10 Valentine-Worthy Fragrances

10 Valentine-Worthy Fragrances

Valentine’s Day or Saint Valentine’s Day as it is also called, may have begun as a Christian feast day honouring two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, but it has evolved into a significant cultural celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world. Each February 14^th, men and women express their love to their partners and spouses through cards, chocolates, flowers and fragrance. What’s wonderful in modern-times is that it has become a tradition to treat yourself with a gift and self-care on this winter day.

Legend has it that imprisoned Saint Valentine fell in love with his jailer’s daughter and wrote the woman a farewell letter expressing his love to her before his execution. He signed it “Your Valentine.” Another source says Saint Valentine used to secretly perform to Christian soldiers who were forbidden to marry at the time. The actual Feast of Saint Valentine was established by Pope Galasius I in AD 496 to be celebrated on February 14^th in honour of Saint Valentine of Rome who died on that date in AD 269.  The day became associated with romantic love in the 14^th and 15^th centuries when the ideas of courtly love flourished.

Approximately 224 million roses are grown specifically for Valentine’s Day each year; the most popular being red. More than 64% of men buy flowers, but 15% of women celebrate the holiday by sending themselves flowers. Valentine’s Day has become an $18.6 billion dollar a year business.

Presenting a loved one with perfume or fragrance is a tradition dating back centuries. In the early 1500s, perfumers would spend months preparing special fragrances for men and women in Greece who would secretly send them to their valentines before the masked balls. That is how they would know their lovers behind the costumes.

Scent Lodge has handpicked ten romantic fragrances for her and him that truly express the spirit of Valentine’s Day:

Jimmy Choo I Want Choo

I Want Choo is a sparkling floral-amber fragrance for her the blends notes of velvet peach, mandarine juice, red spider lily, jasmin sambac, vanilla and benzoin (that smells like caramel) It’s a fashionable, spirited scent that will appeal to fashionistas of all ages and styles.

Ingredients: mandarine juice, velvet peach, red spider lily, jasmine sambac, vanilla, benzoin

Trussardi Uomo

This masculine woody-aromatic scent for him captures the tradition and elegance of modern Italy. It’s a carefully blended mix of spices, citrus, leather and woods. It’s a timeless and beloved fragrance throughout Italy.

Key ingredients: lemon, galbanum, bergamot, violet, geranium, petitgrain, sage, lavender, myrtle, nutmeg, pimento, oakmoss, tobacco, jasmine, leather, sandalwood, patchouli, cedar, incense

Bvlgari Allegra Fiore d’Amore

Bvlgari Allegra Fiore d’Amore is a magnificent rose-themed floral scent that captures the thrill of receiving a giant bouquet of roses. “It is a red rose – fresh, velvety, fruity,” says perfumer Jacques Cavalier.

Ingredients: Turkish rose, Bulgarian rose, raspberry

Atkinsons Oud Save The Queen

This rich amber-floral fragrance for her is truly incredible. Perfumer Francis Deleamont blends notes of Earl Grey tea, clove, bergamot, jasmine and orange blossom with agarwood (oud), tonka bean and guaiac wood. The blend of the tea, floral notes and oud is so sophisticated and nuanced.

Kate Spade Eau de Parfum

Kate Spade EDP sweet fruity-floral fragrance for her blends notes of wild strawberry, bergamot, rose essence, freesia and warm woods. It’s youthful and spirited with an optimistic character thanks to the wild strawberry.

Ingredients: wild strawberry, bergamot, rose essence, freesia, ambrox and cashmeran wood

Bvlgari Man in Black

This is a masculine spicy-woody scent for him created by perfumer Alberto Morillas who blends rum and spices with iris and tuberose floral notes. He then layers on leather, warm tonka bean (smells like vanilla) and a refined guaiac wood note. It’s refined and confident.

Key ingredients: natural rum, luminous spices, tuberose, iris absolut, leather, benzoin, tonka bean, guaiac wood

Versace Bright Crystal Absolu

Bright Crystal Absolu is a sexy fruity-floral scent for her that blends notes of juicy pomegranate and refreshing yuzu citrus with delicate floral notes of magnolia, peony and lotus to beautiful effect. The dry-down features amber and smooth mahogany to warm the scent. This is definitely a party scent for celebration.

Key ingredients: pomegranate, raspberry, yuzu (Japanese citrus fruit), magnolia, lotus, vegetal amber, peony, musk, mahogany

Moschino Toy 2

This refreshing floral-woody-musky scent for her was created by perfumers Fabrice Pellegrin and Alberto Morilla who make an impressive first impression with a burst of juicy mandarin orange and crisp apple notes. They then blend in magnolia, peony, jasmine with a little white currant for interest. Sandalwood, amberwood and musk create a soft base. It’s as light and fresh as a spring day!

Key ingredients: magnolia, white currant, Granny Smith apple, mandarin, peony, jasmine petals, sandalwood, musk, ambery woods

Coach Floral

Coach Floral is a floral-woody-musk fragrance for her that balances zesty fruity notes with a bouquet of floral ingredients and a hint of vanilla and woods. The pairing of tea rose and sandalwood is particularly well done.

Ingredients: pineapple, pink pepper, orange, bergamot, lemon, gardenia, tea rose, jasmine sambac, hedione, musk, patchouli, woods, vanilla, sandalwood

Van Cleef & Arpels California Reverie Collection Extraordinaire

Van Cleef & Aprels Collection Extraordinaire California Reverie is a modern floral fragrance for her. Perfumer Antoine Maisondieu blends notes of neroli, mandarin orange and jasmine sambac with frangipani. The composition is sweetened with vanilla and beeswax. It evokes a drive along California’s Highway 1.

Ingredients: mandarin orange, neroli, jasmine sambac, frangipani, beeswax, vanilla

Fragrance Retailers in Canada:

Atkinsons and Bvlgari Allegra fragrances are exclusive in Canada to Holt Renfrew and holtrenfrew.com

Van Cleefs & Arpels fragrances are available in Canada at Hudson’s Bay and thebay.com.

Kate Spade, Moschino, Coach, and Jimmy Choo fragrances are available in Canada at Hudson’s Bay stores, thebay.com, Shoppers Drug Mart stores and shoppersdrugmart.ca

Trussardi fragrances are available in Canada at Hudson’s Bay stores and thebay.com

Versace fragrances are available at Sephora stores, sephora.ca, Hudson’s Bay stores, thebay.com, Shoppers Drug Mart stores, shoppersdrugmart.ca, London Drugs, londondrugs.com, and Jean Coutu.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Valentine’s celebration this year.

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