Heeley Parfums

Mood Scent 4 Uplifting Perfumes

Welcome to Mood Scent 4!

We are four perfume bloggers based in France, Holland, England and Wales who post on a different jointed subject every couple of months. This time we have chosen uplifting perfumes as we moving into the autumn and winter season. At the end of this article you will find links to the blogs of A Bottled Rose, I Scent You A Day and Megan in St. Maxime.

I really enjoyed choosing 5 uplifting fragrances for our joined project. The fragrances I choose were the joyful L’Artisan Parfumeur La Chasse aux Papillons Eau de Toilette, invigorating Frederic Malle Cologne Bigarade, contemporary British Heeley Oranges and Lemons, bright April Aromatics Ray Of Light and energising Hermes Eau D’Orange Verte.

1. L’Artisan Parfumeur La Chasse aux Papillons Eau de Toilette

Notes: Linden Blossom, Lemon Tree Blossom, Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Tuberose Perfumer: Anne Flipo Year: 1999

La Chasse aux Papillons (Chasing butterflies) is a happy, joyful, floral bouquet of white blossoms of orange, jasmine and tuberose with some green leaves and creamy coconut. It is one of my favorite uplifting fragrances and I gladly use the Eau de Toilette, the accompanying body lotion and shower gel on grey rainy days to cheer me up.

In a few words*: innocent, romantic, joyful, young and light, white

2. Frederic Malle Cologne Bigarade

Notes: Bitter Orange, Cardamon, Pepper, Hay, Cedar Wood Perfumer: Jean-Claude Ellena Year: 2001

In true Ellena style this cologne is stripped from any distractions* by leaving out the traditional cologne herbs lavender or rosemary and concentrating fully on the bitter orange essence in all it’s splendour. It’s incredibly energising and an excellent choice for a dull grey autumn or winter morning. I used the shower gel some years ago and loved it too.

In a few words: refreshing, invigorating, clean, casual chic

3. Heeley Oranges And Lemons Say The Bell’s Of … St.Clements

Notes: Oranges, Lemons, Bergamot, Mandarine, Neroli, Petitgrain, Earl Grey Tea, Ylang Ylang, Vetiver Perfumer: James Heeley Year: 2010

Together with La Chasse Aux Papillons a beautiful name for a fragrance. Oranges and Lemons was inspired by an old children’s rhyme from the 18th century. The Bell’s Of St. Clements refer to church bells which can still be found in the historic and financial centre of the City of London.

Oranges and Lemons starts as a contemporary cologne with bright bitter orange flowers (neroli) with their green leaves to change into a slightly sweeter orange lemonade. There is a right balance between the shiny bitter neroli and sweeter orange. Longevity on my skin is good for a cologne style fragrance as it lasts several hours. Unexpectedly the dry down was quite calming.  If the fragrance would have a color it would be vibrant orange.

In a few words: modern cologne, relaxed, contemporary British, colour of bright orange

4. April Aromatics Ray Of Light

Notes: Lime, Lemon, Pink Grapefruit, Orange, Bergamot, Galbanum, Mint, Vetiver, Tobacco. Perfumer: Tanja Bochnig Year: 2014

Ray of Light is an all natural fragrance made by Berlin based perfumer Tanja Bochnig. The fragrance opens with bright sunny bitter green citrus leaves which quickly change into warmer lightly sugared lemon followed by some sweeter orange and a mellow herbal tobacco base. The galbanum adds an overall green bitter scent to the whole fragrance. When smelling and experiencing this fragrance the colour that came to mind was vibrant yellow. I find it a very cheerful and encouraging fragrance. It’s dry down is quite relaxing as well. Ray of Light will work well on those dark days in winter to get you out of bed and running as it will your energy rapidly moving.

In a few words: cheerful, bright, sunny, vibrant yellow, encouraging

5. Hermes Eau D’Orange Verte, I reviewed this energising scent and the shower gel previously on my website.  If you like Frederic Malle Cologne Bigarade you will probably like this too. Eau d’Orange Verte is a cheaper alternative as it is often on sale at discount websites. I use it quite often to refresh in summer and uplift in winter time. You can read my article here.

Bottom line: my top 5 choices for uplifting fragrances were the joyful L’Artisan Parfumeur La Chasse aux Papillons Eau de Toilette, invigorating Frederic Malle Cologne Bigarade, contemporary English Heeley Oranges and Lemons, bright April Aromatics Ray Of Light and energising Hermes Eau D’Orange Verte.

You can find Tara’s choices from A Bottled Rose, Megan’s from Megan in Sainte Máxime and Samantha’s from I Scent You A Day by clicking on the names of the websites.  Go to their website to read their choices of uplifting fragrances. I am very curious to read which fragrances they choose!

Do you use fragrance to uplift you? If so, what are your favourite uplifting fragrances?

*in a few words was inspired by the excellent The Scented Hound website.

*read Clayton’s more elaborate and  interesting article about the making of Cologne Bigarade on What Men Should Smell Like

Disclosure: all photographs were made by me.

How To Pick The Perfect Summer Scent

 

With summer in its way other fragrances might be more appropriate than the ones you having been wearing during wintertime. It can be a good moment to start wearing other more suited summer fragrances like tropical florals, refreshing citrus or beach fragrances.

Try exotic flowers

Try fragrances with exotic flowers like ylang ylang, tiare, tuberose or fragrances with milky coconut undertones. The combination of tuberose and coconut can be found in Killian Beyond Love. Another more creamy tuberose is the budget friendly but discontinued Madonna Truth or Dare. The recently released Dusita Le Douceur de Siam is a beautiful tropical creamy rose ylang ylang fragrance and very well suited for summer. Tiare and coconut can be found in the recently discontinued but still available Guerlain Terracotta Le Parfum, Estée Lauder Bronze Goddess and Nicolai Createur Juste Un Reve.

Freshen up with citrus 

Another good choice is to freshen up on hotter days with fragrances which contain lemon, neroli or bergamot.  Heeley Oranges and Lemons Say The Bells of St. Clements, the natural and organic April Aromatics Ray of Light or the longer lasting Le Galion Whip are excellent choices if you like lemon in a fragrance. The refreshing Annick Goutal Neroli Cologne or Yves Rocher Secrets d’Essences Neroli are good choices when you are looking for a neroli scent. The zesty green Martin Marghiela Untitled L’Eau is my personal favorite for those very hot days with notes of lemon, mint and mandarin.

Go to the beach

Salty fragrances like Laboratorio Olfattivo Salina give the impression of being at the seaside which can be very suited on those warmer days. If you like the scent of sun lotion you can choose Nicolai Createur Musc Monoi which was inspired by the scent of Ambre Solaire sunscreen lotion.

Do you have favorite summer fragrances? Which one is your favorite?

Further reading: read my reviews of Laboratorio Olfattivo Salina, Madonna Truth or Dare.

Disclaimer: all fragrances mentioned in this article were my own acquisition, all photographs made by Esperessence

Do you have favorite summer fragrances? Which one is your favorite?

Top 5 New Perfume Discovery Sets – Handpicked Holiday Gift Ideas –

Perfume discovery sets are an excellent way to try new fragrances and great gifts for the holidays. It is a very convenient way to store perfume samples as well. I love to give discovery sets for the holidays. Some new sets were introduced recently. The sets which caught my eye are sold by Nicolai Parfums, Parfums Viktoria Minya, Heeley Parfums, Atelier Cologne and Sultan Pasha Attars.

1. Nicolai Parfums

This set with fragrances made by French perfumer Patricia de Nicolai can only be bought online. It includes the following 6 scents in 1,5 ml sprays:
Patchouli Intense, Ambre Cashmere Intense, Musc Intense, New-York Intense, Fig-Tea, L’eau miXte

Price: 29 euro for 6 samples/1,5 ml online via their website

2. Parfums Viktoria Minya

Two discovery sets are available. An interesting and elegant looking travel set with 5 sprays containing 15 mls of the whole range. A cheaper way to discover the perfume house is the sample set with 1,75 mls dab samples. I find this smaller set a very good way smell each fragrance, get to know them and compare them to each other. The only draw back are the dab vials instead of sprays. Included in the set are: Hedonist, Hedonist Rose, Hedonist Iris, Hedonist Cassis and Eau de Hongrie, Viktoria Minya’s ode to Tokaji Wine.

Price: 19 euro for 5 samples/1,75 mls or 159 euro for 5 sprays/15 mls – online via their website

3. Heeley Parfums

A new set was introduced by the perfume house Heeley Parfums including 5 fragrances: Sel Marin, Hippie Rose, Cardinal, Oranges and Lemons say the Bell’s of St Clement’s and Menthe Fraiche. Heeley is a perfume house I really like, I own a bottle of St Clement’s but this set is very tempting.

Price: 135 euro for 5 small/15 ml spray miniature bottles

4. Atelier Cologne

I read about this marvelous set on Undina’s website and am considering buying this new set. It is not only excellent value for money as a set but a 30 euro gift voucher is included as well. The set includes the extensive Atelier Cologne line of 30 fragrances.

Price: 30 euro for 30/2mls – free shipping for the sample set

5. Sultan Pasha Attars

Ultra niche perfumer Sultan Pasha recently introduced a sample set on ebay including Thebes Grade 1 and Grade 2 which he made after scenting the original and famed Guerlain Djedi. These intriguing two different versions of one scent are well worth buying the whole sample set for. If only to smell their compelling difference.

Price: 66 euro (55 pounds) for 25 small (2 drops) sample attars via eBay

Have a bought perfume discovery sets as a gift? Or are you planning too? Did you like one of these sets?

All prices in this article are excluding postage as they differ per country, please check this before ordering.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post in any form; and it does not contain affiliate links.

All photographs were taken from the official websites except the first photograph. The first photograph was made at florist Menno Kroon in Amsterdam by Esperessence.

Links:

Nicolai Parfums
Parfums Viktoria Minya
Heeley Parfums
Atelier Cologne
Sultan Pasha
Undina