Today’s subject is Jonathan. Jonathan lives in Berlin, and is looking for an evening fragrance — something to wear dancing at night. His perfect scent would combine traces of the grilled hazelnut from Hermès Vétiver Tonka, the floral aspects of Le Labo Rose 31 and the spices, the flint and the non-musk of Terre d’Hermès. He’s willing to spend up to $140.

Jonathan is in his 20s, and works in the engineering business. He compares himself to the man in the Terre d’Hermès commercial: a grounded dreamer…

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Today we’re helping Lauren. Lauren is interested in perfume, but says she’s not yet a perfumista. She works as a nurse, and she wants to find a versatile signature scent that isn’t so strong that it will nauseate her patients. At the same time, she’d like it to be flirty and chic. She hasn’t set a budget for her new fragrance. Here is what we know about Lauren:

She’s in her early 20s and lives in Chicago…

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Today we’re helping Edward, who is looking for a sophisticated but reserved fragrance, preferably niche. His ideal scent will “evoke curiosity and interest” but be modest in sillage: it should not be a “showy” fragrance. Edward wears mostly women’s perfumes, but does buy the occasional unisex. He’s willing to spend up to $500 to get just what he wants, but he’d prefer not to shop online.

Here is what we know about Edward:

He’s a researcher in his mid-30s.

He loves hosting Friday night dinner with a few close friends.

He always goes for the finer things in life, and that holds true for food and fragrances.

Edwards admires the work of perfumers Olivia Giacobetti and Jean-Claude Ellena…

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Elise wants to find a signature scent as unique as her life, but at the same time, she wants the fragrance to be accessible to the people she encounters during the day. She’d like to keep the cost at $100 or less, and she has good access to perfume stores and is happy to shop online. Here is what we know about Elise:

She’s in her early 40s, and works as an instructor at the college level. She’s also finishing her Ph.D. and is active in volunteer work.

She’s a published poet and playwright (her most recent play was produced in Chico, CA).

She has three children, all adopted internationally…

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