5 Fragrances That'll Change How You Think Of "Old Fashioned" Scents

The stereotype: Rose is most commonly associated with romance, femininity, and strong florals. It has been around for centuries (classic myth says that when Cleopatra welcomed Mark Antony to her abode, there were roses strewn everywhere), so it makes sense it has a bit of an outdated reputation.

The alternative: These days, however, there are so many different modern interpretations of rose, and it's no longer a 'one size fits all' ingredient. In fact, The Perfume Society claims rose features in at least 75% of modern feminine fragrances, meaning there is plenty to play with.

Perhaps one of my all-time favourites is Rose Of No Man's Land by Byredo. The scent contains notes such as pink pepper, raspberry blossom and white amber, and offers a unique, slightly smoky take on classic rose.

The stereotype: Lavender is perhaps most commonly associated with sleep-inducing oils, relaxation, and grandparents! It is linked back to medieval times, so is another super traditional ingredient that can be seen as old fashioned.

The alternative: Luckily, plenty of brands are now playing with lavender in a thoroughly modern way, mixing it with other ingredients to create unique blends. Jo Malone London's upcoming Spring launch sees lavender combined with ingredients such as silver birch for a citrusy finish, and coriander, for something a little more fiery and spicy. The range of four lavender-based scents comes out next month (March 2020).

The stereotype: Sandalwood is a notably creamy, relaxing scent that more mature perfume wearers have typically enjoyed wearing thanks to its very grown-up, sophisticated vibe. It derives from India, and was used by ancient Arab perfumers.

The alternative: Sandalwood is often used in fragrance as it blends so well with other ingredients, from geranium to jasmine, patchouli to lavender. Because of this, its modern interpretations are really endless. This one by Atelier Cologne has a delightful seductive feel to it, and proves sandalwood absolutely can be sexy.

The stereotype: Not only can orange blossom be intensely sweet, it is also associated with weddings, as it's a firm favourite choice for many bridal bouquets. For this reason, it isn't always appealing to wear on a day-to-day basos.

The alternative: However, orange blossom still remains one of the most popular ingredients in fragrance, and cool brands such as Diptyque have revolutionised it. Their Eau Des Sens perfume is fun, modern and playful.

The stereotype: Musk is actually typically associated with sex and sensuality, so it's surprising that many still believe musk to be old fashioned. Well-established brands have always played around with musk, so it's not always seen as the most exciting, modern perfume ingredient.

The alternative: Glossier's You fragrance is one of the most standout new perfumes of the past few years. It is unlike anything I've ever smelt, and one of its main ingredients is, of course, musk.