As time passes, it becomes obvious what our perfume style is like - some of my friends love mild floral scents while I have always preferred fruity floral scents with a spicy/oriental scent on the side for special occasions. Some other points to consider are your skin type, the season you are wearing it in and where you plan on wearing the perfume most? An Oriental Spicy Perfume will work great in Fall/ Winter season since stronger scents are easier on people around you.
Over the years, I have experimented with my fair share of fragrances and when looking for a new perfume, these are the 5 off-beat notes to look out for.
#1 Tonka Bean
Tonka bean belongs to the oriental perfumery notes. In the Pagan and Occult tradition, Tonka bean is believed to have magical properties. Tonka bean is an aromatic spice native to Central America. It is a spice so good that its use has been banned in the food industry in the United States.
Tonka Beans work really well in balancing out woody and citrusy scents. It has been used as a substitute for Vanilla in the past. Known for its balmy, intoxicating character this is one perfume note you will not get enough of.
Some perfumes that use Tonka Beans are Dior's Addict, Givenchy's Ange ou Demon, Theirry Mugler's Angel and Jennifer Lopez's Live.
#2 Pink Grapefruit
Pink Grapefruit is on the less tangy spectrum among grapefruits but it is a zesty addition to any perfume composition. This fruit is considered as one of the healthiest foods full of antioxidants. I was initiated in the perfect citrusy world of pink grapefruit when I first bought the pink grapefruit mist from Bath & Body Works. This scent is a sharp contrast to that of an orange peel and has a sweet and delicate overtone to it.
Notable perfumes that use pink grapefruit as a note are Vince Camuto Limited Edition Fiore, Kenneth Cole Reaction, Balenciaga's Rosabotanica and Couture Couture
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#3 Ylang-Ylang
The tropical ylang ylang tree is native to the Philippines and characterized by its rich and buttery texture like custard. It has been crowned the ‘flower of flowers’ and must be picked by hand at dawn because of how delicate the blooms of the flower are.
In aromatherapy, it is known for its action on the nervous system and providing relief for hypertension, tachycardia and sleeplessness. The scent of ylang ylang is known for its rich, floral and jasmine like nuances. 50 kgs of these flowers yield just 1 kg of this essence.
Perfumes that contain the notes of ylang-ylang are Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel, Estee Pure by Estee Lauder and Dior's Hypnotic Poison
#4 Lily of the Valley
This flower is associated with love and tenderness in many cultures and is a native of the woodlands of Asia and Europe. The scent of lily of the valley is distantly reminiscent of the spice nutmeg. It has clean and green floral scent with citrusy nuances. Christian Dior's Diorissimo is the epitome of a lily of the valley fragrance.
This flower is known to strengthen memory and the heart and has a festival named for itself in France. Perfumes that have used notes of the Lily of the valley are Kate Spade's Walk on Air, Estee Lauder's Pleasures, Chloe New by Chloe and Tory Burch's Absolu
#5 Juniper Berries
Juniper is commonly used to flavor Gin and has a green and clean aroma that will remind you of the outdoors. This fragrance has spring-like notes and a spicy overnote to it. If you like a lively scent with lingering freshness, look out for this perfume note. Perfumes that come with notes of juniper berry are Bond no. 9, Rogart Molton Brown and Cartier De Lune Cartier.
