Scent selection

Designer turns his hand to his nose

Jacques Azagury launches his first, couture-inspired fragrance

He's a classic designer, known for his sophisticated couture creations and Jacques Azagury's first fragrance is no different. "I like poignant, sharp smells, nothing too sweet or florally," he told us in his apartment in London's Covent Garden. "And I didn't want anything citrussy, either, nothing too daytime. I was definitely looking for a 'dressed-up' perfume, which is why it doesn't contain tuberose, as many do now – I wanted it to be fresh, to wake people up as they go out in the evening."

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The classic designer's first fragrance is inspired by the white flowers and woods popular with grand perfumers in the 1920s and 30s
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Jacques looked to the white flowers and woods popular with grand perfumers in the 1920s and 30s, choosing Himalayan Mogra, which made a lasting impact on Jacques on a trekking trip to the region, with helionol for the top notes. The fragrance develops into a warm heart of dry amber notes with precious woods such as Atlas cedar and Mysore sandalwood that dries down to leave a fresh, breezy effect. And it contains rose absolute from Morocco, where Jacques was born.

"The fragrance market is quite saturated, there are too many off-the-shelf perfumes," Jacques comments. "And a lot of them are aimed at teens, hence the low price points. But I wanted a real perfume, a luxury item. And the bottles are crystal – which is the best ingredient!" he laughs. Azagury Eau de Parfum 50ml, £90, Parfum 7ml, £100 and Pure Oil 5ml, £120, are all available exclusively from Selfridges.

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