My Fragrance Wardrobe: Rebecca Hull
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Growing up, I loved a celeb fragrance. I was infatuated by any pretty bottle or anything that smelt remotely nice – I think my first ever fragrance was Christina Aguilera’s Spray for Women which, looking back, was incredibly sweet and worn by pretty much everyone in my circle at the time. I remember thinking I was so sophisticated. Once I moved into my late teens, I was hooked on Dior’s Poison, which still has a place on my shelf today. It was the start of my love for musky scents that were warm, but not cloying or overbearing. I haven’t worn it in years, as I accidentally diluted it while travelling, but I want to keep it for the nostalgia.
Clean, fresh scents are my go-to. I don’t have a signature scent and I’m not particularly loyal to just one or a specific brand, but my criteria for a fragrance that I know I’ll love is one that makes me feel clean and cosy. There’s nothing better than that feeling of jumping out of the shower or bath, diving into clean sheets and smelling fresh and crisp. A scent that immediately brings about this feeling is Byredo’s Gypsy Water. It’s like a breath of fresh air – light and head-clearing but with a tiny, zesty, green twist that feels different.
On that note, a scented body wash is a must for me. Fragrances aside, a good body wash that lingers on the skin is a real treat. Le Labo’s are expensive, but they’re also a great way of trying one of their scents before you buy. Its Another 13 body wash is my favourite as it stays on the skin for hours. I also love holistic washes that smell of fresh essential oils. Currently, I am eking out the dregs of Beauty Pie’s Power Down Blend which instantly provides headspace and calm. Another one I can’t get enough of is Neom’s Super Shower Power Body Cleanser.
I love discovering niche fragrance brands. Juliette Has A Gun, Stories Parfum and Björk and Berries are three of my favourites. I always take Sunny Side Up by Juliette Has A Gun away with me. It’s a warm, woody mix of white flowers, vanilla and coconut that blend into an almond-y musk – it’s the definition of a holiday scent. As for Stories Parfum, No. 02 is very green, woody and sophisticated. I often save that for special occasions. Lastly, Björk and Berries has several amazing fragrances but September – how apt for now – will always be my favourite. It’s crisp but layered with vetiver smoke for an autumnal, woodland feel. It lasts for hours too.
Anything with musk, amber and sandalwood catches my eye. There’s something so comforting about these notes, I just never deviate. If your tastes sound similar, there are a handful I think everyone should try. That includes Tom Ford’s White Suede which is – in my opinion – worth every penny. It’s the ultimate night out fragrance as it feels a little bit sexy with a creamy, leathery dry down that’s unlike anything else. Jo Malone’s Dark Amber & Ginger Lily Cologne will always be my favourite from their line-up. It’s so balmy with a gentle blend of cardamom and incense that settles nicely. You also can’t beat Narciso Rodriguez’s For Her Pure Musc or Le Labo’s Musc 25 which, sadly, is so hard to get hold of now.
Hermès Rhubarbe Écarlate Cologne is my most unique perfume. I discovered this years ago and the bottle is so large I’m still working through it. As the name suggests, it has a predominant rhubarb scent, but it’s balanced with other notes of tangy citrus and minty lantana flower. There is, of course, musk inside too which gives it a bit of extra depth. All the men in my life love it too – it has a real unisex appeal and it’s the one perfume about which I’ve received endless questions. I think of this as the fragrance I want to wear when I need a bit of edge – or if I want to feel a bit cooler.
A good fragrance doesn’t have to cost the earth. Yes, they may not last as long on the skin, but there are plenty of affordable fragrances out there that shouldn’t be overlooked. I still keep a bottle of The Body Shop’s White Musk handy and I will always seek out the latest scents at & Other Stories – in my opinion, they do the best on the high street and offer some great dupes. The Moon Fiction scent is so sunny, soft and delicate. My only gripe is I wish it came in a larger size. I love Nivea’s Sun EDT too – it immediately takes you to sunnier climes.
Discothèque is a brand I’m really excited about. It’s a candle brand that’s created scents to capture the headiness of the 20th-century nightclub scene. Inspired by a party atmosphere, everything looks fun and the nine scents are all named after iconic clubs of that era – including Crisco Disco and Mudd Club. My favourite is Upstairs – it’s powdery and has the tiniest Parma violet quality to it, but in a very subtle, clean sense that’s never overpowering. I love how everything is hand-made with vegan waxes in neon glass vessels.
My newest fragrance empty is Phlur’s Father Figure. I’m not one for TikTok fragrance trends or trying something because everyone else is but, when this came into the office, we all fell in love with it. My biggest bugbear is that it doesn’t feel unique to me now, but I do love its balance of sandalwood, vanilla and fleshy fig which combine for a scent that’s quite earthy and addictive. It’s so good and I’m yet to find someone who doesn’t agree.
A scent I’d bottle is a pine forest. Here comes the fresh theme again, but I love nothing more than being outdoors and that earthy, green smell that hits you as you’re walking through clear, unpolluted air. For me, that smell offers immediate calm and clarity, but it also feels a little mysterious. I’d also bottle salty sea air – Sunspel’s Sea Moss already captures this nicely.
For more tips & recommendations, follow @RebeccaHull_ on Instagram.
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