Few artists have had a lingering impact on the world more so than Salvador Dali… the iconic Spanish Catalan artist who shot to stardom with his surrealist works that have penetrated the global psyche to this day! In 1983, just 6 years before his death, Dali signed his name to a female perfume creation simply titled Dali… a scent that became an international sensation for its dark, enigmatic animalic quality! Released in a dramatic flacon depicting detached nose and lips  (a motif appended from his paintings), this stunning floral oriental continues to move people well into the two-thousand-and-teens!

A complex perfume, comprising of tens of individual accords, Dali has a flashing flight of aldehydes which dominate through to the drydown. Bright citrus and floral characteristics greet the nose but are underpinned by thick ribbons of incense, amber, precious woods, musks, aromats and spices including clove. This dense nucleus gives maximum impact, rendering Dali a perfume with absolute omnipresence. As intricate as it is extraordinary, this perfume commands a certain poise and presence… the wearer is compelled to carry it with swagger for fear of it carrying her! With a beautifully mossy, almost ‘chypre’ base, Dali remains one of the spectacular 80’s creations that in part, simply defined the era.

Dali is best worn on date night, or nights on the town. She means business and she has an agenda, but is not willing to renounce her feminine wiles and charms. Whilst still in limited production, it will be a sad day when Dali for women is retired. So get it while you can.

Launched in September 2016, and in honour of the design icon himself, Oscar de la Renta Gentleman is an Aromatic Fougere for men, presented in a striking domino flacon! De la Renta (nicknamed the “Gentleman of Fashion”) would often while away the hours playing dominoes whilst contemplating his collections. Today, his legacy lives on and this masculine scent embodies the man himself with the advertising tag “Life Well Played”.

Gentleman is a captivating scent from the get-go. It’s flight is citrusy and laced with cardamom – a note that sets the scene early on, marking it as a fragrance with character, depth and interest. A champagne accord adds a lip-smacking tartness, which tapes away into an aromatic heart comprising smoked black tea, rosemary and pelargonium. There is a fennel-like feel present which likens it to other iconic fougere greats such as Hermes’ Rocabar or Lalique’s famed Encre Noir. The perfume has an earthy base of rockrose and vetiver.

Oscar de la Renta Gentleman is a non-intrusive scent which is well suited to the office environment, or the great outdoors. It tips it’s hat to tradition whilst keeping one foot planted firmly in the here and now.

Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria collection has been producing fresh perfume arias since 1999 – ones that remain somewhat removed from the House’s heavy-hitting iconic perfumes of the Shalimar and Mitsouko ilk. The Aqua Allegorias (now with over 50 fragrances in the collection) offer a lighter, more generous way of perfuming the body; exploring floral, herbaceous, fruity and aromatic accords as scents which are intended to be sprayed or splashed with abandon. In 2015, Guerlain launched Teazzurra – a citrus / aromatic blend which feels both humid and refreshing like a welcome summer rain shower!

Teazzurra has a punchy opening of yuzu, bergamot, lemon and grapefruit, each of which instantly lend a sense of solar warmth.  These accords twinkle over a more relaxed heart of chamomile, jasmine and green tea, and there is a certain transparency present that feels verdant and vivifying. However, from below, swiftly emerges a white musk note, and an ozonic / aquatic ‘calone’ accord – one that hints at vast open blue skies and a whisper of coastal air. Teazzurra feels resolutely fresh and dewy… there is an astounding harmony and balance that renders this perfume very ‘zen’. It can be enjoyed by men and women, at all times of the year.

Often overlooked in favour of other Guerlain creations, the Aqua Allegorias continue to surprise and enchant with their remarkable perfumed fables. From the nectar-like summer blossoms of Flora Nymphea to the crisp and uplifting Herba Fresca, Teazzura takes its place amongst the other greats in this collection.