SCENTS OF adventure

When it comes to fragrance this summer; be bold and step off the beaten track, layering your favourite with new notes for an exotic, intriguing olfactory hit

- REPORT MELANIE MACLEOD

There was a time when, going for drinks with friends, sitting in a meeting or walking down the street, you'd catch a whiff of the same scents again and again.

Greeting someone with a hug, you’d be enveloped in a haze of Jo Malone’s Pomegranate Noir. Meeting someone new, you'd notice that they were wearing Tom Ford's Black Orchid, and travelling on the train, you’d smell the familiar patchouli punch of Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb.

The tide has turned when it comes to fragrance, though; gone are the days of a recognisable signature scent. Beauty devotees now demand individuality from their choices, layering several scents for a unique approach or seeking out rare notes for a pleasingly surprising olfactory experience.

“Fragrance isn’t just about wearing something that smells nice any more; it’s about creating a scent that feels like you,” says Mona Kattan, fragrance expert and founder of Kayali (sister brand to her 2013 launch Huda Beauty), whose perfumes are designed to be worn together.

"Scent is a pawerful way to communicate vwathiout saying a word, leaving an impression that's unforgettable. We want a scent that is ours alone."

Matthew Malin of Malin + Goetz agrees. “We're all unique, and fragrance is a way for us to showcase that with confidence to thos around us. It’s the ultimate way to stand out and be different,” he says.

THE FORMULATION FRONTIER

In the quest for individuality, different fragrance formulas have caught our attention. Although body mists were once reserved for pre-teen school bags, mists offer a lighter way to layer scents.