Every destination has a fragrance...

Going on vacation means collecting great memories, sunny photos and new friends you meet on the way.... But what if each trip also had its own scent? If a sniff of the fragrance you wore there could instantly transport you back to an exotic locale?  

  Everyone has their own way of packing. Some people like to travel light, with nothing superfluous weighing them down; others couldn’t imagine going anywhere without their perfume – their own personal olfactory signature – in their luggage. Some people prefer to bring small vials of several of their favorite elixirs for a variety of delightful smells, while others will want to explore a single fragrance that’s new and free of previous memories. That way, once their home, that scent will forever remain associated with the landscapes, encounters and emotions experienced on that trip. 

   Here are some suggestions for fragrances to accompany your journey, adapted to the destination of your choice, and chosen to leave a very personal olfactory trail, both behind you and in your own memory!

   South America has been catching on over the past few years, especially Brazil, with its endless beaches, tasty caipirinha cocktails, and delightfully dirty dancing... To get into the rhythm, what could be better than a fragrance with waves of thirst-quenching, vibrant and sensual scents! Give in to the temptation of L’Artisan Parfumeur’s Batucada, an ode to traditional Brazilian rhythms, with notes of lime and rum, pineapple and white flowers over a muy caliente woody trail: a clever cocktail of cool freshness and fiery passion that’s exactly what’s called for!

   But soaring temperatures are also a perfect excuse to go overboard with fresh, mouth-puckering eau de toilettes. There’s citrus fruit galore in Annick Goutal’s Eau d’Hadrien and Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune, which makes them wonderfully refreshing travel companions. Sweeter fruits are also an option, like the crunchy, lime-tinged granny apple in Dolce & Gabanna’s Light Blue for instance!

   If a tropical get-away to Islands like the Antilles, Madagascar or the Seychelles is what you’re looking for, then heady white-flower essences will take you there. What could be more carnal than tuberose, jasmine or ylang-ylang, whose milky sweetness and sun-drenched, coconut-like nuances are practically the olfactory incarnation of a sensual tropical paradise vacation. Annick Goutal’s Songes, Frédéric Malle’s Carnal Flower and Nuxe, le Parfum, are all perfect matches for the exotic island landscapes you can admire in distant corners of the world. For anyone who’s lucky enough to be heading to romantic Bali, think frangipani flower, which lends its heady scent to the offerings that enchant the air all over the island. Frangipani is the inspiration for Kenzo’s Amour, but there is a touch of it in Estée Lauder’s Beyond Paradise, too.

   Beyond Bali, for anyone heading off to discover Indonesia, patchouli makes perfect sense, too – its precious oil is emblematic of Indonesia, because the shrub it is obtained from is native to the country. With Borneo 1834 (Serge Lutens), Réminiscence’s famousPatchouli, and Coromandel, from the Exclusifs de Chanel, collection, you can enjoy that woody note that’s like an invitation to the exotic...

    Next stop: Asia, for the most adventurous among you, from Thailand’s picturesquesettings to the frenzied rhythms of China’s booming megalopolises. To melt into the Asian olfactory landscape, do like the locals, and adopt light scents: from fresh florals to green fragrances, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. Who could resist Guerlain’s Cherry Blossom, a favorite of Japanese women? Or what about osmanthus, a small Chinese flower with delicate nuances of green tea and apricot? You can find a soft and sweet version of it at The Different Company, and it also appears in Inlé, by Mémo, a fragrance house whose theme is travel. Of course Asia is more than just flowers! For anyone who has tried Thailand’s refined cuisine, Asia is a love affair with spices and aromatic herbs, from coriander to basil. Savor the delightful waves of scent in Honoré des Prés’s Love Coco, which is filled with coco and coriander, or try Etat Libre d’Orange’s Fils de Dieu. 

  And if you go off the beaten path into the magnificent heart of Laos or Vietnam, nothing could be betterthan the woody waves of Diptyque’s Tam Dao, a stunning variation on cedar and sandalwood inspired by a national park north of Hanoi, in Vietnam.  

   In southern Asia, India has always fascinated travelers with its captivating contrasts. To blend beautifully into the mysterious atmosphere of this vast country, adopt sandalwood in any of its many variations, since that creamy, milky wood comes from there. Fans of heady perfumes can bask in the spiritual scent of Guerlain’s Samsara, where sandalwood intertwines with jasmine. But sandalwood can also create a more intimate cocoon, as in Olfactive Studio’s Lumière Blanche, where it is adorned with spices, iris and a trail of tonka bean that adds a lush almond facet to this chai-inspired composition. Tom Ford’s Santal Blush, L’Artisan Parfumeur’s Bois Farine and Estée Lauder’s Sensuous are other paths you might like to explore over the course of your travels.

    Africa has its attractions, too. Fans of untamed landscapes and safaris through the South African jungle could enhance their journey with fragrances that are spicy, powerful, liquorish and sensual. Like Lubin’s Idole, for instance, with its lush, ambry inflexions around a note of rum that’s rich with spices and woods. Africa and its vast desert landscapes could also evoke frankincense from Somalia or the Sultanate of Oman. If bewitching wisps of smoke are your thing, Dior’s Bois d’Argent, L’Artisan Parfumeur’s Passage d’Enfer, or Caron’s Parfum Sacré will be just what you’re looking for... Heading north, the exotic souks and minarets of Marrakesh and the relaxing beaches of Tunisia will draw you in. Orange blossom’s sweet yet fresh scent, which can be found in Elie Saab’s Parfum, Fragonard’s Fleur d’Oranger, and Francis Kurdjian’s APOM will enchant your North African holiday. Rose, cedar and jasmine are other tonalities from the region. Find the queen of flowers in Lancôme’s Trésor and Guerlain’s Idylle, jasmine in Serge Lutens’ A La Nuit and Bulgari’s Jasmin Noir, and cedar in Cartier’s Declaration, Dior’s Dolce Vita, and Armani Code. 

    Of course, happiness can also be found in less-exotic locales, Italy, Spain andthe South of France are famous for their dolce vita, their siestas and their joie de vivre. The charms of Catalan as expressed inL’Artisan Parfumeur’s Séville à L’Aube (“Seville at Dawn), Acqua di Parma’s Iris Nobile and Frédéric Malle’s Lys Méditerranée are some of the unforgettable scents that could adorn your European vacation.