Scents are powerful. I’m someone who feels a lot, which explains why I’m really connected to perfumes. To me, perfumes are bottles of magical elixirs that represent memories, they conjure imagined fantasies and evoke emotions. You could smell something and be like, “this brings me back to high school” or “this reminds me of my honeymoon in Paris”.
The celebrity fragrance market is huge in Australia. I once got my mum to bring an additional luggage on her trip to Gold Coast so she could bring back 15-20 full-sized celebrity perfumes for me. They cost me about S$500 in total but it was worth it. Thanks, Mum!
WHAT’S THE MOST EXPENSIVE PERFUME YOU OWN?
It might either be the Bond No 9 Madison Avenue or Ex Nihilo Fleur Narcotique Extrait de Parfum. They both retail for US$440 (S$593). As for perfume sets, my Melanie Martinez Portals collection set me back about S$500.
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIAL QUALITIES OF A GOOD SCENT?
I’m always looking for creativity and interesting notes in perfume. Longevity isn’t super important to me (though that might change at some point) but for now, I’m here for the artistry and noses (perfumers) who don’t just create scents to appeal to the masses, but truly telling a fascinating story to the consumer. Because one can tell if a perfume is “lazily curated (aka basic)” and personally, I’d rather invest my money on something else. It might be from a smaller, unknown brand; it does not matter.
NICHE SCENTS ARE HAVING A MOMENT. WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON THIS?
I’m all for it. To be fair, I don’t think it’s a trend. Niche scents have always enjoyed success. It’s just gotten more eyeballs in recent years because of social media.
Niche scents are more layered compared to its designer counterparts. They are great for people who are willing to explore this complexity. Set foot into that space by starting from beginner options that might either be more affordable or “easy to understand”. Pick something that is versatile so you can get more bang for your buck.
I’m keen to try Fendi’s new luxury collection, which is interesting because each scent is inspired by a member of the Fendi family. Also the Cirque Du Soleil L’eau de perfume, apparently it smells like cotton candy, caramel apples and hot popcorn.
ARE THERE ANY BUDGET-FRIENDLY PERFUMES THAT IN YOUR OPINION CAN RIVAL HIGH-END OPTIONS?
Recently, I’m loving Teriaq by Lattafa Perfumes, which is possibly the first affordable Middle Eastern perfume created by master perfumer Quentin Bisch. He also created iconic feminine scents like Good Girl by Carolina Herrera, Delina by Parfums de Marly, Angel Muse by Mugler and more. The man has a knack for making women go crazy for his creations, and this is no exception. It is unique, spicy, warm, inviting caramel popcorn goodness.
DO YOU HAVE A SIGNATURE SCENT?
