There is a flutter of excitement within the fragrance industry because next Wednesday (16 March) Jasmine Awards 2016 will take place. These annual awards are run by The Fragrance Foundation and celebrate excellence within fragrance writing, whether that be online or in print. This year is especially exciting for Team Escentual because we have not one, not two, not three, but four articles shortlisted for our writers, including myself, Ceryn and Chelsey. I told you it was exciting!
Next week members of the perfume world will descend on London to attend the Jasmine Awards and the key thought in everybody’s brains will be ‘which perfume should I wear?!’ Now, this is a question that pops up for every occasion, of course, but when one is surrounded by the who’s who of the perfume industry, well, one’s game must be upped! So what kind of fragrance is suitable for wear at the Jasmine Awards? Well, the answer is simple: jasmine, of course! With that in mind, I have compiled a list of five tremendous jasmine fragrances that would be perfect to wear when attending the ceremony and hopefully collecting one of those gorgeous Lalique statues!
Joy by Jean Patou
Joy is often regarded as one of the world’s greatest fragrances, let along one of its most legendary takes on the note of jasmine. Launched after the 1929 Wall Street stock market crash, Joy was the most expensive perfume in the world for a time and was created as a luxury item for those who could no longer afford Patou’s couture. It is a jasmine fragrance wholly and singularly. I see it as full on indolic jasmine blooms sprayed with a layer of golden aldehydes. The generous helping of sheen and sparkle brings joy to a Catherine Deneuve level of Hollywood glamour, i.e. the highest possible level. Despite it’s age, Joy feels timeless and it’s the perfect scent for those who want to bring a touch of class to the awards.
A La Nuit by Serge Lutens
Serge Lutens currently has three jasmine-centric fragrances in his lineup; Sarrasins (a boutique exclusive), La Religieuse and A La Nuit. A La Nuit is what I like to call a ‘straight up’ jasmine, meaning that it’s a pretty decent snapshot of what the real thing smells like in nature. It has all the requisite parts of jasmine that one would expect; a sort of hissy-citrus start, breathy indole and green stems, and buds. What I really like about this particular jasmine though, is the fact that it feels just a little bit trashy and gaudy, almost as if it revels in being less than classy, but in a good way (it’s the opposite to Joy). There’s definitely room for that and I’d pick out for someone who likes a loud and proud floral that doesn’t care what people think of it. This is for the confident attendees!
California Reverie by Van Cleef & Arpels
Wispy and ethereal are two words I would use to describe California Reverie. It’s a dreamy floral that presents a very true interpretation of jasmine, just in a wistful, airy and light manner. At first, California Reverie presents a bitter jasmine note contrasted by the sparkling and dewy tones of neroli. As it progresses, the whole thing takes on a more honeyed character, warming up with vanilla and cedarwood, before floating away on a wind of aerial musks. California Reverie is an airborne jasmine that would suit those wishing to fly incognito at the awards. Subtlety is the theme here and it smells pretty darn good.
Alien by Thierry Mugler
The name sums this one up, if you ask me. Alien is a jasmine like no other – an extra terrestrial olfactory experience that brings something new and ethereal to the table. Here the jasmine is syrupy and thick, with a high timbre – it’s sweet and accented by dazzling citrus. Underneath there is a soft and gauzy base of woods and amber, sharpened by the spiky blond woods of cashmeran. Alien is a marvel and a legend. It’s a perfect jasmine for someone who wants to make a statement at the Awards. I think it shall be my jasmine of choice, not just because it is one of my favourite fragrances, but because it was the fragrance I wore when I met my husband for the first time. Alien has brought me luck in the past, so it is just the thing for the Jasmine Awards 2016!
La Religieuse by Serge Lutens
Our final jasmine is that rare thing: a gourmand jasmine. So far we’ve had straight up, glamorous, ethereal and extra-terrestrial jasmines, but we are yet to have one that is almost edible. Well, I shall correct that omission with Serge Lutens’ La Religieuse. This is a fruity jasmine jam with a sprinkling of sherbet and stewed with a liquorice-plum stock. The jasmine at the heart of the fragrance is hot and creamy with a silky texture. The rest is all musk, vanilla and incense with a warm, sweet character. As with all things Lutens, La Religieuse is a complicated and mysterious fragrance so it make sense that it would be a perfect compliment to those that like to arrive in an air of mystery, and perhaps with a touch of deliciousness too.
So, there you have it five jasmine fragrances for the jasmine awards. May they bring all the nominees the greatest of luck, especially Ceryn and Chelsey who I shall be rooting for with the full strength of 10 spritzes of Alien!
Join the Discussion!
What are your favourite jasmine fragrances?
