Whether it’s a whiff of sweet Japanese cherry blossoms or a buttery Parisian-worthy croissant, our sense of smell can instantly transport us back to a specific place. Unlike other senses, our olfactory bulb is a part of the brain that is directly linked to sections responsible for memory and emotion. Given that we’re biologically hard-wired for something in the air to create a flashback to a feel-good moment on vacation, it’s no wonder that fragrances with ties to geographical locations have long been popular among perfumers.
In 1917, François Coty launched a scent inspired by the island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. His perfume, Chypre de Coty, was such a hit after the Great War that it opened the way to the olfactory family called “chypre”, used by perfumers in France since the 1700s. Coty’s innovative blend balanced citrusy bergamot with the sweetness of jasmine and a resiny note with leathery qualities derived from the botanical labdanum. “Inspired by the aromas found on the islands, Coty’s creation had a lasting impact on the fragrance industry,” says Montreal-based Ruby Brown, who creates bespoke perfume under her eponymous line.
As the nose behind the signature scent of Le Germain Hotels (a warm, sensual and enveloping mix of amber and hemp),Brown often finds travel to be a launching pad for new creative expressions. Minuit Marrakech is a scented candle that was sparked by her visit to Jardin Majorelle, the garden of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, while on a trip to Morocco. “The orange blossoms, the mint tea, the stones and the greenery were all so beautiful that I wanted to capture that experience in ascent,” she says.
Designed to evoke everything from the vast, bracing shores of Iceland to an intimate night out in New York City, each of these eight fragrances are an open invitation to an unforgettable journey.
NEXT STOP: SPAIN
A tribute to Spain’s national art museum and elysian nature (prado means “meadow”), notes of chamomile, clary sage, cassis and lychee blossom into an aromatic unisex scent.
NEXT STOP: PARIS
Get set to traverse the Seine. Infused with patchouli, enriched by iris, vanilla and ambergris, a spritz of woody floral musk evokes a sensational Parisian night.
NEXT STOP: AFRICA
Described as the brand founder’s love letter to the continent, an intoxicating and genderless floral brings together African marigold, violet, vetiver and cedarwood.
NEXT STOP: ICELAND
From a Sigur Rós-related music studio turned family run perfumery, an ode to childhood memories of the old harbor in Reykjavík stirs up the aroma of birch tar, citrus and pipe tobacco.
NEXT STOP: NEW YORK CITY
Akin to stepping into a cozy Brooklyn jazz club, notes of rich tobacco leaf and spicy pink pepper mingle with the sweetness of vanilla bean and rum absolute.
NEXT STOP: ITALY
Otherworldly coral spotted in the depth sofa Venetian lagoon serves as inspiration in a floral aquatic fragrance that bubbles with effervescent mandarin, warm rose bourbon absolute and a splash of mineral salts.
NEXT STOP: JAPAN
A heart of Japanese barely bloomed cherry blossoms and almond creates a delicate unisex floral.
NEXT STOP: TURKEY
Sourced from family-owned farms in Turkey, and hand-picked during May and June, an extract of the legendary sweet pink flower meets a nourishing baobab oil base with black plum, blonde woods and pink pepper for a long-lasting fragrance with dimension.
By Ingrie Williams — *This article originally appeared in Insight: The Art Of Living Magazine – The Connection Issue.
