How do I love thee? Let me count the scents

In the movie The Scent of a Woman, the blind character portrayed by Al Pacino surely must have been using more than just his sense of smell to define a woman’s aura.

Scents have inspired poets to blend rhyme with thyme, artists to make sunflowers bloom with redolence on canvas, and couturiers to design perfume as an all-important accessory.

Arthur Miller once wrote: "Can anyone remember love? It’s like trying to summon up the smell of roses in a cellar. You must see a rose, but never the perfume." Did Miller see the perfume on his beloved Marilyn Monroe who was a perfume fanatic? When asked what she wore in bed, Marilyn answered: "Chanel No. 5."

When Coco Chanel said, "It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory of fashion that heralds your arrival," she might have been referring to fragrances.

Fragrances evoke romance, and what could be a more romantic time to talk about fragrances than this season of love?

Fragrances – along with flowers and chocolates – are popular choices for gifts every Valentine’s Day.

Let’s take a whiff of some of the most popular fragrances available at Rustan’s and Essenses:

• Chanel No. 5 – Created in 1921 by the House of Coco Chanel, this is perhaps the best-selling and most enduring scent of all time. It is the epitome of Chanel’s art of elegant understatement.

• Chance by Chanel – Its round bottle and pink packaging is an obvious break with the pure minimalism and right angles of Chanel No. 5. Jacques Helleu, artistic director of Chanel Fragrances, explains that this scent captures the essential elements of Chanel’s style which echo the totally modern influences of Coco’s time: Picasso, Le Corbusier, Mondrian and Malevitch. Thus, a revolutionary yet timeless scent.

• Chanel No. 19 by Chanel – This floral-woody-green fragrance is made up of white and green plants, floral notes, such as Iris Pallida from Florence, and the woody Virginian Cedarwood. It comes in a modern, re-contourd shape.

• Allure Homme Sport by Chanel – Jacques Polge, the nose of Chanel, created this sensual scent for men, composed mainly of Mandarin orange. Very refreshing.

• Jean Patou – Recognized as one of the greatest perfume designers of our time, Jean Patou opened his fashion house in Paris in 1914. His Joy has become a timeless and legendary scent, a signature of pure French elegance. Other creations in the Patou Perfume Bar are 1000, Sublime, Enjoy, Amour Amour and Moment Supreme.

• J’adore by Christian Dior – This premier fragrance is the greatest classic of a brand which under John Galleano, has become more modern. J’adore is the quintessence of luxury and femininity as personified by its image model, Charlize Theron. Its floral harmonies make it a star fragrance.

• Beyond Paradise for Men by Estee Lauder – This scent has that invigorating freshness coming from fruits and plants from West Africa, Brazil and South Africa. It was created for the modern man by Lauder with unique essences in partnership with Eden Project, the largest conservatory in the world, a paradise where nature flourishes, and where the tropics, desert and the rainforest exist harmoniously.

• Ines de la Fressange – Her name evokes Spanish grandeur and the poets of Andalusia. Ines rhymes with princess, caress and finesse, too. The brand epitomizes Parisian charm, a blend of humor and sophistication. Her scent is highly poetic with white rose, peonies, iris and mandarin.

• Keiko Mecheri Les Parfums – Chemistry between Japanese artist Keiko Mecheri and her husband designer Kamel led to the creation of scents which have garnered a cult following among celebrity clients like Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon. The scents were created for connoisseurs, those who truly love perfume.

• Clean – I dare say, Clean has got to be the most refreshing, non-matronic scent for young urban people today. Clean has that just-out —of-the-shower-fresh philosophy, never overpowering, yet so luxurious. Created in 2004 by Randi Shiner, Clean comes in eau de toilette, perfume oil, body lotion, bubble bath, hair fragrance (perfect for use after eating in a Japanese resto). It is the fave of Cameron Diaz, Darryl Hannah and Courtney Cox Arquette. Clean is available at Essenses of Rustan’s.

• True Star by Tommy Hilfiger – Pinoys may have had an issue in the past with Tommy Hilfiger even as young people do adore his clothing line. But this soon may drown, hopefully, when you smell his fragrance called Star Power, which pop star Beyonce is endorsing. Made of florals that are warm and familiar, True Star comes in perfume, body lotion, shower gel, deodorant spray and fragrance satin shimmer.

• Rykiel Woman by Sonia Rykiel – This designer known for her colorful knits weaves magic with fruits, flowers and spices to create this scent with a sense of humor. It carries the "Not for Men" warning, with a Magic String, to carry the scent high over hips, below low-waisted jeans or a skirt. Perfect for the cheekiness of the Rykiel woman.

• Rykiel Rose by Sonia Rykiel – This refillable natural spray come in hot pink, "because pink is just like a woman."

• Eau de Soir by Sisley – This scent created for and by royalty (Hubert and Isabelle D’Ornano) by Sisley comes in limited edition only every year. Made from mandarin, grapfruit, jasmine, ylangylang and lily of the valley, Eau de Soir comes in a beautiful bottle with a sapphire glow.

Valentine’s Day is just a week away. How do you love your beloved? Let us count the scents.