2012 has been a major perfume year for me. I launched my decanting company, RiktigParfym in order to enlighten my fellow Swedish citizens in all ways olfactory. Judging from the feedback I get there seem to be some progress going on in this matter

As I’ve been setting up the RiktigParfym website, the scents I’ve worn the most in 2012 have been the brands I sell; Atelier Colognes, Etat Libre d’Orange and Serge Lutens. But there has been time for other discoveries as well. The brands, except the already mentioned, that have made the biggest impression om me during 2012 are the following:

Amouage. Thanks to lovely Suzanne of Eiderdown Press I finally got to try Amouage out. If perfumeland was a subway map, full of intersecting lines ending up in different places, the Amouages would be the end stops. Not that they are the least accessible (that’s not the case) but for each and every one of them (almost), I really don’t know what could be done in order to improve them. They are pure perfection, without ever being boring. I can’t pick a favorite here but my major loves are Woman(Epic, Memoir, Gold), Ubar and Library Collection I. For 2013 I’m very much looking forward to try Beloved, the Interludes (does that sound like a couple you’d have over for dinner?) and any new releases planned.

Guerlain. Yes, I know, I’m the latest perfumista to the party but that doesn’t stop me from having fun once I arrive! Such an old perfume house, soooo many great scents! Some that I’ve worn and loved during 2012 are Shalimar Initiale, Sous le Vent, Chamade, Samsara, Lys Soleia and Mitsouko. In 20113 I’m planning to go through the rest!

Sonoma Scent Studio. I keep reaching for these, there is something deeply calming about them and there always seems to be a scent for every situation. My biggest love right now is Tabac Aurea but I’ve also been very pleased about the way I smell while wearing Voile de Violette, Jour Ensoille, Champagne et Bois and Insence Pure.

Then, 3 perfume wishes for 2013:

• Looks like incense is already the new leather and with the speed this note is trending, ”encense” might even become the new ”oud”? It’s such a versatile note, I’ve just started to appreciate it this year and now I want more more and MORE.
• In florals, we’ve had a lot of gardenias and orange blossom in 2012. This is all well, but I’ve craving lilies, everything from the clean and pleasant Lys Soleia, watery Lys Mediterraine, cuddly Vanilla Galante and weird Charogne. But there got to be more! Luca Turin says that what sets the scent of lilies apart from other flowers is a note of ham. So, come on, someone give me a lily perfume that plays up the ham, I dare you! Or maybe amp it up even more, give me a salami lily cyphre. That will become my new ”evil scent”. And of course, the year will not be complete without an array of ”Lys Encenses” to choose from. Bring it on!
• My last wish is that EU immediately stops this nonsense about banning substances that have been used in perfumery since the dawn of time. I’m genuinely sorry for everyone that suffers from perfume allergies and I’m all for finding new  substances less likely to cause allergies that will help more people to use perfumes without discomfort. But PLEASE, the fact that there are people that are allergic to some of the old substances does not call for discontinuing or changing classic scents into unrecognizable messes. And if the perfume industry does not want to label every single ingredient, as they want to protect their secret recipes, can’t this be solved by labeling the new allergen-free perfumes instead with ”Guaranteed to only contain safe ingredients”, or something like that, and label the old ones ”Use at own risk”? My god, we’re all adults here, shouldn’t we be able to work something out that keeps everyone pleased!

And finally, how about you? Any perfume wishes for the future, great scent discoveries of 2012 or just anything? I’d love to hear! And thanks for reading and have very happy new year, all of you!