FAIRFAX, Va. 鈥斅燭hinking about buying someone a scented gift this Valentine鈥檚 Day?
It鈥檚 a popular present, and a common mistake, says Arielle Weinberg, owner of , a boutique fragrance store in Fairfax, Virginia. Weinberg began on the chemistry side of the perfume industry, in New York City, but opened her own store in the Mosaic District this fall.
At the back of Arielle Shoshana is a gift-wrapped box full of unopened perfumes. Weinberg is collecting perfume donations for , an organization that provides women with clothing and accessories for job interviews. Women (and men) who received fragrance gifts that weren鈥檛 a perfect fit can trade them in at her store.
鈥淭he reason we have this box is because it can be so difficult to find the right fragrance for someone. It鈥檚 so personal.鈥�
Weinberg says wearing perfume can be a way to communicate, or to tell a story.
鈥淲e say 鈥業鈥檓 feeling tough today鈥� or 鈥榯his is what my mother smelled like when she tucked me in at night.’鈥�
While having the person pick out her own scent in person is preferable, Weinberg says offering a variety of options is a good way for them to shop around.
鈥淲hat we recommend here is a discovery set,鈥� says Weinberg. 鈥淪ome people might say it鈥檚 less romantic than committing to one bottle, but there鈥檚 nothing romantic about a fragrance that gets returned.鈥�
This also allows the person to scent-test her desired fragrances.
鈥淭he scientists still debate, but many people find, anecdotally, that chemistry can play a huge role in how fragrances work on every individual,鈥� Weinberg says. Buying a perfume or cologne without wearing it on your skin is like buying clothes after seeing them on the mannequin.
鈥淓verything looks good on the mannequin, just like everything smells good on the blotter paper, but you鈥檝e got to try it on yourself to make sure it suits you.鈥�
She suggests waiting at least 10 minutes for the top notes of the scent to settle in.
鈥淔or many fragrance formulas, all of the money is in the top notes. They want you to spray, fall in love immediately, and run to the register. You鈥檝e got to make sure that after those top notes run out, you鈥檙e still happy with what鈥檚 lurking underneath.鈥�
Above all, Weinberg says, don鈥檛 be afraid to spray, smell and try it all on.
鈥淓very perfume on our shelves, on Sephora鈥檚 shelves, on everyone鈥檚 shelves, can be bought online for the same price or even cheaper, so the only reason anybody has to get off their couch and come in, is if this is the most pleasant fun experience,鈥� she says.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not the perfume police, there are no rules. As long as you鈥檙e having fun, you鈥檙e doing it right.鈥�
If your heart is set on a fragrance gift this holiday, Weinberg has a few recommendations.
Arielle鈥檚 signature: Weinberg turns to a warm, uncomplicated scent: ‘‘, by L’artisan Parfumeur. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got saffron, rosewater, sandalwood. It鈥檚 relatively simple but it鈥檚 just gorgeous.鈥�
For someone with a sense of humor: 鈥淲e do have a perfume called 鈥楥hocolate Box,鈥� and I think, paired with an actual chocolate box, it could be a winning gift.鈥�
The surefire winner: A perfume with notes of vanilla is a safe choice for pretty much anyone on your list. The best-selling scent in Weinberg鈥檚 store so far is a Swiss perfume with notes of vanilla, pipe tobacco and patchouli. 鈥淚t鈥檚 delicious,鈥� says Weinberg. 鈥淟ike something you could mix with bourbon.鈥�
For the non-perfume wearer: Think clean, Weinberg says. The best-selling unisex scent at her store has a 鈥渇resh from the shower鈥� smell. 鈥淢aybe 80 percent of the people that come in say 鈥業 don鈥檛 want anything too strong, too heavy or overwhelming.鈥� This is the fragrance for them.鈥�
There鈥檚 a rose for every nose: A perfume with rose notes has a wide appeal, says Weinberg, and can be as fancy or as simple as you鈥檇 like. Her store carries one perfume made with Rose de Mai, what she says is the most prized rose used in perfumery. 鈥淭he bottle is pretty irresistible as well,鈥� she adds.
