I had a very educating life lesson today.
All my adult life, i’ve always thought fragrances and perfumes were sold over the counters at departmental stores, and sometimes at some dodgy shops that sells a hugeass bottle for only $10.

Tucked away at the quaint Raffles Hotel, there’s a shop Escentials (also found at Tangs) that sells really exquisite parfums.
I was informed that these are the REAL perfumes.
So all along, i’ve been spritzing really good grade A fakes.

Stepping into the shop, there were shelves stacked with beautifully crafted bottles (women sometimes buy fragrance based on the bottle), labelled with names that i would imagine to be tongue twisters in Montenegro & Serbia.

The sales assistant, Leandra(she seemed more a Phd holder in Perfumery) first shot me a few questions.

“Do you like floral, fruity, citrus or sandalwood?”

Errrr…floral will be best.

“Floral fruity is ok?”

*nods*

“What kind of flowers do you like? Roses or Jasmine?”

I wanted to be funny and say I really like frangipani mixed angsana, with a hint of ixora and bougainvilla.

Err…roses.

She proceeded to choose a few scents for me and introduced the various brands from Italy and France, some from London and that they are made from all natural scents, some are even handmade (as opposed to industrially produced Fabuloso i guess)

I sorta fell in love at first scent with Creed’s Love in White, which has Magnolia, Narcissus and White Hyacinth with Fresh Grass on a base of White Iris and Vanilla, a full bouquet of white flowers, thus the name.

Another which i loved was Annick Goutal’s Petite Cherie.
It has a sweet peach and vanilla, musk rose and freshly cut grass, smells just like eating Chupa Chups peaches and cream in a park.

Leandra then informed me Drew Barrymore loves that fragrance too.

She said i should try both, one on each hand, and go around with it for the day to experience the high notes, mid tone and bass tone.
The high notes are the very first whiff of the spritz, which usually lasts 15 minutes. It is the freshest sharpest scent.
The mid tone kicks in for the next hour or two or three depending on the oils of your skin and it’s usually this that most people will smell on you.
The bass tones are what’s left if you dont reapply, it can be a toned down muskier version of the mid tones.

Didn’t know there’s so much to learn about scents.

After returning to the office (after a super long lunch), i decided i liked neither.
White love is too vanilla-ish and a little offensive after a while.
Petite Cherie is well…too petite. It lost its scent almost completely after 30 minutes.

My friend who brought me there then headed back to the shop, to discuss with Leandra about the possible scents i would like, and he popped by my office to drop off furthur 5 samples for me.

Awww…. talk about attentiveness.

I really like the Creed’s Spring Flower now.

And the Folavril by Annick Goutal.

Let’s see if the notes are melodiously in tune.