scents

Luxist Awards Expert Panelist Harry Slatkin is best known for the home fragrances he has created. Slatkin is founder of Slatkin & Co., the premier home fragrance brand celebrated for its scent experience and design (now a division of Bath & Body Works). He oversees product development for all the home fragrance brands under Bath & Body Works, the country's largest bath and body retailer with over 1,650 stores.

In this video, Slatkin explains how to give home fragrances
as gifts.

"They are great because they last for so long," he says. "Plus, it is a gift that people can enjoy instantly."

Slatkin says he may bring a fragrant candle, long with a bottle of wine or a box of chocolates, but the candle will last longer than either of the other alternatives. "A box of chocolates might last a week, but a fragrant candle will last a lot longer."

Slatkin explains how he goes about selecting the scents of the candles he gives to friends.

"I always try to think of the personality of the person, but I also make it seasonal," says Slatkin. "If it is holiday time, I will give a scent that is more wintery, with tree-like scents. If it is spring time, I will select more floral scents like jasmine. If it is summer I will give cleaner scents."

You can create your own unique signature scent by layering scents, according to Luxist Awards Expert Panelist Harry Slatkin, who is regarded as one of the country's leading fragrance experts.

"Don't be afraid to mix," says the fragrance expert who is the founder and creative force behind Slatkin & Co., the premier home fragrance brand celebrated for its scent experience and design (now a division of Bath & Body Works). "But of course your nose knows what will work and what won't."

For a truly unique scent, consider layering two or more fragrances. The trick is to blend notes that complement each other. Jasmine, vanilla, rose and citrus work well with most scents, while stronger notes such as patchouli and vetiver don't mix as well. A tea scent---or a perfume that has tea in it---might layer well with a rose, gardenia or a lavender scent. Slatkin recommends using a classic fragrance as a base, such as Chanel No. 5, and adding something on top. "Be daring and take it in a different direction," he says, "and you'll end up with something that's truly unique and memorable."

Remember, there may be scents in the shampoo, conditioner, cream and lotions that you use, which can change the scent of a perfume you may wear.

"If you like it, then it works," says Slatkin. "But if you walk in a room and you see people's eyes welling up with tears, then you know it isn't working for anyone else but you. If that is the case, then maybe it is something you shouldn't wear it again. Remember, it is not just about yourself, it is about everybody. You want to please people as much as yourself with scent."

They say that scent is one of out most deeply ingrained senses because our memory for them tends to be much better than our memory of sights, sounds, tastes and textures. The sensitivity of the sense of smell varies from person to person, but a familiar smell will probably always evoke a strong reaction. Barney's has an exclusive Le Labo Olfactory Dictionary that is designed to help you refine your sense of smell and develop a greater appreciation for perfumes and other scented things. It includes 40 specific essences and testing strips, all packed in a professional looking case, that you can experiment with. By mixing and matching a few, you may even be able to come up with your own signature fragrance. Price: $490.

Get away from it all without ever leaving your desk with the Trapp Gardens of the World candles. Each candle has a scent that is formulated to evoke the defining scent of a particular destination with the help of native herbs, spices and flowers. The France candle is romantic, with rose, a bit of citrus and undertones of jasmine, lily and honey, while the India candle is spicy and features citrus, lotus, woods and musk. There are also less traditionally scented candles, like the Mexico candle, which has the scents of tomato, green herbs and roses. They are $25 each.