All-Year Scents

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As I've mentioned in past posts, I wear my fragrances seasonally. In the warmer months I gravitate towards sharp citrus and light floral scents that cut through the heat. In the colder months, I turn to cozy ambery and vanilla-forward fragrances. The thought of wearing vanilla in the summer makes me gag a little; bright citrus in winter give me a bit of an unwelcome chill. But I do own a couple of scents that I can wear pretty much any time of year. None of them are 12-month scents, exactly--well, they might be, but I have so many perfumes that I really don't need to wear any one of them as comfortably in July as I can in January. But for those oddball too-warm-for-a-coat days that occasionally pop up in December or March, or the less-humid, high-pressure, dry summer days when the morning air is practically chilly, these scents do it all. 

Beauty Pie Angelique's Letters

Bergamot, Lemon, Tobacco, Cinnamon, Clove, Jasmine, Cedar, Musk, Vanilla 

This is one weird scent. Despite the spices, musk, and vanilla, this is earthy and green. The lemon and tobacco and maybe the spices merge into an almost bitter, turpenic, galbanum that reminds me a little of the opening of Must de Cartier, though when sniffed up close, it's definitely more lemon oil-esque. That lemony/green note lasts and lasts into the drydown and beyond, while supported by a musky warmth. The super lemon top with the warmth below make this fragrance perfect to wear in both warm and cold weather.

Bamford Gray

Vetiver, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Orange

Despite the name, Gray is an uplifting, almost effervescent scent. There's a bright vetiver and a light, non-dirty patchouli, with a hint of orange. But my nose also detects spice, something akin to clove, which makes this scent almost a watercolor version of a spicy ambree like Opium. It's fantastic on a rainy day in any season and a damn shame it was discontinued. 

D. S. & Durga Lady Greystock

Violet, Orris, Amber

I'd categorize this scent as a "modern chypre," and like most chypre fragrances, it's somehow simultaneously cool and warm. Its dry woodiness helps cut the heat in summer; the amber and patchouli base lends an overall warmth to the fragrance. Like Gray, above, it was discontinued, but I have enough backup bottles to get me through the next few years. 

Hue by Hayley Kiyoko 

Watermelon, Freesia, Blood Orange, Litchi, Rose, Magnolia, Peony, Musk, Cacao

Normally, I'd read that list of notes and run screaming. Too fruity! Too floral! Probably best for girls much much younger than my own almost-60 self! But it was 2020 when I first met this scent. We had been locked down for months and the rare joyful experiences I had came from participating in online Sniffapalooza events via Zoom. Most of these "master classes" were with perfume companies like Penhaligon's and The Harmonist, but this one in particular was all about Hue, a new celebrity scent. I had never heard of singer/songwriter/actress Hayley Kiyoko; had I not been at this event I still wouldn't know who she was. In any case, I guess she's big enough to warrant a scent of her own. And despite being a fruity floral, it's neither overtly fruity or particularly sweet. Rather, Hue is a somewhat watery rose/peony fragrance--I say "watery" rather than "aquatic," as there's no seaweed/mineral/calone/salt thing going on, just the convergence of watermelon and freesia. The drydown is warm and musky, and the cacao note is rather creamy, like white chocolate. I find this perfume to be light enough to wear in the spring and summer, but also warming enough for the cooler months. As someone who's not the biggest fan of rose fragrances, I find this one suprisingly...great.

Naxos Apothecary Yria

Bergamot, Pink pepper, Cereal, Rose, Jasmine, Benzoin, Patchouli 

I purchased this one in April during Sniffapalooza Spring Fling. The bright pink pepper note grabbed me immediately, and the unusual and somewhat cozy cereal note (like a bowl of Wheatabix) hooked me. I also love the bit of patch in the drydown, which keeps me sniffing down my blouse all day. I wore this in the Spring and Summer both this year, and it was the first thing I grabbed when the weather suddenly cooled down at the end of August. I'm not sure if I'll wear this in the absolute dead of winter, when snow is on the ground and the winds are howling, but I think it will be a welcome change from my usual cozy vanillas on those odd warm days in December and March. 

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Posted by theminx on Minxstinks
Note: this post is my opinion. I am not affiliated with the companies mentioned in this post or any other companies.