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Our Favourite: Nordic Scents of the Year
It’s never too early to start making annual summaries and as I recently delved into perfume and essential oils, a round-up of the most memorable fragrances of this year seemed to be in order. Together with our Beauty Editor, Mira, we’ve selected our top picks. When figuring out what makes a particular fragrance memorable, it is essential to know the key notes that give a scent its personality and will intertwine with your own.
19-69 ‘Chinese Tobacco’
‘I love the smell of napalm in the morning’ might sound tricky when it comes to scent, but that phrase from Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Apocalypse Now’, was an inspiration for this iconic fragrance. It’s my absolute favourite as I am in love with woody, spicy scents. Oud, one of the base notes in this fragrance, is called ‘liquid gold’ as it’s one of the most expensive raw materials in the world – first grade agarwood can cost as much as 100,000 USD per kg. The accompanying tobacco makes the aroma smoky and intense, while a hint of coriander gives the the scent its spice. A perfect combination, if you ask me!
155 EUR – BUY HERE
ANDREA MAACK x ENTRANCE
From the geometric and simple design of the bottle (which I love) to the magnetic fragrance itself, this blend of aromas gives the picture of a strong, bold and sexy person. Iceland based visual artist and perfumer Andrea Maack merged with ENTRANCE – a high-fashion boutique in Bucharest, to create this unisex scent reflecting their common aesthetics and values. ENTRANCE as scent is a sensual combination of bitter and sweet, spicy and smoky. As a fan of heavy, ‘masculine’ scents I feel a creamy, comforting vanilla and patchouli first, followed by a veil of vetiver, sensual bergamot and crisp pink berries – the vanilla note is warm and exotic rather than sugary sweet, which is ideal.
93 EUR – BUY HERE
Björk and Berries – White Forest
Imagine yourself in the woods, swathed with the smell of pine. ‘White Forest’ has all the scents to teleport you to the Swedish forest in an instant. Fresh and woody, my first thought is that this is a the perfect fragrance for everyday. Together with earthy, wondrous vetiver and intoxicating powdery tonka beans, this scent epitomises the heart of Nordic nature. Vetiver is sometimes are referred to as the ‘oil of tranquility’ and I have to agree – ‘Winter Forest’ is balsamic, silencing and relaxing, definitely my fragrance!
95 EUR – BUY HERE
Byredo – Bibliothèque
Are you addicted to the smell of paper and books? Surprisingly many people are, so why not create a fragrance around your addiction? Swedish brand Byredo is a master in mixing unique scents and ‘Bibliothèque’ is living proof. The key note here is leather, which is heavy, very aromatic and it lingers in people’s minds. It’s easy to think that the leather essential oil is made from real cow skin, but in fact it’s traditionally a mixture of citrus, neroli, rose and spices or birch tar. I am open to smelling like a library!
127 EUR – BUY HERE
Scent of Finland – Kajo
Kajo means shimmer in Finnish and this fragrance is the idealic picture of summer light of July. Finnish brand Scent of Finland created their scents together with renowned perfumer Maud Chabanis from Grasse, a French mecca of perfumery, who after spending few weeks in Finland captured the smell of Finnish nature in bottles. This powdery, flowery scent of lotus and bergamot is definitely the most romantic from the list. Accompanied with lemon and grapefruit top notes, Kajo is a breath of freshness. Is the romantic one for you?
83 EUR – BUY HERE
nakuna helsinki – iho
The peculiar nature of Finnish people can be an inspiration for creating perfume, as it was for ‘Iho’. The brand’s name Nakuna, meaning ‘naked’ refers to the country and people’s open mindset. On one side Fins are introverts, but bathing naked in a sauna with complete strangers is not a problem and symbolises true freedom. As a celebration of naked bodies ‘Iho’ is a pure and intimate scent. Creamy sandalwood definitely plays its role here and in perfumery it is the perfect carrier for the other aromas. Here, blended with a top note of cedarwood, both aromas give ‘Iho’ a deep earthy, woody scent. As well as being woody, there is a sweetness of amber and vanilla that pokes through to balance out the tone.
138 EUR – BUY HERE
Now that we’ve rounded up our favourites, which one is YOUR scent?