Oriental perfume: the complete guide to buying and wearing it
Have you considered an oriental perfume as your next signature scent? It's a perfume type that sometimes gets overlooked, though we have no idea why. Full-bodied oriental scents are elegant, warming and suited to almost every customer.
Oriental scents are some of the broadest perfume varieties around. Take other types of perfume, for example. Flowery and fruity scents are usually purchased and worn only by those with a penchant for fruity or floral notes. Oriental perfumes, on the other hand, are far more varied. You’ll find floral orientals, woody orientals, musky orientals and more. They range from contemporary fragrances inspired by modern Asian culture to traditional blends that pay homage to the ancient art of perfume making.
Ready to dive into the world of oriental fragrance? Let’s begin by sussing out the main perfume types. We'll have you a new signature scent in no time!
The classic oriental fragrance: You can’t beat a classic, as oriental fragrances prove. These rich, warm and sensual fragrances usually boast a heart of amber, while precious woods like sandalwood and white musk often balance their rich aromas.
The floral oriental fragrance: If you can’t choose between a floral and an oriental perfume, you might consider a blend of the two. Oriental perfumes containing floral notes are some of the best-loved, with many formulas passed down through generations. Orchid, jasmine and patchouli have been used in women’s perfumes for hundreds of years. Floral orientals are usually delicate and powdery, making for excellent daytime perfumes. Spicy flowers such as carnation can be used to add an extra kick - something confident customers will love.
The fruity oriental fragrance: Fruity scents can really enhance oriental perfumes. More traditional notes like amber and leather are lightened by fresh fruity accords such as zesty lemon, lime or citron. For a sweeter option, consider a fruity oriental perfume containing gentle peach. These complex blends are flirtatious yet fashionable - perfect for day or night.
Meet Gérald Ghislain and Histoires de Parfums
For an oriental perfume collection that unites classic fragrance notes with contemporary style, look no further than Histoires de Parfums. The range is the brainchild of Gérald Ghislain, a French and Moroccan perfumer who developed a love of all things rich and exotic through his travels. The Histoires de Parfums collection is all about inspiration. Boasting a library of adventurous scents, the collection takes inspiration from the Orient and the Occident. Ghislain ensures that emotion is at the heart of his eau de parfums and eau de toilettes, using ingredients such as white musk and sandalwood to evoke emotion in the heart of the wearer. Deep-tempered, dense notes are both evocative and distinctive, setting Histoires de Parfum apart from the crowd.
This is not a Blue Bottle 1/.5 Eau de Parfum
Inspired by the universal principle of Yang, the 1.5 edt from Histories de Parfums is a Sephora favourite. Not only does it feature many of our favourite fragrance notes, it also uses chemistry to achieve total balance. The molecular formula uses fruity scents (such as zesty citrus accord) alongside white musk and floral notes. The result is a fresh eau de parfum with subtle transparency and effortless style. Dash it across your wrists and decolletage when you want to feel fresh and dazzling.
This is not a Blue Bottle 1/.2 Eau de Parfum
This explosive Histories de Parfums fragrance is a blend of sandalwood, white musk and other floral and fruity notes. These include ivy, pink pepper, lilac, vanilla and ylang-ylang: a punchy combination rarely seen before. It somehow works perfectly, taking the best qualities of each essence and contrasting them to harnesses attention. Gérald Ghislain designed the edt to act like a prism of light, bursting into a splash of colours. The beautiful blue paint-splattered bottle sits well with this aesthetic, just as it will on your bedroom shelf!
This is not a Blue Bottle 1/.1 Eau de Parfum
The 1.1 edp from Histories de Parfums uses cool metals to create a fresh, captivating scent. Unique tones of magnetic amber, electric orange and metallic geranium turn traditional oriental fragrances on their heads. Floral notes of patchouli add balance while white musks craft a woody base. For a perfume that’s cool yet warm; musky yet electric, this unusual fragrance is as unique as they come. The electric blue bottle is as attention-grabbing as the evocative fragrance inside.