We all know that scent is closely tied to our memory and emotions, and the new Charlotte Tilbury fragrance collection, consisting of six debut fragrances, aims to stoke and enhance that connection between scent and sentiment.
Displayed in boxes that are reminiscent of a deck of tarot cards, opening each one feels like a portal to a new version of you.
Just as tarot cards give guidance to what is happening in your own personal orbit, these fragrances are designed to guide your mood in the direction of your choosing: from sex, love and happiness to energy, calm and empowerment.
Tilbury, a British beauty entrepreneur and makeup artist whose makeup and skincare collection has brought her billions of dollars and become a staple for beauty lovers, describes this range as “scents that make you feel”.
Why Did Charlotte Tilbury Create Fragrances?
There’s something very intentional about the way that Charlotte Tilbury approaches beauty products. From founding industry-leading mechanisms such as their Beauty Light Wands, to new formula styles such as her Hollywood Flawless Filter, Tilbury’s out-of-the-box ingenuity is the driving force in the success of her brand.
The approach to the fragrances is no different. Grouping fragrances based on feeling, rather than abstract ideas or obscure notes feels like a very salt-of-the-earth way to approach a complicated fragrance market.
She’s onto something though. A good scent is all about how it makes you feel. Personally, I know I have some ‘lucky’ fragrances in my collection that I get a million complements on and that seem to give me an extra spring in my step to attack the day with gusto.
When launching the fragrances, the brand shared, “Charlotte wants to know, how do YOU want to feel today? What mood are you looking to enhance? Happiness or Calmness? Charlotte’s new range has a scent for every mood.”
Do Charlotte Tilbury’s Fragrances Actually Change Your Mood?
While the intention is very clear, what’s a little more curious is what the brand call ‘emotion boosting molecules’.
These molecules are described as “combinations of notes and accords…that can enhance the six specific feelings that Charlotte wanted to bottle.”
Tilbury worked with master perfumers, Anne Flipo (the first woman to be recognized as a Master Perfumer by IFF), Master Perfumer Dominique Ropion (responsible for culture-defining fragrances like Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb and Mugler’s Alien) and Juliette Karagueuzoglou (an award winning perfumer whose evocative scents are inspired by memory, photography, and synaesthesia).
So, how do they claim to change your emotions?
The researchers harnessed around five billion data points from tens of thousands of people worldwide to measure the way different fragrances impacted people. These data points were then put into an AI processing tool called the “IFF SCENTCUBE™ALGORITHM” to give perfumers innovative ingredient combinations to enhance specific emotions.
“[The fragrances] are the result of harnessing the expertise of world-renowned perfumers – some of the best noses in the world, cutting-edge technology, neuroscience [and] 40 years of research,” Tilbury said of the line.
“I worked with colour psychologists, numerologists, symbologists and studied thousands of years of fragrance history and used the most extraordinary olefactive symphony of ingredients to create my most innovative collection ever.
Pseudo-science or not, the fragrances are designed to enhance six feelings: of love, happiness, seduction, serenity, energy and empowerment.
The fragrances are vegan, made from naturally derived fragrance oils, boast a ‘magic scent trail’ of up to 18 hours and utilize the power of the senses.
marie claire Tries The New Charlotte Tilbury Fragrance Collection
Armed with only our untrained noses and a little excitement, three members of the marie claire team, including myself, embarked on a scent road test of these new fragrances. We’ll share our thoughts, followed by how the scent is described by Charlotte Tilbury.
The new Charlotte Tilbury fragrances are as follows:
- Love Frequency which bottles feelings of love
- Magic Energy which bottles feelings of energy
- Calm Bliss which bottles feelings of serenity
- More Sex which bottles feelings of seduction
- Joyphoria which bottles feelings of happiness
- Cosmic Power which bottles feelings of empowerment
Love Frequency
Marie Claire: this scent is both playful and flirtatious. It’s sweet but not in a sickly way, freshened by a hit of peppery notes that remind us of many modern sophisticated fragrances (as you’ll find here). It’s alluring and playful, but has a warmness about it that makes it a little addictive.
Charlotte Tilbury: powered by modern rose and warm cashmere wood, this is floral, soft and hypnotic. It’s that all-encompassing, comforting feeling of being in love and being loved.
Emotion Boosting Molecules: Rose Essential, Cashmeran
Top: Pink Pepper
Heart: Saffron, Rose Ultimate Extract, Rose Essential
Base: Musk, Cashmere Wood, Ambery Woods, Patchouli Heart
Family: Floral Woody
Joyphoria
Maire Claire: a sun-bathed jasmine scent that reminds us of soaking up vitamin D on a warm Spring afternoon. It’s sweet and floral but contrasted with a slightly herbal, woody base, and feels like a hug. Floral, feminine and a little coquette.
Charlotte Tilbury: it feels like you’ve been transported to pure paradise, due to Ylang Ylang and Vanilla Bean. Like a ray of golden sunshine, it’s balmy, warm and radiant with neroli, coconut water accord, warm jasmine and tuberose. Described as ‘paradisiacal happiness’.
Emotion Boosting Molecules: Ylang Ylang, Vanilla Bean Extract
Top: Petitgrain Oil, Coconut Water Accord, Neroli Oil
Heart: Tuberose Absolut, Jasmin Sambac, Ylang Ylang
Base: Vanilla Bean Extract, Cashmere Wood, Powdery Musks
Family: Warm Floral
More Sex
Marie Claire: this fragrance reminds us a little of cult fragrance Baccarat 540 in its sex appeal, but it also has its own ‘thing’ going on. It’s got an oud-like element to it that feels addictively sweet and alluring. A smoky finish and leathery twang create depth that feels racy but also classy, like wearing a dress with a thigh high split drinking a martini in a high-end bar.
Charlotte Tilbury: described as sensual and alluring, this magnetic fragrance has a captivating chemistry powered by a ‘sexual accord’, musk and leather it’s a carnal treat that feels like a rush of pure passion.
Emotion Boosting Molecules: Sandalwood Oil Caledonia, Sexual Accord, Leather Accord, Musk
Top: Black Pepper Oil, Juniper Berry Oil
Heart: Sexual Accord (Ambroxan, Sexual Musk, Aldron), Leather Accord
Base: Musk, Ambery Wood, Sandalwood Oil Caledonia
Family: Musk Leather
Cosmic Power
Marie Claire: we found this to be a complex fragrance that felt somewhat herbal and medicinal in a way that was thought provoking and a little mystical. It had a kind of energizing feel to it, and while the notes felt reminiscent of the 60s and 70s hippie movement, it was still refined and elevated.
Charlotte Tilbury: designed to be a shield of strength this fragrance hopes to elevate your self-confidence and invigorate your drive to help you truly sparkle.
Emotion Boosting Molecules: Black Pepper Oil, Cinnamon Bark Oil, Clove Oil, Amber Accord, Vanilla Bean Extract
Top: Black Pepper Oil, Cinnamon Bark Oil, Bergamot Oil, Woody Elemi Oil
Heart: Rose Ultimate, Frankincense Accord
Base: Amber Accord, Vanilla Bean Extract, Powdery Musks
Family: Ambery Spicy
Magic Energy
Marie Claire: like where grassy hills meet the sea, this fragrance felt both fresh and aquatic as well as earthy, like a pine wood. It reminded us a little of some Issey Miyake scents we’ve loved over the years, and was a little more spicy and masculine without being overpoweringly so.
Charlotte Tilbury: like a shot of energy, this is like being transported and grounded in a magic green forest, with earthy Myrtle oil and energising Marine essence. It bottles the purity of nature to feel your most energetic, grounded self.
Emotion Boosting Molecules: Linalyl Acetate (Bergamot Oil Component), Cypress Oil, Palo Santo Accord
Top: Bergamot Oil, Neroli Oil, Lavandin Oil
Heart: Orange Flower Absolute, Watery Accord
Base: Cashmere Wood, Palo Santo Accord, Ambergris Accord, Olibanum Resinoid
Family: Citrus Woody
Calm Bliss
Marie Claire: we felt that this was both watery and sweet. There was a kind of vanilla warmth underneath the fresh citrus. It felt like gliding over rolling waves, if the water was super warm, like a bath. Soothing, summery, meditative and spa-like.
Charlotte Tilbury: designed to soothe the senses and echoing the serene energy of the sea and lakes of lotus flowers! Relaxing Lavandin oil and fresh Bergamot oil, transport us to a tranquil oasis, where you’ll feel immersed in a calming sensorial experience!
Emotion Boosting Molecules: Neroli Oil, Watery Accord
Top: Bergamot Oil, Neroli Oil, Lavandin Oil
Heart: Orange Flower Absolute, Watery Accord
Base: Cashmere Wood, Palo Santo Accord, Ambergris Accord, Olibanum Resinoid
Family: Aquatic Floral
Charlotte Tilbury Fragrance Review
Comparing our own takes on the fragrances, we can’t help but feel that Charlotte Tilbury has perfectly captured the feelings she hoped to when creating these master blends.
Straight away we lean towards the Love Frequency, More Sex and Joyphoria fragrances as lighter, slightly more feminine mixes. However, the complexity and interest of Magic Energy, Cosmic Power and Calm Bliss cannot be denied.
Would we recommend these fragrances? Most definitely.
Charlotte Tilbury Perfume Price
So, how much will all this research set you back? The Charlotte Tilbury fragrances are priced on the premium end of the market, which echoes the amount of work that has gone into creating them. Prices are as follows:
- Fragrance 100 ml – $265.00
- Fragrance 10 ml – $40.00
- Fragrance Gift Set 6 x 1.5ml – $51.00
When Are The Charlotte Tilbury Fragrances Available?
The new Charlotte Tilbury fragrances are exclusively available on Tilbury’s app from April 30th and then from her website on May 2nd. The fragrances will later launch in MECCA in August.
