As the sun decides to debut in an English summer, the city sheds it’s stale and pessimistic cocoon of winter coats and American apparel layers to emerge in true English fashion, practically naked to the sun. The streets are suddenly bustling with a blend of tropical prints and pink sunburnt skin. Crinkled sun hats emerge from dusty cupboards and perch on fresh blue rinses as creased mahogany cleavages clash with ‘on trend’ bright colours. Children dance bare bummed on the hot stone and cool in the city fountain while grumpy mothers bathe in the much-anticipated heat, shaking their heads at the exposed toned stomachs of passers by.

As the summer temperatures rise, libidos swell, encouraging hot young bodies to fuse together in pandemic fashion. The city’s park is thriving with lush green as the clichéd yet never tiresome smell of freshly cut grass fills the air. Couples are engaged in a haze of lust banishing singletons to the benches with tangled limbs only parting to wet their lips.

With this transition comes the need to drag yourself out from the depths of spicy and defensive winter fragrances and wake up to the crisp and zesty notes that sing for summer, making us want to stick two fingers up to conformity, to get close and do crazy things. These are the fragrances that although fickle, will be our long lasting memories of this short-lived, fancy-free season.

Chance eau tendre Chanel;
This third generation fragrance is a toast to summer lovers and old romantics. Top notes of lemon and grapefruit remind us of hurried first kisses at the school gates before mum sees, and bursts of butterflies from holding the hand with the boy full of promise and excitement. Jasmin and hyacinth, will take you back to the feeling of the sweet juices of freshly cut grass between your toes as you ran barefoot, your hart racing intoxicated by feelings of first love. This innocent almost virginal fragrance has the freshness of youth with zesty top notes and bold base notes of Iris and Amber remind us to be brave and take a chance.

The patisserie collection by Marc Jacobs;
Marc Jacob proves three is certainly not a crowd when it comes to his new splash collection. Inspired by oh so pretty macaroons with their light and sweet taste and alluring appearance, these fragrances leave you all wide eyed carefully deciding like the decision would change your world completely. Which one will you choose?

Apple;
This fragrance is the ultimate summer pick-me-up, fresh zesty top notes of green apple, lemon and grapefruit evoke memories of poolside spritzers while rosemary and magnolia take you back to barbecues on the beach, a woody base of coriander and driftwood has you in the warm summer sunset with the sand between your toes counting the shells you have collected from the day.

Biscotti;
A city café, a mid afternoon coffee with one too many sugars that would make your mother tutt with a sweet side of biscotti biscuit handled thoughtfully bite for bite. Just like those sweet moments this fragrance is to be savoured as each delectable note unfolds one by one starting off with the zingy and juicy notes of bergamot and orange blossom with a delicious side of pistachio and iris leaving you with a dessert of creamy vanilla and musk. A perfect scent from day to night, bound to create lasting memories of the summer season.

Pomegranate;
This is the most romantic of the collection depicting a peaceful Mediterranean
evening on a candle-lit patio with top notes of mandarin blossoms, lemon chiffon and bergamot. A soft and peaceful scent, which lulls you into the calm of summer evenings with rhubarb and violet leaving you with a sweet reminder of amber and vanilla.

Le Paradis de Nina by Nina Ricci;
The first apple, pretty Nina evokes such sweet memories for me that it is almost impossible not to love this fragrance. It was summer and my first glimpse of true love, this limited edition fragrance has the original notes of caramelised candy apple and gardenia but this time it is paired with heliotrope and orange blossom that leave me intoxicated in those sweet moments once again. Le paradis de Nina takes you into its magical story with zesty citrus scents of orange and mandarin and leaves you with the sweetest taste of sandalwood and vanilla.

Summer fragrance really tells the story of the season with the optimistic notes hidden in every bottle. As the notes change the glass transforms from deep pessimistic blues and greens to hazy romantic pinks and sun drenched brights. The parks are laden with true love declared as people become more daring, broken harts heal as new ones entwine and vow to walk the same path as forever suddenly seems an easy task. Couples walk in the same upbeat rhythm hand in hand down the street that could take them anywhere, rosy cheeked, beaming smiles. People walk alone their head held high to the sun as they breathe in deeply and say to themselves this is the life as they carelessly bump into a handsome stranger walking towards them. Summer….a new chapter opens….

C.G.Brunskill
Photos by Yanny Tokyo