Beauty: Autumn Fragrances

Kate Moss may take somewhat of a hammering for her sun-worshipping ways, but if her new fragrance is anything to go by, her nose is still in good working order. Kate Moss Vintage takes it cue from all things floral, with notes of freesia, and almond blossom balanced by the creaminess of tonka bean and vanilla. I’m the first to admit I wasn’t exactly blown away by her first forays into fragrance, but Kate Moss Vintage has definitely won me over! The Kate Moss Vintage Gift Set contains a luxurious body lotion and comes in at a refreshingly recession-busting £23.00.

While I’m very particular about my fragrances, I’m also a sucker for good packaging and Michael Kors Very Hollywood, at £34.00 for 30ml, certainly ticks all the boxes when it comes to style. Inspired by vintage flash bulbs and channelling all the glamour of Tinseltown with a reassuringly chunky glass bottle, this gorgeous fragrance balances the creamy scent of gardenia and jasmine with the uplifting fruitiness of raspberry and mandarin. I’ve yet to find anyone unable to resist this fabulous fragrance.

Lancome Hypnose Senses, £29.00 for 30ml, is another fragrance which successfully combines delicate floral notes with the creaminess of vanilla and tonka bean, although on this occasion, the addition of patchouli provides a spicy hit that really sets this perfume apart. Lancome Hypnose Senses is definitely my favourite fragrance of 2009 – with its seductive blend of carefully chosen ingredients, it’s classy, yet
zesty and surprisingly versatile – and the bottle’s pretty fabulous, too.

Dolce and Gabanna don’t do things by halves, and their latest fragrance launch certainly reflects this. Comprising not one but five new fragrances, the dynamic duo designed The Collection to reflect the many facets of our personalities. Choose from the aromatic Le Bateleur, the fruity L’Imperatrice, the spicy L’Amoureux, the floral notes of La Lune, or my favourite, the deliciously heady La Roue de la Fortune,
which combines the exotic scent of tuberose and gardenia with the dark spiciness of patchouli. Each fragrance costs £35.00, or, for the same price you can purchase a gift set containing minature versions of all five.

Further proof that some singers can actually come up with the goods when it comes to fragrances comes in the form of Christina Aguilera’s new perfume – Christina by Night. Described as an “expression of sensuality and femininity”, this fragrance is one of the few celebrity perfumes I actually like. Opening notes of red apple and tangerine offer a fruity hit, while the darker, more intense notes of amber and black vanilla create a warmer, heavier vibe. When celebrities turn their hand to perfumes the results aren’t always pretty, but this is certainly a great example of how occasionally, they get it right.

Finally, seeing as Christmas is approaching with frightening speed, I couldn’t leave without recommending something for the guys, and for me, there’s only one contender.  Dunhill’s 51.3N, for £32.00,
is a stunning fragrance combining a fabulously eclectic of blend of fruity opening notes with a heart of lavender, pepper and cedar leaf, all finished off with the reassuring scent of sandalwood and vanilla. Dunhill are undeniably the experts when it comes to male grooming (this is evident in the fact that 51.3N uses a process known as super critical carbon dioxide extraction to create the finest fragrance oils) and this stunning fragrance is testament to their expertise.