The Scented Road: Travel-Inspired Fragrances To Take You Places

Forbes

3 days ago

Whether you are looking to recapture that ultimate holiday that you once experienced or simply need a new scent to pack for your next travels, an olfactory journey is a distinctly personal one. Here are some of the latest—and most imaginative—fragrances for travelers.
The way we use perfume has changed. Gone are the days when a couple of spritzes on the wrists in the morning will do; the latest thinking is all about the art of layering—from the hair to the décolletage—and using the correct scent for the right occasion, especially when traveling.
Remember Impulse Body Sprays—with their irreverent names such as 'Sweet Smile' and 'Tease'? These were the affordable body sprays that every girl had on their dresser in the 1990s, but which quickly fell out of fashion with the advent of the designer perfume. According to Perfume Direct, body mists are back, with the brand reporting a huge uptick in demand for body mists over the past year.
This time around, the latest versions have been dialled up a notch to give an elevated fragrance experience. They might have perfumers behind their creation, for instance, or use scientific, mood-boosting ingredients. What's more, perfume mists are light enough to spritz on throughout the day, with many having a revitalising effect, making them perfect for keeping you feeling fresh and fragrant when traveling.
Sundays in Rio will take you to that tropical place. (Credit: Sol de Janeiro)
The cult brand Sol de Janeiro has been one that has really reinvigorated this sector, with its superior, must-have products inspired by the aromas of tropical Brazil. This summer's limited-edition fragrance, Sundays in Rio ($26), is a moreish floral-gourmand created by perfumer Ugo Charron. With notes of warm vanilla, pink pepper and amber musk, the spritz is designed to evoke the sensation of touch and is inspired by the endless energy of a Brazilian weekend. Think: caipirinhas and dancing all day long; the thrill of being together; and that unmistakable feeling of aconchego —a Portuguese word that conveys connection, comfort and warmth.
Glow Hub's multi-tasking sprays. (Credit: Glow Hub)
Glow Hub is another contemporary brand which is doing interesting things when it comes to fragrance sprays that are perfectly suited for long-haul travel. New in are its trio of mood-matching Hair and Body Mists (£10 each), designed to be worn solo or layered on top of each other. The launch taps into key Summer '25 trends: multi-use mists, the fusion of haircare and fragrance, and the growing trend of scents to boost your mood, where fragrance becomes a tool for emotional well-being and self-expression. In the collection is Hot Sauce, with cherry and smoky musk notes;Dopamine, a spicy floral and Pipe Dream, with nots of citrus zest and forest air.
Launching next month is Ayurvedic wellbeing perfume brand, Ataratma, with scents such as Aikyam Rose. (Credit: Ataratma)
Meanwhile, launching next month is a new luxury fragrance brand with a difference. Ataratma London is set to offer a more top-end approach to feel-good fragrances. Inspired by ancient spiritual and healing practices across South Asia, Ataratma London fragrances have been designed to transform the way you feel and help you re-connect with your inner self through the unique interaction of advanced neuroscience, ancient Ayurveda and master perfumery.
The brand's line-up of nine perfumes align with a different state of wellbeing, and can be worn as part of a daily ritual to evoke emotion, restore alignment and create connections. 'With four experiential collections, Ataratma has been designed to speak directly to the wearer's individual desires and needs with intentions of love, strength, happiness and spiritual balance,' says the brand. Lean into layering for longevity
Luxury perfumery house TORTI was founded in Florence, Italy, but has its first bricks and mortar shop in London's Soho (by appointment only). With a collection of 500 distinct scents (including perfumes and body oils and creams) to choose from, the brand has its roots in authentic Italian craftsmanship, deeply rooted in the founder, Massimiliano Torti's, tradition of creating products entirely within the confines of his workshop in Italy.
Master the art of perfume layering with TORTI. (Credit: Torti)
Olfactory stratification is a fragrance technique at the heart of Massimiliano Torti's philosophy. 'It is a way of exploring and experimenting with different scents, layering them on different parts of the body without mixing or overlapping them. The goal is to create a unique and personalised ritual fragrance that tells your story and reflects your mood,' he says. 'This method can involve wearing up to 11 different scents, including oils, creams and perfumes, which are distributed on various parts of the body to create a harmonious and inebriating scent. The oils and creams will envelop the skin in a perfumed cloud while the perfumes will make fabrics, accessories, and hair fragrant.'
TORTI's creative director, Nina Simona Briazu, gives her advice on the ultimate way to use the layering method for summer. 'In the heat of summer, scent should whisper, not shout,' she says, 'and it should begin with your skin.'
'After a cool shower, start with Indonesia, one of TORTI's scented body creams, laced with vanilla, shadowed by patchouli, and grounded in sandalwood. I seal it with Jasmine Cliché body oil— this has jasmine with a twist of iris, rose, and cumin. Then I add Resina Figo Verde on the length of my hair, arms and behind my neck. Fresh fig leaf, earthy sandalwood, and oak resin—sunlit, green and sophisticated.'
A selection of TORTI fragrances in the Brewer Street store in London's Soho. (Credit: AVC)
She continues: 'There's a difference between wearing a perfume and knowing how to perfume yourself. One is habit, the other is art. Layering texture and scent lets your fragrance breathe with you, becoming part of your skin—and part of the memory you leave behind.' Invest in a luxury big-hitter
Perfume aficionados might well be familiar with prestige perfume house, Fragrance Du Bois. Presented like jewels in velvet coffrets, the brand's premium perfumes are the result of collaborations with master perfumers using the finest ingredients.
The unique and premium fragrance, Rude Cherry is a ane exclusive launch with Harrods. (Credit: Fragrance du Bois)
The latest launch Rude Cherry (£295 for 100ml), is the second in a collection of fine fragrances created exclusively by renowned perfumer, Christian Provenzano, for Harrods (the first in the line-up was Rude Oud).
Rude Cherry was created by renowned perfumer, Christian Provenzano. (Credit: Fragrance du Bois)
Like all Fragrance Du Bois perfumes, the Rude Cherry extrait de parfum uses only 100% pure, sustainable and the highest quality natural perfume oils and extracts from sustainable sources around the world. Unconventional yet refined, the scent opens with a burst of cherry, spiked with almond and with a hint of chilli. At its heart are saffron and rose notes blended with smoky vetiver and earthy cypriol. The base of oud, vanilla, musk and ambergris gives it a rich, texture that lingers on the skin. It's bold and sultry and is perfect for a night out in a strange city.
Oud Zarian is a rare fragrance that's been 80 years in the making and has been described by the brand as 'more than a scent; it's a journey'. (Credit: Creed)
Heritage brand, The House of Creed, meanwhile, has long been the fragrance of choice for travelers since it launched in 1760 and its latest launch, Oud Zarian has the spirit of exploration at its heart.
Launching this September (but available from 14 August in Harrods), Creed's Oud Zarian (£350 for 80ml) is a fragrance that's been 80 years in the making and has been described by the brand as 'more than a scent; it's a journey'. Built around the rare 80-year-aged Jalali oud, sourced from the ancient Sylhet forests of South Asia, the perfume captures the essence of faraway lands, sacred rituals, and timeless craftsmanship.
Oud Zarian is built around the rare 80-year-aged Jalali oud, sourced from the ancient Sylhet forests of South Asia. (Credit: Creed)
For lovers of travel and discovery, Oud Zarian is a passport to sensory adventure. Its rich, woody and amber profile is layered with bergamot, frankincense, rose centifolia from Grasse, and sandalwood—each note a tribute to global heritage and artisanal purity. A whisper of liquorice root adds a final touch of intrigue.
'In the depths of the Sylhet forests in South Asia, the soul of Oud Zarian prevails,' explains Creed. 'Hidden within the trees lies a resin so rare, it transforms time into aroma, distilling the essence of eight decades into a divine dew. The fragrance opens with a luminous burst of bergamot, frankincense, and ginger, weaving a spicy, citrusy intrigue. At its heart lies the elegant rose centifolia, enriched by a warm spice accord top note, creating a floral-spiced harmony. Anchoring the composition is the unparalleled richness of the 80-year-old oud itself—its velvety, resinous depth enhanced by patchouli, creamy sandalwood, and myrrh. Layered with subtle hints of tonka bean and the warmth of liquorice root, the oud reveals itself as a woody, ambered and aromatic centerpiece offering unique modernity to Oud Zarian.'
For lovers of travel and discovery, Oud Zarian is a passport to sensory adventure (Credit: Creed)
'Fragrances have the ability to transport the wearer to places and moments in life,' adds Lori Woodhouse, director of Educations at Creed. 'Taking a new fragrance with you when you travel or holiday will connect you forever when you wear it, it will bring back all the memories you have made when you smell it. I like to take a different one on each holiday just to make this life mark.'
'Oud Zarian is truly impactful and will make a statement on your travels. It contains the highly coveted and one-of-a-kind oud, reserved by its cultivators exclusively for use by The House of Creed. Aged for an extraordinary eight decades and passing from generation to generation, Creed has been entrusted with the essence as a result of the house's longstanding commitment to exceptional craftsmanship and ethical practices.'
Castley is inspired by the spirit of adventure of some of the world's great explorers. (Credit: parfums de Marley)
Meanwhile, new from luxury perfume house, Parfums de Marly, is Castley (£220 for 75ml), inspired by the spirit of adventure displayed by the celebrated travelers of the 18th century. The woody-spicy citrus scent for men uses luminous top notes of fresh ginger, bergamot and citrus (lemon petitgrain) to create a powerful sensation of freshness that quickly cedes to deeper, spicy, mineral heart notes, notably that of Timut pepper. Noble base notes of amber, labdanum and AkigalawoodTM gives a refined fragrance trail, leaving the wearer hungry for new advantures ahead. Be stirred by your imagination
Ghost's Orb of Night captures the fleeting moment between sundown and sunrise. (Credit: Ghost)
Some of the finest scents have their roots in the best holiday memories. Ghost's Orb of Night (£30 for 30ml) is inspired by that fleeting moment between sundown and sunrise and is a captivating blend of dark fruits, velvety jasmine and roasted tonka
Salted Skin captures the golden glow of a perfect beach day. (Credit: Tenth muse)
Solid perfume balm, Salted Skin (£18) by Tenth Muse, comes in a practical case making it ideal for travel. The brand's first aquatic scent, it captures the golden glow of a perfect beach day. A sun-warmed blend of sea salt, soft coconut and skin musk, grounded by driftwood. Clean, effortless, and reminiscent of waves crashing softly at the shore.
Bossa is a coastal-cool scent. (Credit: Granado)
Bossa (£70 for 100ml) by Granado, meanwhile, is inspired by the energy of Rio's beaches, and transports you to return to the rhythm of summer no matter where you are wearing it. The coastal-cool scent blends citrus and marine notes with solar flowers and a creamy hint of coconut.
Neroli Voyage takes you to the shores of the Mediterranean. (Credit: Floris)
Floris Neroli Voyage (£30 for 10ml) also transports you to the coast, this time to the shores of the Mediterranean. The fresh fragrance opens with a citrus burst of neroli and lemon, complemented by marine notes for an added sea breeze freshness.
Levant is an optimistic floral scent—a nod to the ultimate summer's day. (Credit: Ormonde Jayne)
Imagine a garden full of flowers, and a spray of Ormonde Jayne's Levant (£35 for 10ml) will take you there. It blends notes of peony, lily, orange-blossom and jasmine for a happy summer scent.
The while floral, water scent, Eau Triple Heliotropedu Perou, is light and refreshing. (Credit: Officine Universelle Buly)
Finally, Eau Triple Heliotropedu Perou (€150 for 75ml) a unique water-based fragrance from Officine Universelle Buly, not only transports the wearer to the rainforest of Peru, but its light and refreshing notes make it ideal for the hotter months. The fragrance, reveals a bouquet of white flowers studded with tonka beans and violet. Charismatic, it wraps like velvet on the skin, without ever being too heavy and is ideal for taking with you on your next advanture.