polls: 59 posts

What fragrances do you notice on other people?

I love noticing fragrances on people around me: strangers in the subway, friends, colleagues, dancers in my studio. It is exciting to recognize a familiar perfume, which always feels as if I’m encountering an old friend. If I cannot place a scent, but it feels familiar, the gnawing feeling will be there in the back of my mind until I finally figure it out. After all, I am scent obsessed, as you might gather from reading this blog! In NYC these days, I often smell Juicy Couture, J’Adore and Jennifer Aniston on other women.

Photo of Caroll Baker, Cannes, May 1965 by Claude Azoulay, from vintage_glamor.ru.

Do you have a favorite fictional character? What perfume would he/she/it wear?

Following in my mother’s footsteps, I have been an avid fan of Agatha Christie for as long as I can remember. These days I am enjoying the British TV series starring David Suchet as the incomparable Belgian sleuth, Hercule Poirot. In an episode “How Does Your Garden Grow,” he buys a bottle of cologne from Geo F. Trumper. The story does not mention the name of the cologne, only that it smells of lemons.  Correct dates aside, I imagine Poirot wearing Guerlain Habit Rouge, a fragrance with a distinctive hint of retro elegance. Miss Marple, on the other hand, is a Penhaligon’s Violetta woman in my mind!

What perfume comes closest to your idea of a fragrance custom made for you?

If you have not found anything like that yet, you are welcome to describe what you are looking for, and perhaps someone else can help with your search.

It is fun to fantasize about something created just for you, a scent that contains all of your favorite elements and that immediately puts you in a good mood. On the other hand, whenever I put on Serge Lutens Bois de Violette or Guerlain Après l’Ondée, I feel that they are everything I want in a perfume–elegance, mystery, surprise. Of course, it does not prevent me from being curious about other fragrances out there. It is a neverending quest, after all!

Do you like to cook? What are your favorite flavors and do you happen to have a signature dish in your repertoire?

Let’s talk about food today! I have been enjoying the summer very much, especially for the abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits, hence this topic. I do not remember when I first learned to cook. Since I come from a family of great cooks, I have always taken for granted that it must have happened naturally as I spent time with my grandmothers. My mother and aunt still talk of their grandmother’s cakes and pastries, while I treasure her handwritten recipe books more than any other possession. My paternal grandmother’s crepes with wild strawberries are among my strongest food memories, and I can recall their taste and texture even today, despite having tried them last more than 20 years ago. In other words, I love gastronomy just as much as I love perfumery, and I find that these two pursuits are quite complementary.  Even if during an average work week, I tend to cook simple meals, I enjoy more complicated projects on the weekends or whenever I have more time.

My favorite flavors are as much Eastern European as they are Mediterranean. I love dill, sour cream, tart lingonberries and wild mushrooms. Apricots, saffron, pistachios, pomegranates, thyme, and artichokes never fail to seduce me. I enjoy trying new things and experimenting with unusual flavor combinations. One never knows what might inspire the next quest!

Photography © Bois de Jasmin, cassata, a Sicilian ricotta and candied fruit cake.

When you travel, do you wear perfume and if so, what are your favorite scents for such an occasion? In general, what are your favorite strategies to make air travel more enjoyable?

While I generally avoid any strong blends whenever I know that I will be in close quarters with other people, I like wearing very light scents with an intimate aura. Given the hassle of today’s travel, they are like my little talismans, calming me down and uplifting my mood. Hermès Osmanthe Yunnan, Chanel 28 La Pausa, and Annick Goutal Néroli are my current choices. I also pack a small decant of pure orange blossom water in my carry-on to refresh myself on a long airplane journey. Nothing is more relaxing for me than the scent of orange blossom.

On this note, I shall be traveling for the next couple of weeks. There will be several scheduled articles and a giveaway on Bois de Jasmin during my absence, and I look forward to chatting with you again once I am back!

Image credit: Pénélope Jolicoeur.