All scents beautiful

MANILA, Philippines—Fifth Avenue In Manhattan, New York is retail therapy epitomized: from the chi-chi designer fare—Gucci, Fendi, Versace, and Prada—to the wallet-palatable (and familiar) high-street treats like Esprit, H&M, and Zara. But as we are on the subject of beauty, most important to note is the famous cosmetics wonderland: Sephora.

I still remember the first time I wandered along the store’s well-stocked aisles back in 2001: I marveled at the rows and rows of eyeshadow, makeup brushes, and pencils— amazed at the accessible piles of cotton balls, tissues, and swabs that let you play, play, play to your heart’s content. I dropped by recently and perused a refill of the classic Kenzo Flower by Kenzo—a light, powdery-soft bouquet favored by many. But for a moment I caught a glimpse of this fashionably psychedelic bottle that turned out to be the revived Vivara by Emilio Pucci. Notes of amaretto, jasmine, and patchouli lend the perfect sophisticated touch to any ensemble. The trail it leaves is surprisingly not cloying, for something as deep and heady.

New scent

Speaking of perfumes, now’s a good time to transition to a new scent, with the warmer, sweatier months coming up. Fragrances are usually grouped according to the notes they collectively represent: citrus, fruity, fruity-floral, powder-floral, leafy-green, amber-musk, and other combinations of these. Aside from changes in weather, body chemistry also plays a big role on what would smell good on one person, and pungent on the next. Here are some guidelines when shopping for a new aromatic treat:

1. Spritz and go. Don’t get pressured into buying something until you’ve had a chance to literally sleep on it.

2. Spray strategically. Instead of dousing perfume on the usual parts—wrists, back of your earlobes, inside of your elbow—in one go, start with just a single spritz on one area on the first day, and then build up as the days go along.

Also, this gradual integration helps make sure you really, really like the scent, before you commit to a full bottle.

3. Weather the cold. Storing your perfume the right way ensures that when summer finally makes way for the cooler “ber” months, you’ll have a preserved selection to enjoy.

(Original article link here.)