Fabulous Fougere:  An extract from my vintage book A Passion For Perfume, published by Ryland Peters and available on Amazon

Not just for spring and summer, the original name for a cologne, fougere was classically a men’s aroma (the female equivalent being the warmer, heady, sexier chypre), until stylish young women in the 20s adopted a more independent character and embodied the cologne as their own in an era of free-spirited women. So relevant right now don't you think? 

Ultimately, a classic Fougere fragrance is still deemed a men's cologne. It's the fern fresh, outdoors; it's the forest floor, an earthy crispness of pine needles underfoot; the fragrant embrace of September, when the conkers are freshly collected and smell like beautiful Autumn (my favourite month) is on its way. Ah, but I just LOVE wearing cologne - for men OR women.

You see I'm not the slightest bit flowery. I do love rose, geranium and herby flowers, but ultimately I'm a citrus woody gal with a load of spiciness thrown in...kinda goes with my personality: bright and breezy on the surface (GOJO), pretty chilled on the whole (SLOJO), smoldering and sensual underneath (MOJO), but just don't mess with me as I have a spiky edge (still working on that aroma!) Hence a fragrant cologne is SO my thing, with a heftier version for evenings, but always with a woody wintry soul. What about you? We can all define our personality by the aromas we love and surround ourselves with, on our skin and in our home and our life. It's why fragrance matters to our confidence, mood, and psyche.

Classic Cologne It started with Houbigant's Fougere Royale in 1882, followed by Guerlain's Jicky in 1889; the start of this category marking the beginning of unisex scents now often referred to as 'herbaceous and green', Herperidian aromas, as these refreshing woodland deep and dusky notes of oakmoss, patchouli, labdanum, woods and bark resins in their base mixed with aromatic herbs such as lavender and rosemary as their lead.

Check out the classic cologne gallery: 4711 Original, Eau d'Hadrien by Annick Goutal or Acqua di Parma Colonia

Modern Fougere's Today, it's the freshness that makes this botanical-inspired nature scent category so modern and relevant right now as more and more of us seek out natural inspiration to feel more organic in soul and less synthetic in the aromas that we live with and surround ourselves with. 

Check out the modern cologne gallery: 4711 Remix Cologne Edition 2018 with bergamot, tea and neroli; One of my fave go-to's Citron Citron by Miller Harris, or the new Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Cologne

What's your favourite fragrance family? Do you love men's scents too?

Love you to comment below - tell me your favourites... what makes you feel good? That's what scent should do to the senses: use them to lift your mood. And if one (maybe a gift) doesn't suit your skin, spray it as a room spray or to freshen up cushions and ends of curtains (just nowhere they might stain)