During Spring the Floral family often draws all of the focus in fragrance. Whilst at Les Senteurs we do love our collection of floral scents, we thought we’d turn our attention to another naturally growing fragrant favourite. Fruity scents are the ideal choice for a summer scent, evoking thoughts of sweet cocktails by the ocean, and a sense of strange exoticism. They induce a sense of opulence and indulgence. Cherry, blackcurrant, blackberry, fig, pear, guava, raspberry, strawberry, apple, pomegranate, peach, apricot, greengage and melon have all enjoyed their own vogue in perfumery. Once these fruity accords suggested a sense of strange exoticism; but thanks to the shrinking of the world and the dominion of the supermarket, these accords are far more similar to use (though they may still evoke thoughts of tropical beaches). Fruit now is more about lushness, indulgence, sensuality: a voracious delight in life and love. This fragrance family is becoming increasing sophisticated, so if you are not a fan of overly sweet scents, there are numerous other interpretations which you could explore within this collection.

There is a great deal of diversity within the fruity family, and it can combine and weave itself seamlessly into other families with ease. Fruity notes can blend beautifully with floral ones, to create the dream Spring or Summer composition. A luxurious scent, PHI Une Rose De Kandahar by Tauer Perfumes, opens with an intense apricot note. Though the focus of the fragrance is the rare rose extract produced in Afghanistan’s rose region, the apricot notes a certain depth and richness. Another of a floral fragrance lifted and enhance considerably by its fruity notes is that of Lady Caron a classic chypre floral with a fruity heart of raspberry and peach. The sweet notes of peach and raspberry blend gorgeously with the creamy florals.

Fruit is often associated with the spirit of temptation, the nectar of forbidden fruit. Several fragrances at Les Senteurs explore this concept with unmatched elegance. For example, a sweet blend of apple, peach, and dark plum seduces the senses in the opening of the aptly named Forbidden Games from By Kilian. Etat Libre d’Orange also takes its inspiration from forbidden fruits in the evocative Dangerous Complicity. The act of eating the fruit, complicit in the loss of their own innocence, Adam and Eve open the door to a different, dangerous realm of existence. However, they each simultaneously take control of their own destiny, free now to create their own version of Eden. Perhaps this common association with fruit is why they can be so intoxicating in fragrance.

Apple can, however, have lighter associations, evoking a sweet freshness. Love in White for Summer by Creed is the gorgeous counterpart to the brilliant Love in White. This dreamy fresh fruity floral bottles white hot summer nights and the quest for eternal summer. Bulgarian rose combines with bergamot and magnolia into a refreshing summer breeze, whilst the ambergris evokes visions of expansive, sparkling waters. The fruity apple note is crisp yet sweet, combining jasmine on a slightly powdery woody base.

Fig accords are an example of an ingredient that has been refined over decades to produce the most high quality aromas. An excellent example of a fragrance that uses this accord to great effect is that of Cologne de Figuier by Mizensir. As the name suggests, in this fragrance the perfumer Alberto Morillas draws upon fresh green notes, painting a fig tree with his olfactive brush. The symbolic and timeless fig has also provided inspiration for the sublime Ile Pourpre by Liquides Imaginaires. Though opulent and highly fragrant, this fragrance produces a more intriguing and mysterious sillage than the typical sweet, fruity composition. Discover more from our range of sun-ripened scents here...