Persolaise Guerlain Shalimar Millesime Jasmin review – Delphine Jelk; 2024
On paper, the idea of a jasmine-inflected Shalimar promises something absolutely terrific — not only would it emphasise the 1925 scent’s floral, animalic aspects, but it would also make sense…
Carlos Huber, Arquiste, Live Interview
We finally made it happen! A few days ago, Carlos Huber, founder of Arquiste, popped into my virtual studio for a long-overdue interview in which he chatted about his two…
Personal Post – One More Run For Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital
A few months ago, I embarked on my own fundraiser for Great Ormond Street Hospital, to which many of you responded with tremendous, extremely touching generosity. I recently discovered that…
Hermes Barenia, Le Labo Coriandre 39 and other City Exclusives reviews – 2024
As though determined to send us fragrance nerds into fits of apoplexy, Hermes are calling their latest release, Barenia, their very first chypre. Yes, you may well gasp. But dubious…
Finding A Simple Happiness – An Interview With Marc-Antoine Barrois On The Launch Of Tilia
— There are two people Quentin Bisch loves to work with. I hope he loves to work with me. And he has great admiration for Renaud Salmon . The lucky…
Guerlain Patchouli Paris, Diptyque Les Essences and Jo Malone London Hinoki & Cedarwood reviews – 2024
Japan, France and a coral reef at the bottom of an ocean were just three of our ports of call in a recent session of Love At First Scent, in…
Serge Lutens Point Du Jour, Penhaligon’s The Dandy, Akro Smile and other reviews – 2024
Given that Love At First Scent has been off the air for several weeks, it was perhaps appropriate that the first post-summer review was of a scent inspired by daybreak:…
Born To Stand Out Showcase Review – various perfumers; 2024
– It’s difficult not to be suspicious about a brand that calls itself Born To Stand Out (sorry, I refuse to remove the spaces between the words). It carries more…
Sometimes Magic Happens – An Interview With Guerlain’s Delphine Jelk
– I thought about two lovers hanging out in Paris, during the night. I imagined that patchouli is my lover and that I have to tame it, to make it…
Celestial Scents – Persolaise In Harper’s Bazaar UK
If you’re based in Britain, you might be interested to learn that the September 2024 issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK (out now) contains an article by yours truly on the…
Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan Review – The Favourites – Christopher Sheldrake; 1993
— I’m pretty sure our first encounter was at a perfumery in Nice. It was part of a large Lutens display — an austere assembly of those slim, rectangular bottles,…
Jo Malone London Orange Marmalade review – Marie Salamagne; 2021/2024
— On paper, the scent sounds as though it should be one of the company’s more likeable releases. The website blurb talks of orange peel simmering on a stove and…
Puente Chyprelia, Celine Bois Dormant, Isabelle Larignon and other reviews – 2024
In my final instalments of Love At First Scent before the usual summer hibernation, I tied up various loose ends by presenting showcase reviews of a few brands (one of…
Louis Vuitton Lovers, Les Indemodables Oranger Sirocco, Arquiste A Grove By The Sea and other reviews – 2024
We travelled all the way from North Africa to Croatia and a couple of distant constellations in a recent episode of Love At First Scent – via a stop-off at…
Book review – American Legends: The Evolution Of American Fragrances – Michael Edwards; 2024
— If the perfume world has a guru, then it’s almost certainly Michael Edwards, the Australia-based expert whose Fragrances Of The World database has slavishly tracked and chronicled the rising…
Top 10 Classic Eaux De Cologne – The Perfect Pick-Me-Up
It may be the oldest perfumery genre in existence, but it’s taken me until now to present my list of the Top 10 best eaux de cologne, for reasons which…
Crivelli Cuir Infrarouge, Parfum D’Empire Un Bel Amour D’Ete, Buly Jardins Francais and other reviews – 2024
From late-night clubs to herbal gardens via steamy summer trysts — all sorts of carnal pleasures were on offer during my recent session of Love At First Scent episodes, in…
Timothee Chalamet, Martin Scorsese & John Galliano – Thoughts On Bleu and High & Low
— To be clear: I could not be happier about the impact of feminism and the improvements to the lives of women made over the course of the last few…
Top 10 Perfumes For Summer 2024 – Energising Scents
As I type these words, the summer solstice is just a few hours away, which means it’s the perfect time to present my latest seasonal list: Top 10 perfumes for…
Celine Zouzou, Acqua Di Parma Oud & Zagara, Piguet A’Lombre, Noyz, Maison Louis Marie and other reviews – 2024
A fresh take on Fracas. Yet another oud. And the debut of a self-proclaimed ‘disruptor’ brand. Just three of the subjects of some recent YouTube broadcasts, the links to which…