Editor’s Picks: Our favourite fragrances

“A big struggle for me is that I tend to gravitate more towards masculine scents, but sometimes I just want to smell like a flower too! Black Saffron does a great job at balancing this out. The base notes of raspberry, cashmere, and vetiver notes are great foundations of a sweet day scent. Then comes the leather, black violet, and saffron with a punch to make any stroll feel like a power walk. It's the perfect no-brainer, rush-out-the-door fragrance for anyone who's been a victim of choice paralysis. Not to mention, the juniper notes add a bonus layer for gin drinkers like myself!”

- Quinny Tan, Senior Social Media Executive, Tatler Malaysia

“How perfumes interact with your body chemistry is highly personal, so finding a true favourite was a challenge (especially as a spice lover). Molton Brown’s Heavenly Gingerlily is a heady fragrance with ginger, cardamom and clove top notes paired with a sandalwood and cedar base. As the sensual scent settles in, the white-floral heart notes of lily, jasmine and tuberose bloom for hours, creating an aura of elegance. I would define this fragrance as “the scent of a woman who dresses herself in beautiful things.” It’s my favourite after-shower spritz, especially layered with the matching body lotion, ensuring the exotic sillage lasts for hours while leaving me a pampered lady of leisure.”

- Kiran Pillay, Senior Writer, Tatler Malaysia

“To say that I’m obsessed with fragrances would be an understatement. Perhaps the best way to put it is that I’m addicted, and I’ve got just about enough fragrances to last me a decade for every mood and occasion. So, needless to say, I’ve smelled a lot of fragrances, but if I had to choose my all-time favourite, there’s no contest—it’s Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria Granada Salvia. And that’s a lot coming from someone who’s awfully indecisive.”

“I don’t exactly have a specific scent preference; it really depends on my mood and how it complements the outfit I’m wearing. But when I had a whiff of the Granada Salvia for the first time, I instantly knew that it was my scent. In terms of how it smells, this review from @theautumnfaerie on Fragrantica couldn’t have described it any better: “Granada Salvia smells like a fresh pink-purple lemonade being drunk on a balcony with a view over a big beautiful garden full of cypresses, herbs, and flowers, with fountains and antique sculptures in the Mediterranean.”

“It has a fresh, crisp citrus opening that’s quickly rounded out by the bitter yet slightly woody sweetness of blackcurrant, which then settles down into vibrant earthy notes of sage and cypress with smooth, musky undertones. Although I don’t typically reach for sweet fruity scents, this one just hits differently. It’s clean, perfectly balanced, and has that herbaceous, musky dry down that I always look for in an everyday fragrance.”

- Phyll Wu, Style Writer, Tatler Malaysia

“I'm loyal when it comes to perfumes—once I find a scent I love, I stick with it. I have a soft spot for gourmand fragrances and Jo Malone's Nectarine Blossom & Honey has been what I've been wearing (or possibly overwearing) for as long as I can remember. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and fresh. The nectarine notes are bright and uplifting, whilst the honey adds a soft, warm sweetness—a combination that I find comforting and addictive.”

- Jennifer Choo, Regional Managing Editor, Tatler Homes

See also: Jo Malone and Paddington Bear collaborate on a whimsical fragrance collection

“Celebrity fragrances—you either love them or you hate them. Most seem like gimmicks, packaged in needlessly ornate bottles and never lasting beyond 30 minutes. Billie Eilish’s Eilish Eau De Parfum, however, puts fragrance before the fluff.”

“I’m particular about what perfumes I wear. They can’t be too gourmand, too powdery, too woody, or too fresh. When I tested this one out of curiosity, it was everything I’d been looking for. With top notes of sugared red berries and mandarin oranges, middle notes of vanilla and cacao, and base notes of tonka bean and amber, this scent feels like a warm hug. If you were to douse yourself in spiced mulled wine, this is what you’d hope it’d smell like. I reach for it every day now and don’t see myself ever parting with it.”

- Chelsea Rozario, Writer, Tatler Dining Malaysia

“I tend to skew more towards scents with more fruity, citrusy notes, not so much the ones with a blanketing musky scent, but this strikes a good balance of both with its raspberry top note and white musk base note. The lightness of the floral notes—rose, magnolia and gardenia—is something I appreciate too, which makes the scent suitable for either daytime outings or formal evenings.”

- Celeste Goh, Senior Writer, Tatler Homes Malaysia

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