With the blossoming of spring, I like to refresh my wardrobe and also add a few new fragrances to my collection. In my dressing area, atop a mirrored vanity, I keep a vintage brass tray that holds my of-the-moment favorites. This season, these crush-worthy scents are on my must-have list:
1. Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Italian Zest
This fresh twist in fragrance is brightened with lavish essences of Italy’s top-quality citruses, harvested in flourishing fields – lemon for her, bergamot for him. To its cult scents, Light Blue and Light Blue pour Homme, Dolce & Gabbana adds a new summer Limited Edition: Italian Zest, inspired by the Italian scorza di limone – lemon zest. These new fragrances were designed to celebrate the joy of a sunny summer day in Capri.
Limoni primofiore, extracted from the tree’s first bloom for their more intense taste, are added to the fruity and floral signature scent of Light Blue. Both the zest and pulp are sensitive to the heat and need to be squeezed according to an ancestral cold-pressing technique called “sfumatrice,” producing a true-to-nature essence with gourmand facets.
The fragrance opens with Light Blue’s signature notes of Sicilian cedar and Granny Smith apple, brightened by that generous dose of tangy primofiore lemon. In Italian Zest, a pure explosion of fresh bergamot boosts Light Blue Pour Homme’s signature contrast of coolness and sensuality. Available at Macy’s and Macys.com. For her, 3.3 fl oz – $100; for him, 4.2 fl oz – $88.
2. Jo Malone London Plum Blossom Cologne
Part of the blooming Blossom Girls trio of fragrances, Jo Malone’s Plum Blossom Cologne is a splurge of yellow plum, bergamot, rose and black currant, billowing on a background of clean white musk. This new offering reveals a fresh, fleshy scent that brings color and juiciness to the fragrance.
With middle notes of plum blossom and magnolia, along with base notes of white musk and sandalwood, Plum Blossom Cologne is just sweet enough and perfect for everyday enjoyment. This and its companion scents, Sakura Cherry Blossom and Nashi Blossom, are limited-edition florals.
Fresh, fun and full of the joys of spring, Jo Malone’s Plum Blossom is made in England and is available at Bloomingdale’s Short Hills and bloomingdales.com; 3.4 oz – $140.
3. Les Infusions Mandarine Eau de Parfum
Here’s a lovely, citrus-y scent that’s ready to accompany you in your spring and summer adventures. The classic yet contemporary Les Infusions Mandarine Eau de Parfum by Prada reflects the traditional artistry of classic perfumery.
The first citrus scent to join the Les Infusions collection, this uplifting new fragrance evokes the explosive sensation of a fresh mandarin. The delicate essence of vert de mandarine is mixed with orange blossom and warm, balsamic opoponax to add longer, sweet and bitter notes to the zesty signature ingredient. Wear it outdoors to be one with nature, or enjoy it indoors to bring sunshine into your space. Made in Spain and available at Nordstrom stores and nordstrom.com; 3.4 oz. – $160.
4. MILÈO’s Maroc D’Azur
Although it’s not a fragrance, I had to add this to my spring and summer must-have list. Take a splash into MILÈO’s Maroc D’Azur, a nourishing, anti-aging elixir to treat skin to vital nutrients and moisture all year long. The Moroccan blue tansy flower helps firm and plump facial skin.
MILÈO products aim to create luxurious, clean skincare from the world’s precious plant materials. Each elixir in the collection uses premium ingredients sourced from its country of botanical origin with a minimum two-year shelf life. Every ingredient is free of refinements, adulteration and chemicals. Rare flowers are picked within the first hour of harvest, then express-flown to France in glass, where they are handed off in metal suitcases to be distilled by expert artisans in Grasse (Beauty is serious business!)
Wild harvested Oud oil is a rare, botanical extract. (Vogue calls it the next generation of face oils.) The strains used in MILÈO take several hundred years to age from the resin of the Aquilaria malaccensis heartwood in Thailand. Oud oil helps restore skin back to its smooth and glowing self by drenching the face with phytosterols to regenerate tissue and plump wrinkles. Ingredients include white camellia seed oil, kalahari melon seed, osmanthus blossom, blue tansy flower, bourbon geranium flower and blue cypress wood. MILÈO Maroc D’Azur is available at mileonewyork.com; $90.