Scents for the subtle woman

When it comes to scent for some people less is usually more. Scent, our most underrated sense, beats all other senses hands down.

Have you noticed how when we like someone we literally want to inhale them – breathe their air? That’s not expensive perfume. It’s their pheromones and body chemistry. Your nose is unmistakably precise and it will cut a very clear path through all the chemical enhancements and zoom in on the other’s skin.

Incidentally, right underneath your nose, scientists state, rests a nerve that carries scent directly to the part of the brain that deals with sex! For people who prefer subtlety, the world of perfumery rarely seems to be a wonderland. There are, however, ways to smell divine short of buying a packet of pheromones. There is only one precaution you must take – keep them away from children!

1. Foodie meets perfumer – Gourmand flavours, they are called, those scents that blend food flavours, scents and tastes. These include, but are certainly not limited to, vanilla, chocolate, cookies, coffee, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, peaches and milky aromas, which have an innate trigger for us. It is why we love to inhale babies when we hold them and why women are drawn to baby products and why Johnsons & Johnsons have an entire fleet of products designed for women.

Away from expected offerings such as citrusy, oceanic, florals, woodsy or Oriental flavours, gourmand scents are in a category of their own. They smell edible. It explains why Thierry Mugler’s Angel remains one of the world’s top selling scents.

2. A touch of deo – For the nitpicker, when scouting for alternative scents and aromas the last place you should scout it the supermarket shelf. Instead, go to the high-end cosmetic shops. Here you will find the deodorant that has an unconventional scent. It will also last longer.

3. Body oil – My favourite is Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Body Oil, light and fragrant without the intensity of a chocolate-flavoured butter. Bio Oil is gaining ground as well for many reasons besides scent. Body oils can be added to bath water, your final rinse in a basin/bucket, massaged directly onto your skin immediately after a bath, or as a dry oil that can be absorbed without agitated rubbing, or massaged into the hair.

4. Essential oils – These are normally added onto skin care or hair care products and are favourited by the Naturals who make their own hair concoctions at home. Bottles indicate measurement. It will tell you, for instance, that it has 60 drops and, through a dropper, you can then doll out your fragrance as per your preferred intensity.

5. Hair mist – Women are advised to spritz shampoo into their hair, which is a great idea. In theory. It works largely with Asian or Caucasian hair which is long and swishy. Aside from that, perfume most often than not has alcohol, and alcohol dries the hair. And any product that dries out African hair is not a product we want in our hair. But, if you can get your hands on a hair mist sans alcohol and avoid the crispiness of alcoholic hair, even better.

6. Scented body lotion – Supermarkets, to their credit, have a delicious selection. Again, try designer products and/or cosmetic shops. Thick, creamy, scented lotions are becoming a big business with aromas ranging from lavender to vanilla. If subtlety is your thing and you want a unifying aroma rather than a stack of competing scents, then the scented body lotion is your salvation.

7. Body splash or body mist – I once bought a bottle for Sh780 at a petrol station at 10pm. I assure you, no one could tell that when they sniffed. It was quite popular. From Victoria Secrets to Imperial Leather, there are body sprays with your name on them. Body splashes have made perfumes more accessible and are the lightest form of scent you can ever spray on your body. Enhance their longevity with well-moisturised skin through a shea butter lotion, Crème 23 or a non-scented lotion.

8. Body wash – I favour high end cosmetic shops with a range of body foams that smell delicious and fell gentle on your skin. The challenge here is finding one that will not dry your skin in an effort to enhance its scent longevity. Fashion houses that design perfumes can break down highly complex designer fragrances into a soap/ lotion that is more palatable to your nose. Try Naomi Campbell.

9. Perfumed powders – Women are generally drawn to baby powder. However, more and more, the pink and blues are being replaced by grown-up powder. Designer powder scents, in fact, are likely to come in a powder case with a puff for application and it even smells like a woman should.

10. Perfume balm – A scented balm applied to your pulse points, balms release a delicate scent and you don’t risk overperfuming yourself. They are packaged like your typical lip balm in small, portable tin-like containers or tubes. Rose, lavender, jasmine and ylang ylang are just some of the favourites.

11. Roll on oil – This is exactly what it says.

Regardless of your preference, the selection process for scent remains the same. Go with your nose as opposed to what smells good on another person. Shop, experiment and be careful to take your time, which means days or months, to find your scent. Be willing to savour the journey.