Scent Story - All You Need To Know

From identifying your signature scent to discovering another’s persona via theirs, this masterclass with perfumer Christine Nagel tells you all you need to know.

- Chandni Sehgal

I slather myself in perfume. The splash of a scent on skin is irresistible to me— soft rose brings to life visions of grandma getting dressed, while a deep musk brings to mind memories of my brother raiding dad’s perfume collection. Every scent evokes a peculiar memory, inextricably linking my remembrances to aromas.

Following the legacy of scents telling stories, the House of Hermès dipped into perfumery with a scent inspired by the delicate notes of the inside of a leather bag, where the fragrance of perfume lingers—borrowing from their expertise of leather goods, naturally. Eau d’ Hermès came to life in 1951, and 68 years and 64 fragrances later, they continue their legacy of passionate perfumes—evocative, alluring and each crafted to draw you into their unique imaginary world. The architect of these tales today is Geneva-born Christine Nagel, the perfumer and creative director of Hermès Parfums since 2016. The perfumer, known to be “authentic” through her original creations, tells you how to pick your personal scent, masterfully layer perfumes or simply appreciate the delicate notes of an unfathomable scent.

Pull a Pinocchio, develop a ‘nose’…