On the hunt for a new scent? These are the new ones worth trying.
Penhaligon’s The Cut
That’s not cannabis, you dope, that’s sage, vetiver and cypress doing a twangy thing against a classic lavender-based fougère. The Cut is green (mint), green (basil), green (fir balsam) — a sharp intake of cold air. Smells like it’s good for you. Feels like it’s good to you.
£85 for 30ml, selfridges.com
Prada Paradoxe Radical Essence Parfum
Prada has taken the orange blossom signature of the original Paradoxe and blown it up to Attack of the 50 Foot Woman proportions. And like the lady in that classic cult film, Radical Essence is fetching, but because of her size, dangerous. A looming confection of neroli, woods and pistachio to dominate the perfume wars.
£82 for 30ml, lookfantastic.com
Dries Van Noten Havana Gold
To the old question of “Animal, vegetable, mineral?” the modern answer is: “Why choose?” Havana Gold’s plush consortium of leather, tobacco and salted liquorice means there’s no reason to plump for just one, when all three make your eyes roll back in your head with pleasure.
£275 for 100ml, selfridges.com
Matiere Premiere Vanilla Powder Extrait
Considering the bouffant blast delivered by Matiere Premiere’s eau de parfum, the “death by vanilla” approach of this extrait iteration is downright reckless. Here, Madagascan vanilla joins forces with Venezuelan tonka bean, twinning birthday cake with warm salty hay. Wanton!
£350 for 100ml, selfridges.com
LBTY Tana Meadow
Like the fabric it’s named for, Tana Meadow is polished, delicate and soft against the skin. An abstraction of sunshine, pears and vanilla cream, this salubrious blend plays the restraint of iris root against a pussycat musk to great “I’m not that innocent” effect.
£225 for 100ml, libertylondon.com
Jo Malone London Amber Labdanum Cologne Intense
A library in a luxury hotel, the smell of leather binding a-swirl with the vanilla emanations of pages in old books. Books that remain uncracked, however, because it’s the cake trolley you’re really after. A syrupy-sweet treat.
£164 for 100ml, harrods.com
Tom Ford Oud Voyager
An easy-going oud that eschews the gamier side of this overripe tree resin for something more recherché.
A spicy cola and saffron opening leads into bright rose-alikes geranium and peony, with undergarment support from earthy patchouli, cypriol and musk.
£222 for 50ml, tomfordbeauty.co.uk
Bibbi Swimming Pool Parfum
Wet cement. Cold grass. Spearmint. Geranium. And the “cloth mother” version of ambergris, Ambroxan, with its factory-tooled salty/creaminess. Swimming Pool is a fascinating clash between familiarity and oddness. One for the doomed alien in The Man Who Fell to Earth. Exceptional.
£225 for 100ml, libertylondon.com
