My Fragrance Wardrobe: Laura Black
Fragrance is so linked to memory. It’s so powerful – I love that it can take you back to all sorts of moments in your life. I’ve often been told that if I wasn’t in the job I am, I should have pursued fragrance or wine because my nose is so strong. I can smell anything a mile off and I love where that feeling can take you.
Molecule 02 by Escentric Molecule is my signature scent. Everyone loves ’01,’ but I find ‘02’ is fresher and cleaner on my skin. I love how it develops – it’s musky and a little earthy, which I’m told is thanks to the addition of natural ambergris. There’s a hint of sweetness in there too, but not so much that it feels overpowering. The scent is subtle, yet enough to still earn me compliments.
Fresh and clean fragrances are my go-to. I like skin scents – the type that leave you feeling uplifted and cosy. Heavy and heady scents are lovely on others, but I find them too strong on myself. They don’t fit with me as a person, much as I would like to find one that did. That said, I do love Frederic Malle’s ‘Portrait of A Lady.’ It’s a bit of a curveball for me, and not one I’d wear often, but there’s no denying it’s a very special scent.
I like scents to be recognisable to me. Growing up, I remember my mum only ever wore three fragrances on repeat – I’d like to be remembered in the same way. I think it’s nice to have a scent DNA that people associate with you.
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The Celine fragrances are one of my favourite discoveries. They are an investment, but they last such a long time. I absolutely love ‘Parade’ which, again, is powdery, but also musky and a little bit floral – it’s like being in a very chic powder room – while ‘Nightclubbing’ is the one I reach for when I have a special occasion. It smells of smokey velvet and creamy vanilla with just a little bit of greenery in there too.
When it comes to affordability, few brands rival & Other Stories. I love its scent collection – specifically ‘Blank Pages’ which is light, breezy and easy to wear. There’s something in the line-up for everyone and the prices rarely exceed £35. Less of a bargain, but another fragrance I am loving, is Merit’s ‘Retrospect.’ A modern take on rose, it has aldehydes in it too, which are known for having a pine-like, clean smell that I can’t get enough of.
I often share fragrances with my husband. He wears Terre d'Hermès and I often steal it for the warm, citrus-y dry down. My mum also wears Hermès Eau des Merveilles and that is gorgeous too – I wish the brand had a third that sat in between these two scents so I could make it unique to me. Another one I often steal from my husband is Creed’s ‘Aventus For Him’ – it’s fresh, clean and uplifting with notes of pink peppercorn, ginger and vetiver. It’s so good.
There are two niche fragrances I love. That includes Jo Malone London’s ‘154,’ which not many people wear, and Juliette Has A Gun’s ‘Not A Fragrance’ – this is unlike anything else on the market. Miller Harris’ ‘L’air de Rien’ will always have a place on my shelf too; it’s timeless and suits everyone.
Le Labo’s ‘Another 13’ is great for those who enjoy layering. My sister wears this and I love it for its clean, amber-y qualities and the fact that it stays on the skin for hours. It wears so nicely with other scents and is never overpowering or too heady.
Diptyque will always be one of my favourite brands. I often say, if nobody knows what to buy me for Christmas or my birthday, go with Diptyque. I love its candles, fragrances, diffusers – you name it. I actually have the Electric Diffuser which attaches to the wall and I swear by it. As for the scents, ‘Baies’ will always be a favourite for its addictive, blackcurrant notes, but I am a big fan of ‘Philosykos’ too.
The smell I wish I could bottle is clean sheets drying in the wind. I am sure a scent is out there that captures this perfectly, but I’m yet to find it. Nothing beats that smell, it’s so uplifting and familiar.
Lastly, I’ve got my eye on Liberty’s new ‘Adelphi Sun.’ I smelt it in the store recently and can’t get it out of my head – it’s energetic, sunny and a little bit smokey too, without being cloying. It’s nice for both day and night and the type of scent I can imagine suits hot, beachy skin, but it works well for winter too – it’s so warming.
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