Yahoo Lifestyle Why lychee fragrances are the perfect antidote to your winter blues
Along with blossoming florals and commanding ouds, fruity fragrances are a major part of perfumery - especially as the warmer months draw closer.
Mouth-watering notes of berries, fuzzy apricots and rhubarbs have long been used in the art of fragrance-making. Depending on how they're utilised, fruity accords bring that much needed touch of sparkle and juiciness to a composition. They're also a useful tools for balancing richer notes such as heady ouds, blousy floral bouquets and statement-making amber while adding shine to muskier fragrances.
This year, expect to see more lychee-infused concoctions vying for your attention. A tropical fruit often found in China and Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia, its sugary sweetness is fast becoming a key accord in a perfumer's organ.
What is lychee?
Also known as litchi, it is a topical fruit that grows primarily in sunny climes and high humidity. With its tough, ridged, dusty red exterior and translucent, jelly-like flesh, lychees are succulent and sugary sweet. Aside from being a delicacy in its natural form, it's also widely-used in cordials, juices and desserts.
What does lychee bring to perfume?
The lychee fruit itself has a rose-like, syrupy scent to it but in fragrance, perfumers rely on synthetic accords to bring this to life. "Lychee is not a raw material, it's an accord of things that are sulphuric, buttery and rosy," says David Seth Moltz, founder and perfumer of D.S & Durga.
"As one of the most perfumed fruits, it smells of enchanting far-off lands that I want to roam," Moltz tells Bazaar, adding that while lychee can be found in various compositions, they especially go well with roses, soft sandalwood, lilies and tart, bittery grapefruit.
That said, in the same way that you can't quite pick out singular ingredients in an excellent cake, the lychee in some perfumes may not be immediately obvious. Rather, it brings an overall balance to a scent.
What's behind the rise of lychees in perfumes?
There's always a strong appetite for fragrances that smell delectable on the skin (it's why vanilla perfumes will never go out of style). Lychee lends itself perfectly to this; its sparkling sweet scent profile can lift a fragrance composition and bring a joyful, uplifting energy that's perfect for both brightening winter days and enhancing sunnier months.
As for the uptick in lychee-infused fragrances, it all comes down to advancements in the lab. "Lychees are new and exciting. Modern technology has helped us gain access to aromatic materials we can sculpt with," agrees Seth Moltz.
Ahead, the very best lychee fragrances to try now
Parfums de Marly Delina La Rosée EDP
A scent as lovely as the bottle it comes in. This is a glittering composition of juicy lychee, rose petals and musk seen through a crystal prism. There's a translucency here that keeps it feeling as though you're walking through a blossoming garden under a pink sky, the air breezy and cool. One to spritz whenever you want something that's just pleasantly pretty but still so refined.
Key notes: Lychee, musk, rose
Louis Vuitton Attrape-Reves EDP
A sophisticated take on a fruity-floral scent, the inclusion of earthy, dark patchouli brings an exquisite, grown-up appeal to jammy roses and ripe fruits. A little goes a long way in delivering impressive scent projection.
Key notes: Cocoa, rose, patchouli
Ex Nihilo Lust in Paradise EDP
Lust In Paradise is joyously bright, with generous amounts of mouth-watering lychee and extra fluffy, pastel pink peonies. It's a happy scent, one that's guaranteed to bring sunshine to dreary days. One to take on a holiday with your best friends.
Key notes: Peony, pink pepper, lychee
Maison Francis Kurkdjian L'Eau A La Rose
If you're partial to clean-smelling fragrances , L'Eau À La Rose might just be your juice. It's a fresh, airy rose that wafts gently on the skin without overwhelming the senses, with just a slight hint of tart lychees.
Key notes: Grasse rose, peony, musk
Aerin Fleur de Peony EDP
An elegantly formulated fresh floral scent with soft peony petals, smooth, creamy sandalwood and a generous splash of succulent lychees to bring balance to the composition. There are no hard edges here, just a romantic spritz that's beautiful as a wedding perfume and for the bridal party alike.
Key notes: Lychee, peony, sandalwood
D.S. & Durga Cowgirl Grass EDP
Bales of hay and horse stables this isn't. Rather, Cowgirl Grass is inspired by the jubilant energy and glitzy glamour of country Americana and icons such as Dolly Parton. A cocktail of fresh green grass, dewy jasmines and sweet lychees capture the glint of a rhinestoned cowgirl hat.
Key notes: Lychee, grass, geranium
Hermès Tutti Twilly d'Hermès Eau de Parfum
Given how cheery this fragrance is, we're suprised 'joy' isn't listed in its list of notes. A sprinkling of ginger brings a spicy zing to temper the sweetness of lychee, making this an easy wear that's great for lifting tired moods. It's a great buy for younger perfume wearers, too.
Key notes: Lychee, ginger, musk
Prado
One member of the ‘Paseo por Madrid’ fragrance family released last year, this aromatic lychee perfume evokes a stroll around the Spanish capital's most famous art gallery. Its herbal heart and woody base offer a sophisticated, grown-up take on lychee that’ll please green fragrance fans and its longevity is particularly impressive; apt for a scent modelled on enduring masterpieces.
Key notes: Blackcurrant, clary sage, lychee
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