Petal Power: Surprising Takes on Spring Scents
Spring is a time of renewal, of fresh beginnings and blossoming possibilities. But not all floral fragrances are created equal, and some take us on journeys far beyond the expected garden path. Here are five extraordinary scents that reimagine what a spring floral can be, each one challenging our perceptions and delighting our senses in the most unexpected ways…
4160 Tuesdays Tokyo Spring Blossom
Imagine standing in a parallel universe where cherry blossoms whisper secrets carried on ethereal winds. Tokyo Spring Blossom exists in this liminal space, neither here nor there, but somehow everywhere at once. It begins with a cascade of citrus notes dancing like sunlight through branches, before revealing its true character: a powdery violet and rose heart that feels both nostalgic and utterly contemporary. As time passes, the fragrance transforms into something altogether more mysterious – a smooth, resinous embrace of tolu, opoponax and benzoin that grounds the floral lightness with earthy wisdom. This is more than just a delightfully unique spring floral scent, it’s a philosophical question bottled – a scent that demands contemplation as it shifts between familiarity and strangeness, between the natural world and artistic interpretation. Sarah McCartney’s creation exists in that magical space where chemistry becomes poetry, where synthetic notes paradoxically create something that feels more authentic than nature itself.
£65 for 50ml eau de parfum in our Shop
Edeniste Lifeboost Love
The bottle alone – soft pink, sensually curved – hints at the transformation within. Lifeboost Love reimagines the spring floral as a self-care ritual, a daily affirmation bottled in liquid form. The initial encounter brings a burst of crimson berries and cherries, their juices running wild amongst torn green leaves: vibrant, alive, and utterly mouthwatering. This fruity overture gradually melts into a heart that pulses with deep emotion – velvety rose petals unfurl alongside heady tuberose and jasmine, their white petals steaming with intensity. What elevates this beyond a simple floral is the creamy almond oil that weaves throughout, transforming the composition into something akin to a fragrant elixir brewed by a modern alchemist. The result is not merely full of the romance of spring but soul-elevating – a scent that celebrates love in all its forms, beginning with the most important relationship of all: the one we have with ourselves.
£75 for 30ml eau de parfum in our Shop
Ormonde Jayne Bukhara
Bukhara doesn’t simply evoke spring flowers – it transports you along the ancient Silk Road, where cultures and scents intermingled in a grand olfactory exchange. The journey begins with succulent peach and blackcurrant, their sweet juiciness creating a mirage-like oasis in the desert of everyday life. As you travel deeper into the fragrance, a triumvirate of white flowers emerges – tuberose, jasmine, and orange blossom—their voices harmonising in perfect pitch, carried on warm, arid winds that speak of distant lands and exotic promises. The dry-down reveals the true treasure at the end of this aromatic expedition: sumptuous woods and vanilla create a foundation of quiet luxury, while a whisper of oudh adds an element of mystery that lingers like a half-remembered dream. This is no ordinary floral—it’s an olfactory tapestry woven with threads of history, geography and imagination.
From £35 for 10ml eau de parfum ormondejayne.com
GRANADO Flora Magnifica
The Brazilian rainforest meets classical perfumery in this exuberant creation from Givaudan perfumer Leandro Petit. Flora Magnifica pulses with the vibrant energy of South American biodiversity, reimagining spring flowers through a tropical lens. Traditional floral notes—rose, magnolia, and jasmine—are transformed by their proximity to exotic coconut blossom, creating an unexpected alliance that feels both familiar and thrillingly new. Juicy nectarine adds a succulent dimension, its sweetness tempered by the sophisticated embrace of musk and creamy sandalwood. The result is a fragrance that seems to shimmer with sunlight filtered through dense jungle canopy – at once verdant and bright, soft and assertive. Like the samba that inspired it, Flora Magnifica moves with a rhythm all its own, bringing the carnival spirit to the often-predictable world of floral fragrances.
£125 for 75ml eau de parfum libertylondon.com
Floris Wilde
Who better to inspire a subversive take on spring florals than literature’s most famous dandy? Floris Wilde pays homage to Oscar Wilde’s legendary wit and style with a composition that defies convention at every turn. The opening salvo of citrus blossom and bergamot feels deceptively traditional—a gentleman’s cologne from a bygone era… but this is merely setting the stage for what follows. The heart reveals the fragrance’s true character: a specially created green carnation accord (Wilde’s signature buttonhole flower) intertwined with spicy ginger and white jasmine. This unexpected combination struts and preens with all the confidence of its namesake, challenging preconceptions about what a floral scent can be. As it settles, notes of sandalwood, benzoin and olibanum create a sophisticated foundation worthy of Wilde himself—intellectual, complex, and utterly compelling. This is not a fragrance for wallflowers, but rather for those who, like Wilde, understand that being natural is simply not dramatic enough.
From £30 for 10ml eau de parfum florislondon.com
Written by Suzy Nightingale