Perfume perfection

Over the last few weeks leading natural beauty writer Julia Brandon has been busy researching the latest trends in natural perfume on our behalf.

To see the full feature you’ll have to wait until the Natural Beauty Yearbook 2012 launches in October. But to whet your appetite, here’s Julia’s top three brand picks for the perfume market…

1. Balm Balm Single Notes

Certified organic by the Soil Association, Balm Balm’s Single Notes is a range of seven eau de parfum that can be worn individually or combined. Maximising on the trend for customised scents, the range is designed to produce endless combinations of refreshing blends by simply spraying one on top of the other.

2. Sharini Parfums Naturels

Investing time and energy into sourcing only the finest ethically produced and eco-friendly raw materials, Nicolas Jennings, founder of Sharini Parfums Naturels prides himself on using enfleurage oils (the oldest technique to extract flower oils) of lily, gardenia and tuberose. But it is the scent of a rose that has historically been the most popular of all fragrances, and a resurgence of this classic ingredient has seen more and more natural perfumes including it in their formulations again.

3. Lotus Wei

Katie Hess, founder of Lotus Wei, hand collects exotic flowers worldwide to create elixirs, mists, serums and for 2011 a new line of natural botanical perfumes. Using her extensive knowledge in flower essence therapy, Hess believes the new perfumes will help the wearer to attract and embody certain qualities, states of mind, or experiences such as love, fortune, transformation, and happiness.