Love Hibiscus, a new bloom in the Amouage Secret Garden Collection

Amouage returns to its Secret Garden with Love Hibiscus – a vivacious expression of mysterious femininity. “Living in Oman,” says Renaud Salmon, “I am fortunate to be surrounded by a beautiful range of flowers. One of the most commonly-seen blooms here are Hibiscus, with their unmistakable, brightly-coloured, almost crepe paper-like petals. It occurred to me that as they’re such a prominent part of the Omani landscape, they ought to be invited into our Secret Garden.” For the gourmand-side of the fragrance that characterises this collection, staple of European patisserie shops, palmiers are arguably amongst the most addictive pastries ever conceived. With their crumbly, delicate texture, their creamy, buttery taste and, crucially, their ambery-coloured coating of caramelised sugar, they are completely irresistible. Salmon knew that their stark difference from the personality of Hibiscus would create the contrast he was seeking. Love Hibiscus, created by Jerome Epinette, joins the four existing Secret Garden perfumes to add a delectable new dimension to Amouage’s story of the modern woman. From the very start, the perfume ingeniously presents both of its key ideas in parallel. The Hibiscus note is unmistakable: tart, berry-like, herbaceous and slightly earthy. Right next to it appears the Salted Caramel accord: sweet, buttery, creamy and appetisingly caramelised. Bridging the gap between the two is a carefully-judged blend of complementary materials. Amongst these, Pas