I’m really in the mood for a bit of high-summer fragrance, at the moment. I think it’s because we keep getting these little pockets of surprise hot weather; one day it’s drizzly and grim and then the next it’s absolutely baking and you have to pop inside to put sunscreen on. Glorious. The hot bits, I mean, not the unpredictability of it all.

And I’ve taken to taking sun-naps on my front step when it’s warm. Little ten or twenty minute sessions, with my eyes closed and my back against the door, feeling the heat seep out from the wood and into my bones and listening to the bees and insects as they dart about in the wisteria.
I actually think that it was the wisteria that set off this whole summer fragrance revival spree in the first place; the smell of the blossom as I sit there in my sun-trap reminds me of how heady and exotic some of my seasonal perfume favourites are.
I’ll start with Tom Ford’s Soleil Blanc as it’s a definite “most-used” in my fragrance line-up; it’s just gloriously sexy and rich and sunny. At the heart of it, ylang ylang and jasmine and tuberose feel naughty and sensual and then there’s a warm, deep coconut and tonka bean base – gorgeous, rounded and an absolute joy to wear. You can find it here* if you have the cash (£157!) to splash, but I actually rather like the body spray which costs far less (£45) and is online here*.
The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed t...