A Modernist Take on Floral Perfume

While they may be some of the most widely used fragrance notes found in some of the world’s most popular perfumes, there has been, for a while at least, this general feeling that even the best floral perfumes are a bit old fashioned. Too fussy or overly traditional. A little outdated, perhaps. But you see, that mentality is outdated in itself. Why? Because the new generation of top floral fragrances feel incredibly modern. Sophisticated, elevated, surprising blends you won’t be able to get enough of. Don’t believe it? Catch a whiff of this...

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It wouldn't be a stretch to say that rose is, quite simply, the fragrance world's favourite flower, as every passing season brings a flurry of new rose-tinted scents. But rather than the flowery scents of yesteryear, these days, the best rose perfumes come with plenty of bite. Take Byredo's Rose of No Man's Land, for instance. It blends sweet and soothing notes of rose with a fresh and fruity raspberry blossom, a lightly spiced pink pepper as well as grounding papyrus. Rose Atlantic by D.S. & Durga is equally as delicious, muddling rose petals with notes of lemon oil, dune grass and salt water, for something incredibly fresh and bracing, like a trip to the seaside on a windy day.

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If you're struggling to identify what iris smells like, it has a powdery, almost earthy feel to it, with a sprinkling of spice and musk. It's no surprise that it's delicious alone, but iris also works well as a supporting player to other, heavier notes. In Diptyque's Fleur de Peau, iris comes flanked by soft and cottony musk notes that feel like the embrace of a warm towel, as well as the warm glow of ambrette seed. In Iris Poudre by Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle, powdery iris is wrapped in tonka bean, musk and vanilla. Heaven.

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The new wave of jasmine scents have all the same mystery and intrigue as their predecessors, but they take that somewhat overpowering jasmine note and temper it with other complementary accords. Savage Jasmine by Sana Jardin blends intoxicating jasmine notes with musk, tobacco and clove, creating something with a little more edge, whereas Vyrao's Free 00 is designed to feel fairly sensual, merging Egyptian jasmine with orange flower, sparkling Sicilian lemon and mandarin for a burst of olfactory energy.

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On its own, violet can smell just like the Parma Violet sweets that divided tastebuds in our childhood – and the fragrance note itself can be equally as polarising. But the newest generation of violet fragrances are less saccharine and more sophisticated. D.S. & Durga's Vio-Volta is as explosive as they come, described as violets in a thunderstorm. In scent terms, that means notes of sweet rhubarb, woody amber and deep, earthy patchouli. Vilhelm Parfumerie's 125th and Bloom, on the other hand, uses notes of angelica seed and saffron to add a spicy edge to violet's powderiness.

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If magnolia wouldn't be the first note on your fragrance wishlist, then it's about time you changed that. The ingredient has undergone a bit of a makeover, as the new wave of magnolia perfumes could take on rose perfumes in the popularity stakes. Take Tom Daxon's Magnolia Heights as prime example. It was made to represent magnolia in full bloom, not only recreating the creaminess of the flower's petals, but also the delicate, green facets of the plant. Loewe's Pink Magnolia pairs magnolia with red fruits, sandalwood and musk for a scent that's bold for all the right reasons. Perhaps it might just be your next signature scent?

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