I was thinking about how I could inspire you for Valentine’s Day.

Maybe you…

… go away for a trip to Paris – there’s nothing better than the smell of a French boulangerie and an endless day in the city of love.

… buy a piece of jewellery and do the job properly. Tiffany launched What makes love true, a website in cooperation with The Sartorialist Scott Schuman and his girlfriend Garance Doré. To watch the lovely making of click here.

… prepare a romatic dinner, you cook! Recipes galore on food i love you.

… buy a perfume, woohooo best idea ever!!!

Recently, I discovered ELLA Night by the Icelandic label ELLA and I was smashed by this amazing and absolutely seductive perfume for women. Rose, vanilla, cinnamon, so feminine, showy, wow! It smells like some kind of liquor on your skin. Absolutely gorgeous.

I also changed my mind about Love, Chloé when my nose noticed it on a friend of mine. But I prefer the intense version. Of course, it follows the 90′s trend, but it is great for the evening and very sensual. Also, it is in the most beautiful vial I have seen for a long time. I think this perfume definitely needs a strong woman. Then, it is brilliant. Use sparely, the aura is huge! Take Love, Chloé Intense, it is definitely better than the original!

Live in Love by Oscar de la Renta smells crisp like spring awakening and was created as an ode to life. The temperature has to rise a little bit, then Live in Love will be great with notes of galbanum, hyacinth, lily of the valley and a sensual amber base. The rather oriental flacon was designed by Mr. de la Renta himself. It is wonderful!

For men my absolute favorite for Valentine’s Day is L’homme de coeur (Man of Heart) by Divine. An iris scent that is just magic. With notes of juniper berries, iris, vetiver and vanilla, created by Yann Vasnier. If you prefer it a little bit stronger and spicier you should try L’homme sage (Wise Man), same brand, same perfumer, with a gorgeous composition of saffron, mandarin, patchouli, amber. It smells like sweet, smoky leather, try yourself, you will be hooked within a minute and I am not able to recommend anything else for men at the moment. Divine is the brand of the hour for me. It’s a French niche perfume house from Dinard on the northern coast of Brittany. Divine, the name says it all.

… make a cake. I prefer something with loads of chocolate!

… wrap yourself in a cashmere scarf. Winter has started right now, at least here in Berlin.

… light a scented candle, for example the new Diptyque Rosamundi. It smells like a shy rose and dances through the room while you can lie on the sofa daydreaming. Centifolia rose and Damask rose reveal a very natural rose scent – romatic and sparkling.

… enjoy a blog about love, I highly recommend Le Love, where I found this lovely picture.

… hear a wonderful love song like Will you still love me tomorrow by Likke Li.

… just buy some flowers!

Woohoo it’s getting cold outside. Summer is definitely over in this part of the world. During the last days I have been looking around the perfume counters to get new inspirations. Here are my personal recommendations for the autumn perfume wardrobe.

Tell me your likes and dislikes for the colder season. What do we need? Amber, vanilla, leather, woods, pipe tobacco and everything that makes us feel comfy. Or do you try to escape with more summery scents? Anything you want to recommend?

Montale: Blue Amber
An overwhelmingly warm and powdery amber scent with vanilla and patchouli. My absolute autumn darling amber. Stunning!

Nez à Nez: Marron Chic
A wonderfully powdery iris perfume that gravitates into the direction of a gourmand scent but instead morphs into something leathery. Adorable and very close to the skin. It’s like a calm winter Infusion d’Iris. Iris roots covered with cocoa powder – chic, not too sweet, brilliant!

Dior: Dior Homme
Justice… an iris scent for the boys, because iris on men’s skin is so gorgeous! For me Dior Homme is one of the best men’s perfumes you can find beyond niche perfumery. Sparkling bergamot, powdery iris and a woody base, love it. Simple and chic. You haven’t seen the short movie Un rendez-vous with Jude Law for Dior Homme? You should!

Technique Indiscrète: Délivre Moi
Délivre Moi (Rescue me) is a beguiling, musky honey scent with a calming aura, a suede note and a very cool vintage twist. It feels like being covered with warm beeswax – delish. No wonder, that singer Mika bought the entire stock of Délivre Moi at the Jovoy boutique in Paris last week. Relax, there will be fresh supply for you!

April Aromatics: Bohemian Spice
Bohemian Spice, which was part of the Summer of Patchouli Love 2011 contest, is like a cat, cuddling with you. The warm, woody and earthy formula with a special vanilla chord and soft benzoin is better than a cashmere blanket. The fact that it is all-natural makes it even better. Nathan Branch described it as “a layer cake of citrus, incense and spice accords slathered in a thick patchouli cream.“ That’s it.

Comme des Garçons: Kyoto
Because you need at least one incense scent for the cold season and Kyoto is the one. A very moderate incense with a wonderful cedar note. Sophisticated and simply amazing. I love this stuff, it’s my favorite incense perfume for men. Intoxicating.

Atelier Cologne: Vanille Incensée
Incense bathing in creamy vanilla. The drydown is powdery and very sensual. I found this very alluring. Impressed.

L’Artisan Parfumeur: Tea for Two
If it’s not vanilla for you, maybe you like some chai tea flavor? Tea for Two is a dry, leathery, spicy and warm companion for the dark season. It smells a little bit like Dzing! diluted with tea. No wonder, both perfumes are created by the same perfumer, Olivia Giacobetti!

Serge Lutens: Chergui
I prefer the older Serge Lutens fragrances and Chergui is my personal favorite. I like to contrast the cold autumn storms outside with a warm desert wind from Morocco – the Chergui. This scent is a spicy, leathery, honeyed, musky, elegant, warm oriental with notes of pipe tobacco and sandalwood – all we need for underneath our trench now.

Oscar de la Renta: Esprit d’Oscar
Press the autumn escape button. Esprit d’Oscar was a real surprise for me, I tested it by accident and found it lovely from the start. The lemony opening and the soft heliotrope in combination with the allure of the white florals makes it a really wonderful feminine scent for the daytime. The kind of cosy baby-powder-almond-flour scent (typically for heliotrope) you need to have in your perfume wardrobe to feel comfortable when the weather is getting nasty.

Photo: via stoleninspiration