Fragrances you can wear all year round

To leave a lasting impression in the world of perfume, it helps to be innovative, revolutionary and sometimes deviant. Cult brands in the world of perfume are revered by a loyal following precisely because they dare to venture into areas where our olfactory senses have never been. I remember being completely blown away by the Swedish-born perfume brand, 19-69, After sampling provocative fragrances like Female Christ and Kasbah, each scent created by founder Johan Bergelin and his team has stood as an homage and honest commentary on counterculture.

Capri from the 1969s And Villa Nellcôte are scents that we immediately associate with summer. The unexpected contrasts of refreshing notes anchored by rich base accords like patchouli, amber, and moss remind us of fragrances that don’t come in season. Like those transitional pieces that stay in rotation long after summer is over, there are a handful of scents that are just too good to be put on a shelf just because the season is over. I love layering these scents with spicy notes during the cooler months of the year.

The brand new launched Link number one distills the artistic spirit of Manhattan into a striking, vibrant purple bottle. The team explains that the inspiration comes from the Blick Art Supply Shop, the Robbins and Appleton Building at No. 1 Bond Street. They write: “Designed by architect Stephen Decatur Hatch, the ornate cast iron façade is a striking example of the Second Empire style and emblematic of the creative architectural variety that embodies both the historic and the futuristic of Bond Street. Number One is an olfactory expression of ‘abstract expressionism’, an exploration of classic white musk through a modern lens. The grounding scent is blended with Italian bergamot, ylang ylang, Bulgarian rose, jasmine, Brazilian tonka bean, vanilla, cashmere wood and Indonesian patchouli to bring the senses a sensual, dreamy and elegant sensory experience.”

As a clean and sustainable beauty brand from Greece, KORRES is widely known for using ingredients sourced from ethical farms and communities around the Hellenic island. The brand is best known for its exceptional skincare products like the Greek Yogurt Foaming Cleanser and the Santorini Grape Velvet Skin Drink. The brand’s product range, from seed to fragrance, has been a delightful revelation this summer. Inspired by Mediterranean life, KORRES’ summer EDTs include: Kyma, Avgoustos, Lefko, to name a few. Designed to capture moments of the quintessential Greek summer, these subtle scents envelop the senses in beautiful island memories. This fall, layer these EDTs with gourmand notes of vanilla, wood, leather or spice.

Kyma (“wave” in Greek) opens with citrusy top notes of lime, mandarin and orange. Its heart is reminiscent of the feeling of salt water kissing the face. Base notes of cedar, vetiver and nutmeg linger in the background.

Avgustos (“August” in Greek) is inspired by the first harvest of figs in August. It is blended with top notes of mandarin, lavender, bergamot, lemon leaf and orange blossom. The light and fruity scent rests on base notes of ambergris, musk and cedarwood.

Lefko (“White” in Greek) evokes the fresh linen of a cool summer day. Lily of the valley dances with heart notes of rose and peony. In the base, essences of musk, powder and sandalwood.

This year, Maison Francis Kurkdijan’s biggest launch comes in a bottle APOM. Short for A Part Of Me, the first versions of the fragrance were launched in 2009 as two distinct olfactory experiences: APOM for women and APOM for men. The revered perfumer explains: “APOM for women and APOM for men are two fragrances that emanate from a single olfactory matrix that combines lavender and orange blossom on a soft amber base. For the new APOM, I took the best of both: the sunny sensuality of the feminine version and the elegant addiction of the masculine version. Is this fragrance for men? No. For women? No. A genderless fragrance then? A fragrance for men or for women. That’s not the point. I’m inspired by the story.” APOM is now a luminous and sensual eau de parfum that explores the alchemy between the sweet floral heart notes of neroli, lavender, orange blossom, vanilla and musk.

Eau de Parfum is the first fragrance created by world-renowned entertainment brand Cirque du Soleil in collaboration with perfumer Alex Grugeon. Like the group’s roster of virtuoso artists and performers, L’ea de Parfum is a sensory spectacle. The bottle is a visual statement in the boudoir with its azure glass topped with a rotating golden sun. A gastronomically inspired blend of bergamot, cotton candy, iris petals, buttered popcorn accord, freesia, vanilla bean, caramelized amber and sandalwood, brings that sense of magic and wonder to the fragrance wardrobe this fall.

Trudon’s expertise in creating some of the most sumptuous home fragrances and scented candles dates back to 1643. It wasn’t until 2017 that the heritage house launched its own line of eaux de parfum, simply called Trudon. The permanent collection of haute parfumerie consists of 8 unique fragrances that showcase artisanal know-how and encourage creative freedom. Black Mortal is a limited edition unisex fragrance that envelops the senses in intense, spicy and mystical essences of Madagascar black pepper, frankincense, myrrh and benzoin. The Trudon team adds: “Mortel Noir has the mystical presence of an artist moving between light and dark. It suggests skin warming against another.” Mortel Noir’s matte black bottle takes pride of place on my perfume shelf. It’s a go-to scent for special occasions, whether it’s summer or fall.