montreal fragrance blog Archives

Unmissable Scents for Spring!

March 15, 2024March 15, 2024 by Natalie

Six brand new fragrance fantasies for sunny mornings and electric evenings.

The perfect spring scent need not be a blast of clean or a burst of budding flowers. To us, the contrasts of spring can feel surreal, even delightfully disorienting. This calls for a bit of fragrant fantasy.

Some of our new spring arrivals are kaleidoscopes of colour and optimism. They’re perfect rabbit holes to trip down while you greedily savour every extra minute of sun.

Other scents beckon from mysterious underworlds. Humming with spirited energy, they implore us to break out of our winter cocoons and find new pleasures among the shadows.

Whether they’re delightful or devious, these new arrivals are perfect for the warm mornings and crisp evenings of spring.

WARM MORNINGS

**TUBEREUSE ASTRALE**
Maison Crivelli

A fruity tuberose constellation glimmers within a technicolour galaxy of soft osmanthus and weightless cinnamon leather. Surreal, playful and seriously complex.

**LOVE DELIGHT**
Amouage

A warm afternoon daydream of warm cake, rosewater sweets and roasted nuts steaming in shafts of Omani sun. Transportive, decadent, and easy to love.

**SPARKLING JO**
Vilhelm Parfumerie

A Gatsby-esque flight of fancy: quaffing vintage champagne and ginger highballs in an oak-panelled cabaret. Hedonism meets sophistication, as only Paris can provide.

CRISP EVENINGS

**ASKR**
Jorum Studio

An unusually sophisticated apparition of plush ozone, cool smoke and inky moss, this unclassifiable cocktail projects an endless hypnotic glow.

**BLACK MAGENTA**
D.S. & Durga

Airy-sweet pineapple hums a hot pink halo through an iris-tobacco haze, like neon in a dive bar window. The thrill of New York nightlife in a bottle.

Fragrance

New Fragrance Arrivals Everyone’s Talking About

August 22, 2023 by Natalie

Nectar, nuts and vanilla, oh my…

In the past few weeks, three new fragrance arrivals have delighted our clients and flown off our shelves. Delicious and indulgent with an intoxicating twist, each is destined to be the talk of the fragrance world for months to come. So what are you waiting for? Join the conversation!

**ESCAPADE GOURMANDE**
Maison Mataha

Our newest brand, Paris’ Maison Mataha, has only released one fragrance, but they only needed one to take over the world. Escapade Gourmande is nostalgic, creamy vanilla diffused through pale pink clouds of addictive white musk, forming an intoxicating, truly endless trail. It’s no wonder this fragrance had a mile-long waitlist before it arrived!

For lovers of indulgent gourmands, Escapade Gourmande sets itself apart.

**DELTA OF VENUS**
ERIS Parfums

The bewitching, boundless creativity of this New York brand continues with this fruity sensation. In a sinfully decadent re-telling of Adam and Eve, the “forbidden fruit” takes the form of a guava accord so visceral, textured and immersive it’s practically virtual reality. It seriously must be smelled to be believed.

For lovers of juicy, delicious scents, Delta of Venus is a historic achievement with a dash of grown-up sex appeal.

**FACES OF FRANCIS**
Vilhelm Parfumerie

Riffing on the memories and desires of painter Francis Bacon, famous for his disturbing deconstructions of the human form, Vilhelm has managed to find a gentle magnetic warmth underneath all that brooding. Featuring smoky wood, resins and a lovely pistachio accord smooth like organic nut butter, the first great fall fragrance is already here.

For lovers of mysterious woods, Faces of Francis is artistic, confident and effortlessly wearable.

COMING SOON

A sneak preview… sampling now!

**DODO JACKFRUIT EDITION**
Zoologist

Balancing an almost-unheard-of jackfruit accord (think pineapple-banana-mango smoothie) with sparkling spices like turmeric and pink pepper, Dodo Jackfruit drops this tropical cocktail into a powdery-creamy-woody jungle. It’s just the kind of olfactory hallucination Zoologist is famous for, and luckily, this trip is a happy one. Subtly sweet and blissfully breezy, Dodo Jackfruit is a one-of-a-kind scented landscape from Toronto’s favourite mad scent scientists.

Limited edition bottles will be available on August 25th, but samples are available now!

Discover our new fragrance arrivals!

Fragrance

Our Top 10 Fragrance Picks for Spring

March 20, 2023 by Natalie

Ten fragrances which smell the way spring feels.

There’s a version of a spring scent that’s all freshness: easy breezy vibes. And certainly, we all want a bit of a refresh when the weather starts to warm. But as the snow melts and the days get longer, what’s really happening? The plant life around us, a complex network of stems, leaves, flowers, and trees, begins to upload nutrients from the thawing soil below. Cooling and zippy humidity, spicy and green energy, and the invisible songs of new flowers come storming into the air, like a crowd pouring back out to the theatre lobby after a secret show.

It’s this new vibrancy, both floral and earthy, chilled but warming, that these scents remind us of. Many contain these contrasts within their evolution – fading from sheer to delicious, from new green growth to a delicate coziness. All of them, we think, have the potential to make you feel renewed.

Neroli Nasimba EDP
**MAISON CRIVELLI**
*A modern, abstracted neroli casts long, honeyed shadows on an impossibly sheer leather accord. Clean, transcendent warmth.*

Chypre 21 EDP
**HEELEY PARFUMS**
*Chic as a French film and easy as a walk in the park, Heeley’s bracingly modern update of the “chypre” archetype is seamless, sumptuous, and suffused with light.*

Nectary EDP
**JORUM STUDIO**
*Fruit flesh and riotous flowers burst through the grey, settling on a snarling earthy musk below. Both cheekily old-school and shockingly new.*

You or Someone Like You EDP
**ETAT LIBRE D’ORANGE**
*Green and creamy, unique but breezy. This olfactory fantasy of an L.A. everywoman is unisex magic, merging skin with stem, ambition with freedom.*

Dupont Circle EDT
**MONSILLAGE**
*Crisp springtime in a bottle, as invigorating as a chilled breeze caressing rose bushes and old-growth barks. An optimistic inhale of new beginnings.*

French Flower EDP
**MATIERE PREMIERE**
*A buttery laser beam of freshly farmed, organic tuberose awakens and sings. A windows-open, painfully pretty new day dawns.*

Original Santal EDP
**CREED**
*A spicy, effervescent garden of ginger and herbs scattering on a weightless base of tonka and sandalwood. A perfect example of how dynamic classic perfumery can be.*

Molecule 01+ Black Tea EDT
**ESCENTRIC MOLECULES**
*A velvety-woody bassline anchors a spring-plucked airy tea note. A dewy mist hovering over magically magnetic skin.*

Sakura EDP
**ORMONDE JAYNE**
*Like the snowy pink piles of delicate blossoms falling from spring’s cherry trees: a watercolour in scent. Effortless, delicate, and delicious.*

Live Meaningful Work EDP
**MELEG PERFUMES**
*A rustic ode to earth and sunshine, this atmospheric scent cleanses and anchors in equal measure. The wild textures of a new frontier.*

SPRING AWAKENINGS SAMPLE PACK

Ten fragrances which smell the way spring feels. Featuring 0.7ml samples of Neroli Nasimba, Chypre 21, Nectary, You or Someone Like You, Dupont Circle, Sakura, French Flower, Live Meaningful Work, Molecule 01+ Black Tea, and Original Santal.

Fragrance

Etiket’s Fragrance Favourites of 2022

January 12, 2023January 10, 2023 by Natalie

A look at the Etiket team's most-loved fragrances from the past year.

This year, we saw many memorable, boundary-pushing fragrances arrive at Etiket. In fact, there was so much excitement coming in from so many different directions, there seemed no way to sum it all up. But more and more, nothing is ever just one thing; to borrow the title from one of this year’s best films, we are surrounded by Everything, Everywhere, All at Once. And one of the easiest ways to switch things up and transform with the ever-changing world is through scent.

This year, we divided our favourite new fragrance arrivals into two categories: Light & Shadow. But even here, all is not what it seems. These shadowy scents may be dark, calming, and cozy, but they can also contain surprise: new textures, new ingredients, and an energizing sense of space. Similarly, these light fragrances are not without depth, and especially not without mystery. They may be cheerful, but they’ve got secrets.

As you explore, you could ask yourself which category you’re drawn to, and whether any from the other category surprised you. More than anything, all ten fragrances make a tantalizing offer: isn’t it time for a bit of reinvention?

Want to try our 2022 Fragrance Favourites? Disc over the Sample Pack here.

Light

Pony Boy Extrait de Parfum
**JORUM STUDIO**

Edinburgh perfumer Euan McCall is a virtuoso at capturing the wild textures of his unusual ingredients as if frozen in a strange still life. In his newest, tart rhubarb becomes a bewitching fog, cheekily caressing driftwood and pink lotus flowers, imploring another sniff.

London Funk EDP
**VILHELM PARFUMERIE**

The name is correct: this scent starts green and funky. But amidst the chaotic party of this avant-garde opening, a blissful, sexy-cool ambergris drydown is sneaking up on you, ready to steal your heart.

Paragon EDP
**INITIO PARFUMS PRIVÉS**

A burst of juicy plum mingles with soothing palo santo and sage, the whole affair sluicing over polished sticks of sandalwood. A potion of confident ease, and a refreshing new take Initio’s signature magnetism.

Like This EDP
**ETAT LIBRE D’ORANGE**

This collaboration with Tilda Swinton finds the everyday smells of her highland cottage (and the breathtaking views outside) merging into a weightless, ecstatic dance of candied ginger, wildflowers, and singing earth. A textural marvel, and one of our perfume director’s all-time favourite scents.

Ibiza Nights EDP
**CARNER BARCELONA**

An unapologetic sex bomb laughing in the face of “bad taste”, this perfectly-constructed signature pours glamourous sun-soaked florals over pear and vanilla and parties like it’s 1999. We love it.

Shadow

Indigo Smoke EDP
**ARQUISTE**

Cool mountain air at dusk, sparkling fireflies of freshness and an urgent waft of crisp pine smoke, billowing in softly over hours. This modern masterpiece unfolds like clockwork, overflowing with poetry, place, and a cinematic elegance.

Plum in Cognac EDP
**SCENTS OF WOOD**

A deeply pleasurable hug of scent, with wood-barrel-infused organic alcohol anchoring all that plummy, boozy, sophisticated gourmand depth. Smells inescapably familiar yet not quite like anything else.

Ambre Chromatique Extrait de Parfum
**MAISON CRIVELLI**

Amber and vanilla get their groove back in this colourful, hypnotic ode to luscious, off-dry warmth. Another addictive, forward-thinking work from “Ganymede” perfume star Quentin Bisch.

Musc Amarante EDP
**L’ARTISAN PARFUMEUR**

The delightfully bonkers premise of a collection inspired by garden vegetables reached its apex in this earthy, serene, strangely wearable pairing of white musk and beetroot. Its beauty, and versatility, just might surprise you.

Haltane EDP
**PARFUMS DE MARLY**

A sumptuous harmony of oud, leather and spice, vividly modernized with a kiss of sugary praline. This fragrance has all the refined luxury we expect from Parfums de Marly with added richness and a rugged edge.

Fragrance

Earth Month: Green Perfumes We Love!

March 6, 2023April 26, 2022 by Etiket

Read on for a list of all-natural and sustainable brands, as well as a curated list of their scents we think you’ll love.

Perfume is a luxury. And on days like Earth Day, when we audit the necessities and excesses of our lifestyle and their effects on the health of the planet, it can seem like luxuries are, by definition, out of sync with the natural world.

However, there are fragrance brands making steps to work within the bounds of nature. Some produce perfume using only plant-based materials. Others have spearheaded initiatives in favour of sustainable production and radical transparency.

Read on for a list of all-natural and sustainable brands, as well as a curated list of their scents we think you’ll love.

ALL NATURAL PERFUME BRANDS

ABEL

Abel is the ultimate intersection of art, ethics and natural science.

Following a failed search for a natural perfume that was chic, modern and long lasting, Abel was founded in Amsterdam by New Zealander Frances Shoemack with a simple goal – to create the world’s best natural perfume.

Abel is made of 100% natural ingredients. Rather than clouding your personality with a consistent intensity, the beauty of all natural ingredients is their evolution on your skin, working with the natural chemistry of your body to create a unique scent.

Abel believes in the power and beauty of scent, and its ability to enrich daily life in a way nothing else can. Their scents prove that indulgence doesn’t need to have a negative impact on the earth, its inhabitants, or you.

HIRAM GREEN

Since 2013, Canadian-born perfumer Hiram Green creates handcrafted fragrances made exclusively from natural materials.

All fragrances are developed and produced in small batches by Hiram in his perfume studio in Gouda, The Netherlands. He believes that natural fragrances need not be instantly recognizable as natural, or have less intensity or silllage than traditional perfumes.

His vibrant compositions have been praised by perfume experts and enthusiasts alike. Each Hiram Green scent is proof that polished, world-class perfume can be made solely from natural ingredients.

SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVES

HERMETICA

Hermetica is a collection of molecular fragrances inspired by the ancient practice of alchemy. Hermetica founders John and Clara Molloy created the brand on a foundation of sustainable manufacturing and ingredient transparency. Their bottles are made from recycled glass, and their boxes are made from biodegradable, recycled paper and zero plastic.

In addition, Hermetica has partenered with Planète Urgence, the French environmental non-profit organization, to finance the planting of more than 5,000 trees in Madagascar and Indonesia. With every purchase, you will be supporting reforestation programs in the region.

Hermetica uses a blend of natural and molecular ingredients, and features a unique raw material index on their website which catalogs every ingredient in their formulations (a rarity in perfume).

MAISON CRIVELLI

Maison Crivelli is a new French perfume house practicing a philosophy of slow perfume. Their scents showcase classic ingredients in surprising new blends, resulting in groundbreaking new synaesthetic scent experiences.

Their fragrances are bottled in eco-responsible packaging, with an eye to reduce waste. They use 100% cardboard boxes without plastic, hand crafted and created from artistic FSC Italian paper, and wrap them in biodegradable cellophane which is produced from wood.

Their founder Thibaud Crivelli’s long experience with sourcing natural raw materials led him to support the Cœur de Forêt (Heart of the Forest) association, which supports the sustainable farming of patchouli in Indonesia. For every purchase of 3 bottles, Maison Crivelli finances the planting of one sustainable patchouli cutting.

GOLDFIELD & BANKS

Goldfield & Banks is the first luxury perfume house in Australia. It was founded to represent the majestic, varied landscapes the country is known for, as well as showcase the indispensable natural raw materials they produce, such as sandalwood, buddha wood, boronia, blue cypress, wattle (mimosa), and even oud.

Working closely with Australian farmers, they prize traceability and quality in their materials. Their fragrances and ingredients are cruelty free and child labor free. Their bottles feature wooden caps made of repurposed driftwood, and are packaged in FSC paper boxes with biodegradable cellophane.

NATURE-CONSCIOUS SCENTS TO TRY

Fresh: Tauer – Cologne du Maghreb (all-natural fragrance)

Green: Heeley – Vetiver Veritas (all-natural fragrance)

Citrus: Maison Crivelli – Citrus Batikanga (eco-conscious brand)

Classic Floral: Hiram Green – Moon Bloom (all-natural brand)

Modern Floral: Hermetica – Peonypop (eco-conscious brand)

Fresh Woody: Abel – Green Cedar (all-natural brand)

Rich Woody: Goldfield & Banks – Silky Woods (eco-conscious brand)

Musky: Abel – Cyan Nori (all-natural brand)

Sweet: Hiram Green – Slow Dive (all-natural brand)

Gift Giving

Mother’s Day: Scents Mom Will Love

March 6, 2023April 14, 2022 by Etiket

A fragrance she'll love...

Scents can lift the spirit, bring back memories, and carve out moments of reflection, connection, and joy. For this Mother’s Day, we’ve selected a variety of products both nostalgic and forward thinking, and for both the body and home. From upgrades of classic perfume styles to new flights of fragrant fancy, these are sure to delight, surprise, and show how much you care.

Ella
**ARQUISTE**
For the mom who’s fashionably old-school – a new twist on ultra-chic ladies perfume.

Vivid Gardenia Soap
**TAUER**
A dramatically fragrant self-care moment. Like a new bouquet of flowers for every bath or shower.

Fennel Soap
**MONSILLAGE**
Quirky, refreshing, garden-inspired soap from the beloved Montréal perfume house.

Lavander and Goat Milk Soap
**MONSILLAGE**
The perfect touch of luxury for any mom who likes things subtly scented.

Athalia
**PARFUMS DE MARLY**
A gorgeous, grown-up signature scent. A bit floral, a bit woody, totally sophisticated.

Chiavi Candle
**FORNASETTI**
A gorgeously designed ceramic candle with a warm herbal scent.

A Lilac a Day
**VILHELM PARFUMERIE**
A refreshing, modern recreation of a backyard floral favourite. Perfect on fabric too!

Aramara Diffuser
**CULTI MILANO**
An easy reed diffuser that feels like opening a window on an Italian orange grove.

The Favourite
**PENHALIGON’S**
A modern floral with a perfect name for gifting. A delicate perfume fit for a queen!

Blanc Poudre II
**HEELEY**
Clean, fresh, minimalist and timeless. A perfect daily scent for creative moms.

Tel Aviv
**GALLIVANT**
This breezy vacation in a bottle is a subtle, work-appropriate fragrance upgrade!

Eau Fraîche
**MONSILLAGE**
A joyful, transparent summer scent for any mom who hates heavy perfumes.

Lilac & Willow
**T.LEES**
A breath of fresh air for any room, or a soothing accompaniment to bath time.

Nurture
**ABEL**
This ultra-light, all-natural scent was designed for the sensitive noses of new moms.

Premier Figuier
**L’ARTISAN PARFUMEUR**
A green, poetic fig scent for the mom who loves to change things up.

Shop these gift ideas online at etiket.ca or stop by the store!

Fragrance

Our Top 10 Fragrances to Wear for Spring

March 6, 2023March 24, 2022 by Etiket

It smells like spring...

Scents have the magical ability to collect memories, framing moments in time like an invisible scrapbook which reopens the moment you take a sniff. For this reason, wearing a new fragrance can be the perfect way to turn the page on a new season, perspective, or outlook on where we’re headed.

Our top 10 scents this spring share an energizing, vibrant quality, perfect for clearing cobwebs and conjuring an optimistic outlook. Featuring a variety of raw materials in relatively lighter compositions, they’re perfect for the warm-but-not-yet-steamy days to come.

Verveine d’Eugène
**HEELEY**
*Botanical magic.*

Gilded
**LIBERTINE FRAGRANCE**
*Effervescent spices.*

Delina la Rosée
**PARFUMS DE MARLY**
*Heavenly aura.*

Cow
**ZOOLOGIST**
*Countryside comfort.*

Flashback
**OLFACTIVE STUDIO**
*Rhubarb reimagined.*

Vol 870 YUL-CDG
**MONSILLAGE**
*Technicolour journey.*

A Lilac a Day
**VILHELM PARFUMERIE**
*Spring’s first flower.*

Escentric 04
**ESCENTRIC MOLECULES**
*Laser light show.*

It smells like spring... — Nuit de Bakélite
**NAOMI GOODSIR**
*Fantasy garden.*

SPRING SCENTS SAMPLE PACK

Our favourite scents for spring share an energizing, vibrant quality, perfect for clearing cobwebs and conjuring an optimistic outlook. Sample the fragrances mentioned in this blog post by purchasing our Spring Refresh Sample Pack!

Fragrance

Naomi Goodsir: Discover Perfumes Like Vivid Dreams…

March 6, 2023March 14, 2022 by Etiket

The cult perfume house from Sydney-born, Grasse-based milliner Naomi Goodsir invites you on an unforgettable olfactory journey.

Known for her avant-garde silhouettes and flashes of punk-infused fantasy, the aesthetic world of Naomi Goodsir balances inspiration with French savoir-faire. Founded in 2012, her namesake collection of perfume extends her uncompromising vision and impeccable craftsmanship to the realm of fragrance. These are statement perfumes of the highest order, and must be experienced to be believed.

Unique, polished and achingly beautiful, the fragrances of Naomi Goodsir are not for smelling like everyone else. However, for those willing to take the plunge, they are sure to hypnotize and delight all who enter their trail.

EXPERTLY ECCENTRIC

Founder Naomi Goodsir is a true original. Born in Sydney, Australia, avant-garde milliner Naomi Goodsir has created pieces for the English National Opera and Kanye West’s eponymous label, and has been exhibited by museums around the world. With creative director Renaud Coutaudier, she crafts perfumes as detailed and unmistakeable as her accessories, in collaboration with perfumers such as Julien Rasquinet, Bertrand Duchaufour and Isabelle Doyen. Her collection is an idiosyncratic olfactory ecosystem, full of emotion and mysterious textures.

THE COLLECTION

BOIS D'ASCÈSE - NAOMI GOODSIR — Bois d’Ascèse
**NAOMI GOODSIR**

“Bois D’Ascèsce” smells like the most expensive country fireplace in the world, crackling in comfortable silence as a story begins to be told. Mysterious, slightly mystical, and quietly very confident, this is one of the most well-balanced, romantically polished woodsmoke fragrances we’ve smelled.

CORPUS EQUUS - NAOMIR GOODSIR — Corpus Equus
**NAOMI GOODSIR**

A vivid recreation of clean saddle leather saddle that blurs the line between racehorse and racecar. Dark, dry resins mingle with something akin to burnt rubber, infusing the scent with animalistic alertness. It’s intense but also polished, crisp, energizing, and even, in a strange way, refreshing.

CUIR VELOURS - NAOMI GOODSIR — Cuir Velours
**NAOMI GOODSIR**

A langorous take on leather, with fruity facets of immortelle sparkling in the long rays of afternoon sun. The brooding atmosphere is playfully subverted with a whiff of sweet tobacco and… lipstick? Like lounging in a luxurious pied-a-terre awaiting a hedonistic summer’s eve.

IRIS CENDRÉ - NAOMI GOODSIR — Iris Cendré
**NAOMI GOODSIR**

A portal to the earthy soul of iris root, with its green and buttery aspects in full display. It wears like an invisible texture, both fudgey and feathered, surreal and edgy, as if Alexander McQueen and Iris van Herpen traded notes. A poetic nature documentary filmed in visceral virtual reality.

NUIT DE BAKÉLITE - NAOMI GOODSIR — Nuit de Bakélite
**NAOMI GOODSIR**

An avant-garde scent both reckless and controlled, gritty and operatic, with milky, humid tuberose anchored by pungent green galbanum and earthy woods. Wild, alchemical, hallucinatory, full of movement and bracing nature, it feels like wearing a sculptural piece of scent couture. Astonishing.

OR DU SÉRAIL - NAOMI GOODSIR — Or du Sérail
**NAOMI GOODSIR**

Though tobacco-inspired, to us this fragrance smells as cheerfully intoxicating as a hot toddy. Tangential references to oak, maple, rum and coconut are decadently set ablaze, but even with all that warmth, “Or du Sérail” remains comforting and approachable, imploring others to get closer.

SAMPLE THE COLLECTION

Shop Naomi Goodsir’s Discovery Set: A perfect way to immerse yourself in the world of Naomi Goodsir.

This set features 2ml spray samples of all six fragrances in the collection. It also includes illustrated blotters to experience each olfactory artwork in its purest form.

Discover Naomi Goodsir at etiket.ca or in-store!