Now

Now is the middle scent of the TIME trio from the London house Aequill, made, in the brand's words, by performance and theatre artist Mengting Zhuo. It is about the present moment: fleeting, still and joyful rather than melancholic, with a nod to a reflection of light on a train window at sunset. It opens green, bright and slightly sharp, with grapefruit and a touch of pink pepper. Then it turns to a soft, powdery iris, kept transparent rather than heavy, with a hint of hawthorn and light honey that the brand likens to acacia rather than a rich gourmand note. The base is creamy sandalwood and vanilla with a faint herbal, musky angelica note, so it dries down warm and quiet. Expect closeness rather than a trail. The brand says it is designed for closeness, not projection, and the first wearer votes lean the same way: a weak, intimate wear, in spring and summer, by day. Three early votes split between love, ok and dislike, so treat the fit as personal. It suits an office day, a walk or a quiet moment, and is less at home on a formal evening or at the gym. Each bottle comes with a playful original score written by the artist. It sells for 136 pounds in the brand's shop, and the bottle is listed at 50 ml by a decant seller. It suits anyone who likes a modern, airy iris and honey scent over a loud one; with so few reviews, try a sample first.