We’re nosy at RedEye, so we asked some very unscientific questions about fragrances.
On our smell expert panel to give us their scent-sational opinions: Rachel Herz, author of “The Scent of Desire”; Dr. Alan Hirsch, founder of Chicago’s Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation; Jolee Manson, 33, of Andersonville, business manager of women’s fine fragrances at Nordstrom downtown; and Maria Gabriela Mariduena, 27, of Old Irving Park, fragrance and makeup artist at Sephora downtown. And we threw in a wild card solely because of his name: Aaron Sniff, 25, an EMT and leasing agent who lives on the Gold Coast.
What is the worst cologne/perfume offense someone can commit?
Hirsch: These are invariably committed by men. One is to not have any at all and smelling bad — bad body odor. The second one is the opposite: having too much.
Manson: The one fashion faux pas is probably wearing too much perfume.
Mariduena: If they put on too much, it’ll make it too powerful. It just reeks.
Herz: Wearing too much fragrance.
Sniff: The worst offense is when someone sprays a gallon of perfume or cologne on and you can smell it for miles, before and after they walk by. All you need is two to three sprays people, c’mon!
Paris Hilton’s Heiress fragrance is described as having a swirl of passion fruit and juicy orange burst, a splash of peach granita and champagne mimosa, a medley of star jasmine, Tiare flower and honeysuckle, and warm notes of violet and woody notes. What does this fragrance say about the person who wears it?
Hirsch: If you wear that, you’ll arouse men. But you can just go to the grocery store and get some pumpkin pie and that’ll do it better.
Manson: They’re probably sassy and free spirited.
Mariduena: That they’re fun, energetic and outgoing and spontaneous.
Herz: I haven’t smelled the perfume, but it sounds like a sweet, fun, young and sunny fragrance — so someone who feels those features match them would likely be drawn to it.
Sniff: That they are a wannabe fake celebrity, overdone and overrated! Instead of the long, drawn-out description, the label should read, “Only for 12 years and under.” That’s hot? I think not.
Where is the sexiest spot to spray a fragrance?
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Hirsch: For women, where a man will smell it. If she’s shorter than him, if it’s someplace on her face or neck, he’ll smell it more because it’s close to his nose. For a man, they may want to put it lower, maybe the arms or the wrist.
Manson: Behind the ears, on the wrists, bend of the arm, back of the knee, inner part of the ankle and nape of the neck.
Mariduena: At the heart.
Herz: The place on your body that you find the sexiest.
Sniff: The neck. First impressions are the most important. Smelling sexy is a must.