Artillery No 2 Eau de Lisbon

Bitter orange and bergamot open it, less sugary than a sweet-orange note and with a peel-like bite. Black pepper and warm spice arrive quickly, and a small amount of rose keeps the middle from going flat. Cedarwood underneath gives the citrus something to sit on, so it reads warm rather than sharp. Angela Flanders bottles this scent at two strengths. The Eau de Toilette is the lighter of the two: the brand's own guidance is that the Eau de Toilette is for applying more liberally and more often, while the Eau de Parfum is for people who spray less frequently and want greater longevity. The composition is the same; what changes is how long it stays and how far it carries. Eau de Lisbon takes its cue from Portugal, one of Britain's oldest allies, and from the traditional Portuguese colognes that inspired it. Angela Flanders describes it as sunshine in a bottle, which is a fair summary of a citrus that stays warm rather than turning brisk.