The lure of scent

By Zamir Azam

To what extent is perfume an attraction tool? Zamir Azam gets a whiff

THERE are times when a man walks past a woman and the smell of her perfume just lights up his senses. He turns around for a second whiff and to compliment her... silently in his head, of course.

This, sadly, rarely happens to me. It set me wondering what makes a good scent. What exactly do men look for in women’s perfume?

First things first. Men don’t have a clue about flowers or notes, but most of us do know that the smell has to be friendly to the nose, never overwhelming. This is neither rocket science nor a tactical war strategy but in the field of personal beauty, having the right fragrance is the winning pulse.

And I’m not alone in this. Composer Paul Moss likes a natural, clean-cut smell on women. “Something not too overpowering or aggressive but subtle, like a cool breeze amid a sweat-filled playground. It doesn’t need to stand out, but enough for you to notice if you stand beside her.”

CHARMING CONFIDENCE

Mohammad Faiz Rusli, a bachelor in his 20s, likes a fruity smell on women. “They should express themselves and not buy a perfume for the brand or seasonal highlights. It’s OK if they want to smell like candy or flowers, as long as they are confident and they wear it right,” he says.

He also thinks women should never “overspray”, just enough for herself and the person next to her.
Twentysomething Gary Yap thinks women should stick to one perfume instead of changing it often like how they would with clothes. “Changing your perfume frequently shows you’re inconsistent in your choices,” he says.

SCENT AS IDENTITY

Most men think women shouldn’t wear overpowering fragrances. Imagine being in an elevator where everybody’s perfumes mix together to create this unique (read: suffocating) fiesta of scents.

Wearing what you feel confident in is important as it projects another side of you — in this case, your fine olfactory taste. This brings to mind a friend who is committed to only one perfume. Whenever I smell something similar to that perfume, I immediately think of her.

JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERY

It may sound trivial, but finding the perfect perfume is a journey of self-discovery, like a rosebud in winter waiting for spring. A particular scent may not have the same effect on everyone since all of us carry our own unique smell mixed with our perfume of choice.

I ask the three men mentioned above what they think of their wife or girlfriend's perfume and, unanimously, they say they love whatever their women wear.

My preference is the classic type, where flowery and woody notes take centrestage with a sweet honey-like base.

Couturier Christian Dior sums it up best when he says: “A woman's perfume tells more about her than her handwriting.”

Top-selling perfumes over the years :

FOR WOMEN
•   Chanel No. 5 (1921)
•   Estee Lauder Beautiful (1985)
•   Ralph Lauren Romance (1998)
•   Christian Dior J’Adore (1999)
•   Chanel Chance (2002)
•   Prada Candy (2010)

FOR MEN
•   Aramis (1965)
•   Ralph Lauren Polo (1978)
•   Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio (1996)
•   Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Pour Homme (2001)
•   Gucci by Gucci Pour Homme (2008)

Source: boisdejasmin.com

Perfumes should never be overpowering

Lam prefers men to smell musky, but not too overpowering

Tengku Adrinna likes a fresh smell on men

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The lure of scent

To what extent is perfume an attraction tool? Zamir Azam gets a whiff

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