For Steyn Grobler, founder of luxury fragrance brand Aqualis, the pandemic was a blessing in disguise.

“When people couldn’t travel, it was quite good for us to have these names and to create a narrative to get people to transcend [lockdowns] with a fragrance. The brand is all about how you experience perfume. That’s at the centre of everything we do, because we’re trying to tie memories to fragrance,” says Grobler.

“Let’s say a tourist visits the Kruger [National Park], and then comes to Skins and buys the Aqualis Kruger scent, their connotations to that perfume are going to be their memories of the Kruger. So it’s always been about tying memories to fragrance and reinforcing it to make it mean something for that person.”

Following your nose

Craving a trip to the Italian coast? You could get your travel agent to book you a Mediterranean-bound itinerary, or you could reach for fragrances from brands such as Acqua Di Parma and Dolce & Gabbana that are the perfect vehicles for an olfactory escape to the Mediterranean.

Taking us on a sensory journey that celebrates emotions, Acqua Di Parma’s Colonia C.L.U.B. is inspired by the deep connections and joy found in authentic Italian moments. With an exciting, light-hearted and genderless scent profile, this is an aromatic, woody musk with a spicy freshness in the opening thanks to notes of bergamot, lemon, pink pepper and black pepper.

Brands such as Memo Paris, Maison Crivelli, Chanel, and Maison Francis Kurkdjian are synonymous with the ability to transport you to exotic destinations.