The classic perfumes of Jo Malone London often challenge the balance between original scents, but the new Amber & Labdanum from the Black Series surprises with restraint. It is a warm, refined, and slightly bitter-edged fragrance, balanced and effortless, smelling like old money and good taste. The combination of amber notes and resin creates a very unisex perfume that goes well with everyone, men and women, not overpowering, but fully present.
Jo Malone London, Amber & Labdanum Cologne Intense –
NIS 520 for 50 ml, NIS 760 for 100 ml.
The new Ex Nihilo offers a lesson in airiness. This is an exceptional perfume due to its formula – it is alcohol-free and water-based, making it perfect for anyone whose skin (or nose) is sensitive to the chemicals that usually “hold” a scent. The bottle is beautifully designed, with colorful geometric illustrations and a light wood-look cap, accurately conveying what’s inside: A clean, clear, almost transparent scent, a blend of delicate fruity notes that feel like a luxury shower or a blank page, which is basically what we all really need now. It doesn’t turn heads or leave a trail of presence, but it stays close to the skin and gives a very sophisticated feeling of freshness. An ideal solution for anyone looking for a minimalist, calm, and noble scent and happens to have a particularly deep pocket.
Ex Nihilo, Generation(s) –
NIS 1,300 for 100 ml.
If the original Libre was a power suit perfume with padded shoulders, the Berry Crush version is the same suit, only in fuchsia pink and with a cocktail in hand. It starts very sweet, with a spritz of red berries, but settles on the skin much softer and more inviting. And yet, even after hours of wear, it remains sweet. The bottle, with the large golden (and nouveau riche) logo across it, is still one of the prettiest on the shelf. Perfect for anyone addicted to YSL sweet scents but with a spring twist.
YSL, Libre Berry Crush –
NIS 530 for 90 ml.
Modesty has never been Tom Ford’s strong suit, and the new Figue Érotique perfume maintains the brand’s spirit. If you imagined a harmless, clean fig scent from grandma’s tree, forget it. This is a very ripe, almost dirty fig paired with woody notes and a peppery aroma; the result is a powerful scent that develops into something very bold, impossible to remain indifferent to. Not a perfume for everyone, and not just because of the price: suitable for anyone not afraid to attract attention or wants to feel like a diva for a moment on the way to the neighborhood shelter.
Tom Ford, Figue Érotique –
NIS 1,370 for 50 ml.
Sometimes a perfume’s name is also a set of instructions. In the case of Her Majesty from Kilian Paris, the meaning is clear: Spray, reign. It has deep rose notes, but not springy and delicate ones – rather, roses on steroids, which, together with woody and fruity notes, create a very feminine, deep, and dense perfume. The heavy, mature bottle, with the brand’s signature engravings, feels like a tribal leader’s accessory and is perfect for anyone who decided she is the main event of the evening.
Kilian Paris, Her Majesty –
NIS 1,000 for 50 ml.
If you thought we had reached the peak of luxury, meet the scented tribute to Louis XV’s royal court, with a bottle that looks like it was stolen from the Louvre, and equally dramatic content. Here again, it is a noble rose, the kind grown in royal gardens, with touches of fruit and spices giving it an almost hypnotic depth. It starts powerful and develops into a soft, velvety, very expensive scent that lasts almost forever on the skin. Not a perfume for anyone trying to stay under the radar, but for anyone wanting to feel like she just stepped off the carriage on the way to the ball.
XERJOFF, Louis XV 1722 Rosé –
NIS 1,110 for 50 ml.
After all the heavy and sophisticated niche perfumes, the new Versace reminds us that in the upcoming summer, sometimes all we need is to feel like we’re in the shower. Unlike its clear Crystal sibling, the green Emerald goes in a very fresh direction: A combination of citrus and light flowers giving a clean, fresh, almost soapy feeling, easy to like. A scent that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel but does an excellent job as a daily perfume for spring and summer. The bottle, with the huge gemstone-like green cap, is classic Versace – over the top and fun.
Versace, Crystal Emerald –
NIS 480 for 90 ml.
