The future of fragrance

When it comes to fragrances, you may have your staple favourite, but it seems there’s always room in your perfume line-up for one (or five) more. With the global fragrance market expected to reach $16.8 billion by 2017, it’s clear that we’re all a little guilty of splurging on a scent.

So what’s set to be the next big thing in fragrances that we’ll all be clamouring to get our mitts on? According to the bi-annual Fragrance Trends Report by Seven Scent, it’s rhubarb, mint and tea – with these three ingredients influencing spring/summer fragrance formulations in 2015.

“An emerging trend for rhubarb, an evolving appreciation of different tea blend aromas, as well as a feminine take on refreshing mint notes,” reveals Seven Scent fragrance insight manager Miri Scott.

Offering their own niche qualities that add a refreshing change from the florals that continue to dominate the fragrance landscape – rhubarb delivers a fresh, green, lightly tart and red berry note and blends with fruity and floral aromas to create a subtle sharpness; mint gives scents a natural lift and adds a cool, green note with a hint of spice; and tea offers a variety of delicate aromas.

But before these three ingredients get a chance to throw their weight around, fruits are going to be enjoying their time in the spotlight in the back end of 2014. “The use of a variety of fruits and berry fruits in female fragrances, including raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrant, strawberry, fig, and mandarin, are seen frequently now and are replacing some of the traditional citrus notes we have seen in the top area of a fragrance,” says Coty national training manager Mary Hayward.

Mainstayers florals and orientals will also continue to be dominant in fragrances for the second half of this year. “The most popular fragrance category for women still remains the florals, with the floral orientals also growing over the last year, creating flowery, fruity and feminine accords,” says Mary. Cosmax Prestige Brands national training and development manager – fragrance Belinda Peppard adds: “Floral is the largest category for women and the key notes are bergamot, rose, jasmine, gardenia, musk, vanilla and woods.”