There’s no better feeling than discovering a new fragrance that is yet to hit the mainstream. Being complimented on the way we smell is always guaranteed to lift our mood but when it’s followed with that all-important question, “What are you wearing?” then you really know you’ve nailed it. Having a go-to cologne that nobody else can immediately recognise is one of life’s true pleasures. So to help you get ahead of the curve, we spoke with Dimitri Weber, the founder and nose at Australian luxury fragrance house, Goldfield & Banks, about what ingredients will be trending next.

What do you see as being the new trends in fragrance for 2023?
Since we’ve come out of a few years where life has been dominated by the pandemic, I think we will see a shift towards fragrances that are loud, so people can smell you, and playful, so they remember you. Perfumes you have smelled a hundred times before aren’t very memorable, and now that we are all participating in society again I think a lot of us want to have fun and be remembered as different from the crowd.

Are there any ingredients you think will emerge in popularity this year?
I suspect that gourmand perfumes and bold, original florals will become quite popular because they are extravagant and noticeable.

For someone seeking a classic fragrance, what notes are seen as more likely to endure overtime?
Notes like citruses, woods, and florals will probably always be considered classic, whereas the more unusual, even avant-garde, ones like coffee or petrichor might not endure for as long. Who’s to say though—maybe a whole new fragrance family is waiting to emerge out of one of the new notes we’ve seen in the last few years (like what happened with aquatic fragrances years ago).

What do you see as a largely overlooked perfume note?
For me it’s anything native to Australia, which is the main reason I started Goldfield & Banks. There are other countries with untapped potential in their native botanicals, but in my opinion none of them have the vastness and richness of overlooked scents that Australia has.

What is your personal New Year’s Resolution when it comes to fragrance?
I want to take more time to wander around in stores and smell all the new perfumes being released so I can evaluate them for myself!

What is one thing you wish more people knew about applying fragrance?
Definitely that they should spray more of it on! I meet a lot of people who ask me what I think of their perfume, but I can barely smell it. I’ve been developing my olfactory sense for the past three decades, so if I don’t notice it, it’s unlikely anyone else will either. An easy way to find the right amount to apply is simply to ask others what they think of your fragrance, and if they haven’t noticed it then maybe you should wear more of it. You will need to wear more of some than others, as not all ingredients in perfumes are equally strong.

What’s next for Goldfield and Banks?
We’ve just launched our latest perfume, Island Lush. It’s part of our Botanical Series, which focuses on both the science of perfumery, and Australia’s world-leading expertise in botanical cultivation and extraction. We have another launch coming up later this year, but I can’t say anything about it just yet.

Goldfield & Banks has partnered with Crystalbrook Collection to offer an exclusive itinerary in Cairns, which is designed to celebrate the region’s botanical richness. Stays start from $373 and include Goldfield & Banks sample perfume, oils, and salts. Head here for further information and to book.