By Beauty Expert, Wendy Ward
Fragrances and scents touch every facet of our daily lives.
They have an extraordinary power to evoke forgotten memories, enhance our mood or trigger our emotions.

Transporting us back in time, scents can remind us of an experience, a special place or a favourite person. They can be likened to an invisible cloak that surrounds us. Not just about perfume, fragrances and scents encompass other aromas like a fresh pot of coffee brewing, the sweetness of vanilla, the distinctive smell of new leather or the sizzle of garlic and tomatoes cooking in the kitchen.

Our sense of smell is as important as our other senses of touch, taste, sight and hearing. We recognize friends by the perfume they wear and a particular fragrance or scent, like the smell of the ocean, can remind us of a fabulous holiday or a lost love. Wherever we go and whatever we do, fragrances and scents seduce our senses on a daily basis.

It appears the first form was incense and the burning of aromatic herbs and gums from trees and barks.

The word ‘perfume’ comes from two Latin words ‘per’ and ‘fumus’ which means, through and smoke. Later, the French gave the name parfum to the fragrance from burning incense.

Fragrances, scents and perfumes have influenced and inspired the human race throughout history. Ancient cultures soaked fragrant woods and resins in water or oil and coated their bodies with the liquid. Perfume played a significant role in the lives of the Egyptians from religious ceremonies to embalming and was found in the tombs of the Pharaohs. The Egyptians bathed and anointed themselves in concoctions mixed from aromatic herbs
and plants.
Prized for their healing, medicinal and fragrant properties, ancient perfumes were mixed and made from a variety of herbs, precious oils, resins, plants and spices. These included aromatic woods, Patchouli and Sandalwood, resins, Myrrh and Frankincense, spices of Cinnamon and Clove, blooms from Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Roses, Gardenia and fruits like lemon and orange. It is said Nero had a love affair with Roses and King David with Cinnamon. Fragrance has lead an exotic and romantic journey, mesmerizing Queens and charming Rulers.

Nowadays, it’s a fragrance festival for men. Fragrance counters are brimming with luxury and designer colognes, celebrity fragrances and many other more affordable varieties. The options are endless.
Rich with masculine notes, colognes, after shaves, body washes and other toiletries add an extra element and dimension to complement his every day grooming routine.

Regardless of the type of cologne a man settles on, fragrance is an essential accessory and says a lot about him, his style and his personality. Besides all that, what woman doesn’t like a man to smell great?

Try a seasonal change:
Many men have just one classic cologne that is their signature, but with all the new fragrance releases, it’s easy to switch up and have a mix and it doesn’t have to be an expensive move.

Aim to shift fragrance with the seasons and experiment. Maybe decide on just two, a full-bodied richer, woody or spicy one for the colder months and a lighter citrusy type for summer.

Shopping for a new cologne:
There are a few things to consider when it comes to finding a new cologne to ensure it is right. The smell varies from person to person. Don’t base your decision on the fact that you like the smell on someone else. One that smells great on a friend does not mean it will work for you. We all have our own identity when it comes to a personal scent and, genes and even stress can affect the intensity of a fragrance, how long it lasts and the way it smells. Body chemistry is a key factor in choosing a cologne.

Other issues that affect how a fragrance smells can be diet, medication or skin type. When you’re on a cologne mission, knowing your skin type is crucial. Oilier skins tend to maintain a scent longer with fewer applications while drier skins seem to soak up fragrance like a sponge so a couple of re-chargers and extra squirts are needed.

Always try before you buy. That doesn’t translate to sniffing a card at the counter and committing. Spray on the skin to see if it works with your chemistry. Don’t test too many colognes at once. Four, at a time maximum. Be patient. Wait a while and let the scent kick in.
Just like a glass of red, it needs time.

So what makes a fragrance, the notes:
A fragrance encompasses top, middle and base notes. These refer to the way a fragrance develops. Top notes are the initial smell of the fragrance when it is applied. These light notes fade quite quickly but serve as the first impression. Middle (or heart notes) form the character and weave the notes of the fragrance together and Base notes are the lasting notes of the fragrance ingredients, form its foundation and extend its staying power.

Hints + tips:
Stash fragrance in a cool, dry place away from direct light and heat to maximise its life. Exposure to sunlight or heat can change the fragrance. Once it is opened it should be used.

No need to stockpile cologne, saving it for later on. Unopened or opened, all fragrance has a shelf life, enjoy it every day.

Don’t spray on clothes as fragrance fades quickly and could stain. Resist the urge to douse as fragrance should be a subtle message not an announcement that you have arrived. Use a spray bottle so it goes where it needs to go. Dabbing fragrance from the top of an open bottle with fingers can upset and alter the balance of the fragrance.
Avoid conflict with fragrance by partnering with the same brand toiletry products. If layering is not you, just switch to an unscented aftershave or moisturizer so there is no clash.

Family Categories:
Fresh from the shower, sweeter or spicier, knowing your preference and how you would like to smell helps make choosing a cologne simple.

Citrus: Light, fresh and crisp and include notes of bergamot, orange, lemon, petitgrain, mandarin
Chypre: Woody, mossy and earthy
Tobacco: Flowers, woods and balsam for warmth and sensuality
Fougere (which means fern): Bergamont, oakmoss and geranium
Oriental: Spicy, woody essences and vanilla
Aromatic: Thyme, sage, mint, rosemary, anise and clove
Woody: Patchouli, vetiver, sandalwood and cedar
Lavender: The bracing scent of the flower that is often blended with fougere, woods or floral notes.

A selection of fragrant notes:
Bergamot: refreshing + uplifting
Cedarwood: aphrodisiac like + relaxing
Jasmine: relaxing, calming + uplifting
Lavender: stimulating + relaxing
Honeysuckle: soothing + uplifting
Myrrh: relaxing + soothing
Neroli: soothing, calming + relaxing
Patchouli: relaxing + aphrodisiac
Rose: relaxing, soothing + aphrodisiac
Tuberose: uplifting + aphrodisiac
Ylang Ylang: relaxing + soothing
Sandalwood: relaxing + aphrodisiac

Fragrant notes
Researched and compiled by Kam Wong of nina ynez – modern apothecary, Shop 44, 9144 1474.
Every man has his favourite fragrances or scent that reminds him of something or makes him feel a certain way. Here is a guide to some of the current leading men’s fragrances available and their origins.

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Terre D’Hermes – Released in 2006
Terre d’Hermes is the fragrance for men from Hermes. The fragrance is "for the man who has his feet firmly on the ground, but his head is in the stars.” The vegetable and mineral juice, made without animal by-products or musk, sparkles with orange and grapefruit that blends with flint for a mineral note, and combines with pepper, bay rose, geranium, patchouli, benzoin and vetiver around the central note of Atlas cedar to enhance its Earthly tones.
Cost as featured: $150

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Polo Black by Ralph Lauren
Polo Black cologne contains mango, patchouli, and a few other notes. The first thing to strike anyone who smells Ralph Lauren Polo Black is that it's fragrance is fresh and brusque. Mango provides a fruity base note to the cologne which does make this very light at first but as the fragrance begins to dry down the cologne becomes warmer and slightly heavier and all of the ingredients unify superbly. The fragrance of dry mango is the main note that can be smelled overall. Patchouli balances out the fragrance to give it more of a masculine edge.
Cost as featured: $145

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The One for Men by Dolce & Gabbana
The latest Dolce & Gabbana The One for Men is said by Gabbana to be an all-man's perfume. It is a warm, sweet and fruity tobacco perfume in the oriental genre. The flacon (bottle) is meant to directly reflect the fashion sense of the brand as "the proportions of the bottle recall a tailor suit made by the fashion house."
Cost as featured: $124

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Gucci by Gucci, Sport pour Homme
Artistic director Frida Giannini said, "It's more a sporty state of mind. Meaning, off-duty time and the attitude that comes from being relaxed and carefree."... Giannini explained, "We created a light body with a lot of citrus notes, capturing the healthy, active aspects of the Gucci man's lifestyle." This new scent is characterised by zesty notes that take a leading role to embody energy. The scent benefits from new technology to offer long-lasting citrus sensations. The scent was inspired by the power of the ocean and includes notes of citrus and aromatic cardamom, mixed with fruity nectars. The woodsy patchouli is presented as a signature note of Gucci.
Cost as featured: $119

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Dior Homme
Touted by Dior as a “masculine iris, a ‘skin’ fragrance with an addictive grace,”it has notes of sage, bergamot, lavender, amber, patchouli, leather and cardamon". The fragrance, with its iris and cocoa notes, is being described as a composition that does not conform to current trends in men’s perfumery. The fragrance begins with a sweet blast of iris, cocoa and amber, perfectly blended and just the right strength, but then begins to fade into a slightly powdery amber accord with a mere hint of patchouli and lavender.
Cost as featured: $115

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Happy Pillow – scent Comme des Garçons 2
“The perfume is all about contrasts and compliments.” This scent combines two very distinct fragrance categories – the technological, which contains notes of Japanese calligraphy (sumi) ink and new aldehydes, and the natural, which comprises incense, magnolia, patchouli, cedarwood, amber and labdanum. The top notes add a high pitched, nearly metallic buzz of aldehydic citrus, and in the dry down there is a rush of spices grounded by woods and incense.
Cost as featured: $150

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