Scents to take you around the world

And it’s not just your imagination. the smell processing area of the brain, the olfactory bulb, is part of the limbic system and interacts with the areas responsible for storing memories and controlling our emotions.

“Scent is our first response to encroaching stimuli, whether that’s sniffing sour milk before we drink it or smelling a fire before we see it, often making us anxious,” says Roja Dove, fragrance specialist and world-renowned nose. “It’s the same with soothing scents. They have a cocooning effect that relaxes us. Scent isn’t just an accessory or a device to mask odour, it’s a brain-altering cocktail of ingredients.”

“Journeys, wherever they lead, leave to everybody fragrant memories. Perfumers, more that anyone else, breathe, smell and taste on their travels. They are surprised, captivated or delighted by odours,” says an expert at L’Artisan Parfumeur, adding, “The odours of flowers, plants or trees, gardens or landscapes, the odours of spices or markets – so many emotions from which they will draw inspiration for their next creations.”

ENGLAND

Jo Malone Earl Grey & Cucumber Cologne Dh540 for 100ml

RUSSIA

Eutopie N°6 Dh715 for 100ml, Galeries Lafayette

Created by French perfumer Elodie Pollet, this fragrance is a tribute to the Slavic soul. Pollet lived in Moscow for four years and wanted to produce a scent that would capture her memories and allow her to revisit Russia simply by smell. “I want to express my feelings towards Russia by showing it is a country of contrasts. There are a lot of paradoxes, but today Moscow is a glamorous city that grows fast. It’s full of opportunities,” she says, having used masculine and feminine ingredients to capture the city’s contrasting moods. “It’s based on the intense scent of leather and strong, masculine incense. Leather stands for boots, and incense reflects the Russian Orthodox churches. But there’s also one ingredient that smells very feminine – geranium. It expresses the feminine soul of Russia – young and beautiful.” Even the bottle brings to life the spirit of Russia. “Red is so symbolic for Russia!” says Pollet.

NEW YORK

Elizabeth Arden 5th Avenue NYC Dh275 for 125ml, Areej

Bringing the bright lights and big city into a bottle, Elizabeth Arden pays homage to New York by evoking the elegance and pulse of The Big Apple. Inspired by the city’s buzz and its glamorous women, the sparkling notes of citrus twinkle like the city’s bright lights, with bergamot, peach and blackcurrant blending seamlessly with a warming mix of rich vanilla, jasmine and of course, mouthwatering Golden Delicious apple. Housed in a sleek bottle, reminiscent of soaring skyscrapers, with one spritz you’ll soon be strolling down the city’s famous shopping street.

THE CARIBBEAN

Creed Virgin Island Water Dh1,124 for 120ml, Creed Boutique, The Dubai Mall

INDIA

Penhaligon’s Malabah Dh400 for 50ml

Travel the exotic East Indian Spice Route with this fragrant feast of coriander, citrus, smoky Earl Grey and aromatic spices. “Every one of our fragrances has a story to tell, each fragrance in the archives was developed in this way, and we had a future of not following trends but creating more beautiful stories” says Sarah Rotheram, CEO at Penhaligon’s. And this oriental, spicy scent sure does tell a story. Close your eyes and inhale the blissful blend of rose, ginger, orris and sweet musks, taking you to the heart of an Indian spice market. Majestic Maharaja in a bottle.

ITALY

Acqua Di Parma Fico Di Amalfi Dh525 for 100ml, Harvey Nichols

CANADA

Molton Brown Rogart Dh385 for 50ml