What’s a dinner party without bergamot, lavender and saffron? Well those we’re just some of the ingredients that lined the table at my good friend, and talented travel/beauty writer Charu from ButterflyDiary.com‘s recent event. The main course? Fragrance. Custom fragrance to be exact –or perhaps that would qualify as the dessert. Before creating a signature scent, my fellow guests and I (including legendary astrologer, Susan Miller! freak out) went on a fragrance journey.

And who better to guide us through the expedition then renowned fragrance expert and perfumer, Sue Phillips, founder of Scenterprises. We began with a multiple choice quiz –what types of fabrics we like, our favorite season, which film icons we most admire… the usual stuff one could use to forecast our fragrance preferences (huh?). Mine pegged me as someone into fresh scents and floral/citrus notes (so true! Isn’t that what I’m always telling all of you!?!?). I do love me a simple, clean, fresh fragrance!  What’s better then the crisp smell in the air after a rainstorm? Or the smell of pine through the forest, gardenias in the summer or anything lavender?

We then discussed composition. Fragrances are constructed by three types of notes, TOP (the first impact note that comes of out the initial spritz and quickly dissipates), MIDDLE (also referred to as the hard note and lasts 2-3 hours) and BASE (which lingers the longest ranging 3-5 hours). Placed on blotter strips (which are used as a neutral way to evaluate scents), the group proceeded to smell a variety of