Love in a Bottle

Love; probably the most powerful emotion we humans experience. However, love is no simple thing, it is multi-faceted, from straightforward to very complex. Our bonds with others, our journies toward our own humanity, and potentially the most extensive ’emotional tool’ we own. If we could have love in a bottle the world may well be a more peaceful loving planet, but the next best step may well be, to share fragrances all created around the ‘ideals of love’, so let’s explore in this month of passion Love in a Bottle here.

Images Chantel King, Creative Direction Jo Phillips, words Keny Kakadia

 Love comes alive in many shapes and sizes. It can build your feelings to the top of the world, yet at the same time, it can tear you apart, gives butterflies in your stomach, and spur you to be kinder to yourself and others.

There are many facets including the intense feelings between two lovers, a love bond between two friends, or some family members with deep ties that unite. Maybe the purest form of love we engage in (if we are lucky enough) is the bonded emotion between parent and child, an infinite love with deepest, almost unexplainable depths.

There is now, with lockdown, a growth of real understanding about self-love whilst at the same time, our love of places in many of us has been sadly not rekindled as we are unable to go to places we have intense feelings for.

There is, as many of us know, a darker side to this experience we all so desire. Addiction and self destructive love. The unhealthy relationship between two people can destroy and not just damage ourselves but our relationships with others close to us. An addiction to something is equally as powerful and desolate.

Many a creative process, from makeup to break up love stories, first love to everlasting love, exist to try to summarise these explosive feelings. From songs and poems to novels and movies, love is one of the most enduring subjects for artworks through the ages. 

Here in our shoot and article Love in a Bottle, explore with us perfumes that have been blended with different types of love in the mind; From the noses and creatives who bought these powerful love stories bottled forever.

Love for both you and me

A love between two people, two lovers so often celebrated in books to paintings, (The Jewish Bride by Rembrandt) films (When Harry Met Sally) to poems, but what about a building created as a (rather large) love token from one person to another? Think of Kellie’s castle, in Malaysia the oldest castle in the country that was built by William Kellie Smith to please his beloved pregnant wife Agnes, whom he married in the early 18th century. This beautiful castle combines three architectural styles, including Greco-Roman, Indian and Moorish Styles.

Shot one, with love from me to you, scents that echo the man and the woman.

Tiffany & CO love is inspired by the iconic Tiffany ampersand, a symbol of connection, the Tiffany & Love fragrances celebrate the many ways love brings people together and share a common note of blue sequoia. Tiffany & Co love For Her is a floral, woody scent. The fragrance opens with a burst of brightness and sparkle. Tiffany & CO love For Him is a citrusy, aromatic fragrance with a wood-infused base. A limited-edition Eau de parfum, marks the first anniversary of #ForeverGuilty, a continuous celebration of liberty and freedom. Dedicated to eccentric lovers, Gucci Guilty Love Edition Pour Homme reflects contemporary love, an Aromatic Fougère Spicy Green scent that blends vibrant spices, citrus, and enigmatic masculine woods. The fragrance is encapsulated in a refreshed bottle design in opaque pastel grey-green. Gucci Guilty Love Edition Pour Femme, an Amber Floral scent that pays tribute to the vintage character of the Narcissus flower. The fragrance is encapsulated in a refreshed bottle design in retro muted pink. Valentino Donna Born in Roma Yellow Dream, perfumers were inspired by Rome, bathed in warm, comforting light to reveal the character traits of the Valentino woman: sparkling, vibrant, confident. Composed in three steps around Valentino’s Color, Cool, Couture notes, A white musk accord continues this clean accord of sweet and carnal notes. This musky floral intrigues us with its pure and reassuring accord. Hand-harvested in Calabria, south of Italy, bergamot essence awakens the senses with its radiant and sparkling take-off, energized by fizzing, zesty notes of Italy’s primofiore lemon. A citrusy burst to illuminate the dripping, gourmand, juicy notes of a lychee accord. This celebration of colour from the fragrance’s very top notes highlights the energy and joie de vivre of the modern Valentino woman Valentino Uomo Born in Roma Yellow Dream it is a deep, reassuring light to reveal the character traits of a radiant, energetic and determined man. Composed in three steps around Valentino’s Color, Cool, Couture notes, this spicy oriental surprise with its gingerbread accord. Radiant, sparkling, Italian tangerine gently awakens the senses. Zesty, tangy facets of Mexican lime infuse their positive energy into a bright and colour-filled pineapple accord. This explosion of colourful, energizing freshness celebrates the optimism of today’s Valentino man 

Love of a Place

Many of us right now are missing not just the idea of going on holiday but travelling to places we love, places that hold the most intense memories. Maybe the feeling of the sun on your skin or the scent of orange trees in bloom, the grasses, wild meadows of childhood school fields. Many a place has been an inspiration to a perfume creator so in love with its vista or smell, they captured it in a bottle.

Jazmin Yacatan, by D.S & Durga available Here E-scents Entering the interior of the Yucatan peninsula seems like a journey inwards.  The vast beauty of the coast is far behind. The long roads stretch on through dense jungle to the horizon. One moves towards the sacred ground where advanced civilizations built massive monuments to the Gods. Once-thriving cities are preserved in russet orange limestone ruins.  Creed Love In White, Inspired by a drive through the blossoming tree-lined streets of Provence (South of France) on a glorious Spring day, Love in White is reminiscent of a fresh spring breeze and an elegant bouquet of the first blooms of spring. Etro Profumi Udaipur, Udaipur is the white city of Rajasthan, overlooking Lake Pichola, known as the Venice of the East. This fragrance evokes both a Mediterranean summer and the lush gardens of the Maharaja. A joyful accord of the finest ingredients, which celebrates a fresh, effervescent romanticism. Infinite Shine Lalique, The flamboyant colours of a sunset on desert dunes. The sensuous perfume rituals of the Orient. Channel your inner Scheherazade with Infinite Shine, a flamboyant veil of rose, sandalwood and saffron. the orange spice expressed by safranal, the molecule that produces its warm, leather-tinged scent. A crimson rose fires up its sensuality. Creamy sandalwood tempers its wild facets.

The diversity of places, from desert to shops evoke the most wonderful connections

Marc Jacob’s le Marc How Rouge, This creamy crayon melts into lips with a lightweight liquid sensation, providing powerful one-swipe colour with bold impact. A dose of innovative “ghost pearl” gives the matte look a dimensional sheen for a never-before-seen finish. With the perfect amount of playtime, you get the best of both worlds: instant colour that lasts for 16 luxurious hours of long-wear. El Cosmico by D.S & Durga, available Here E-scents. The desert airs of Marfa, the cosmic axis of West Texas. Creosote shrubs and sumac primed with Chihuahuan mesa woods–mesquite, oak, and pinyon pine. Created for our friends at the El Cosmico Hotel in Marfa. Tallulah’s Camellia Fragrance Boutique Perfumery BY Shay & Blue, A rebellious and spirited floral guaranteed to stand out. Elegant bluebells set the scene as the soft whisper of white flowers dance on the breeze. Blond woods embrace as you succumb to temptation. The most English of wood locations on a spring morning.  34 Trente Quatre Boulevard Saint Germain, by Diptyque A new facet of the iconic shop of 34 boulevard Saint-Germain: bathed in a golden light warming the blond wood counters. A creation combining velvety sandalwood and enveloping vanilla, enhanced by the freshness of pink berries. Dolcissimo matte liquid lip colour by Dolce&Gabbana Beauty introduces a new liquid lip colour texture: Dolcissimo. Enhancing your sensuality to the extreme, Dolcissimo is the ultimate accessory to dress lips in intense and long-wear matte colour, instantly creating a captivating allure. Created for women who wish to have lips with an intense and long-wear matte colour.

Love Note to a person

So powerful that love this intense inspires creatives to explore and publically share that feeling to all and sundry. Sometimes we see this as an almost selfless love above and beyond any reason. Many have been moved to tears in films where that style becomes the cornerstone of a story

Think Casablanca the 1942 film in which Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), who owns a nightclub in Casablanca, discovers his old flame Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) is in town with her husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid). Laszlo is a famed rebel, and with Germans on his tail, Ilsa knows Rick can help them get out of the country. where love overrides everything which is what loving someone is about.

D.S. by D.S & DURGA, available Here E-scents.A pure vision of India—Kashmiri saffron, frangipani, gardenia, yellow lotus attar, and damask rose with fine Sri Lankan sandalwood and vetiver. The perfume is part fo a set of two from the couple that are D& & Durga, Kavi and David, with this one as a love note to Kavi and a celebration of her Indian heritage. Orto Parisi Boccanera Eau de parfum with the keynotes of Dark chocolate, ginger, black pepper, chilli, sandalwood, musk. A homage, not to a specific person but to all human body which creator Alessandro Gualtieri builds many scents around. Jo Loves Jo by Jo Loves, This fresh and full-bodied fragrance encapsulates sparkling notes of Grapefruit, Bitter Orange, Lime and Spearmint sitting on a bed of powerful Guaiac Wood, Cedarwood and Vetiver with a lingering ribbon of Hedione and Black Peppe, and as she has said ” Over the last 25 years, I have created fragrances for all kinds of reasons, but this one I created for myself.”. Histoires de Parfums, Casanova Venice, the riparian city of love. In that year of 1725 was born the man whose name would symbolize seduction: Giacomo Girolamo Casanova. So here is an Eau de parfum inviting intense pleasure, an Amber Fern mixing fine wooded tunes and touches of lemony freshness, sublimed by the elegance of Lavender. A scent that sums up the sexy side of love. Goutal Paris Petite Cherie Annick Goutal composed a “tailor-made” perfume for her daughter Camille, then aged 20. To capture the magic of this wonderful age, she imagined a caress of rose and pear in a cocoon of vanilla and musks. Having become an icon of the House, Petite Chérie is a perfume of transmission, a gift of love. The fragrance par excellence that we offer to those we love.

Obsessional Love

We can obsess, whether it be an unhealthy love-affair or an addiction to a substance or place it overpowers us to the exclusion often of all others. Again this kind of destructive love has been noted in many a painting film or book Take for example Tender is the Night’ by F.Scott.Fitzgerald. The tragic romance of the young actress Rosemary Hoyt and the stylish American couple Dick and Nicole Diver. A brilliant young psychiatrist at the time of his marriage, Dick is both husband and doctor to Nicole who stuffers deep emotional problems. The book navigates Dick’s harrowing demise. A profound study of the romantic concept of character, Tender Is the Night is lyrical, expansive, and hauntingly evocative. 

Molecule 01 consists simply of the molecule Iso E Super, a molecule that hovers close to the skin to create an indefinable aura around the wearer. It is characterised by a hyper-modern cedarwood note with a velvety sensation. Perfumer Geza Schoen explains its allure: “Iso E Super is one of those skin-sexy scents that makes you want to nestle into it. It’s comforting, cocooning.” An addictive scent that will have you stopped in the street to be asked what you are wearing. BDK Parfums French Bouquet exclusive to Harrods is a traditional chypre in which bergamot, rose, jasmine, oakmoss and musk are revealed and sublimated by aldehydes. Their slightly oily and metallic potency gives a powdery appeal, as well as whitens and brightens the flowers in the chypre accord. This fragrance is the quintessence of French perfume, and because of its scent of a pure flower bouquet makes it a smell you can’t help but put your nose into just like the most most beautiful bunch of flowers. Woody Gold Lalique, Rich. Glowing. Warm Woody Gold, a radiant tribute in amber and woods to the precious metal. A fragrance as a true ode to wood as an ingredient. JusBox Siren & Sailors, A tiny club in Camden Town. Amy Winehouse’s sweet and husky voice enchants even the hardest souls, unveiling the fragility, the strength, and the contradictions of a woman and her neighborhood. JusBox Beat Cafe Smoke lingers in the air, filled with scents of cognac and leather couches. Beat Generation’s rebellious soul permeates the café. People stand up for their ideals here, drawing a better future. A warm voice moves the heart and prays for freedom, accompanied by shrill notes of harmonica.

A Love of true Passion.

Some love goes beyond a lifetime, a passion that is immortalised by creation. Noted for never leaving whatever the circumstances; a love that lasts past a lifetime

The renonwned book Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel García Marquez starts with the young Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza who fall passionately in love. When Fermina eventually chooses to marry a wealthy, well-born doctor, Florentino is heartbroken, but he is a trueromantic. As he rises in his business career he whiles away the years in 622 affairs, yet he reserves his heart only for Fermina. Her husband dies at last, and Florentino purposefully attends the funeral. Fifty years, nine months, and four days after he first declared his love for Fermina, and he will do so again. 

Boy Chanel Les exclusifs de Chanel – Eau de parfum by Chanel. A true love affair Arthur “Boy” Capel, an elegant British polo player. was the love of Chanel’ss life and the first to encourage her to pursue her creative endeavors. Inspired by his sophisticated style, Gabrielle Chanel imagined women dressed in tweed, with short boyish hair and flat shoes. Highlights the drawing of inspiration from the inseparable bond between Gabrielle Chanel and her true love Boy Capel. Opens with lavender and dives into a botanical and woody accent. A unique fragrance that transcends gender and rises like an eternal sun in the sky; forever present. Palazzo Nobile Casanova 2161, by la Maison Valmont Aromatic and magnetic, this androgynous fragrance oscillates between light and passion, destined to envelop confident and unwaveringly stylish personalities. Its timeless notes include mysterious juniper berries, charismatic iris, and woody vetiver. Ideal for lovers of subtlety, this eau de toilette has the highest olfactory intensity of the Palazzo Nobile collection and ultimately is a celebration of the world’s greatest lover Casanova. Byredo Blanche,  The idea for Blanche is, as the name suggests, built around the perfumer Ben Gorham’s perception of the colour white. For the first time though, he made a fragrance for and with a specific person in mind. All about capturing her innocent and untainted side, with a fragrance almost transparent in nature. Blanche also represents an appreciation for classic beauty; pure and simple in structure but extreme in character with notes of Pink Pepper, White Rose Neroli, Peony, Violet Base: Blonde Woods, Musk, Sandalwood. Jeroboam Hauto, During the Roaring Twenties, French Cancan dancers in the celebrated cabarets of Paris had their own very specific perfume rituals. It is said that they perfumed “every hill and valley” — wherever they wanted to be kissed. Hauto (“skin”) is an invitation to experience the fragrance of “skin”

But let’s not forget the Can-Can dancers loved a little colour on their faces. Rouge CoCo Flash Boy 54, by Chanel in the blink of an eye, rouge coco flash shows its true colours through its transparent cap. In a stroke, it applies easily over the lips and transforms into a shiny oil for a sensation of absolute comfort. In a flash, it offers an intense high-shine result, owing to an ultra-hydrating texture and glossy oil finish, selected for its ability to reflect the light. SENSAI Blooming Blush 05, A duet of sheer blendable colours for a customisable lit-from-within blush. Reveal your unique beauty with a complexion that blooms with colour and silky luminosity. Apply along the cheekbone. Dolce & Gabbana  Shinissimo 410 Coral Lust From day to night occasions, Shinissimo is the ultra-reflective yet lightweight lip lacquer. It brings brilliant shine to the lips while never compromising on comfort and colour intensity. Each of its fourteen shades is an invitation to enhance the passion and sensuality of the lips. 

Love of an Ingredient

It’s no surprise that many a perfumer has a love affair with specific ingredients, ones they often have been known to include in every fragrance they ever create. For example, the genius perfumer, Alberto Morillas is known within the perfume industry as the King of Musk for his extensive use of it in his fragrances.

Chantecaille Petales, it is a journey to the sun-drenched South of France, where Sylvie summered as a child and her mother’s signature French scent always hung in the air. A classic white floral perfume with an unexpected delicacy, the fragrance is ​a​ symphony of white ​blossoms Freesia, Gardenias and the heady scent of petals after the rain from Acqua Di Parma Rosa Nobile, The delicate and romantic notes of Rosa Nobile will leave your hair delicately fragranced and make sure you don’t go unnoticed. Crushing Bloom Tom Daxton, A rose fragrance with darkness and weight. Green, spicy top notes partner a floral heart of rose, jasmine sambac and iris. At its base, fine musks produce a silky feel, like running petals through your fingers.Miss Dior Eau de parfum by Dior Every day, the craftsmen of love passionately dedicate their know-how to perpetuate the heritage of Christian Dior and give life to Miss Dior perfumes. Originally a perfume that summed up Monsuirs Dior’s famous fashion era called the New Look Peau A la Rose Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris, Like the caress of rose petals, gathered at daybreak, this eau de toilette unfolds on the skin with delicate floral fruity freshness. This drop of perfumed water reflecting a bouquet of four hundred newly bloomed roses is radiant and airy.

More ingridents that are loved

Because a flower is for some not enough, addictive can be sugary scents, the lingering accent of a favourite tipple or even a style of person, notes can be moulded to reflect whatever you want.

L’amour, eau de parfum Lalique is a sensual Floral fragrance, an incredibly seductive concoction. Mylo by Laboratorio Olfattivo, A White Lily heart, surrounded by fruity, floral and soft notes, draws a smile on the face of whoever wears this fragrance. A warm base, rich in persuasive notes, strengthens the floral notes and leaves its trace on the skin. Buy it Here. Stronger with You Absolutely Emporio Armani, This powerful and sensual fragrance is boosted by an addictive new rum accord, while lavender, sustainably sourced in France, is irresistibly enhanced with liquorous and fruity facets. Warm vanilla, harvested in Madagascar while supporting local communities, and smoky cedarwood, carefully extracted in Virginia, USA, round up this powerful scent. Absolute Perfumery Shay & Blue Tallulah’s Camilla Inspired by one of the theatrical greats of her day, Tallulah Bankhead. A willful, headstrong woman with a remarkable facility for attracting attention. Known for being outrageous, desirable and completely irresistible. Let this fragrance consume you like the scent of bluebells and white flowers fade and the warm notes of blond woods leave you wanting more 

You don’t have to just wear the scent of love you can fill yor rom with it too.

Queen of the night-scented candle by Su-man is a rare exotic flower that blooms only one night each year and throws out such a seductive aroma that the memory of its fragrant treasure far outlives the length of the bloom itself. This candle is made with entirely natural waxes and beautifully compliments Su-Man’s skincare products to create the perfect at-home spa experience. Lempi Vintage Love, skandinavisk A perfume and Swedish rapeseed wax blend in a painted glass with a pure cotton wick and engraved beechwood lid. Urban Apothecary Lavender Flower, Enjoy a herbal recipe that’s decadently ten parts crushed lavender flowers and one part a warm-woody mist – a scented blend that provides tranquillity to the mind while lowering anxiety in rooms. The addition of patchouli, amber and Tonka notes provide the sweet warmth of a subtly spicy vanilla-like mix in a cosy and restful base from which the purple-haze of lavender rises. Wild Brooklyn Lavender D.S & Durga, Brooklyn flowering in the early aughts where wild packs of dogs roamed free among savage weeds and anything seemed possible. Lalique Voyage De Parfumeur Electric purple  A sunbeam of juicy Citrus. A pink, fluffy cloud of Musk, floating on a Heliotrope and Jasmine-scented sea breeze. A dash of Pepper, like the black sand of an island beach. The warmth of Amber skin, silky as Sandalwood… The air is alive with vibrant Iso E Super. A truly miraculous molecule with Creamy, Woody facets that smell different on everyone. Because it makes you smell more like yourself. Heavenly!

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