Looking back at my time as a lover of fashion, I am surprised that fragrances were not the so-called next step in my journey sooner. Now, leaving the house without a scent is almost as disappointing as getting into your car and realizing you don’t have gas.
My introduction to fragrances came in the form of a juggernaut. Some might say THE juggernaut of recent times: Dior Sauvage Eau De Parfum. The clean, peppery fragrance opened my eyes to the possibility of scent.
Since then, I’ve dabbled in other categories and have compiled a list of three ‘moods’ every collector should own, with my favourite fragrance in each!
1 – The Compliment Getter: Paco Rabanne Invictus
For someone who’s never smelt Invictus by Paco Rabanne, you’re in for a treat. This fragrance has top notes of grapefruit, mandarin orange and the sea. But as a fragrance collector, you know that the top notes usually don’t tell the whole story.
In my opinion, Invictus is a synthetic, sweet citrus that smells like the bubblegum you would beg your parents for as a youngster. It has great performance as it lasts close to 8 hours on my skin and clothes.
As well, this fragrance is a compliment monster! Passersby will have no choice but to give you a double-take. I recommend this fragrance be worn in the evening time at a bar or club, or when you’re in the mood to be seductive.
2 – The Clean, Everyday: Prada L’homme
My only regret when purchasing this fragrance was not buying the jumbo 150ml sized bottle. Prada L’homme is a clean soapy fragrance that features top notes of neroli, black pepper, cardamom and carrot seeds.
Everyone needs an everyday fragrance that isn’t offensive at work, and still garners compliments as you head home. The house of Prada is notorious for making inoffensive, easy-to-wear fragrances that please the vast majority of people.
Prada L’homme easily lasts upwards of 8 hours on my skin, giving you the ability to step out for your day and come home smelling the exact same way you left.
3 – Let’s get sexy: Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille
Credit: @januaryscents check her out on IG!
No matter where you are from, Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford is a pricey fragrance. But it is worth every last penny. This masterpiece opens up with a strong, tobacco note as if you had just opened your cigar humidor. Then, awake your dark side with a sweet, natural vanilla note.
Let me set the scene. At 5 Pm, I applied three sprays of Tobacco Vanille on either side of my neck and my wrist. I went for an hour-long walk, showered and slept. The next morning I woke up to a pungency that only could have been attributed to my roommates spraying the bottle directly onto my nose. Nonetheless, that scent had been coming from my wrist and had lasted a considerable 15+ hours.
In my opinion, this is a special fragrance and is meant to be treated as such. Proceed with caution as it is a strong fragrance, that makes every spray worth it.
