Tag: mixing your own scent

Let’s get personal.  Our fragrance says a lot more about us than we think!

What aspect of our characters do we want to project to the world?  Feminine, sexy, bold, down-to-earth, tomboyish, loud, exciting, etc.

My Ana Sui “dreams” signature scent is running low and short of trying to locate the *discontinued fragrance with heavenly vanilla & lavender notes online, maybe I should consider something new. I’ve tried the Jasmine & Bergamot and Vanille & Narcisse Eau de Toilettes by L’Occitane which both smelled exquisite but ended up becoming too overpowering.  On the hunt…

*(I hate when they discontinue things we love – but more on this in my beauty post.)

I’m looking for something feminine but a little exotic, not overpowering but sophisticated.  Italian, Japanese & Indian cuisine are among my favorite foods but I also enjoy a good steak once in a while, the colors pink & blue and vacations anywhere tropical.  What does have to do with anything?  You’ll find out.  What does this say about me? I’m a bit all over the map.  How about you?

Finding a new fragrance should be a guided experience, like a wine tasting, according to the owner of a cozy little boutique in Soho where signature scents are discovered one confession at a time. 

MiN was opened by proprietors Chad Murawczk and Mindy Yang in 2010 selling dozens of indie and limited-distribution scents from around the world.  With so many scents to choose from, visitors need a little direction.  That’s where MiN’s Bespoke Fragrance Flight comes in:  the $250 hour-long, one-on-one consultation includes an interview and multiple rounds of recommendations, from which you can whittle your way to a signature spritz. Questions like where did you grow up, what are your favorite foods, colors, treasured vacations, current romantic status, and – possibly the most probing question of all – what do you want to convey to the world?

This is kind of like therapy except that you end up exploring multitudes of fruits, florals and spices.  You can take about five favorites and a couple wild card sample vials to try out at home.  A lot of times clients get stopped on the street and that determines their final choice – a random compliment.  For one client the chosen fragrance is an escape from the stress of New York –  the special blend of citrus, wood, moss and sea-salt conjuring up memories of childhood summers spent sailing on Washington’s Puget Sound.  It was that blissful carefree memory that sold her in the end.  That’s the power of using your common scents.

We don’t all live in New York, but we may want to try blending in once in a while. 

Is there a local fragrance bar in your area?