152 DECEMBER 2017
EDWARD URRUTIA ALL PRICES APPROXIMATEDETAILS AT VOGUE.COM.AU/WTB“It’s not about choosing a ‘good’
fragrance. It’s about choosing
the one that’s a good match with
the person who will be wearing it”Tiffany & Co. EDP,
75ml for $195.Valentino Valentina
Blush EDP,
50ml for $126.Jason Wu EDP,
90ml for $150.Prada Infusion Rose,
100ml for $175.CalvinCalvin Klein Calvin Klein Klein
Obsessed For
Women EDP,
100ml for $99.Dior Miss Dior EDP,
100ml for $240.If in doubt, keep it fresh
While there aren’t any ‘safe bets’ when it comes to choosing
a scent the wearer will cherish, Kurkdjian says ‘fresh’ scents
are generally most appealing. “Freshness is the safest
olfactive direction, as it is not disruptive and is often linked
to cleanliness,” he says. How to pinpoint a ‘clean’ scent?
You won’t find a link to a particular fragrance family, so
trust your instincts; if freshly cut grass, clean laundry, rain,
or crisp mornings spring to mind on application, then
chances are you’ve found yourself a clean slate.
Seek out a new incarnation
So you’ve been tasked with buying a fragrance for your
mother/sister/daughter/best friend? Naturally, you’ve
started to comb the department store floor for ‘the one’,
butthere might be a simple solution. “Rather than suggest
a new fragrance, I’d recommend that you find out which
perfume is treasured above all, and buy a gift of a matching
body product – a body lotion or crème, shower gel or bath
oil, dusting powder or soap,” says Michael Edwards,
fragrance expert and creator of industry go-to Fragrances of
the World. Consult a fragrance expert who can help with
pairing complementary notes (aka fragrance combining)
orlayering matching scents.
Remember it’s not about you
Although it may seem counterintuitive to ignore your
owninstincts, especially when it comes to something as
elemental as scent, it’s important to remember that choosing a perfume for a friend
isn’t about your personal preferences. “You should never offer a perfume that you
think is right for you. The secret of people who give nice gifts is they think of
therecipient rather than of themselves,” says Malle. “It’s not about choosing
a‘g o o d ’fragrance. It’s about choosing the one that’s a good match with the
personwho will be wearing it.” So sideline your olfactive tendencies and keep an
open mind (and nose).Focus on personality traits
It’s no revelation that we wear fragrances that reflect our mood. When choosing a
scent, ignore the actual notes of a perfume and instead focus on the personality traits
of the wearer. “We often describe a scent with the same words you would describe
someone’s spirit and soul: bright or discreet; deep and intense or sparkling, light and
coquettish; complex or simple; natural or sophisticated,” says Gilles Thévenin,
creative director of Lubin Paris. “You’ll be surprised how close you can get to the
right scent if you are precise enough in your description of the wearer-to-be.”Make an introduction
We all have comfort zones when it comes to scent, but sometimes stepping outside
the box can introduce the wearer to a whole new fragrance world. With the new
guard of niche offerings presenting unlikely combinations and exotic ingredients,
it’s quite possible to gift a juice outside the wearer’s olfactive bubble. Which isn’t
abad thing. “There is no ‘bad taste’ as far as fragrances are concerned, only ‘different
tastes’,” says Thévenin. “Sometimes you give someone the opportunity to discover
an original scent that they wouldn’t have thought was suitable for themselves.”
Olfactive journeys are indeed personal, but, according to Edwards, sometimes the
best fragrance gifts are those which you wouldn’t purchase: “To me, the perfect gift
is something that you’d love but probably wouldn’t buy for yourself.” ■VOGUE BEAUTY
Maison Francis
Kurkdjian Baccarat
Rouge 540 extrait de
parfum, 70ml for $481.