New in from Elizabeth Arden

One of the best things about this time of year is the summer scent launches from Elizabeth Arden.

They had quite a task on their hands to out-do last year’s Green Tea scent, but they have done with Green Tea Cucumber.

With top notes of green tea vapors, wet cucumber accord, Florida tangelo, Tunisian neroli and calabrese bergamot; a heart of Jasmine petals, galbanum, French violet leaves and watermelon and a rich base note of skin musks, ambrette seed, radiant amber and matè absolute; it reads more like a cocktail than it does a fragrance, but it works! A delicate, refreshing scent for the warmer months, that is just as energizing in the base notes as it is in the top ones.

The other is this year’s version of Sunflowers, Sunflowers Morning Gardens.

This incarnation sees Italian bergamot, Neo grapefruit, neroli blossom, pink peppercorn, blackcurrant and nectarine give way to rose oil bulgary, jasmine sambac, yellow peony, sunflower and honeysuckle extracts. The base of scent is a heady mix of cedarwood, golden amber, vetiver and radiant musk.

I prefer the base notes to the top ones on this scent, which is strange because I love all the ingredients on their own, but somehow seem too fruity when combined. It’s still a gorgeous scent, but the Green Tea Cucumber pips it at the post for me.