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Now that summer has well and truly arrived, so has my summer wardrobe. Yet a seasonal wardrobe refresh also demands a change in fragrance.
I firmly subscribe to the notion that ‘a great outfit turns heads, but a great perfume leaves a memory’, so tracking down the right scent is absolutely essential, regardless of the season. I rarely reach for sundresses, but on the occasions I do, I need the ideal fragrance to complement them.
A few years back, I discovered that scent — Jo Malone’s Rose Blush Cologne. I never imagined I’d gravitate towards an overtly floral fragrance, but this one manages to feel sophisticated without being ‘aunty-like’.
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It has a thoroughly confident, girl-boss quality about it, and it most certainly leaves a lasting impression. There’s just one catch — it’s limited-edition, making it tricky to get hold of, and on the rare occasions it does appear, it’ll set you back £112, reports the Manchester Evening News.
That said, I’ve been on the hunt for a more wallet-friendly alternative to my Jo Malone favourite for quite some time, and I believe I’ve hit the jackpot with a £14.99 fragrance from Boots, which has genuinely taken me by surprise. Coming in at under £15, Jawhara’s Sultan Rose is the ultimate everyday spritz for those warm, glorious summer days.
The Jawhara Collection is available from Boots
£14.99BootsBuy here
Shoppers can choose between five different fragrances, depending on what suits them best
Jawhara’s Sultan Rose isn’t a straightforward ‘dupe’ for my Jo Malone scent, but it does offer a distinct interpretation of the rose profile. Sultan Rose is an intense, woody, and spicy Middle Eastern-style rose oud, while Jo Malone Rose Blush is a breezy, fruity-floral, limited-edition cologne with a clean, spring-like feel.
In fact, Jawhara’s Sultan Rose aligns far more closely with my usual scent preferences. I tend to gravitate towards spicier fragrances, so it hits the sweet spot perfectly as a summer alternative.
Jawhara says: “This perfume opens with warm saffron accord and Akigalawood, which lead to an elegant heart of majestic rose accord and powdery peony. A delicate base of vanilla incense adds a subtle sweetness, reminiscent of the gentle breeze of an Arabian rose garden.”
It is marketed as unisex, but having tested it on both myself and my boyfriend, I’d say it leans ever so slightly towards the feminine. While he wasn’t keen on it for himself, he was genuinely taken aback by how beautifully it settled on my skin.
View 3 ImagesJawhara’s Sultan Rose isn’t a ‘dupe’ for my Jo Malone scent, but it does offer a different take on the rose profile(Image: Rachel Pugh)
At £15, I anticipated the fragrance would be rather understated, yet it’s considerably more potent than I’d given it credit for. It does naturally require more frequent top-ups than my Jo Malone cologne, though that’s hardly shocking given the vast difference in price — and at £15, I’m more than happy to spritz it generously.
If florals aren’t your thing and you lean towards a more gourmand fragrance, I’d suggest having a look at Sweet Dates — also £14.99 on the Boots website. This perfume is a genuinely unisex scent, so much so that my boyfriend actually pinched it from me — high praise indeed from arguably the most discerning person I know when it comes to fragrance.
Sweet Dates is an ambery, fruity Eau de Parfum that begins with an enticing mixture of sweet vanilla and sharp raspberry, before luscious date accord introduces an exotic depth enriched by earthy patchouli. A silky foundation of caramelised amber accord and cedarwood rounds off this sumptuous, velvety fragrance.
It bears similarity to Lush’s bestselling Sticky Dates bodyspray (£29), yet costs half the amount. While Lush’s version is a firm favourite in my perfume collection, Jawhara’s Sweet Dates comes across as slightly less overwhelmingly sweet, and more refined for balmy summer evenings and romantic nights out.
Once more, it doesn’t last quite as long as some of the pricier options available. However, for tucking into your handbag to reapply during the working day, or at picnics and barbecues, it’s an absolute winner.
View 3 ImagesJawhara’s full collection has something for everybody(Image: Rachel Pugh)
Elsewhere within the Jawhara range, the Jawhara Golden Nectar Eau de Parfum pairs bergamot, tuberose and musk for a fresher floral fragrance. For a richer, more masculine-leaning option, the Jawhara Amberwood Nomad Eau de Parfum fuses cardamom, cedarwood and myrrh.
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Oud Velvet, likewise, tilts towards the masculine spectrum. It delivers a deep, woody-amber aroma featuring saffron, oud and creamy vanilla.
Shoppers can browse the complete £14.99 Jawhara collection on the Boots website.