Talking scent

A bespoke scent is not just a luxury but a personal statement too, shares

A PERSONAL PERFUME collection is no less important to a refi ned society than an elegant wardrobe. It is also the fi nishing touch to your persona (and ensemble). As Elizabeth Taylor famously quipped, “The beauty of fragrance is that it speaks to your heart...and hopefully someone else’s.”

While there are places in Singapore that offer bespoke scents, most of them are skewed towards the masses. None comes close to the luxury and decadence than that offered by Henry Jacques.

For the past 40 years, Henry Jacques has provided bespoke services to noted royals. It was only three years ago that AnneLise Cremona, daughter of founder Henry, l aunched a “commercial” line. This culminated in its Les Classiques collection that retailed at its shop-in-shop at Harrods, London.

Singapore was chosen for the fi rst standalone Henry Jacques boutique as Cremona felt there was no other authentic luxury perfumery in this region.

Rich woodwork, parquetry, antique cabinets and gilt accents are complemented by lush velvet sofas, which serve as consultation corners. Walls are not what they

seem; they hide lovingly restored and one-of-a-kind antique boxes and cases, and gorgeous vintage glass flacons. No longer will you remember the hustle of the outside as you get whisked away to another world.

Situated at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, this is where you get to sample all 50 scents from the Les Classiques collection, each of which is available for purchase in 15ml or 30ml vials.

A curated collection, meanwhile, will set you back by $ 46,000 or beyond. For this, you can enjoy 10 bottles, 10 sprays, as well as a pair of couture crystal bottles with their respective daubers. Alternatively, you might consider a Henry Jacques Voyage travel set, for which you can choose one or several favourite Les Classiques scents.

The creation of a bespoke scent, however, requires a consultation and discussion of between half and three hours. After your preferences and tastes have been determined, the laboratory in France will formulate three different samples in a process that usually takes one to three months. Some compositions need to macerate longer so as to enhance the desired aroma, which can prolong the process.

Then comes the packaging of your bespoke perfume. Select from one of the existing designs or ask for a crystal flacon to be specially designed. Depending on its complexity, the latter may even entail a creative consultation with Christophe Tollemer, artistic director of Henry Jacques, for which a trip to Paris is necessary. A mould is then created by crystal makers, after which manufacturing begins. But do note, a minimum quantity is required for the crystal maker to produce the flacon.

What’s left now is to name your bespoke fragrance.

“The beauty of fragrance is that it speaks to your heart...and hopefully someone else’s”

Elizabeth Taylor