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The Art of Giving Fragrant Gifts

One of the most fun things about the Holiday Season is matching gifts to the people I love. And of course, I want to give them something that I love too, something that I would be excited to receive as much as I am to give… This can make for an interesting outcome, and not necessarily the desired effect. We tend to want to give people things that they will enjoy, but also, something that we like and will be proud of giving and be remembered by. And so, as a shameless and hopeless perfume lover, nothing pleases me more than finding fragrant gifts for my friends and family.

However, this is not an easy task. Scents are very personal, some love certain scents and some hate them with a passion. This gets particularly complicated with more complex scents that can trigger a wide range of emotions, from ecstatic pleasure, through all degrees of ambivalence and all the way to profound repulsion. So you got to be careful! You don’t want to give someone a scent that reminds them of their ex-boyfriend or dying grandmother. This might make them sad or upset them. On the other hand, this is unavoidable in some cases, unless you know the person really, really, and I mean REALLY well. The following are a few tips for scent-giving.

GIVING PERFUMES
Give a person a new scent only if you know them really well. You’ll need your intuition (more on this later), but also there are a few pieces of information that can be helpful:

Which perfumes is s/he wearing at the moment?
If you know which fragrances s/he likes already, you will be able to pick something similar. Do you notice a similarity or a connection between the scents? If you don’t you can search online and gather information about the scent – which family does it belong to (oriental, chypre, floral, citrus, etc.)? Which notes are in it? You may be reminded of other scents that you noticed your friend liked when you look at those notes. I recommend these two sites for getting information about perfume notes:
Perfume Addict Database
Basenotes Directory

Which foods and/or beverages does s/he likes?
Taste and smell are closely connected. In fact, there is very little to be experienced in food without our noses’ capability to discern the different subtle aromas. Taste is limited to only 5 possibilities (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami) while there are thousands of aromas perceived by humans which affect profoundly the way we perceive what we put in our mouths. If a person hates cinnamon in their food, most likely they will hate it in a perfume too. On the other hand, if they love certain aromas in their food, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they will want to their body to smell like this all day long. But this would still be a good starting point for getting some ideas for scents.

And last but not least – use your imagination and intuition!
Is s/he playful or serious? Is s/he trendy, individualistic or classic in his/her fashion tastes? These traits will give you a hint of what to look for – a newly released perfume can be an exciting gift for a person who likes to keep up with the current trends; a classic perfume would be a good choice for a person who strives for elegance and simplicity; an unusual, cutting-edge niche perfume might be the choice for your individualistic friend.

If you require assistance in finding a fragrance for a loved one at any time of the year, you can invite them to take the Fragrance Consultation via Ayala Moriel Parfums. This consultation is free of charge for the Ayala Moriel’s customers. If you require assistance in choosing perfumes from other lines, you will be charged a fee of $25 per consultation. For any further inquiries email Ayala.

A few last tips to remember:
* Give a perfume only to a person you know their taste really well.
* You won’t fail if you give a refill or a gift-set of their favourite perfume.
* It’s also courteous to give them a gift-receipt so that they can exchange it if they don’t like the fragrance.

The big NO’s:
* Don’t give a perfume to a person who is allergic to perfume
* Don’t forget to include a gifts receipt

GIVING OTHER SCENTED GIFTS
For your friends who don’t indulge in perfumes particularly often, there are many other delightfully fragrant gifts to choose from. Finding a scented gift other than perfumes is just as fun to receive, will leave a lasting impression - yet a bit less demanding to pick (or use). My top suggestions for other scented products are:

CANDLES
The beauty of candles is that they can be shared with others. Because they are less personal (not worn on the skin) they can be given as a gift to more than one person – i.e.: a family or a couple. It’s also a sneaky way to give a romantic gift to yourself (I get my boyfriend candles all the time, but we end up enjoying them together!). Candles truly make a beautiful gift, especially in the season of defeating darkness with light… (see, there is even a spiritual reason for treating yourself and your loved ones to candles!).
My favourite candles this year are Origins’ “Into The Woods” candle, which smells like fir absolute (sweet and foresty at once), but unfortunately this has been discontinued. My new favourite is Annick Goutal’s Noel candles, a limited edition for the Holiday Season which comes out every year – and smells like freshly crushed coniferous needles and an underlining delicate olibanum base. They smell quite realistic, and burn for many hours emitting a subtle yet definite smell of forest everywhere in my house (which has a very tall ceiling, by the way).

SCENTED BATH & BODY PRODUCTS
The neat thing about getting bath and body products is that for the most part these are enjoyed in the bathing time, but linger afterwards only very gently. This makes them a lot more widely acceptable than perfumes. Also, even if their scent is not the absolutely perfect one, they will be at least embraced for their functionality… My new favourite thing is sugar body scrub, and of these my most favourite are Nyakio’s Kenyan Coffee & Sugar body scrub
(the scent is fantastic, and the experience is phenomenal!), and Crabtree & Evelyn’s Lemongrass & Brown Sugar Body Scrub, which is actually also a moisturizer, with tuns of rich shea butter.

For those of you who like to get your hands dirty and give truly original gifts, you can easily make your own bath products. Bath salts and bath/massage oils are very simple to make, and you can customize your own scents. Below is a recipe for the one and only Black Truffle & Cassis Bath & Massage Oil and Bath Salts!

For other interesting tips for gift giving visit this site.

Image credit: Gift of My Heart
by JeffClow

Tips for Watching "Perfume"

The following are a few tips for watching the movie “Perfume: A Story of a Murderer”, one being perfume related, and the other not so much so.

I most highly recommend wearing no perfume at all to the theatre, so that you can focus all your imagination on the olfactory world described in the film. This is what I did and it was quite fabulous. On the other hand, my scent-abstinence during the film was wildly shattered by the most bizarre experience in public set-up, (surpassed only by another peculiar event last Thursday, when I noticed a lady exposing her breasts for her date - and me, who happened to sit right in front of her - in an elegant candle-lit restaurant): in the middle of the film, and I can’t remember which part it was, someone in the audience suddenly remember that s/he forgot to put on perfume this evening. This must have been of utter importance, because s/he responded to that by spraying on a lethal dose of Poison. Even though she sat somewhere in the middle of the audience (while I was sitting on the side), this was extremely distracting and disturbing. I managed to block it off after a while and continue to enjoy the film. But I can assure you that even if you love perfume, and feel you have the right to wear it to the movies – be sure to put it on at least half an hour before you enter the theatre. Especially if you are going to a movie that is trying so hard to send an olfactory message to the audience.

As I said, I was fortunate to sit very far away from the Poison, which brings me to the next point: I was not seated in the best place in the theatre, which is a shame. If you want to experience the film to its fullest, arrive as early as you can to find a good spot. Preferable right in front of the screen. This way you will enjoy to its fullest the tactile filming style and the olfactory imagination it will trigger in you.

Lastly, I do recommend you read the book first, if you can (even though, as I mentioned earlier, I did enjoy the film much more; the second part of the book is particularly important to read in my opinion). Films cannot possibly cover an entire book to all its details, and some of the most entertaining ones from the second part of the book did not make it to the film (which did not really take away from the story, essentially). Some of the descriptions of perfume making are quite fascinating, and philosophical (especially from a perfumer’s point of view). But most importantly – if you are not a horror-movie fan, this will help you to be able to watch the film and all the bizarre moments and not get completely scared or grossed out. We all know that it’s the anticipation that creates the unbearable suspence in a film. And when it comes to serial killings, I am usually quite sensitive to that. But, because I already knew what to expect I could enjoy the film’s quirky beauty without getting my stomach turned (and, that is to add, I managed to watch the movie like a big girl, with a couple of friends, and without a boyfriend in sight to squeeze his hands in the scary parts…). The fear would have been a distraction from enjoying the film. For me, that is.

Don’t forget to leave a comment either for this post or for the film review, and mention which city you are from – Toronto or Vancouver – so you will be entered into the draw and win a double pass to the Premieres in those cities! And don't forget to tell all your friends from Toronto and Vancouver about it either. The winners will also receive a $25 coupon for Ayala Moriel Parfums.

Tune in for more special posts regarding the book and the movie, and also some special events to come in early January!

Tamya Parfum - Blogala Special!


This is a reminder that Tamya parfum is now on sale for only $75, and that of each sale, $10 will be donated to Autism Community Training, a charitable society owned by parents of children with Autism, that provides autism training, education and workshops in British Columbia.

By buying Tamya perfume not only will you scent yourself with one of Ayala Moriel’s finest and most sought-after perfumes; you will also will contribute to a worthy cause!

Tamya is a mélange of pure jasmine sambac, frangipani, Japanese citron, ylang ylang, cedar and musk. It conjures up memories of the first Autumn crocuses and wild Mediterranean bluebells awakening by the first showers. The earth is covered by sprouting wild grass and the sunrays of sunset glow through the petals as they kiss the earth goodbye...

And don't forget to leave your comments on SmellyBlog's autism posts this weekend. For each post, I will be donating $1 to ACT.

Thank you for reading SmellyBlog! After Afgter 8 months of existence, we know that SmellyBlog is blessed with at least 100 unique readers per day!
All you need is to say hi. I know you are there... Don't hide!


Image credit: Sitvanit Hayore, Originally uploaded by Holy Land Essence


Perfume Advice: Chypre

Question:

I live in Nebraska, which is the armpit of the world for perfume availability--not to insult armpits; sometimes nothing smells sexier... However, my city has to offer only Von Maur, Dillard's and Younkers for fragrance shopping. Alas, I am a chypre lover. Furthermore, I need a strong fragrance that won't disappear on my skin. I like almost everything that makes the perfume counter attendants say, "yuck," which makes me sad and full of self-doubt.

The only chypres I can find here are:
Estee Lauder Knowing - love it, already have it
Calvin Klein CK One - lovely, but too light and fruity, floral for me
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle - ditto
Chanel Chance - ditto
Givenchy Ysatis - unpleasant coconut note on me
Paloma Picasso - hated it, put it on, loved it
What is your opinion of these?

Christine from Nebraska


Answer:

Dear Christine,

What a frustrating, sticky situation (or should I say I have my armpity for you?).

Don't let sales people that hate chypres change your mind. They are obviously not doing a good job if they are trying to convince you to not like something you enjoy and push you into buying a fragrance you don't care for... You may want to refer to my article with tips about perfume shopping to get some ideas...

They are just unlucky to not like chypres. Remember, Chypre people are really special people. It takes a unique personality to enjoy and appreciate the complexity of Chypre perfumes.

Although I do not wear these, Knowing, Ysatis and Paloma Picasso are great chypres. Personally, I wouldn't wear the other you mentioned as they are too watery and chemical for my taste, and since I sensed you are not crazy about them I wouldn't be hesitant to cross them off your list... Coco Mademoiselle is more of a modern fruity twist on classical oriental themes. I smell patchouli in the base as well as some spicy and watery notes. I don’t find it to be particularly Chypre… And as for Chance… I daresay it’s an experiment on how to make Coco Mml smell worse.

If you like both Knowing and Paloma Picasso, I think you should definitely try these perfumes:

1) If you love Knowing, you might want to try other Estee Lauder classics, such as Private Collection, Aliage and Azuree (the last two are not available where I live and so I haven't tried the last two, but I am pretty sure they fit the bill for Chypre from what I have heard about them).

2) Aromatics Elixir (Clinique) - shouldn't be too hard to find either. It's very strong, so use a tiny bit to try it so it doesn't shout in your face and make you run away. It's a great perfume though when its potency is respected and considered. On another note, I can highly recommend the limited edition Velvet Sheer for both the gorgeous bottle and the silky oil formulation. It really makes the scent shine through without the horribly strong sillage reputation it carries for years.

3) O de Lancome. I see this in every drug store, so I am sure it makes it Nebraska quite frequently as well. Although often it is classified as a citrus, it has a deep chypre base, with refreshing notes of lemon leaf.

3) Ma Griffe (Carven) - this is very cheap (budget wise, not scent wise!) and even if you don't find it in your local store it's easy to find it online. On eBay it's probably going to be dirt cheap. It's a very high quality perfume though, a great investment!

4) Miss Dior (Dior) - NOT the Cherie one!!! - if you have a Dior counter they should at least have an EDT, which is gorgeous, just enough civet and patchouli in the base to make it really sexy in the chicest way possible.

5) Agent Provocateur - this is not going to be easy to find. It's in some high end stores in North America, and sold for a relatively higher price range. I recommend you try to get it from eBay. The price will be much better too, and you might be able to get a hold of the smaller (and in my opinion also cuter and more functional) purse spray (it comes in 30ml). It is dry, with notes of vetiver, roses, musk and spice - saffron and coriander to be precise - which is also present in Paloma. It shares quite a few other notes with Paloma, so I think you will like it.

6) Don't forget other classics - they may not be in Nebraska, but are worth seeking out. Mitsouko, Vol de Nuit, Femme are must try for the Chypre admirer. They are a dream come true for a Chypre Lover... I can't stress enough how marvelous these three are. YOU MUST TRY THEM. I've seen Mitsouko EDT on the Dillards website, so hopefully the one in your town carries it too...

7) If you hit a really desparate stage, you may opt for the new breed categorized as chypre (I disagree with the classification, but some of these scents are not half as bad as the myriads of fruity florals and artificial gourmands that are threatening to choke the Chypre Lover to olfactory death). My favourite from this suspicious modern category (which I will discuss here shortly as part of the "Chypre Month") are Pure Turquoise by Ralph Lauren, a very appealing combination of full bodied grapefruit over a base of uber-clean patchouli; and also Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker. I prefer the Liquid Satin formulation, both because of the gorgeous packaging and because the scent is a little less sharp than the alcohol based EDP.

From my own line (which ships to anywhere in the world as long as you have a mailing address!) I recommend you try the following Chypres in my collection;

Autumn, a fruity chypre with warm spices.
Ayalitta , a green chypre with a pronounced animalic ambery-patchouli chypre base
Democracy, a warm, ambery-sweet chypre with fresh citrusy notes of lemon verbena and a foresty touch of juniper berries. It was originally designed for men, but as we know it Chypre ladies have no boundaries when it comes to chypres....
Megumi, a woody floral chypre with graceful notes of rose and jasmine and precious agarwood in the base.
Schizm, one of my wildest creations – animalic, peppery floral chypre with an explosion of dark tuberose, black pepper and wild mushroom added to the base.
ArbitRary, a refreshing citrus chypre, with notes of basil, lime, pine and lemonrass it is suitable for men and women alike.

I hope that you found my answers helpful, and that you will be able to find enough chypres wherever you are!

Warm regards,

Ayala

Image credit: doordetail04, Originally uploaded by Marieea

New Perfume: Kinmokusei


, originally uploaded by titanium22.

Ayala Moriel is pleased to announce the launch of our new perfume – Kinmokusei.

Kinmokusei is the new member of Ayala Moriel’s soliflore collection – perfumes that are celebrating the unique essences of flowers from around the world.

Osmanthus is a unique Asian flower, with a smooth and rich scent of green tea, apricot and suede leather. It is used to scent green tea as well as special confections and Chinese baked goods. The peak of the osmanthus flowers season is now, end of September until mid October, when the days start to become short, and rainstorms fight to take over the last sunny days. The osamnthus flowers falls to the wet ground and release their dusky aroma which fills the moist, air.

Kinmokusei is an unusual osmanthus soliflore is unusually dark and rich, and is as soft as suede. It opens sparkling with apricot, peach, wild orange and raspberry undertones; rejuvenates like cool green tea, yet unmistakably smooth and floral. The base is surprising – musky and woody, with underlining leathery note of cured tobacco leaves. Kinmokusei is the Japanese name for osmanthus, and also is pronounced like the name of an Anime planet.

Top notes: Green Pepper, Wild Orange, Coriander
Heart notes: Osmanthus, Linden Blossom, Green Tea, Jasmine Sambac
Base notes: Tobacco Leaf, Hay Absolute, Ambrette, Sandalwood Vanuatu

Kinmokusei is available from AyalaMoriel.com in:
8ml Pure Parfum $90
8ml Pure Parfum + 15ml Refill $180
1ml Sample $5

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