Exploring new scent options

NEW YORK—“Every woman wears it her way” is the tagline of Estée Lauder’s latest fragrance, Sensuous. Notes of magnolia, amber and sandalwood make for an ultra-sophisticated spritz, while a touch of honey balances the otherwise heady perfume with a hint of creamy sweetness.

True to its tagline, the brand got not one, not two, but four leading ladies to herald the new scent’s supposed versatility across a wide age demographic: young model Hilary Rhoda, 21, supermodel Carolyn Murphy, 32, Hollywood mom Gwyneth Paltrow, 35, and British actress Elizabeth Hurley, 43.

“We wanted to communicate that women can be sensual at any age,” says senior vice president and creative director, Aerin Lauder, in an interview published on the company’s website.

“Hilary conveys youth while Carolyn’s classic look communicates elegance. As an actress, Gwyneth brings an emotional range to sensuality, and Elizabeth portrays confidence and wisdom,” she says.

I was able to catch a quick glimpse of the glamorous girls at the recent launch at Bloomingdale’s (which curiously resembled a gathering at Rustan’s) and noticed how each woman did radiate her own unique beauty.

For us mere mortals, however, this translates to choosing a personal fragrance for the way it evokes warm, beautiful feelings and how it engages the senses—and not just because it’s trendy.

Know your notes by:

Spraying outside your comfort zone. If you’re used to light, citrusy colognes, experiment with a deeper floral scent. You’ll be surprised how certain “older” fragrances leave a light, powdery after-scent.

Building layers. Sequencing different formulations of the same brand of fragrance helps you stay aromatic for hours. But add a twist to this beauty rule by mixing in a complementary product, say a minty body splash followed by a cocoa-vanilla concoction.

Sniffing around for advice. Simple yet essential: A good friend will tell you honestly if your new fragrance works, if you’re wearing too much of it, or if you’re actually better off with your favorite Johnson’s Baby Cologne.

Mariel Chua is the former beauty editor of Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, and Ok! Magazine. She is now based in New York City. Visit NyMinuteNow.com.

(Original article link here. Photos by Oliver Sarabia.)