Smells are powerful sensorial triggers. When processed by our olfactory senses, they evoke emotions, feelings and deep memories that are tied to the distinct smell. Like how we will always remember the perfume of our first love, the aroma of our favourite homemade dishes and the scent of our favourite spa. Scents also change with the season due to the plants that bloom and fruit in the area. Lavender might remind you of Provence, France during the transition from spring to summer as its lavender patches burst into full bloom during that period.
That being said, the climate plays a huge role in the silliage or the diffusion of olfactory molecules in French, hence explaining why fragrances are designed to be “seasonal”. Ever wondered why summer’s great for lighter and refreshing blends like aquatics and citruses while exotic and fuller-bodied fragrances like ambers and orientals are reserved for the fall? Heat helps fragrance molecules evaporate and dissipate much faster. That's why body odour are intensified during warmer weathers. While Singapore might not have changing seasons, the end of year spells erratic rain showers and cooler temperatures which is a perfect time to bathe yourself and the whole house in warm full-bodied scents that are concocted just for the autumn-winter season.
Byredo Chai Candle (SGD100)
If your go-to beverage on a cold rainy day is masala chai, you’d be glad to know that now you can have your whole house smell like black tea and aromatic Indian spices with Byredo’s Chai candle. New York fragrance brand owner Ben Graham wanted to recreate a scent that could trigger his childhood emotions and the memories that tie to his grandmother’s home in India. The inspiration lends familiarity to the candle, opening with top notes of classic chai tea ingredients such as ginger zest, clove buds, and cardamon. The oriental smokiness of the spiced tea accentuated with middle notes of violet, incense, and mate and melts down into milky warm latte, guaiac wood, and birch tree. This also makes a great gift for any ritualistic tea drinkers.
Diptyque Legend of the North (starts at SGD55)
Diptyque celebrates Christmas seriously, judging from the festive collections they put out for the holidays. And this year, the Parisian fragrance atelier releases a trio of candle blends in collaboration with France designer Pierre Marie—who designed silk scarves for Hermés—and Ahmed Terbaoui, who had weaved a mystical winter tale involving three spirits, each represented by a candle housed in intricately designed vessels. The first is Amande Exquise or Exquisite Almond, a nutty delectable almond blend with notes of benzoin, lavender essence, vanilla. Baume d’Ambre or Amber Balm, is a warm concoction of bitter almond essence, heliotrope, tonka bean. Last and not the least, the piece de resistance— Sapin de Lumière or Pine Tree of Light, is a coniferous explosion of woods such as Siberian fir, Canadian fir balsam, and cedar that smells (for a lack of a better term) “just like Christmas”.
Bleu De Chanel Le Parfum (SGD217)
The iconic Bleu De Chanel receives an even more potent and intense interpretation compared to his 2010 Eau de toilette and 2014 Eau de Parfum cousins by perfumer Olivier Polge. Albeit new, the Le Parfum stays true to the lineup, opting to highlight the original’s addictive and masculine notes of New Caledonian sandalwood and cedar with accords of fresh lemon zest, lavender, and geranium. The woody aroma is as tenacious as it is sophisticated and promises to linger on your skin and clothes due to its high concentration of essential oils.
Guerlain L’Homme Ideal L’Intense (SGD168)
The perfect man does not exist (inserts meme) but he can smell perfect according to Guerlain’s L’Homme Ideal. Let’s be real, we are all flawed in our own ways and it’d be naive to think that a flacon of perfume could save as all from imperfection. But if it can stop us from stinking, we’d take it every single time. The darker, more sensual and masculine rendition of the L’Homme Ideal heats up the original almond notes with fiery spices like chilli peppers and cardamom, followed by middle notes of sensual leather and Bulgarian rose, anchored down by a smoky vanilla base with tonka beans and patchouli accents. If the Eau de Parfum is too sweet to your liking, the L’Intense is there for days where you revel into the night with your leather jacket-wearing biker lads.
Prada Luna Rossa Black (SGD160)
Ever been in a relationship that you were clinging onto so dearly, only to find yourself in a much better place after letting go? Prada’s new Luna Rossa Black is kind of in the same situation and performs even better after doing away with the lavender notes— the core of the entire Luna Rossa range. While last year’s Luna Rossa Carbon was extremely versatile and long-lasting, the Black features a mix of simple yet complementary accords. The initial spritz releases spicy fresh bergamot and angelica top notes that unfurls into a heart of patchouli and sweet coumarin before drying down into silky warm ambergris and musk that confers a soft mineral facet to the seemingly rudimentary blend.
