Whether we actively realise it or not, fragrance plays a major role in everyone’s life. A certain fragrance can transport you back in time to your grandmother’s house, to your wedding, or to an old job. It can remind you of a person or a place, it can lift your mood or even make you feel emotional. Fragrance is powerful, and we simply can’t go a day without it.
On 21 March we celebrate National Fragrance Day, an opportunity to honour all things fragrant. If you haven’t yet found your signature scent, this is the perfect opportunity to do so.
A signature fragrance is one that truly defines you – it’s your go-to scent; one by which people recognize you and one that makes you feel fantastic whenever you spritz it on. If you have not yet found yours, we recommend you get to know your scent profile.
Fragrances belong to olfactive families, which gives us insight into how a fragrance smells. There are eight olfactive families divided into two categories: Warm and Cool.
The warm group consists of:
Fougère (fragrance notes include bergamot, lavender, rose, geranium, vetiver, moss, tonka bean)
Oriental (fragrance notes include vanilla, woods, balsamic, amber, powder)
Leather (fragrance notes include honey, tobacco, wood, wood tars)
The cool group consists of:
Citrus (fragrance notes include orange, grapefruit, bergamot, lemon)
Floral (fragrance notes include rose, neroli, jasmine, ylang-ylang, lily of the valley, violet and peony)
Aromatic (fragrance notes include thyme, tea, tarragon, star anise, chamomile, mugwort, basil, sage, lavender, rosemary, peppermint)
Chypre (bergamot, oakmoss, patchouli and labdanum) and woody (sandalwood, pine, patchouli, vetiver and cedarwood) scents are a cross between warm and cool.
If you already have a few favourite fragrances, we recommend taking a look at their fragrance notes in order to classify them into an olfactive family. You may find a common thread among them, such as similar base or top notes.
If you’re in the market for a new scent or want to establish your signature scent, we recommend starting off by determining the best scent profile for you. If you like scents that are sensual, inviting, spicy or cosy, you’ll be attracted to warm fragrances. If you like scents that are fresh, light, airy or sporty, your fragrance preference is likely to be cool scents.
Warm scents to try:
Jimmy Choo Fever Eau de Parfum (R1899.00 for 100ml)
Seductive and glamorous, this favourite in the Jimmy Choo family opens with juicy plum, rosy lychee and bitter grapefruit. Heart notes include heliotrope, vanilla orchid and jasmine, and base notes include sandalwood, tonka bean and benzoin.
MCM Eau De Parfum (R1699.00 for 50ml)
This boundary-pushing unisex fragrance is a floral-woody that opens with notes of raspberry and apricot. Heart notes include jasmine, white peony and violet leaf and base notes include white moss, vanilla, sandalwood and sheer ambrox.
Mercedes Benz SIGN Eau de Parfum (R1895.00 for 100ml)
A fougère-oriental fragrance, SIGN is powerful, intense and sensual. Its top notes include cardamom and pink peppercorn, heart notes include grapefruit, apple, lavender, orange blossom and rose geranium and base notes include tonka bean, white musk, cashmere and woody patchouli.
Cool scents to try:
Mercedes Benz Pop Edition Eau de Parfum For Women (R1295.00 for 60ml)
This colourful fragrance is simultaneously gentle yet full of energy. It opens with fruity notes of bergamot, mandarin, peach and kiwi, features a floral bouquet at the heart (white jasmine, gardenia and frangipani flower) and dries down with soft notes of whipped cream, sandalwood powder and vanilla.
Superdry Kyoto Eau de Toilette (R495.00 for 100ml)
Sparkling and bright, this luminous scent features bergamot, mandarin and cardamom as top notes, freesia, geranium, orris and nutmeg at the heart and vetiver, moss and musk as base notes.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian 724 Eau de Parfum (R3975.00 for 70ml)
This unique fragrance smells clean and fresh, thanks to bergamot from Italy and the verticality of aldehydes with sophisticated, slightly metallic, effervescent facets. At the heart of this fragrance lies an airy aura conveyed by a bouquet of flowers structured by jasmine absolute from Egypt, sweet pea and mock orange. The base notes offer an enveloping, comforting sensation thanks to a sandalwood-white musk accord.
Whatever your favourite scent, wear it with pride this National Fragrance Day!
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Jimmy Choo Fever Eau de Parfum