150 DECEMBER 2017
Find a link other than scent
“Feelings behind scents are personal – it
remains a relatively subjective choice,” says
Francis Kurkdjian, the nose behind many
blockbuster fragrances and, now, his own
namesake line. Given the intrinsically
personal nature of fragrance, Kurkdjian
bypasses smell altogether and instead
recommends finding a connection to the
wearer – be it the name, flacon or origin of
ingredients. “I always suggest people choose
a fragrance that makes a link with the person
from an element of the fragrance mix,” he
says. “For example, a perfume can evoke a
place of meeting, a time of the day, a favourite
raw material, a lifetime moment.”
Do your homework
Some shrewd detective work now will save
time come Christmas Eve, so sniff out the
fragrances the wearer currently has on high
rotation. A quick internet search or an in-store
fragrance expert can help pinpoint which
olfactive family your recipient’s signature scent
belongs and recommend another scent that
mixes with the same crowd. “If you already
know the fragrance that the person likes, or has
worn in the past, go to a specialty store, and
thefragrance expert should be able to suggest
something similar, or in the same family. This
gives you options to consider and saves time,”
says trailblazing perfumer Frédéric Malle.
When the go-to gift come festive
season also happens to convey
the most personal sentiment of all,
it pays to keep a few things in mind
when deciding on the perfect scent.
By Remy Rippon.
Scents and
sensibility
FRAGRANCE
VOGUE BEAUTY
→TANYA AND ZHENYA POSTERNAK