eden Juicy Apple was the first scent from the range that I ever tried from Kayali and now they’re undoubtedly one of my all time favourite fragrance brands. They came out with two new additions last month and Eden Sweet Peach might be the one to steal the show.
There’s something about juicy peach notes that makes me itch for springtime so this one has launched at the perfect moment. This is ideal for dates as I mean it when I say this smells good enough to eat.
Sizes: 10ml (£28), 50ml (£80, 100ml (£110)
Honey Moon by Phlur
Top Notes: Mandarin and Lavender.
Heart Notes: Orange Blossom, Manuka Honey and Saffron.
Base Notes: Tonka, Vanilla Bean and Sandalwood.
Phlur is one of the few brands that seems to come out with nothing but absolute hits. I first fell in love with the brand with Vanilla Nectar – an ultimate summertime hit – but since then they’ve been at the top of my radar. I love honey scents, with Lush’s Honey I Washed The Kids (£22) being the first body spray I ever bought from the brand.
Marrying together florals, manuka honey, vanilla and sandalwood is a genius move and this scent to me screams spring time. Honey Moon is perfect for those who want a little sweetness while staying true to florals.
Sizes: 9.5ml (£32) and 50ml (£99)
Princess Rosalina by Lush
Notes: Blue Chamomile, Blueberry, Davana, Apple, Rose and Marigold
On the very first spritz of this I was hit with a wave of nostalgia. It smells like the sweets I loved in my youth, I can’t quite put my finger on exactly which one but I’m reminded of grape lollipops, berry Chewits and something just all around juicy.
I think blueberry is such an underrated note and it really shines in this scent. I’ve been kicking myself for not buying Grape Soda from Lush back when it was released alongside Sticky Dates, so I’m thrilled to have this in my collection as there’s something reminiscent there.
It’s definitely fruit forward but the chamomile and rose add a depth to it that prevent this from being cloying – for those who like big fruity fragrances I wouldn’t hesitate to pick this up while the latest Mario collaboration is live.
Size: 200ml (£35)
Zadig by Zadig & Voltaire
Top Notes: Black & White Sesame, Ginger
Heart Notes: Néroli Essence, Orange Blossom Absolute
Base Notes: Vanilla Infusion, Chantilly Accord, Sandalwood
Zadig is one of those notes that immediately caught my attention when I came across it. It’s a gourmand but not in the way we’d normally assume. Yes there are notes of vanilla and Chantilly cream but there’s also something undeniably moorish with the use of ginger, black sesame and white sesame. It’s almost nutty and savoury while still being sweet.
The floral heart definitely pushes this into springtime territory for me. This is the type of scent that will have people lingering when they hug me, trying to figure out what exactly it is they can’t quite put their finger on. It’s described by the brand as having ‘a unique Parisian essence’, as someone who is often referred to as Paris obsessed it’s no surprise that I love this one.
Zadig L’Intense (starting at £70) has recently been released, which is described as ‘a richer, warmer twist to the original’. It adds vinyl, incense and guaiac wood to give a heavier feel to the scent – I’ve not tried the intense version yet though.
Sizes: 30ml (£64), 50ml (£89), 90ml (£124)
Crème de Clementine by Nest New York
Top Notes: Clementine, Citron Accord
Heart Notes: Vanilla Crème
Base Notes: Blonde Woods
Crème de Clementine to me dances that spring and summer line quite well, I think it’s the type of fragrance that can easily carry one through them both. The best way to describe this is it smells like an orange creamsicle, which I’ve never actually had myself but it conjures such a vivid image to mind.
This is the perfect balance of bright citrus and creamy vanilla, I’ve been waiting for months to bring this one back out as there’s something about the winter time that makes me just want to reach for heavy gourmands and this is quite light and bright.
Sizes: 8ml (£28) and 50ml (£82)
Wild Horses by Subversive Scents by The Rolling Stones
Top Notes: Rose, Aquatic notes
Heart Notes: Jasmine, Peony, Pink Peppercorn, Salty Tears
Base Notes: Musk, Cedarwood, Amber, Tonka Bean
The Rolling Stones launching a perfume collection was something that I honestly hadn’t seen coming when I first hear about it but since then they’ve grown on me. I’d say these scents were all safely unisex but Wild Horses is the one that reminds me of springtime.
I love when jasmine, amber and tonka show up in a scent but this one throws in sultry pink peppercorn, salty tears and aquatic notes for something that’s completely its own. This is one of the more unusual springtime scents I’ve come across but it is definitely a head-turner.
Sizes: 100ml (down to £79.20)
