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New perfumes to add to your collection

Sep 10, 2024

The nose knows. The perfume you wear creates just as much of an impression as anything else you might wear. David Ho gives his recommendations of five scents on the new fragrances block  

MCM Crush

MCM Crush

German luxury fashion house MCM has unveiled a new feminine fragrance in the form of MCM Crush. Inspired by the "magnetic and playful energy that arises when women uplift and support each other," sisterhood apparently has a floral and fruity scent.  

The perfume opens with a heady top of apricot nectar and frozen fruits, with a profusion of hand-picked rose de mai, magnolia, and white peony at its heart. Anchoring the base notes is a signature blend of cedarwood, ambrette, and cashmere wood, leaving a lasting impression of sophistication and allure. “Through a contrast of hot and cold ingredients, I played with multifaceted fruits and ambers to craft a comforting transparency that feels familiar yet unexpected,” says Frank Voelkl, the principal perfumer of Firmenich and the architect of MCM Crush.

We also love that this scent is responsibly created with a vegan and cruelty-free formula. It is composed with over 66 percent biodegradable ingredients and employing over 83 percent of its components crafted using green chemistry principles. Furthermore, over 85 percent of its sustainably sourced ingredients contribute positively to local communities worldwide. Now that's sisterhood. 

Penhaligon's The Dandy

Penhaligon's The Dandy

Penhaligon's has always been known for its rich scents and The Dandy eau de parfum is the latest of its offerings, which fits neatly within their British Tales collection. The British perfume house pays homage to the sophisticated, party-ready spirit of dandies like Oscar Wilde by having whisky accord as the heart of this scent, accompanied by oak chip and cedarwood essence. A raspberry head note gives it a slight fruity touch to keep things light.

The black and gold aesthetics of the packaging and bottle reinforce the flashy but classy vibe the scene evokes. We are dousing ourselves with The Dandy for those endless nights holding sparkling conversation and beverages. Cheers to that!

Moschino Toy 2 Pearl

Moschino Toy 2 Pearl

Moschino's Toy 2 Pearl immediately stood out to us with its irridescent, gummy bear like bottle and a glitzy campaign starring Devon Aoki in a mermaid gown. With top notes of lemon, sorbet and oregano, one might expect it to be light and spicy but the middle notes (sand, freesia and jasmine) and base notes (musk, cypress and vetiver) give it a bit more weight. 

The floral-fruity concoction is unisex and carries well across ladies, gentlemen, and non-binary specimens. 

Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle's Heaven Can Wait by Jean-Claude Ellena

Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle's Heaven Can Wait by Jean-Claude Ellena

With fall coming upon us soon, the time has come to switch over to warmer, spicier fragrances. Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle enlisted the help of former Hermès perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena to develop this earthy mix of iris, pepper and clove. Heaven Can Wait is subtle on the nose but has staying power, perfect for an elegant season of cooling it down after a flashy brat summer.

Released late last year, this perfume is technically the 'oldest' on the list. But since Malle stepped down from his namesake maison in June this year, this spicy unisex fragrance holds a special spot here. 

Byredo Desert Dawn

Byredo Desert Dawn

With a name like Desert Dawn, Byredo's new fragrance can easily be taken as another petrichor (the smell that comes from rain on dry soil) inspired take. But it surprises us with the sweet top notes of cardamom and rose petals, before we arrive to the warm heart of sandalwood, cedarwood, and carrot seeds. 

The desert inspiration comes in on the base notes of vetiver and silk musk, which are said to invoke the scent of papyrus, the dry heat of the desert and the warmth of dawn. This should be perfect for when the mercury drops. 

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