Eau Yes

Ms. Monroe in an iconic ad for Chanel No.5


Summer ScentFall Scent

I'm a scent snob.

I said it. There are certain smells for which I am prejudice. Scent is a determining factor in the interaction amongst the sexes. Think about it. Think about the people you have become smitten with and I guarantee a specific smell comes to mind. Should you catch a whiff of that scent again and an assault of memories will surely follow. For instance, if ever caught down wind from any eau from Abercrombie and Fitch (I shudder even typing that brand--but let's save my mall snobbery for another entry) a putrid recollection of a past fellow takes over my thoughts. Au contraire, the enveloping leathery aroma of Hermes fragrances evokes a pleasant TDH boy--tall, dark and v. handsome.

A friend recently romanced a scent that I fell hard for this summer abroad. I first smelled it on a certain Parisian homme and became immediately infatuated. Now when said friend wears it I find myself oddly attracted to him... I say oddly because he happens to be gay. Zute.

My favourite place for a fragrance fling is Noor in Toronto (21 Avenue Rd at Cumberland, right below the Four Seasons) I first ventured to Noor on a hunt for a new scent called Eau D'Italie for an ELLE feature I was compiling. The lovely Nala carefully ushered me through their niche brands-- which included Penhaligons (British florals), L'Artisean Perfumeur (French smokey) and Santa Maria Novella (Italian crisp). Given my affection for the French, I quickly gave my heart away to a couple L'Artisan suitors. Their scents are absorbed into the skin for a seamless finish that feels at once unique and addictive. Visiting Noor is a pleasure because one is never pressured and samples are given out of your favorites. It's important to date your fragrance before you settle down.

Fragrance is wholly personal. What smells delicious on one person can be most displeasing on the wrong wrist. I was once violated by a lewd scent while out shopping with a girlfriend. Never. Again. She had trouble standing next to me, claiming I smelled like porn.

While I love to read articles on fragrance in magazines, I don't trust their recommendations and neither should you. Perfume is an industry that spends a lot of money on glossy adverts. The publications will feature these fragrances to keep the ad dollars flowing. That has to be the reason why a reputable magazine recently referred me to Jessica Simpson's Fancy. How offensive.

Here I present to you my entirely biased list of favourites fragrances. While my heart currently belongs to a secret paramour, if you currently wear any of the following we may be scent mates. If, however, you still wear anything that falls under the category of Davidoff, Michael Kors, Dolce and Gabanna's Light Blue, Angel, Gap Dream, Tommy Hilifiger, Swiss Army, Polo Sport, Body Shop Vanilla, Lancome Miracle, or Clinique Happy (which makes be feel just the opposite), you will most likely disagree with my selection—and that’s fine. I don't want to be judgey, but those scents are more overplayed than Thriller on Halloween.

Featured are scents for both X and Y. I encourage you to gender bend.

* Chanel: Gardenia (perfect floral), No. 19 (vintage yet clean), Bois des Illes, Eau de Cologne, No.5 (instead of pj's)

* Dior: Pour Homme (so sexy for guys and girls, smells like a male model), Diorella (grown up lilac), Bois D'Argent (simply killer, I can't resist) Eau Sauvage (a classic, very Mad Men)

* Sisley Eau De Soir (smells like rich lady with LV luggage and porter)

*Tom Ford EVERYTHING (all his work reek of smokey liaisons and chocolate)

* YSL Nu (sadly available only in Europe, a Tom-Era creation)

* Eau de Lalique and Lalique Parfum

* Givenchy L'Interdit (created for Audrey Hepburn, the only acceptable celeb scent)

* L'Artisan-- namely L'Ete en Douche, Poivre Piquant, Absinthe, Bois Farine, Timbuktu and Mure en Musc.

* Jo Malone Wild Fig and Cassis

* Acqua de Parma (Italian citrus)

* anything Hermes

* Bvlgari Au Thé Vert and Au Thé Rouge

* anything Comme des Garcons

* L'Ocittance Fleur Oranger

x M.

Chanel No. 5 Ad, 1921