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On Wearing Scent

Pelegrims Sicily hand cleanser

Fragrance has become more layered. In composition, also in format and usage. Hair perfume, hand cleanser and extrait de parfum each bring scent to the body in a different way. Together, they reflect a broader fragrance culture, with new forms and rituals.

BDK hair perfumes, Tobacco Memories extrait de parfum by Chambre52, Nissaba Fragrances Les Alpes extrait de parfum 

With BDK Parfums, scent moves into hair perfume, where composition requires a different balance. Formulas are adapted for the hair, often softer in structure, sometimes enriched with oils rather than relying on alcohol. The result is lighter in presence, carried in movement.

In the hands, Pelegrims takes a different position, with a clear connection to the vineyard. For the cleanser Sicily, grape residue from a small Sicilian wine producer is used in the formula. The deep tone of the glass reflects the colour of the fruit grown there. The British brand’s first launch now appears in a special edition for Museum Voorlinden, one of my favourite museums.

Working with concentration, Chambre52 presents Tabacco Memories, composed by Nicolas Bonneville. It develops slowly on the skin. Saffron, cherry and almond. Dense, almost nocturnal. A steady presence over time.

From the Alps, Nissaba presents Les Alpes, an extrait de parfum by Fabrice Pellegrin. Alpine hay, juniper and pine come together in a dry, clear impression, with a soft warmth underneath. The hay gives a depth that feels both rare and familiar. I have never been to the Alps, yet it feels immediately recognisable.

All images by the author, courtesy of the brands and Face Forward.
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