Tocca

The weather is finally warming up, and so the changing of the scents begin. Out with the rich, warm and woodsy fragrances, and in with the light, fresh and floral – though sometimes I still like to sneak in a deeper scent here and there, especially for evening. Here is a look at the fragrances I’ll be wearing this spring:

1. Nest Fragrances in Verde –White Sandalwood is one of my holy grails. Midnight Fleur is the most unique fragrance I’ve ever worn. Paradise and Indigo were staples in my summer scent line-up last year, so clearly I love my Nest Fragrances. Recently a new one was launched called Verde, and it is an instant hit for me. It’s definitely more herbaceous than I typically prefer, so I was surprised when I loved the way it wore on me. I think it’s the notes of verbena leaves and vetiver that definitely drew me in and gives it the most delightful fresh and light scent. And as always with Nest Fragrances, the bottle is exquisite and looks like a piece of art sitting on my dresser.

2. Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum -It’s been YEARS since I have had this fragrance in my collection and missed it so much. That mix of sweet and citrus is always a constant favorite in my scent choices, and this Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum embodies both of those in a strong way. One of the things that I love about the Fresh fragrances is that they always smell simple and uncomplicated.  It’s easy to decipher the notes immediately, in this case lychee, citrus and mango, and it smells on the skin the way it does in the bottle. What you smell is what you get. I wish more fragrances were this easy.

3. Tocca Isabel – I’m just about on my last drop of Margaux, another Tocca fragrance I adore, so I was excited to try this new release for spring.  While it has notes of Spanish rose, it mixes that with leather accord, vetiver and vanilla which creates for a deeper, more complex floral scent. I prefer to wear this more for evening because it has a stronger finish than my typical spring fresh scents, but I like not wearing the same type of fragrances all season long. Throwing in a bolder fragrance even in the warmer weather can be a bit refreshing.

4. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris A la rose Eau de Parfum -This is not your grandmother’s rose perfume. I say that because I have always shied from traditional rose scents because it can often smell too dated or too mature for my taste. Thankfully, the rose fragrances of today are steering away from that and are more modern and complex. After falling in love with this rose fragrance from Aerin, I was open to trying more. When I had the chance to test this new one from Maison Francis Kurkdjian a few months ago at a press event, I knew this would be a definite must have for me this spring/summer. Two varieties of roses are used to create A la rose, and then it’s blended with violet, magnolia blossom and musk accord. I figured with the musk accord it may be deep, but once I got it on my skin, it was light, refreshing and delicate. And lonnnnnnng wearing. I get compliments on this fragrance after it’s been on my skin for 10-12 hours, which is rare in my experience. I anticipate this bottle will probably last me for many summers to come since only 1-2 spritzes will be all I need.

Last fall and winter, I was all about my Nest Fragrances in Midnight Fleur and White Sandalwood (seriously, they are amazing). But since both are almost empty I figured it was time to branch out and put a few new fragrances in rotation. One is an old scent that I used years and years ago and rediscovered, while the other two are completely new to me. Here’s the fragrances I will be wearing this fall:

1. Tocca Beauty Margaux – I was instantly drawn to this fragrance as soon as I smelled it. Once I reviewed the notes, I knew exactly what drew me in – vanilla. I am a sucker for vanilla based fragrances, and the base notes of this are vanilla and  musk. There is still a hint of floral notes with amber, gardenia and violet so I don’t completely smell like a holiday candle, and it balances out the fragrance so nicely. This is definitely a more subtle scent for me and is enjoyable to wear either day or night.

2. Atelier Cologne Santal Carmin – Just by the look of the bottle, I knew I was in for a serious scent. This fragrance is bold, warm and absolutely intoxicating. From the first moment I sprayed it on my wrist, I could not stop smelling my arm for the rest of the night. The sandalwood and saffron really lured me in since they are two of my favorite notes, and the hint of dulce de leche was the perfect complement. At an 18% concentration, this is by far one of the longest lasting fragrances I’ve worn in awhile, yet it stays consistent the entire time while on my skin. It never loses that initial richness and depth that a fragrance has when first applied, and still smells amazing 8-10 hours later. A total splurge but worth every penny.

3. Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir – Pomegranate Noir was the fragrance I discussed earlier that I used many years ago and recently discovered once again. This scent is not for the faint of heart as it is by far one of the most unique fragrances I have ever experienced, but that is what makes it one of my favorites. Its sweet notes of raspberry and plum are juxtaposed with stronger woodsier scents such as patchouli and frankincense making a second sniff always necessary. No one ever picks up this scent and smells it once – it’s just too different and unexpected to not go back for another sniff. Every single time I wear this fragrance I get compliments but it wears very differently than it initially smells in the bottle. But isn’t that the beauty of fragrance? It doesn’t reach its full potential until it gets onto the skin and mixes with the body’s chemistry.  

*pr samples included

What fragrances are you wearing this fall? I’d love to hear your recommendations!