I tried anatomē Expression and finally found a fragrance philosophy that makes sense

I seldom feel instantly in tune with a brand, but within minutes of discovering anatomē, I realised its approach to fragrance was something I'd been following for years without even knowing it.

Rather than subscribing to the traditional idea of one signature scent, the London-born wellbeing brand has created what is essentially a fragrance wardrobe, with different perfumes designed to complement different moods and moments.

At the heart of the concept are clean, functional parfums crafted with natural botanicals and essential oils. Drawing on aromachology, which explores the relationship between scent and emotion, each fragrance is designed not only around how it smells, but the state of mind it's intended to complement, from focus and calm to energy and balance.

The fragrance I've been putting to the test is Expression, the brand's best-selling functional Eau de Parfum. Inspired by the restorative power of the sea, it's an oceanic fragrance built around marine sea salt and cedarwood, with a scent profile designed to evoke clarity, communication and self-expression.

Expression is one of six functional fragrances in the collection. Energy is designed around vitality, motivation and momentum; Focus centres on concentration and productivity; Balance is associated with calm and confidence; Support with feeling grounded and reassured; and Order with clarity and reflection. Expression, meanwhile, is all about communication, creativity and self-expression.

The idea is that rather than wearing the same perfume everywhere, you reach for a different fragrance depending on what you're doing, how you're feeling or perhaps even how you'd like to feel. It turns out I've been doing exactly that for years. I just didn't have a name for it.

But a clever concept only goes so far. However interesting the thinking behind a fragrance might be, ultimately I still need to love the way it smells if I'm going to keep reaching for it.

And Expression has absolutely joined the ranks of my all-time favourite scents. It's totally captivating, warm and sweet but not overly so. When I find myself constantly breathing in deeply and raising my wrist to inhale a new perfume, I know it's going to be a favourite.

The combination of marine freshness and woody cedar gives it depth, while the overall effect feels sophisticated rather than overtly beachy. It has impressive staying power, too, which matters when you're spending this much on a bottle of fragrance.

There's also something appealing about the ritual of choosing a fragrance for a purpose. I'm not going to claim that a few sprays of Expression suddenly made me dramatically more creative or articulate, but scent has an extraordinary ability to become associated with particular moods, people and places. I can certainly see how repeatedly reaching for the same fragrance when you want to feel a certain way could create a powerful association over time.

Expression is available online in a 100ml bottle for £125, while a 10ml version costs £28, making the smaller size a useful way to discover it before committing to the full bottle. That said, it's rare that I feel quite so confident suggesting you go straight for the bigger size. A new 50ml size has also recently launched exclusively in anatomē stores and online.

At £125, the full-size Expression certainly sits towards the more expensive end of the fragrance market, but this isn't simply another perfume competing for space on an already crowded dressing table. The functional fragrance concept gives it a genuine point of difference, while Expression stands up as a beautiful fragrance in its own right.

That's ultimately what won me over. The concept drew me to anatomē, but Expression is the reason I'd go back. Sometimes you want something uplifting, sometimes comforting and sometimes something that makes you feel ready to go out and face the world - smelling amazing, of course! The only thing I’m left wondering is whether the other five scents in the collection can possibly be as beautiful as Expression. One way to find out is to buy the Travel/Discovery set featuring 10ml sprays of all six functional fragrances. This £100 set is also a wonderful introduction to what has become one of my new favourite brands.