Louise McSharry: The seven best spring fragrances to buy right now
Spring is here my friends. The flowers are in full force and the sun has made some solid appearances. I don’t exactly think our beauty programs need to change with the seasons in Ireland. Our weather is relatively consistent and I think you should always just wear what you want on your face.
However, what I change with the seasons is my scent. In winter I want to smell warm, like a cozy fire (hence my love for Replica of Maison Margiela by the fireplace€56 over braunthomas.com), but this time of year I tend to go for a fresher scent.
I know what you’re thinking. “Flowers for spring? Groundbreaking.” The truth, however, is that I have trouble wearing floral scents thanks to an overactive sense of smell. I love a touch of rose scent from someone else, but wearing it myself ends up giving me a headache. Instead, I tend towards citrus scents for spring and summer.
This year I’m investing in Bitter Peach by Tom Ford (70€ over braunthomas.com), which centers around the sweetness of the peach but adds elements of citrus, cardamom and rum to give it depth.
Tom Ford Bitter Peach, €70, brownthomas.com
Last year was my favorite Orange Sanguine by Atelier Cologne (€151.20 over braunthomas.com), which combines blood orange (always blood orange in these offbeat scents) with jasmine, black pepper and tonka bean.
Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine, €151.20, brownthomas.com
clinic happy (54€ about boots.ie) was the favorite scent of teenage girls growing up, so I relegated it to the past a bit until a few weeks ago, when I smelled it in the air and remembered how lemony and fresh it was. I will definitely get on this train again!
Clinique Happy, €54, boots.ie
If flowers are your thing, there are many brilliant options these days. I personally like a scent with a rose heart but other elements that add a bit of adult sophistication. Rose & Cuir by Frederic Malle (158 € about braunthomas.com) mixes for example rose with leather, Sichuan pepper, vetiver and cedar and leaves behind a distinctly floral scent with a masculine touch.
video of the day
Frédéric Malle Rose & Cuir, €158, brownthomas.com
Byredos Rose from No Man’s Land (195 € about braunthomas.com) adds amber spiciness to turkey-red rose and leaves a delicious warmth. Tom Ford’s Rose Stitch (276 € about braunthomas.com) was inspired by Ford’s own garden. I like to think that the result is a blend of the man himself with his beautiful roses – floral and spicy.
Byredo Rose from No Man’s Land, €195, brownthomas.com
If roses aren’t your thing Prada’s Infusion de Iris (€75.95 over magees.ie) focuses on the beautiful iris but is delicately balanced with woody amber notes. I also know it’s what’s on the inside that counts, but I have to take a moment to look at the absolutely beautiful sage green packaging of the Infusion de Iris. I think Prada knows a thing or two about style.
Prada Infusion de Iris, €75.95, magees.ie
The new Eau Extraordinaire by Clarins (29 € per clarins.ie) is also delightful, a super fresh blend of floral and citrus scents.
Clarins Eau Extraordinaire, €29, clarins.ie
Well, a tip or two for applying perfume. Like most Irish women, I’ve spent much of my life spraying perfume on my wrists before rubbing them together. I learned it from my mom and grandmother, but turns out we’re doing it wrong. Fragrance experts are telling us to stop doing this, as the friction and heat created by rubbing skin together can alter the course of the scent.
Simply spray on and let it settle by itself. Don’t be afraid to spray your hair either. Its movement helps disperse the scent, leaving everyone in your entourage with a reminder of your beautifully scented presence.
Lost in translation
Given that we’re talking about fragrance, now seems like a good time to explain the difference between Perfume and Eau de toilette, you should be confused. These two versions of a fragrance differ in strength and therefore in price. Eau de parfum will be more expensive because it usually contains 15-20 pieces of perfume oil as opposed to 10-15 pieces of eau de toilette. Due to its higher concentration, eau de parfum tends to last longer and may smell a bit richer than the eau de toilette version of the fragrance.
Something old…
Pestle & Mortar Superstar Retinol Night Oil, €76, pestleandmortar.com
We’re going to be a little looser on the “old” factor today, as retinol products haven’t been around that long and there’s been a lot of development in the last decade or so. In this sense I would like to recommend Pestle & Mortar’s Superstar Retinol Night Oil (76 € about pestleandmortar.com). Like all retinols, this is a product for anyone concerned about pores and fine lines, especially those over 40. This product is particularly excellent thanks to its black opaque packaging (essential to keep the formula stable), the lack of it Fragrances (good for sensitive skin), two types of vitamin A and formula. I love an oil before bed: it gives my skin a night’s sleep feel, and it does that, but also offers real results when it comes to improving skin texture. Plus it’s Irish!
… Something new
Trinity London is Trinny Woodall’s beauty idea – I still haven’t forgiven her What not to wear Show for crimes against women’s body image, but Trinny London’s products are too good to ignore for women in their 30s and beyond.
Overnight Sensation, €86, trinnylondon.com
The brand just launched a pair of overnight retinoid treatments: Overnight sensation (€86), a fast-penetrating serum with high doses of Retinal and Granactive Retinoid, and clarity overnight (78 €), which combines retinal with niacinamide, trinnylondon.com.
Clarity overnight, €78, trinnylondon.com
https://www.independent.ie/style/beauty/louise-mcsharry-the-seven-best-spring-scents-to-buy-now-41596789.html Louise McSharry: The seven best spring fragrances to buy right now