If we had to choose one woman to embody this group of sensual scents, it would be Brigitte Bardot. Notice-me notes like vanilla, tonka bean and sandalwood add an alluring and intoxicating quality. The best part? These eaux smell even better on the skin after a few hours of wear. Think sexy, overtly so
From top: Heidi Klum Summer Shine Eau de Toilette (limited edition), $35 for 30 ml, Prada Infusion d’Iris Eau de Parfum Absolue, $105 for 50 ml, Roberto Cavalli Eau de Parfum, $80 for 50 ml
These feminine fragrances are nothing like your grandmother’s scents, lovely as they may be. They’re crisp with juxtaposed notes, such as lily of the valley with truffle, or patchouli with rose and peony. The contrast provides depth to their whimsical flowery qualities.
From top: Stella McCartney L.I.L.Y Eau de Parfum, $90 for 50 ml; L’Eau de Chloé Eau de Toilette, $105 for 100 ml; Miss Dior Chérie Blooming Bouquet Eau de Toilette (limited edition), $92 for 50 ml
To sum up these fruity fragrances would be like trying to do so with fresh linens, spring air or the ocean. Each one has that unforgettable elusive, zesty quality. Ginger, orange blossom, lemon and blue lotus lend invigorating and awakening powers that are more effective (and mouth-watering) than a strong cup of coffee.
From top: Jimmy Choo Eau de Toilette, $63 for 60 ml; Lancôme ô De L’Orangerie Eau de Toilette, $54 for 75 ml; Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Lys Soleia Eau de Toilette $63 for 75 ml; Ralph Lauren The Big Pony Collection #1 Eau de Toilette, $65 for 100 ml
As I left my teenage years behind, the sporty and saccharine scents were replaced with more sensual ones. I embraced my 20s with the warm scents of patchouli, sandalwood and musk found in Gucci Rush, Hugo Boss Hugo Deep Red and Armani Code. At the time, I was earning frequent-flirting miles, and the oriental fragrances I was drawn to reflected this new stage. After a few attempts at love, finally came marriage. I can still remember the moment I chose the fragrance for my wedding day. Stella in Two Peony, a feminine floral with a hint of sexy musk, was a natural extension of my elegant Chantilly-lace wedding dress with its unexpected deep-V in the back. Perhaps all brides plan their special scent with as much gush as I did, but the ritual spritz from my growing fragrance wardrobe became the stepping stone to accessorizing for every occasion. Now, armed with new-found knowledge and life experiences, it’s becoming easier to make matches. For get-togethers with my mum, I’ll wear a Peter Pan collar and one of my favourite florals–Chloé or Stella McCartney Stella. When I borrow my husband’s dress shirt for a lazy Sunday brunch, I’ll put on the crisp Prada Infusion d’Iris. My beach scent is Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue; its citrus-meets-floral-meets-woody element is the sheer heaven that sunny vacations are made of. If I’m going to New York, I always reach for Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb, a great gourmand that smells like adventure. But my nearest and dearest is J’Adore by Dior. It brings me back to Paris, where I wore it for 10 long but delightful days. I may be a fragrance hoarder, ahem, collector, but I’m a practical one. My perfume is chosen with purpose—like shoes or a handbag are—when the mood or occasion calls for it. I like to keep my memories accessible and tangible, stowed in front of me for when I need them most. Am I a dreamer who prefers a romanticized version of my recollections through the rose-coloured lens that only a waft of fragrance provides? Yes. Will my desire to keep my memories close—with a new bottle here, a sniff there—wane? Not in this lifetime.
Photography by Natasha V
Tania KwongTania Kwong is Glow's beauty editor. Obsessiveness is clearly intrinsic to her personality: She also describes herself as a "magazine hoarder" stretching back to when she devoured every issue of Bop and Sassy as a teenager.
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