I’m not a massive perfume person. There, I said it. Maybe it’s because I’ve never found The One (although Philosophy Amazing Grace is probably close to it). Or maybe I just don’t have the right kind of nose. Whatever it is, I like nice smells but give me a body lotion over an eau de parfum any day of the week.
What I do like, however, is the fact that some of my favourite organic brands have started adding fragrance to their ranges. Perfect – a chance to smell like yummy, natural skincare products. That I can get on board with. Here are my top five.
First up is from Melvita and it’s called L’Or Bio (£36). It combines Italian bergamot, white jasmine, fig-tree leaf, Tiare flower and Virginian cedar, and smells, well, sort of luxurious, like a lovely body oil or sun lotion. Weirdly, the fig and cedar make it less summery and more suitable for evening as well. Definitely worth a sniff.
From Trilogy is the limited edition Jua (£13.50), which also contains bergamot, alongside rose and freesia. For every Jua sold, a donation is made to So They Can, a charity educating and empowering African communities. This is lovely, and perfect for your handbag. It’s not very strong but you can dab it on now and again and it won’t overpower.
Another handbag (and purse) friendly number is Mediterranean Fig Solid Perfume by Pacifica (£10). It has a coconut and soy wax base and the fragrance is a rich blend of warm sweet figs, oak moss creamy sandalwood. Rub a bit on your pulse points and wait to be told you smell figgy. In a good way.
New brand alert – well, new to me: Le Couvent Des Minimes. Loving their work, with recipes for bath, body, skincare and colognes all inspired by the ancestral traditions of the French Convent of the Minimes. My pick is The Botanical Cologne of the Minims (£19), which combines three citrus fruits with seven plants selected for their beneficial properties. It’s so zingy and refreshing – a perfect wake-up call before the school run.
Finally, Poppyland Natural Perfume (£29.99) from Aroma Natural. It also uses lemon and bergamot, this time alongside jasmine, Lily of the Valley, geranium and violet leaf. Beautiful packaging and a real, grown up fragrance. Lovely.
