The olfactory senses are
wildly important. I mean, sure, in order to taste food you
have to first smell it, and it helps to be able to sniff
smoke should your house be on fire, but more important
than eating and rampant domestic fires is this: Smells
bring about memories.
How amazing is it that when you get a whiff of Opium
perfume you instantly think of your friend in France? Or
how freshly mowed grass brings you right back into your
childhood yard with a Nancy Drew book? Oh! Or how the
sharp, sweet smell of gasoline reminds you of that trip
you took cross-country with your family?
Nothing takes us there like our sense of smell. So, when
you choose you personal scent, remember--whether you like
it or not--you're making a memory.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderate
Steps
1
Step One
A fun, albeit excessive,
thing to do is make a list of all the smells that you
respond to. Positively, I mean, because it really wouldn't
be prudent to have you craft a list including "nail
polish remover" and "rancid milk." That would just be
silly. Although, including some specific perfumes you
loathe is smart--for example, if this was my list, it
would read something like this:
1. Love: Tuberose, musk, dirt, tobacco flower, black
truffle, babies
2. Hate: Old-school fragrances.
It's just that easy.
2
Step Two
Trot, list in hand, to
your nearest perfumery. No, I don't mean the marked-down
kiosk at the mall that specializes in Elizabeth Taylor's
Poison and Elizabeth Arden's Sunflowers. Not that.
Go to a shop that offers a "fragrance bar" of sorts.
Once you present your list of faves/hates, a seasoned
olfaction-specialist will know the notes of fragrance
you respond to and steer you toward the perfect perfume
for you.
3
Step Three
So, maybe you live in
Timbuktu and can't find a specialty fragrance bar. No
worries. The Internet is the answer. Check out some of
my favorite sites for creating the scent of your wildest
dreams(scroll down to the bottom).
4
Step Four
Sometimes certain simple
scents make us happy. Maybe it's that grass from your
childhood, a crisp ginger ale or a sunny-ripe tomato
from your garden. For one-note wonders like these,
nothing hits the spot like Demeter fragrances. Their
most popular, interestingly enough, is Dirt. (my fave is
Laundromat)
Tips &
Warnings
I like
having a "signature" scent. It's nice when people can
associate you with a lovely smell. But, if that idea wigs
you out and feels far too limiting, try rotating four
scents a year--one new scent to start each season.
