Karen Walker's Latest Fragrance

By Janetta Mackay
Viva


Karen Walker has launched a free-spirited second foray into fragrance with a little sibling to her ABC eau de parfum trio of last year. Hi There is a sparkling fresh spritz with unisex appeal, with top notes of lemon, apple, melon and pink peppercorn, a heart of white rose, peach and lily of the valley and forest undertones of cedar and amber. It takes its name from her diffusion range and shares the same cheeky charm. Apparently Karen's husband and brand creative director Mikhail Gherman has been giving it a regular workout.

The fragrance was made in France to meet Walker’s brief of “a scent like a tonic that captures the freshness of slipping on the perfect white T-shirt, or that delicious moment when you wake up between crisp Egyptian cotton sheets and realise it’s actually a Sunday and the world is yours”.

Available as a 50ml eau de parfum for $135 from Karen Walker and selected boutiques, Smith & Caughey's and selected larger Farmers stores.

Karen shares the everyday smells that delight her:

Open fires Especially when it’s pine cedar burning.

LemonsEspecially Italian lemons … no sharp, acidic edge to the scent. The rind smells almost sweet.

JasmineA longtime favourite, growing in many gardens in my Auckland neighbourhood and also on my own porch – it makes December evenings magical.

A new paperbackI've always loved reading and have loved the smell of a new paperback ever since reading  Paddington Bear under a tree as an 8 year old. Possibly one of the reasons I’ve never switched to iBooks.

Cats’ tummiesThat musky, feline scent is as comforting as cashmere in my book.

CardamomThe dark, musty spice takes any dish to an exotic place. I’m a huge fan of Yotam Ottolenghi and love his pistachio cardamom shortbread. Also TradeAid’s Cardamom and Orange chocolate’s pretty unbeatable.

Rain on hot asphaltTakes me back to childhood for some reason.

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