Nothing evokes the wanderlust mood of summer more than a brand new fragrance. We’ve curated the latest launches to take your nose on an unforgettable journey this summer. From crisp, light fragrances to warm notes that feel like the sun on your skin and patchouli notes that are ideal for an evening of fun, allow yourself to dream of the perfect getaway.
According to experts, a smell is linked to around 35 per cent of our memories, which is a significant number when you consider that the visual sense can recall only five per cent. “A fragrance moves and communicates with us because it resonates with our emotions and our memories because it represents something very personal and emotional,” Hermès head perfumer, Christine Nagel, explains.
Engage your senses as we bring you closer to some of the most iconic places around the world.
Rōzu Eau de Parfum
Key notes: Rose, petitgrain, bergamot, shiso, ylang ylang, vetiver extract
Reminds us of: Japan
Charlotte Perriand inspired the latest fragrance from Aesop. The French architect and designer had a particular soft spot for Japan, so much so, that the famous Keiji Rose Farm created a rose in her honour. This was the starting point for perfumer Barnabé Fillion who approached the delicate flower from a masculine yet delicate perspective. “We aimed to create something quite unique with this fragrance, compared to a traditional rose perfume,” he explains. “The overall aroma is rich, fresh and woody—unmistakably rose, yet with vibrant shiso accords and a deep, long-lasting base of vetiver extract, patchouli and myrrh. Just as Perriand’s life was multi-faceted, the fragrance profile of this scent changes significantly based on the wearer.” Dhs630 Aesop
Heures d’Absence
Key notes: Jasmine, pittosporum, may rose, mimosa, raspberry, vanilla and sandalwood
Reminds us of: The French Riviera
Every morning brings new opportunities. Somewhere between daydream and reality is where you find Heures d’Absence, one of the newest additions to Louis Vuitton’s growing range of luxury scents. The fragrance was inspired by the Maison’s first ever perfume of the same name, taken from the country home the Vuitton family acquired in the Seine-et-Marne region in the 1920s. Unfortunately, there is no record of the original scent, so the brand’s master perfumer, Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, had to go on a personal journey to create a new version that captures the essence of the historic house – travel. Inviting you to take the plunge and follow your daydream, Cavallier Belletrud has modernised a floral scent but stayed true to the raw ingredients resulting in something sophisticated and inspiring. “Everything is done in service of the flowers, there’s no element to rein them in or disturb their message,” he says. Dhs1,180 for 100ml Louis Vuitton
Irresistible Givenchy Eau De Parfum
Key notes: Rose, iris, pear, blond woods, amber,
Reminds us of: Paris
The spirit of opportunity and joy dances through the city of lights, sweeping everyone up in the ‘Joie de vivre’. Irresistible Givenchy Eau De Parfum is unapologetically bold and captivating, like wearing a striking fuchsia dress with a pair of dazzling heels. “The fragrance had to smell like the colour pink, meaning that it had to be a sort of new rose, a reinvented flower,” one of there perfumers working on the latest scent, Dominique Ropion, explains. “With such a colour, we wanted to evoke joy and positivity. We also referenced key silhouettes from Givenchy’s runway archive as inspiration.” Dhs536 for 80ml Givenchy
L’Ombre des Merveilles
Key notes: Citrus fruits, black tea, Tonka bean
Reminds us of: Morocco
There is something magical about lying on sandy dunes at sundown. Hermès head perfumer Christine Nagel was particularly taken by how transformative the desert environment is when the day moves from morning to night. “Beneath a shower of shooting stars, I experienced a moment of absolute grace, a form of balance that I wanted to capture in a fragrance,” she says. “I wanted to provide a moment of serenity, like a veil of soft, fine and enveloping cashmere with a faint aroma of incense. Rather than expressing the material itself, I wanted to seek out lightness, scented swirls, smoke so light it metamorphoses at the slightest breath of air. A trace rather than substance.” Dhs640 for 100ml Hermès
Carnal Flower
Key notes: Tuberose, musk, camphora, melon and coconut
Reminds us of: California
The unpredictability of the ocean is something that lures surfers and sunseekers from all over the world to the coastal towns of California. Carnal Flower, part of Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle collection, was composed by master perfumer Dominique Ropion. Malle and Ropion strived to redefine tuberose by exaggerating each of the flower’s naturally occurring spices. Youthful and modern, it is a scent that lures you in, no matter how hard you try to resist. “Carnal Flower is reminiscent of flower-shop freshness which disperses to reveal a more lustful tuberose,” Malle says. “At first whiff, it is vegetal, almost aquatic in its freshness. Just as we are lured into believing its innocence, a descent into darkness brings spicy camphor and carnal, animalistic notes to the fore. A play of three acts, the darkness surrenders to a warm sea of milky white softness.” Dhs1,425 Frederic Malle
Dolce Shine
Key notes: Mango, grapefruit, quince, orange blossom, jasmine petals, sandalwood and white musk
Reminds us of: Sicily, Italy
Close your eyes and picture yourself walking the sun-drenched cobbled streets of Palermo, Sicily that leads you towards a picturesque Piazza Pretoria and it’s famous fountain. There is freshness in the air, a scent of lemons and delicate flowers that make you smile from the inside. That joy and energy have been bottled in Dolce & Gabbana’s newest fragrance Dolce Shine. Perfumer Master Marie Salamagne says that a “perfume is a bit like a romantic encounter. I love the idea of a perfume that makes you smile without knowing why. There’s an immediate seduction in smell. You let yourself get carried away.” Dhs525 Dolce & Gabbana
Oud Rosewood
Key notes: Resin, frankincense, Damascena Rose, Sandalwood and Purple Oud
Reminds us of: The Middle East
The Middle East’s mysterious allure is what brings millions of visitors from all over the world to explore the sweeping dunes and immerse themselves in the rich culture. The colour and textures is what inspired Dior’s Master Perfumer, François Demachy, to create the latest scent. “Oud Rosewood is a journey in the sensual flavours and scents of the Middle East,” he explains. It is so inspiring to a perfumer! The colours, spices, the embrace of all the senses. Some feel woods and oud are both strong and masculine, but I like working with the contrast to show that they can also be tender, soft, almost creamy. This is what Oud Rosewood conveys. The sweet blend of animal oud and milky sandalwood.” Dhs1000 for 125ml Dior
Other summer-ready fragrances of 2020 to love
From left: Déjà Vu White Flower Dhs340 Kayali, Infusion of gardenia, jasmine and tuberose; Lil Fleur Dhs895 Byredo Coming-of-age floral notes with grownup essence of leather; Le Lion de CHANEL Dhs1,480 for 200ml Chanel, Citrus notes ironed out with labdanum and sandalwood; Libre Dhs440 YSL Lavender heart meets vanilla Bourbon; Eau Capitale Eau De Parfum Dhs625 Diptyque Chic notes of pink peppercorn, rose, ylang-ylang, and patchouli coeur
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