This Mother’s Day, swap the traditional bouquet for something more thoughtful (and a little longer lasting) with a carefully considered scent.
Follow our fail-safe strategy to pick the perfect perfume for the women in your life. Whether it’s for your mum, your grandmother, or the mother to your children, wrap up an iconic fragrance she’ll cherish with every wear.
Step one: Choose your fragrance family
In general, fragrances fall under one of four categories: warm, floral, fresh and woody.
Warm: If your mum loves all things mysterious and oriental like incense and amber, lean towards warm fragrances.
Floral: If her house is filled with fresh blooms, floral is the way to go.
Fresh: Does she love to keep everything bright and clean? Then fresh citrus fragrances are guaranteed to please.
Woody: For the adventurous types, look to wood-based scents for rich and refreshing notes.
Step two: What’s the occasion?
Just like fashion, a fragrance wardrobe is built of different scents for different occasions. Is it a new signature scent or an everyday favourite? Or a special treat reserved for special events and occasions?
Step three: Choose your strength
Depending on the fragrance and occasion, you can select the optimal level of strength and concentration. Eau de Cologne is the lightest blend, with >5% concentration mixed with alcohol and water to give you a light and refreshing touch. Eau de Toilette is more fragrant, with >12% concentration mixed with alcohol; perfect for spring and summer scents. Eau de Parfum is the most popular strength for its long-lasting and more concentrated formula. Parfum or Perfume is the strongest of them all. Think of them as an investment that will go the distance.
Step four: Skin test
For the final test, spritz some on a pulse point, like your wrist or elbow to help the fragrance heat up and reveal itself over time.
Our top picks for the women in your life
Floral
Fresh and luminous, Narcisco Rodriguez’s For Her Musc Noir Rose EDP is a modern take on traditional floral. Blooming with every spritz, the bouquet of intense tuberose and hint of luscious plum create a uniquely feminine feel, making it a fragrance that works from day to night.
Warm
The most unforgettable fragrances have the power to transport, and Aerin’s Cedar Violet EDP does just that. Inspired by the wilderness of the Adirondack Mountains, a spritz of this scent instantly evokes a golden-hued forest on a crisp autumn day. Invigorating with notes of Violet Leaf, Virginia Cedarwood and Amber, it’s the perfect fragrance for the season.
Fresh
For something that feels both new and fresh, look to Jo Malone London’s Mandarin Cologne. Crafted with notes of mandarin, amber and a pinch of precious orris, this vibrant fragrance takes inspiration from Mediterranean summer evenings.
Woody
Drawing on the ancient ritual of Palo Santo, Tom Ford’s Ébène Fumé is a decadent choice for lovers of rich and woody scents. At once mesmerizing and grounding, Ébène Fumé is an aromatic essence, blending together notes of black pepper and violet leaf with undertones of cade and papyrus essence.
