smells like spring
spring fragrances to consider that aren't just florals
wisp’s of fragrant lavender. the powdery aroma that clings to freshly washed linens. the earthy, thickness that lingers in the air after rainfall. these are the scents of spring.
much like i’m a seasonal reader (more on this later, i’m sure), i’m also very much a seasonal perfume wearer. yes, i’ve got my tried-and-true daily scents—but as winter’s frigid temperatures give way to spring’s warmth, i find myself reaching for fresher, airier scents more than the intense fragrances that get me through the colder months.
spring is indeed the season of renewed flora and fauna; but in truth, i’m not much of a floral fragrance wearer. i can appreciate the softer notes of white flowers, like jasmine, for instance, but my taste in perfume typically veers more ambery, woody, or fresh.
in search of fresh spring scents that felt seasonally appropriate without being stiflingly floral, i took a rainy april stroll around my neighbourhood and popped into various fragrance retailers for inspiration. naturally, i thought i’d share my findings with you all.
and to the floral fragrance enthusiasts reading: i haven’t counted you out entirely! i was pleasantly surprised to find that several of the scents i liked best featured prominent floral notes like lavender and violet.
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the note brief: bitter orange, lemon, pepper, immortelle
i was instantly drawn to this fragrance because of the dainty illustration on the bottle, and it certainly did not disappoint. l’eau des hesperides smells like a fresh burst of spring with a slight tinge of mintiness, trailed by warm spices. its name is inspired by the greek myth of the hesperides, who were guardians of a lush garden that grew immortal golden apples. this scent exceeded any expectations i may have had—had i solely read the notes and not smelled it in person.
the note brief: bergamot, orange blossom, an exclusive spanish rockrose wildflower-inspired note, leather
though loewe’s entire agua fragrance line is inspired by the “sparkle of light on flowing water,” this particular scent is meant to replicate the aroma of dew drops that settle on the petals of the spanish rockrose wildflower. there is a brightness to this eau de parfum that makes it refreshing and crisp, with a complimentary dose of citrus and floral notes.
the note brief: aldehydes, black pepper, violet, cashmeran, musks
while chatting with the fragrance expert at the byredo counter about the differences between byredo’s original blanche fragrance and this new blanche absolu de parfum, i was told that blanche absolu is warmer than its predecessor, smelling as if “you’ve just taken a warm blanket out of the dryer.” i couldn’t agree more. it’s a soapy, second-skin sort of scent that truly does smell like clean linens.
the note brief: aquatic accord, patchouli essence, pink pepper, turkish rose
when the rain stops is a subtle petrichor scent that nicely balances dewy aquatic notes with unexpected warmth. despite being noted with pine tree and moss amongst other outdoorsy additions, i find that it actually leans a little more clean than earthy—which i believe to be more beneficial than detrimental as it dries down more wearable than i anticipated.
the note brief: bergamot, mandarin, sweet white peach, vetiver, ambrofix, musk
after observing its flacon and repeatedly sniffing valaya, the first word that came to mind (and still rings true) was angelic. at once powdery and radiant, there is a feminine quality to this scent that i can’t quite put my finger on—but would perhaps attribute to its soft white floral notes and its warm base? at the same time, it manages to be clean and delicate.
the note brief: neroli, bergamot, lavender, musk, tonka
le labo’s lavande 31 presents a “new” take on lavender, with notes like musk and tonka introducing something slightly edgier than what you’d expect from a floral fragrance. i, for one, imagine this is what a garden nymph would smell like. earthy and musky, yet fresh and bright.
chanel chance eau splendide
the note brief: violet, raspberry, rose geranium, white musk, cedar
one floral fragrance i did adore in my teenage years was chanel’s chance eau tendre. i was recently gifted the newly-launched chance eau splendide, and was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed the smell. it’s a crisp and airy scent with luminous notes that engage in a lovely dance between delicate purple flowers and succulent red fruits.
the note brief: mandarin, elemi resin, almond blossom, grass, violet
first of all, is this not the coolest name for an aquatic fragrance? these last two scents are the only ones i wasn’t able to smell in person just yet, but allow me to explain why this would be a dreamy spring scent: the brand’s concept was to include materials of every colour of the rainbow for its notes, from red mandarin to violet. what you’re left with is a citrusy, floral concoction that wears like the earth’s atmosphere after rain.
the note brief: marshmallow, peach nectar, sweet rice milk, australian sandalwood
another honourable mention that was sadly not available in store just yet: dedcool’s mochi milk. don’t the marshmallow, peach nectar, and sweet rice milk notes sound like the makings of the most delicious spring picnic? admittedly, i’m not a fan of sickly sweet scents, but apparently this eau de parfum is a more subdued gourmand that dries down differently on everyone like a classic skin-scent.
what will you be wearing this spring?
x L
i love the way that you write