Ice-Cream Dreams – fragrances for feeling ‘out of office’
Gourmand fragrances given a dreamy ice-cream twist are currently having their moment in the sun, and now is the perfect time to seek out some perfumes melting the deliciousness of a sweet treat into something altogether more sophisticated, but still SO much fun to wear! Dreaming of your holiday, or making the most the most of these last days of Summer spent at home? Peruse this curated menu of cool, creamy, and (we must admit) utterly addictive scents, and pretend you hear the tinkling tones of the ice-cream van, instead of endless email notifications.
We think these ice-cream-inspired perfumes are the closest you can come to that blissful feeling of wandering barefoot along a beach, or meandering down the cute, cobbled back-streets of some picture-postcard destination, savouring every last lick of your gelato in hand (before it drips down your knuckles or – horrors! – is stolen by a swooping seagull).
So, even if you’re stuck at home for now, and moodily hate-liking the holiday pics of pals flooding your Insta feed; simply select your favourite ‘flavour’ of these ice-cream fragrances and pretend you’re in whichever of the scented scenarios you’d love to escape to. Basically, they’re a shortcut to being olfactorially in ‘Out of Office’ mode with every single spritz…
Juliette Has a Gun Miami Shake
Conjuring sun-soaked beaches and sultry nights, we begin with a burst of zesty lime and cool coconut water, evoking the refreshing allure of a tropical paradise. As it warms, creamy notes of salted caramel and vanilla are wrapped with silky sandalwood, warm skin, and white musk, making us long to cast off the cardies we’ve recently re-worn. Embodying the carefree spirit of Miami, think instead: wafting in pastel resort wear, and sunset strolls while savouring a waffle cone piled high with sweet treats.
From £25 for 7.5ml eau de parfum spacenk.com
SokiLondon Cleopatra
An ‘Orange Gelato’ accord is conjured via cool, juicy mandarin sumptuously swirled into glossy vanilla and sandalwood’s milky smoothness, while orange blossom, neroli and jasmine sambac are petals scattered on a sun-kissed breeze across sand dunes. One to wear while embodying full-on Queenly vibes, we feel, it’s described by the house as not so much being worn but ‘wielded’! So, ditch the flipflops for a gilded sandal; switch up the jeans and a tourist t-shirt for a goddess gown, and waft regally while liberally spritzed in this…
£79 for 50ml eau de parfum sokilondon.com
Jo Malone London Raspberry Ripple
Cleverly rippling the raspberry with redcurrants, even if you’re not a gourmand lover we urge you to give this a go on skin: the fragrant fusion is nowhere near as sweet as you’d think! Using a raspberry / redcurrant melange feels lusciously piquant (freshly picked berries, not that neon pink syrup), with hints of the waffle cone and a white musk dry down adding further to the nostalgic smiles. Playfully balancing the best of childhood memories with a beautifully wearable chicness, this limited edition summer special feels so joyful to wear, and impossible to resist.
From £59 for 30ml Cologne jomalone.co.uk
Moschino Toy 2 Pearl
We’ve always felt Toy’s bottle was more than a little genius, but in this glorious rendering, the cuddly curves shimmer with iridescent colours reminiscent of a sunset refracted in a pearl’s lustre while nestling on the seabed. The scent within is inspired by Tahitian mother of pearl, with icy lemon sorbet and oregano lifting freesia and jasmine to the wonderfully evocative ‘warm sand’ note in the fragrant finish. Putting more fun into the finale are vetiver, cypress and suitably snuggly musks. Come for the bottle, stay for the scent!
From £49 for 30ml eau de parfum theperfumeshop.com
4160 Tuesdays What I Did on My Holidays
Ah, now this is pure scent-memory, bottled; capturing the essence of British seaside holidays when caravans and ‘Knobbly Knee Competitions’ were the thing (instead of boutique hotels and jet-skiing). Imagine the salty breeze mingling with the sweet aroma of candy floss and mint rock from the local amusement arcades. The scent of suntan lotion lingers as you excitedly explore rock pools, and the day ends with a warm café visit, your skin still tinged with bright sun, sea scents, and the biggest knickerbocker glory you’ve ever seen. Sensory time travel to carefree days…
£65 for 50ml eau de parfum in our shop
Written by Suzy Nightingale