This month, instead of a road trip along one of the fashion streets that have evolved in Perth, I decided to do a road trip with a difference – a fragrance road trip.
The fragrance market worldwide is a multi billion dollar industry and here in Australia we are currently seeing growth of approx. 7.2% per year. Around this time each year, the fragrance market in Perth starts to see the release of the new Spring/Summer fragrances for the coming months. By adding a new fragrance to your shopping list, you can delve into some of the great options that the top design houses in the world have to offer. Even if we can’t make it to the latest Gaultier show in Paris or sit in Milan at the Dolce & Gabbana show, we can capture the essence of these great designers through their new fragrances, as we take a road trip unlike any other and discover four of the top men’s and two of the top women’s fragrances that are coming to stores in Perth this season!
I have always had a love of the fragrances released by designers and have tended to stay away from some of the more gimmicky, celebrity-based ones. So, down the road I went to road test each new scent. To get other people’s responses to these fragrances I invited some work colleagues, both male and female and my partner to come along on the journey.
To get my olfactory sense buzzing with anticipation I began with the stunning new fragrance from Jean Paul Gaultier, Fleur De Male. As soon as the fragrance hit my skin I was struck by the subtle differences from the previous Le Male fragrances from Jean Paul Gaultier. This is a fragrance that invokes strong masculine notes but mixes them ever so subtly with the fresh, sensuous feel of feminine undertones. Another difference is that the former blue and white striping of the bottle has been replaced by an almost-marble, creamy white bottle that adds sensuality to the whole package.
Next up was the strong, sexy new fragrance from Gucci – Gucci Pour Homme II. One of my personal favourites, this one strikes your senses with notes of bergamot, cinnamon and violet leaves that hint at indulgent luxury and last on your skin. With its captivating packaging and distinctive style, this will surely please those with a love of past Gucci fragrances as well as win over many new fans. It’s one of those fragrances that evokes strong responses and people comment on it whenever I wear it.
Dolce & Gabbana have returned with a wonderful fragrance that I can imagine wearing all summer long. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue is a refreshing light fragrance that brings warm tropical evenings to mind. As soon as you pick up the box, you are in another world, and its sensual feel will make you linger before actually opening it. When finally you do open it, a sensational blend of citrus, masculine woods and ever so subtle spice fill your senses without overpowering them.
Finally, for him by Narciso Rodriguez, has 3 distinct notes that blend beautifully and make this a stunning addition to the men’s fragrance market. Floral aromatic, textured woods and amber create a strong contemporary fragrance that is masculine and sensual at the same time. I had mixed responses when wearing this one, but for me it was a clear winner as it possessed a real freshness and stayed with me all day.
For women we sampled two very distinctive fragrances. The first was Burberry Weekend for Women. Tangerine, blue hyacinth and sandalwood gave Weekend a fruity floral feel that the women testers fell in love with. Though this fragrance can overpower at first, as it dries it becomes more subtle and lasts for the rest of the day. After it has sat for awhile, it becomes nice and light and emits a real floral fragrance.
The second women’s fragrance was the new one from Hugo Boss – Boss Essence de Femme. Boss Essence de Femme is a sheer floral fragrance with an oriental overtone that evokes a sense of femininity and intimacy. Tangerine, freesia and oriental lily stand out in this fragrance that was popular with both of the women who took it for a test and declared it to be smooth and extremely wearable both during the day and when heading out at night.
All of the above are scents that I would not hesitate to recommend, but as with any fragrance, you really need to test drive it yourself to see if it suits you. Fragrance is a very individual experience for each of us, but I hope that on this special road trip I have been able to give you a sense (no pun intended) of some of the new fragrances that will compete with some old favourites for our attention in the warmer months ahead.
Stockists:
- Gucci, Burberry, Jean Paul Gaultier and Dolce & Gabbana are available at selected Myer, David Jones and independent stores nationwide.
- Hugo Boss Essence de Femme and Narciso Rodriguez are available at selected Myer stores.
