Welcome to that tenuous time between summer proper and full-on fall. To pick a fall fragrance, you may have to decide – which side do you want to be on?
Luckily, we have plenty of beautiful scents for both flavours of fall, and you can explore our favourites with the long-awaited return of our curated fragrance sample packs. Whether you’re craving delicious layers of warmth, or want to keep the sunny vibes going until winter, these fragrances bridge the divide between hot afternoons and cool evenings.
We think that travel fragrances need to possess two important aspects... Three of our brands happen to do both exceptionally well.
No matter where you’re travelling, it can be hard not to feel a bit adrift. Spraying on a fragrance can help center yourself, and add an invisible festive flourish to help make your time away feel that much more special.
We think that travel fragrances need to possess two important aspects — balanced, versatile formulas and convenient packaging. Three of our brands happen to do both exceptionally well.
Gallivant
Gallivant fragrances are not only inspired by travel but are the perfect travel companion. They’re breezy, energetic and gorgeously polished while being relaxed enough not to totally dominate the vacation. Their entire collection is available in 30 ml bottles, and they even produce a fun discovery set of 2 ml samples (suitably called “The Nomad”).
We recommend:
Escentric Molecules
These all-purpose compliment factories can adapt to any skin and situation. Their ultra-minimalist formulas make them feel less like perfumes and more like spraying on an extra layer of yourself; perfect for feeling comfortable in new environments. The best part? Their 30 ml travel sizes come in chic, futuristic metal cases for ultimate luggage peace of mind.
We recommend:
Arquiste
Arquiste makes fragrances that transport you across time and space. Their luxurious compositions are so evocative it seems you could walk right inside them and explore. However, they remain balanced and wearable, with a light touch of old-school elegance, and their bestselling scents are available in ultra-portable travel vials.
Our top 10 fragrances for summer transport you to destinations near and far.
As the world rediscovers the joy of travel, we decided to curate our summer sample pack with fragrances that not only are perfect for warmer weather, but also transport us to fascinating destinations around the world.
Whether evoking the coconut, vanilla and wild gardenias of the Seychelles, the coniferous mountain forests of Alberta, the yuzu-studded steam baths of Kyoto or the Victorian violet gardens of the United Kingdom, our picks for summer scents are a gateway to fragrant frontiers near and far, while also serving as the perfect scent pairings for sunny summer fun.
Simon Tooley, Etiket brand creator and perfume enthusiast, shares his top fragrance picks for the upcoming fall season.
When fall comes around, just like we feel the need to change how we dress, I think we feel the need to change our fragrance. We tend to look to heavier scents; scents with notes of Amber, Oud, Vanilla or Patchouli come to mind. It doesn’t mean we have to change our signature scent if we have one, or perhaps we have one for the fall that we only bring out then. For me when fall hits, I definitely change my fall scent wardrobe, and I look forward to wearing old favourites or trying something new.
Thirty-Three EDP by Ex Idolo One of my favourites is Thirty-Three from Ex Idolo, this scent with thirty-three-year-old oud, takes me on a journey that includes notes of rubber and a deep sexy dry down. On a woman, it is just as beautiful.
Thirty-Three is a fragrance created from hand blended and very special ingredients. Vintage Oud is the soul of the fragrance, distilled in 1980 and aged until its release in 2013.
Suede de Suède by Mona di Orio I love the latest scent from Mona di Orio, Suède de Suède which is somehow perfect for fall, it reminds me of a hand-made pair of suede gloves that I bought in Lisbon, deep brown and trimmed in red, this fragrance is much more than suede of course. It has a rich earthiness with the patchouli, my most favourite note, and leaves me with the warmth of suede and musk at the end.
Inspired by memories of the Mona di Orio Swedish in-house perfumer Fredrik Dalman, Suede de Suède unveils a perfume that evocatively caresses the skin like soft Swedish gloves. A smooth woody suède accord warms you like the silky backside of a fur.
Savoy Steam by Penhaligon’s One of the newest launches from Penhaligon’s, Savoy Steam, is a surprising take on their original scent, Hammam Bouquet from 1872, it has an Englishness that has both humour and sexiness and the touch of rosemary and eucalyptus are a perfect foil to the rose and pink pepper.
A fitting tribute to the original Penhaligon’s scent, Hammam Bouquet, Savoy Steam has top notes of bergamot, lemon, eucalyptus, mint, pink pepper and rosemary; middle notes of rose, geranium, cardamom, hedione and tea; base notes are benzoin, incense, vanilla and white musk.
Close Up by Olfactive Studio I think one of the recent launches from Olfactive Studio, Close Up, deserves attention with Amber and Tonka, and a Green Coffee top note that makes me smile. There is a richness that just makes you want to spray it on your turtleneck so you feel that intensity each time you wear it.
Intense and contrasting, the amber tones combine with a freshness. It has a full- bodied character that blends seamlessly with anise and green coffee. Zooming in even closer, each ingredient gains in intensity and distinctness.
London by Gallivant Finally, my pick for a fragrance that goes from spring to summer to fall and into our cold winters is from Gallivant, called London. It may be the reference to the Pet Shop boys but who doesn’t want to be an East End Boy or a West End Girl? The rose mixed with leather, sandalwood, patchouli and cedarwood take you from the of ce to the “pub” to meet your “chum” after work. My go to scent this fall so far.
It’s a floral leather fragrance. With a watery green head, of cucumber and violet leaves. A floral heart, with Rose de Mai Absolute, rose oil and orris root. And base notes of leather, sandalwood, patchouli and cedarwood.
Come meet our experts to find out what would be your ideal fall scent: a scent that would suit you like your wardrobe.
It’s incredibly flattering for me when once in a while I receive an email from a perfume brand stating that they’ve been following my blog for a while & like my writing style, therefore they’d like to send me samples. For me it’s a great way of discovering new things but also to develop more personal relationship with a brand, because I have that 1 message I can later use for further contact. Few weeks ago I was approached in a way mentioned by Nick Steward, founder of Gallivant. The name rang a bell in my mind, so of course I was happy to try their fragrances. Gallivant as a verb means “to go around from one place to another in the pursuit of pleasure or entertainment” while the brand sources their perfume ideas from nomad life and being a traveller. Perfume is a destination here.Istanbul(shown above left) embodies “this feeling of an ancient city, but with a freshness, a modernity. An old luxury and a new confidence.” Its composition starts with a tart bergamot that is so diffusive it feels more like a shade cast by a citrus tree on a sunny day. It’s gone in a quick poof, stepping down to make room for cardamom. The latter one is more and spicy, with a crunchy and roasted background. There’s even something slightly caramelized about it. Its impression is followed by red thyme which gradually builds up an herbal aspect of the scent. This one is also a bit sweaty. Heart of the fragrance hides lavender absolute that is a marriage between floral and herbaceous elements. As far as I’m concerned I found its aroma to be quite dry & more herbal than floral. Geranium is a source of temporary feeling of something crispy and green but later it develops a sharp, minty undertone. Because it seems a bit metallic it feels slightly disturbing, at least to me. Later on I get opoponax and patchouli. They blend nicely together to create a multi-layer of woody, balsamic, earthy and sweet notes. It’s a source of pleasure in Instanbul the fragrance. The base is firing up with generous dose of rich vanilla, supported by beautiful, creamy spiciness of tonka bean. Amber adds a sensual warmth while sandalwood brings forth a seductive vibe. The drydown has some heft to it but doesn’t feel too heavy. It’s definitely the most interesting part of this scent.
Brooklyn(shown above right) according to the brand is about “non-stop go-go-go” while the perfume is meant to be “energetic with a creative and intellectual fizz.” In this case the opening is build around bergamot again but it lingers on skin, effusing tart, aromatic and zesty molecules. As soon as lemon and orange add their values, the perfume starts to be a kick of energy, very juicy, tasty and mouth-watering like a glass of freshly squeezed juice you could grab on your way to work. We have cardamom here again but much less accentuated, it’s all about citrus at the moment. However there is a twist to it when incense starts to sneak in, bringing some sheer smokiness with it. Who would have thought that it would smell so nice with lemon or bergamot. Later on Brooklyn juiciness becomes more clean. It smells of fresh air, clean cotton sheets with a little bit of ozonic notes. From citrus it gradually goes to pale, aquatic florals. I can smell silky magnolia and perhaps a little bit of water-lily but Gallivant uses a general term of transparent flowers. It does feel sheer, airy and with pastel colors. There’s also a gentle powdery vibe of iris here. The drydown has a fluffy musk accord blended with white woods that are delicate and that don’t add much weight to the scent. Amber (much lighter than in Istanbul) raises temperature a bit while benzoin listed among notes was barely there on my skin. Perhaps it was very subtle and got overlooked because of ambery note.
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Both Istanbul and Brooklyn have decent projection and good longevity. They are interesting and quite easy to wear. Gallivantteam decided to work with young perfumers – Istanbul was created by Karine Chevallier while Brooklyn is a composition from Giorgia Navarra (trained by Bertrand Duchaufour). These 2 are a half of initial collection from Gallivant, other 2 represent London and Tel Aviv. Plus there will be another two appearing this fall. All fragrances are in eau de parfum concentration and since the brand is about exploring and discovering places, their bottle is travel friendly (and perfumista friendly) since it’s a 30 ml size. Feel like going to any of these two places?
Meet GALLIVANT, the modern indie fragrance house founded by Nick Steward, former Creative Director of L’ Artisan Parfumeur. GALLIVANT is all about the belief in getting out into the world and discovering more. In feet-on-the-ground exploration. The freedom to wander and travel. These unique fragrances capture the vibe of the brand’s favourite destinations. Cool, creative cities. Unisex eau de parfums for urban explorers who like to travel light.
Always easy, always streamlined, these scents also come packaged in 30ml ‘nomad’ bottles to help you on your journey. Designed in London, handmade by artisans in France and England.
Where are you going next?
London London, is a floral leather fragrance. With a watery green head, of cucumber and violet leaves. A floral heart, with Rose de Mai Absolute, rose oil and orris root. And basenotes of leather, sandalwood, patchouli and cedarwood.
Tel Aviv Tel Aviv is a bright, sunny, floral fruity fragrance. A fresh, fruity head, and notes of clementine, bergamot, and blackcurrant bud. A floral heart with jasmine sambac absolute, Comoros’ ylang ylang, rose oil and freesia. And a warm, musky base with sandalwood, musks, Deer’s Tongue absolute (liatrix) and benzoin.
Istanbul Istanbul is an ambery, woody, spicy fragrance. A fresh aromatic head, with notes of bergamot, cardamom, red thyme. A woody, aromatic heart, with lavender absolute, Egyptian geranium essence, patchouli heart and sweet myrrh (opoponax) essence. And basenotes of sandalwood, vanilla, tonka bean, amber and musks. Brooklyn Brooklyn is a musky citrus fragrance. A fresh, spicy, fizzy head, with notes of bergamot, squeezed lemon and orange juice. Incense, cardamom, ozonic notes. A floral heart, with magnolia and orris root. And a base of white woods, benzoin, amber and musks.