After today, the Monday Mail will be taking its annual holiday vacation — look for it to return in early January. Right now there are only 2 people remaining on the waiting list, so if you’ve been thinking of participating it’s not a bad time to get on the list.

Today’s subject is Tarra, who wants to find an everyday signature scent, something she can wear for years to come. She’d prefer something that isn’t too popular or widely worn, but it would help if she could find it at Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom. She’s willing to go elsewhere or online though, and she can spend $100-200.

Here is what we know about Tarra:

She’s in her mid-20s, and she lives in Washington, DC.

She’s a graduate student (Critical Theory) and writer; she also has a full-time job in quantitative analysis — she jokes that she’s equally right- and left-brained.

She is ethnically Indian, and has been described by dates as “exotic, mysterious and sensual.” She also says she’s not the “relationship type” — she’s flirtatious and capricious…

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Today subject is Isabelle, who owns three perfumes and wants to find a fourth to join her collection. She says she wears perfume for her own pleasure, but discusses her sampling experiences with her husband, who has a great nose. She has a hard time finding perfumes that please her because she doesn’t like the mainstream French-European style.

Isabelle wants to find an iris, rose or tea scent, but is willing to entertain other ideas as well, and will happily try men’s fragrances as well as women’s. Her new perfume should be discreet, with good lasting power, and it should cost no more than $150 for 50 ml. Here is what we know about Isabelle:

She is in her mid 50’s and works as a librarian.

She enjoys jazz music, modern painting, photography and nature paths.

Isabelle dresses ‘comfortably classic’ with an emphasis on beautiful colors and soft textures.

Isabelle owns Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan…

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Today we’re helping OJ. She’s a perfume neophyte looking for a signature scent that matches her retro tastes — but one that will fit into the modern world (she loves vintage perfumes, but has to tone it down for her conservative office). Her perfect perfume won’t give her swing dancing partner a headache, but will smell nice at about two feet, and have long staying power closer to the body. It should be young but not bratty, and she’d like to keep it under $150. Ideally, it should be something that won’t be reformulated or discontinued in the near future. Here is what we know about OJ:

She’s a classically trained dancer and musician in her late 20s.

She’s “working a fiercely boring day job that could use some glamour”.

OJ loves the fashion and music of the forties; her husband describes her as “the good girl in a film noir movie.”

OJ likes natural, non-dessert vanilla, neroli, jasmine, carnation, nutmeg, bergamot, tonka bean. Her favorite olfactory memory is a perfect orange infused creme brûlée…

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Today we’re helping Dan, who says the “powerful poetry” of fragrance has taken hold of him. Right now, he wants to find a replacement for Dior Homme, which he likes but sometimes finds too sweet. Ideally, what he wants is Dior Homme’s “muscle-bound, black-shirt-wearing, older brother”. He doesn’t care if his new fragrance is hip, or geared towards men or women, or how much it costs.

Here is what we know about Dan:

He’s in his late 20s and in his last year of university, studying philosophy.

He says his friends would describe him as idealistic and dandy, strange and pensive; a less favorable description would be ‘volatile and unstable’.

Other fragrances Dan has worn in the past include CK One, Burberry Touch (now he finds it dull), Issey Miyake L’Eau D’Issey Pour Homme, Christian Lacroix Bazar, Hugo Boss Hugo, Joop! Jump, Hugo Boss Deep Red, and a few others.

Dan recently bought Prada Infusion d’Iris…

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Today we’re helping Jada. She’d like to find a versatile signature fragrance that can go from casual to dress up. She can pay up to $100. A bottle lasts her a long time because she can’t always wear fragrance to work.

Here is what we know about Jada:

She’s in her early 40s, and loves her roles as pharmacist, wife, and mom. She has 3 young kids and 5 pets.

She’s an easygoing person and usually dresses casually.

Her hobbies are reading, cooking, and vegetable gardening, and she says her dream is an urban farm…

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