Over the last few years, designers haven’t really stepped outside the box and have kept it very safe with their fragrance releases. There are of course, a few exceptions and in today’s blog post I’ll showcase 5 fragrances that are worthy of attention. Fragrances that drift a little left of centre. Certainly worth a sniff.
Gucci Guilty Absolute Pour Homme – The Gucci Guilty line had been drifting along in a very generic manner for several years until 2017 when Gucci Guilty Absolute burst onto the scene. When I first encountered this fragrance, I was bowled over (in a good way). Gucci Guilty Absolute is a dry vetiver, medicinal, leather, woody, earthy petroleum tinged fragrance unlike anything seen on the market for years. For mine it sits alongside, Gucci Pour Homme I and II and Envy and Rush as one of Gucci’s finest men’s releases.
Gucci Guilty Absolute Pour Femme – There must be something in the water over at Gucci HQ as, the women’s version is equally as good as the men’s. This is very much a unisex fragrance, that mixes a brilliant blackberry note with vetiver, cypress, patchouli and tart rose. It stands out in a sea of blandness dominated by fruity florals. Both the men’s and women’s versions are long lasting fragrances, carrying well past 10 hours with excellent projection.
Cartier L’Envol – Cartier always releases interesting fragrances, and L’Envol released in 2016 was no exception. The EDP is a men’s marketed fragrance that could easily be unisex. It combines honey, iris, patchouli, musk and woody notes to perfection. A sweet fragrance that doesn’t smell cheaply made. Brilliant. The EDT is also well worth trying for those that find the EDP too sweet.
Zadig & Voltaire This is Him – Top notes of grapefruit and pepper, mid notes of incense and vanilla and a base of creamy sandalwood, This is Him is a wonderful sweet (but not too sweet) fragrance for men. The main notes are the incense, vanilla and sandalwood and they combine to give a smoky, sweet, creamy almost gourmand like fragrance that remains easy to wear on cooler days. Women can wear this one as well.
Chloe Nomade EDP – Nomade from Chloe was one of my favourite scents from 2018. Mirabelle plum, freesia, oakmoss and peach and patchouli combine to give Nomade a distinctly modern, sweet, somewhat dusty feel that never becomes cloying. Another one, that with the addition of the woody notes could be considered unisex. Lasts for over 10 hours on skin. I like the EDT released earlier this year also.
So, there you have it, a few designer releases from recent times that are worthy of some praise. What are some of your favourites from the last few years?
Notes: Bottle images courtesy of Fragrantica.
