I’m not the best at describing perfume. I can list the usual suspects: amber, incense, vanilla, wood, spice. I know my notes. But when it comes to describing fragrance in a technical way, I get stuck. Because for me, perfume isn’t about precision. It’s about a feeling, a moment, an emotion.
I do know what I like. I understand what I want a fragrance to do – to make me feel a certain way, to alter my mood, to remind me of something. I can tell when a perfume has that effect on other people, too, because they tell me. I’ve been stopped in the street, in shop queues, even while going through airport security, and asked what I’m wearing. Once, I stepped out of a changing room in a high street shop, and the woman who went in after me came straight back out to ask what scent I had on.
That’s the thing about perfume – it’s more than just a smell. It’s about connection. To memory, desire, and identity. It transports us to the past to moments we want to relive, and it propels us into the future when we want to be a different version of ourselves. And maybe that all sounds a little dramatic – but if scent weren’t that powerful, would we keep returning to the same few bottles over and over again?
I’m not saying I’ve cracked the code for universal fragrance appeal by any means. But I do know which perfumes make people lean in and ask the question. Some are reasonably affordable, others more of a splurge. But they all have one thing in common: they always get compliments.
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Victoria Beckham Portofino ’97
One of my most recent fragrance acquisitions, which I’m already reaching for constantly, is Victoria Beckham Portofino ’97 (€200 for 50ml from Brown Thomas) – one of four fragrances from the brand. I love it so much, I bought the matching mini hand cream and keep it in my handbag.
Portofino ’97 is not a shy fragrance. It’s not light or fleeting, and there’s nothing barely-there about it. It’s bold, warm, rich, and downright sexy – and it clings to the skin like nothing else I’ve worn lately. You’ll smell it hours after you’ve sprayed it – and so will everyone else. And they’ll ask you about it. There are notes of grapefruit, black pepper, saffron and bergamot, intertwined in a memorable base that lingers long after you’ve left the room.
It’s a modern classic in a chic aquamarine bottle that looks like it belongs on a sun-drenched windowsill. Very polished, and exactly what you’d expect from Victoria Beckham.
Phlur Missing Person
This one went viral a couple of years ago, and for good reason. Phlur is the fragrance brand reimagined by influencer and entrepreneur Chriselle Lim (who I interviewed for The Irish Times when the brand launched in Brown Thomas last year).
Missing Person (€99 for 50ml from Brown Thomas) was born from Lim’s divorce – a perfume she says was designed to capture the ache of someone no longer there.
Key notes include: bergamot nectar, sheer jasmine, orange blossom and musk. It’s warm, floral, a little sweet, and housed inside a cylindrical glass bottle. Minimal, muted and utterly modern.
The beauty of Missing Person is that it wears differently on everyone. Sometimes creamy, sometimes powdery, sometimes almost not there at all – but it always turns heads. It’s also wonderful when layered with other fragrances.
It’s since been released as a body lotion, hair mist, and more. And I can’t get enough.
YSL Black Opium
This is the one I’ve worn the longest. The original YSL Black Opium (€83 for 30ml from Boots) – before the limited and seasonal editions – launched more than a decade ago, and it still smells as hypnotic and sultry as ever. Every time I wear it, someone asks what it is.
It’s dark and addictive, with notes of black coffee, liquorice, vanilla, pink pepper and patchouli. If midnight had a scent, this would be it. The bottle is a statement piece, too – a sleek black rectangle encrusted with ultrafine glitter that catches the light with every spritz.
While newer versions have tried to reinvent the wheel, none have quite matched the magic of the original. Yes, it’s a mainstream fragrance, and incredibly popular, but that’s part of its appeal. Proof that something can be widely loved and still feel special.
[ From scalp to skin: new autumn beauty launches from Irish brandsOpens in new window ]
This week I’m loving ... Color Wow Insta-Wow Advanced Dry Shampoo
Another week, another hit from Color Wow. Their latest launch, Insta-Wow Advanced Dry Shampoo (€32.95 from Millies.ie), does exactly what it says on the can, and then some.
It dispenses as an ultrafine mist that instantly absorbs oil without leaving behind a chalky film or powdery residue. Hair feels cleaner and lighter, with zero stiffness or build-up.
To use, shake the can well, spray on to roots from about six inches away, wait a couple of seconds, and then brush through or “juj” with your fingers. Clean hair in under a minute, no shower required.
