Scent of a woman

Sexy scents for fall

By Sharon Miki, Columnist

Have you ever walked into a room, inhaled a whiff of a scent, and been transported to another time/ mood/state of being? A snort of Calgon Hawaiian Ginger body spray, for example, takes me away to early-20s sticky-floored and sticky-bodied college-themed Thursday nights spent at Mirage with my friend Christine (she did—and still does—obsess over the drugstore relic); similarly, a hint of burning incense in the air instantly tugs at my heart with spindly wisps of memories of afternoons spent in awe of my Buddhist grandmother.

Fast-forward to the here and now, and this intangible scent-tacular impact is why having a truly fab signature scent is such an easy and stealthy way to instantly make yourself more memorable and attractive. As we approach the home stretch of the fall semester, skip the binge-clothes-shopathon, and instead reward yourself for your hard work thus far with a simple and sexy new fragrance.

Amazing Grace by Philosophy: You’re welcome, stalkers: this is what I personally smell like 99 per cent of the time. Crafted with notes of bergamot, muguet blossoms, and musk, I find this soft and sweet scent from Philosophy to be just fragrancey enough that people notice—but not in an overly perfumey way for everyday. The most common reaction I get when wearing Amazing Grace is “Oh, you smell good.” What more can you ask for? You can snag a 0.5 oz eau de toilette spray for only $15 at Sephora.

Honey by Marc Jacobs: This is what I imagine a Manic Pixie Dream Girl smells like. This new kid on the fragrance block hits my nostrils with a charming and tasty, fruity mix of pear, mandarin, orange blossom, and peach nectar—it’s an intoxicating, instant pick me up. Being designer, this one is a bit pricey at $52 for a 1 oz eau de parfum spray at Sephora. That being said, Honey will almost certainly make your favourite sad, narcissistic male classmate fall in love with you, so it could be an investment in your personal allure.

Vanilla by The Body Shop: Perhaps my senses are clouded by my own memories of cozy blankets, crisp autumn nights, and baked goods rising in the oven, but there is something infinitely comforting about the warm seduction of vanilla. At just $14 for a 1 oz eau de toilette, it won’t break the bank. A spritz of this on your infinity scarf might just calm your nerves and send you to a land of oven-ready bliss when you’re commuting to the college on a cold November morning.

Scent is a powerful yet underrated sense; it can enhance or ruin an experience, and it can oh so subtly convey feeling. Take my suggestions (they don’t call me “Toucan Sam-Sharon” for nothing, after all), or follow your own nose to a sweeter smelling fall.