BEAUTY BEATFEMALE: What’s your definition of the
perfect scent?
Roger: “I’ve been in this business since
I was 21 so it really varies. Recently, I
like patchouli and this summer, I plan to
grow it in my garden. I like woody notes
a lot. But you know, maybe next month,
I might go for something more romantic
like lavender because it’ll be summer
where I live. My wife has recently been
using a unique fragrance that we made
for a friend of ours, which features
cardamom from Guatemala and it
smells fantastic on her!”
F: How would you mix and match the
fragrances from the Scent of Life
collection?
R: “The idea is to encourage you to
play; it’s sort of like cooking. I’m half
Italian, and in Italy, the men love to
cook. You start putting a little bit of
this and that, and then you discover the
perfect recipe and your whole family
likes it – so it’s in the same spirit.”
F: What are your rules for scent
layering?
R: “What I’d suggest is that you
start with an essence, then put the
fragrance on top and finish with a
spritz. But really, you could just use
them individually. I don’t think that
there really is a secret formula because
scents are very much linked to your
memories.”
HAVING SPENT DECADES
IN THE FRAGRANCE
INDUSTRY, MASTER
PERFUMER ROGER SCHMID
COLLABORATES WITH THE
BODY SHOP ON A NEW
COLLECTION CALLED SCENTS
OF LIFE, WHICH ALLOWS YOU
TO MIX AND MATCH SCENTS
IN ORDER TO CREATE ONE OF
YOUR OWN. SARAH HANI JAMIL
CHATS WITH HIM TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT IT.
CELEBRATORY
SCENTS
F: Can you give us tips to make
fragrances last longer in a humid climate?
R: “For that, you really need the essence.
What you can do is use certain fragrances
that have woody, amber notes as they have
staying power. You shouldn’t be afraid
to carry a fragrance in your bag and
spritz when required. The alcohol used
in fragrances is a way to bring the smell
away from your skin. Everything that’s
citrusy is going to evaporate very quickly
but that’s just nature!”F: What are your thoughts about the
smell of durian?
R: “I think it’s unusual just because I
didn’t grow up with it. I only smell it when
I come here. But you know, in France,
there are 365 types of cheese and there’s
no way that you’d eat some of them if
you’re not used to it. But the French
love it, so it’s kind of the same.”F: Scents can have an impact on the way
you’re feeling at a particular moment.
What notes should we pick for a
confidence boost?
R: “It depends very much on the person.
If you’re combining it with your dress
sense; let’s say you want to go out at night
and you really want to feel pretty and
feminine, go for floral notes. Whereas
if you want to show power in a certain
way, then go for amber-y or woody
notes. There are some scents that in
your memory give you confidence, so
you’d just have to trust your instincts.”1 THE BODY SHOP
IRIS AND VIOLET
ESSENCE 20ML,
RM95
2 SWEET LOVE
FRAGRANCE MIST
100ML, RM65
3 GOLD ADDICTION
EDT 50ML, RM109