Scent Sense

Fragrance is a personal statement that should be shared only with those near you.

Words: Amy Kelley

Quality fragrance was an extravagance until the 1960s, when the advent of duty-free shopping made it accessible to almost everyone.Wearing it means more than just enhancing one’s effect on others’ senses; it is a luxury for the wearer as well, making him or her feel worthy, indulgent, attractive and alluring.

Fragrance should be subtle. A top-quality perfume works its magic with sparing application. As a guideline, the US-based Fragrance Foundation says no one else should be aware of your fragrance unless they come within an arm’s length of you. It should be a personal message to share with those closest to you.

Gently layer your fragrance, using different forms of the same perfume or different scents that an experienced fragrance customizer has chosen to complement each other. Begin with a lightly scented shower gel, follow with a body lotion then spray on a light eau de toilette or eau de parfum to create a fragrance foundation before applying the higher-concentration perfume.

Applying fragrance is an art in itself. Mere dabs behind the ears evaporate quickly because fragrance rises when heated by the body. Instead, spray it sparingly on to pulse points from feet to shoulders.

Fragrance is a personal experience. Ever wondered why something that smells divine on a friend just doesn’t have the same impact when you wear it? One reason is diet, which can alter skin chemistry and cause fragrances to react differently. People with high-fat, spicy diets will notice fragrances smell more intense on them. The same goes for people with oily skin. Dry-skin types might notice that their fragrance doesn’t last as long and needs to be re-applied more often. Take your time when choosing a fragrance, give it a couple of hours to develop and never choose something just because you like it on someone else.

A generation or two ago it wasn’t uncommon for women to stick to a favourite fragrance throughout their entire lives. My grandmother continues to request Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door every Christmas. Others have only ever worn Chanel’s classic No 5 or Yves Saint Laurent’s Opium. There really is no such thing as a signature scent any more, with beauty houses turning out new fragrances all the time and in lighter or stronger versions according to the seasons. Experts now talk about having a fragrance wardrobe of six or so scents which, like clothes, are rotated to suit different occasions and even moods.

So experiment. Have fun with fragrance. And don’t limit it to your body, either. Fragrance plays a major part in creating a beautiful home. I’m not talking about the air-freshener-in-a-can kind. Fresh flowers, scented candles, burning incense or essential oils, scented pillows, even drawer liners, can have a surprisingly lifting effect on your frame of mind.