I have three friends who loathe fragrance â one because she suffers from migraines, one who thinks all perfumes smell the same, and another who just likes to annoy me. Iâve cured all but the last with what I misleadingly describe as âanti-perfume perfumesâ â scents with a more natural aroma, that bed down politely on the skin without the dizzying whiff of department store.
I got the migraine sufferer on to E11even (£80) and sheâs on her fifth bottle. E11even was founded by TV presenter Cat Deeley and her makeup artist friend Amanda Grossman. The latter blended their only product, an uplifting, rollerball scent, from ethically and fairly sourced natural oils such as patchouli and geranium, by hand at her kitchen table. In the best way, her lack of experience and training as a perfumer shows. Soft and earthy, the scent has an intimacy, almost a naivety, and on the right person (regardless of gender), it can be hard to determine where natural skin scent ends and perfume begins. Even I â a fragrance addict â have been known to swipe across the rollerball on a relaxing weekend at home.
Iâve also had a good deal of success with ginger aromas. Iâve always loved Originsâ Ginger Essence (£55 for a whopping 100ml). Itâs so enlivening, unusual and unobtrusive that to dislike it would seem downright wilful. Newer is Jo Malone Londonâs Ginger Beer Cologne (£58), a gentler, more playful take on spice with a hint of sweet cinnamon.
Australian brand Aesop is most famous for its stylish and aromatic skin- and handcare, but more people should try their fragrances, especially if theyâre sick of trend-led power perfumes. I spent the happiest of hours sniffing scent blotters at Aesopâs London flagship and fell hard for Erémia, a delicately green, mossy, musky fragrance reminiscent of a damp forest clearing. I only didnât buy it because, at a hefty £145 for 50ml, I wanted to see how long the beautiful scent lasted (not quite long enough on me, Iâm very sad to say), but its subtlety may appeal to those who are turned off by potent scents.
Its stablemate, Tacit(£115), is perfectly named. Here we have a blend of warm orange peel, cloves and sweet basil that implies the presence of perfume without explicitly declaring its whereabouts. And this one has better staying power.
If gambling on perfume still seems risky, spending a mere tenner on M&S Apothecaryâs lovely, herby, citrussy Breathe significantly lowers the stakes.
Prop stylist: Yvonne Achato. Photography assistant: Declan Slattery