Whether it is the aroma of rich oud or the scent of sweet jasmine, fragrance can immediately transport us to our favourite places, bringing back precious memories of distant lands. The following fragrances are rooted in far flung destinations, and have been inspired by the world of travel–making for the perfect gift ideas for ‘wanderlusters’ everywhere.
Ånd: Måd
Ideal for those who are passionate about the planet, ånd fragrances offer an antidote to mass-produced scents. Launched by perfumer Simon Constantine, who created perfumes for Lush for over a decade, ånd is an ethical and eco company, which re-uses waste plastic in creating its bottles, and which also supports local communities who work to harvest the natural ingredients. Packed with vanilla notes, Måd will transport you to Madagasgar, where the brand sources fine vanilla, as well as ylang oil, vetiver, violet and jasmine. It is described as “an ecosystem in a bottle; a hug from mother nature”.
From £69 for 50ml Eau de Toilette, andfragrance.com
Jo Malone London: Special Edition English Pear & Freesia
Jo Malone London’s classic English-inspired scent is available in a special edition, candy-cane striped bottle for the festive season. One spritz of this and they will be reminded of idyllic orchards where golden sunshine warms ripe pears. White freesia, rose and patchouli add to the fruity-floral notes to take you for a walk through the English countryside.
£124, 100ml Cologne, jomalone.co.uk
Santa Maria Novella: Gelsomino
One of the most historic perfume brands in the world, Santa Maria Novella is steeped in age-old heritage. The original Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella in Florence dates back to 1221 and is considered the world’s oldest pharmacy. Founded as a Dominican friars convent, its apothecary was renowned for its formulations of perfumes and remedies. New from the brand are four new artisanal scents found within the I Giardini Medicei collection. The Gelsomino scent is based around jasmine to bring to life the tale of Cosimo III de’ Medici and his love for a unique jasmine flower, that came from Goa in 1688. More similar to a small rose than to a classic jasmine, the Granduca Cosimo III had a special greenhouse built for it, and banned its cultivation in all the realm. Only his trusted botanists could perpetrate the variety in the secret greenhouse–known as the ‘Stufa dei Mugherini’–the warm greenhouse made for the Goa jasmines in the Villa Medicea di Castello, that still enchants us, today.
£160.00, 50ml Eau de Parfum, smnovella.com
L’Objet: Oh Mon Dieu!
Inspired by bohemian Paris in the 1960s, L’Objet Oh Mon Dieu! scent is bold and playful and is a fragrance inspired by the sexual revolution. Top notes of cognac, caramel, coriander and pimento are blended with a heart of rose, jasmine and plum with leather and oak moss as the base. The classic bell-shaped bottle in black glass references the apothecary scents of old.
£135, 50ml Eau de Parfum, uk.l-objet.com
Stories: Parfums Nº.01
Inspired by the fig trees, heady jasmine and ocean breezes of the French Riviera, Stories Nº.01 is an uplifting, sensual fragrance, grounded with earthy vetiver and sensual amber. The brand was born in Northern Ireland and it is the region’s first luxury, niche perfume house. The fragrances from Stories also reference the North Down rugged coastline and combine woody, green and evocative scents of the forest, and floral, herbaceous scents of the hedgerows and meadows.
£150, 100ml Eau de Parfum, storiesparfums.com
Granado: Nostalgia Diffuser and Liquid Soap Set
Ideal for grounded travellers who are at home for a while, this gift set from iconic Brazilian company Granado–which comes in a pretty vintage-style box emblazoned with tropical plants and birds–encapsulates the essences of Brazil’s exotic perfume notes. The diffuser will beautifully scent your home, while the soap’s soft aroma lingers on your hands. Citrus and spicy top notes give way to white and rose flowers. It’s like a holiday in a bottle.
£130, granado.uk
Electimuss London: Vanilla Edesia
Transporting you to exotic lands, the new fragrance from artisan perfume brand Electimuss London has been created by master perfumer Cécile Zarokian. It features gourmand, woody accents at very high inclusion–in other words, a single spray goes a long way. Vanilla, sandalwood, cinnamon and frankincense oil is bleneded with ylang ylang and Rose de Mai, which is a very rare oil harvested and processed in Grasse to protect its unique olfactory profile. The perfume is inspired by the Roman Goddess of feasting and celebrations of extravagance, making it ideal for the festive season.
£295, 100ml Pure Parfum, electimuss.com
Maison Francis Kurkdjian: Baccarat Rouge 540 Hair Mist
The iconic Baccarat Rouge 540 scent by Maison Francis Kurkdjian has been expanded to include a bath and body range of products. The Hair Mist is the perfect gift for those who do not like to be ‘dominated’ by a fragrance. Spritz it on the hair and it delicately refreshes with Baccarat Rouge 540’s floral, ambery, and woody notes. Great for when on the road.
£75, 70ml, franciskurkdjian.com
Sabon: Jasmine Perfumerie Set
Based around Sabon’s Jasmine Water scent, this gift set in a tin is perfect for travellers and features an Eau de Parfum (80ml), Hair Mist and a Perfumable Bracelet. The products are based around Jasmine Absolute to evoke memories of the fragrance fields of France.
$79, us.sabon.com
Officine Universelle Buly: Iris de Malte
New from French heritage beauty brand Officine Universelle Buly are four Eau Triple scents, based around olfactory senses from around the world. The water-based perfumes mean that the aqueous solution doesn’t stain, parch or unbalance the skin, making the perfume more intense. The line-up includes Eritrean Myrrh; Madagascar Amber; Lebanese Cedar and Maltese Iris. The latter scent is a blend of lemongrass, orange blossom and patchouli matched with iris for a journey to the verdant landscape of Malta.
£143, 75ml Eau Triple, buly1803.com
Sol de Janeiro: Cheirosa Travel Perfume Set
From the Brazilian beauty brand, Sol de Janeiro, the Cheirosa Travel Perfume Set is a collection of four fragrance mists which double up as a hair perfume and a body spray. Included are: Cheirosa 62–a warm gourmand with notes of pistachio, salted caramel, and vanilla; Cheirosa 68–a fruity floral with vibrant notes of Brazilian jasmine, dragonfruit, and ocean air; Cheirosa 40–a warm floral with notes of black amber plum, vanilla woods, and musk and Rio Radiance–a ‘solar ‘floral with nostalgic notes of tuberose, coconut milk, and warm sand.
£34, soldejaneiro.com
Valmont: Sea Bliss
For ocean lovers everywhere, Valmont’s floral aquatic scent evokes sun-drenched days spent on coastal shores. Taken from the Palazzo Nobile collection of subtle scents, it has fresh sea salt notes and delicate florals wrapped in the softness of musk. It’s the ultimate summer spritz from this luxury Swiss skincare brand.
£136, 100ml Eau de Toilette, lamaisonvalmont.com
Parfums de Marley: Delina Coffret
Parfums de Marly, a Parisian haute perfumerie by perfumer Julien Sprecher, has launced a festive collection of fragrances in collaboration with French artist Matthieu Forichon. Inspired by the French ‘art de vivre’, Delina–the quintessence of French feminine chic–is based around the Damask rose. The coffret includes 75ml and 30ml versions of the scent–perfect for when in transit.
£315, uk.parfums-de-marly.com
Matiere Premiere: Parisian Musc
Aurélien Guichard launched the Matiere Premiere perfume house in 2019 with two partners, Caius von Knorring and Cédric Meiffret. The perfumery offers highly qualitative fragrances, all composed by Aurélien around one central raw material of exceptional quality, with a high concentration of Absolute. Aurélien is the only perfumer in the world to own, plant, grow, harvest and use his own ingredients in his own brand’s fragrances. Parisian Musc is inspired by the Paris quarter of Saint Germain. The musky, woody notes, sourced from ambrette seeds, are to recall the cedar trees found in the area.
€145, 50ml Eau de Parfum, matiere-premiere.com
Thameen London: Bohemian Infusion
Delving into the stories of the Piazza at Covent Garden in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when it was a playground for decadent pleasures, Bohemian Infusion is the second fragrance in Thameen London’s Britologne Collection, under the ‘artistic residency’ of Christopher Chong. The artist has collaborated with master perfumer, Maurice Roucel, and award-winning senior perfumer, Alexandra Carlin, to sum up the world of shadows and light, and the result is a fragrance that is bright and punchy, yet dark and mysterious.
£250, 100ml Cologne Elexir, thameenfragrance.com
Side Story: Road Trip
Founded by Muj Rana, Side Story was born out of a fascination with scent and memory. The brand presents the notion that when you pass someone in a hallway and get a touch of their fragrance, you have a window into their story. Each bottle of Side Story begins in Grasse, Provence, and is produced by master perfumer, Jacques Chabert, alongside a network of independent artisans and craftspeople. Road Trip is an amber, spicy and woody fragrance telling the story of escaping and dreaming. It is the olfactory equivalent of feeling the earth beneath your feet and the wind in your hair–just the gift for those dreaming of hitting the road again.
£160, 100ml Parfum, sidestoryparfums.com
Roads: Club Tokyo
Born in Dublin, Ireland, the Roads Asia collection of scents navigates the continent, delving into aspects of contemporary culture in distinct locations. Playful and energetic, Club Toyko conveys a confidence, charisma and creative verve that is unique to Tokyo. It combines Angelica seed, Asian pear, jasmine petals, honeysuckle and a base of amber and vetiver.
£120, 50ml Parfum, roads.co
