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Perfume Prescription: How To Find The Right Charlotte Tilbury Fragrance For You
It's all about the magic (and plenty of science), darlings!
By now we all know that scent is known for its restorative properties, hence why aromatherapy leans into fragrances to help us feel calmer, happier and more grounded; it's the reason why most of us feel instantly at ease when we step into a spa.
Modern day perfumery is now merging aromatherapy with scientific know-how with the help of neuroscientists (experts in the nervous system). Perfumers can now compose fragrances that include scent notes proven to boost specific moods, whether that's to give an uplifting effect, encourage feelings of joy and relaxation, or even boost confidence. Of course, personal preference plays a part - no amount of research can make you love an oud perfume if you're strongly against it - but having the scientific data behind an aromatic fomrula opens up a new method of scent storytelling, and provides us, as customers, a new way to approach scent.
This is exactly what Charlotte Tilbury has set out to do with her much-awaited fragrance launch. After the successful debut of Scent Of A Dream back in 2016, Tilbury is back - this time with a collection of six scents, each one centered around a specific vibe: Love Frequency, More Sex, Calm Bliss, Cosmic Power, Joyphoria and Magic Energy.
What inspires the Charlotte Tilbury fragrance collection?
'When I did this collection, I went back to medicine and aromatherapy, and I went back to the way I grew up,' Tilbury tells ELLE UK at her headquarters, where the bathrooms are decked out with Airbrush Flawless Setting Sprays and there's a glamorous, fully-functioning bar in the reception (naturally).
'I've had a very fragrant and eclectic childhood in Ibiza: my father went to India so we always had a lot of incense around, we went to a lot of hippie markets. I really had my own study of smell and scent, and I was mixing my own things,' she says, name-checking patchouli as a particular favourite for its 'incredible, sexy trail'. The Charlotte Tilbury make-up universe features specific looks to fit every aesthetic - be it The Uptown Girl or The Rock Chick - so having an extensive scent range to suit varying needs and personalities makes perfect sense for the brand.
How does it work?
This collection marries Tilbury's favourite notes with 40 years of research that International Flavors and Fragrance (IFF) has conducted into the effects of scents on the moods of thousands of fragrance users globally. These data points are then filed into the IFF Scentcube Algorithm, which helps identify a range of emotions that can be targeted directly through scent combinations. This algorithm then provides perfumers with a scent palette that they can compose with, based on the mood they'd like to achieve.
Who are behind the perfumes?
Only the noses behind some of the world's most popular scents, darlings. Tilbury tapped master perfumers Anne Flipo (of Chloé Love Story and Lancôme La Vie Est Belle flankers), Dominique Ropion (of Frederic Malle Carnal Flower) and perfumer Juliette Karagueuzoglo (of Salvatore Ferragamo Signorina) to work on her range.
What else do you need to know?
No gemstone goes unturned with this collection. The vibrant bottles have been thoughtfully designed to not only use colours that evoke an emotion, but also include elements of numerology and symbolism alongside mantras on the box.
How should you use the fragrances?
Ever the maximalist, Tilbury is all about surrounding yourself in a cloud of perfume. 'Put it in your hair, pulse points, behind the knees...that's how it will create the magical aura,' she says, with a glint in her eye. Each perfume is available as a 10ml spray so you can try before you invest (and keep them in your handbag).
Ahead, see how to find the right Charlotte Tilbury perfume for you...
Your Charlotte Tilbury Perfume Prescription
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