Colognes are close cousins to gin, vermouth, and other spirits flavored with botanicals. Until the late 19th –early 20th century when denaturated alcohol gradually began to supplant grape spirits as a perfume base, you could safely take a swig of your Eau de Cologne. Today, I wouldn’t recommend it, but take a whiff of Ô de Lancôme, and you can easily imagine it served on the rocks with a twist of lemon. It smells exhilarating–green and lemony, with a pleasant earthy note of wet woods.

If you’re familiar with Christian Dior’s Eau Sauvage, Ô de Lancôme will seem familiar. Launched in 1969, it was Lancôme’s answer to Dior’s marvel–you see, even back then, perfume companies were happily copying each other’s blockbusters just as they do today. But while in the 1970s, it was probably just another nice cologne, today Ô de Lancôme stands out for its classical elegance and nonchalant style. You can easily wear it to the gym, to a cocktail party or even a board meeting: It’s really that versatile.

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For the summer, Bath & Body Works has released an Italy inspired collection. Rome Honeysuckle Amore, Venice Dolce Berry and Capri Seaside Citrus are meant to evoke the Italian sunshine.

Rome Honeysuckle Amore is “a glamorous fragrance,” with notes of Italian Peach, Blackberry, Green Mandarin, Pink Honeysuckle, White Raspberry, Peony, Golden Amber, Soft Sandalwood, and Cypress Wood.

Venice Dolce Berry is about ” ‘la dolce vita,’ the sweet life,” and it includes Pink Plumberry, Apple Blossom, White Iris, Venetian Raspberry, Red Apricot, Frosted Magnolia, Blackberry Musk, Sandalwood Sugar, and Vanilla Biscotti.

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Andy looks for the scent of tea in a bottle.

If I were to write the story of Atelier Cologne Oolang Infini, it would begin on a cool autumn afternoon. I dab the perfume on my wrist, and set off on a quiet wooded trail to catch some relaxation under a cathedral of falling leaves. I let the scent settle in, and immediately I envision misty blue mornings and steam rising out of warm teacups.

Fast forward several months, and I’m still thinking about Oolang Infini, a fragrance from the Atelier Cologne collection, in spite of the fact that my sample has since been reduced to mere drops. As a tea lover-turned perfume fan, I’ve just started my search for perfumes that evoke tea, but I’m glad to discover Oolang Infini. I’ve neglected the ideas of oolong suggested in the name; for me, Oolang Infini conjures a perfect cup of Earl Grey—a beverage that brings citrus and black tea into perfect harmony.

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The Iraqi capital Baghdad is associated today with devastation and sectarian violence, and every time another story of this troubled city unfolds on the TV screen, perfume is the last thing I usually think about. And isn’t it frivolous and unnecessary anyway? But then I remember a scented memento given to me by an Iraqi friend. “In our culture, we give a fragrant flower to sweeten the pain of saying goodbye,” she said. We were in New York then, and there were neither scented roses nor jasmine, so instead she gave me a small bottle of orange blossom water. Every time I use it in my cakes or tea, I think of Muna.

The tradition of sharing scents–sprinkling guests with perfume or giving them small scented gifts as they depart–has ancient roots, and with few modifications, these practices continue today. Even as Iraq has been undergoing dramatic upheavals, some things remain the same and provide a thread of continuity which becomes even more essential when nothing else is certain. When Muna describes the fragrances made by her relatives, she doesn’t just describe the sweetness of jasmine or the medicinal sharpness of saffron, she tells me about her mother and grandmother and other women who left an indelible mark on her.

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Reading French magazines never feels as indulgent as spending a lazy Sunday afternoon with a pile of American Marie Claires or Vogues. “It’s language practice,” I say to my husband, who gives me a look indicating that he’s not buying any of it. Little does he know that it’s also an interesting cultural study, because whatever the globalization adherents believe, France and USA remain distinctive, right down to their fragrance preferences. One example is the choice of perfumes that French magazines consider sexy.

“Parfums sexy” editorials were all over the magazines leading up to Valentine’s Day and now they’re resurfacing again in preparation for the summer holidays. I suppose that when you have 30 paid vacation days, why not use some of that time for seduction.

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