Scents that smell and feel like the equivalent of a big, warm, cosy hug…what do they have in common? And what gives them that comforting appeal? And what makes them the perfect Mother’s Day gift?
Generally speaking hug-in-a-bottle fragrances have a warm ambery base to them. They smell cosy, pillow-y, almost fluffy with warmth and delicate depth. They can give you the sense that you are cocooned in a fragrant veil of safety – the ultimate hug from a parent or loved one. The amber accord is created with a blend of resinous notes and vanilla, hence that slightly sweet scent that resonates, however the added resins create balance and avoid the fragrance sitting in a sweet, gourmand arena. These notes can create a balminess without overwhelming, a powdery tenderness with an underlying strength.
Now to explore a few favourites…
TOKYO NIGHTS BY D’ANNAM
As a part of d’Annam’s Japan Collection, Tokyo Nights is inspired by a wonderfully romantic Haiku –
相合い傘 Sharing one umbrella –
濡れてる方が the person more in love
惚れているgets wet
– Keisanjin
So we already fell in love with the image of a chilly, wet evening in Tokyo – our loved one keeping us dry as they gallantly hold the umbrella to cover us (is this the personification of the exact person who would give this warm cosy hug? Yes, yes, it is!).
The notes of this fragrance are Japanese Plum Wine (Umeshu), Tobacco, Osmanthus, Amber, Soft Smoke. Scent wise, we have an intricate fragrance of smoky, sweet warmth. The Umeshu is a sweet and fruity booze followed by the powdery rich base of amber and the soft swirly smoke. A fragrance that sits close to the skin, Tokyo Nights feels intimate, like the scent you’re only lucky enough to register once you’re embracing in a hug.
COEUR NOIR BY HERETIC PARFUM
The scent equivalent to running your hands through lush, black velvet. This fragrance inspired, by Emily Dickinson’s famous line “the heart wants what it wants – or else it does not care”, Coeur Noir sits in this concept of the dark heart – brooding, passionate and romantic yet a little dangerous at the same time. A fragrance to elicit all of your darkest fantasies, but in the safety of your mind.
This perfume is a skin-like scent that captures the warmth of amber with its resinous notes of rosewood and labdanum, blending with the creamy and decadent warmth of Madagascan vanilla. It smells like the soft touch of fabric pulled across bare skin. The opening is fluffy and sweet, a comforting and familiar smell that soon gets deeper and more mysterious with its smoky resins.
This is the hug in a bottle of someone you weren’t sure was worthy of such a hug, such intimacy. Perhaps a stranger. However it is a hug that makes a lasting impression and that you didn’t know how much you needed until it ended and you are simply left with the lingering scent trail.
CHAI ADDICTION BY RAHASYA
Is there anything more soothing for the soul than sharing a pot of chai with someone you love? It warms the heart, soul and body in just one little sip. If a beverage could be a hug, a chai would have to be it – those delicious, sweet spices paired with hot milk.
When creating Chai Addiction, Rahasya wanted to focus on the symbolism of chai in Indian culture – a daily ritual, a moment of slowing down and being present, a chance for connection and conversation. The humble chai is so much more than just a beverage. As the brand says “it’s shorthand for warmth, familiarity, and time made for each other.” It couldn’t be a more perfect hug-in-a-bottle scent if we tried!
With notes of black tea, cardamon, ginger, vanilla, hot milk sandalwood, musk and suede; this fragrance is a truly realistic fragrance interpretation of chai tea. Spicy and full of body, flavour and life, it settles into a creamy, milky woody depth. Whilst not an amber heavy scent, this fragrance does all the things that we think a hug-in-a-bottle should do – it creates heat, comfort and sense of sweet, sweet home.
TALES OF AMBER BY GOLDFIELD & BANKS
Now this masterpiece from Goldfield & Banks is an olfactory homage to amber. Blending New Zealand ambergris with the legendary De Laire Amber accord we have an incredibly luxurious and textured amber fragrance. But let’s skip back a beat…
The De Laire Amber Accord is iconic amber accord that has been used in perfumery throughout history. A blend of labdanum and vanillin, this note has been used in hundreds of fragrances due to its depth and longevity. Warm and resinous the De Laire Amber accord is perfectly placed in this fragrance as it blends with modern notes to explore the interplay of time and how fragrances (and notes transform).
Blended with agarwood, iris, oud, cinnamon and orange blossom this fragrance feels like an otherworldly scent, yet comforting and familiar at the same time. It’s a dynamic and balsamic fragrance that smells like the scent that remains after a perfectly powerful, long and enriching embrace.
Love this vibe? Feel like you need a hug-in-a-bottle for winter? Explore even more amber based scents here.
