What’s your scent?
“Fragrance speaks the loudest on a subliminal level.”
FOR MOST of us, our daily routine when going out involves showering, moisturising, dressing, doing our hair and, finally, adding that touch of fragrance. Some Jamaicans call it ‘spray up’ or ‘sweet up’, but whatever the name, we tend to choose our scents based on what we find attractive. Do we ever wonder what other people think? Is our ‘sweet up’ really sweet for passers-by or even that long-time crush? Youthlink provides some perspective, via the opinions of a few young people, on some of today’s most popular fragrances. Our participants, male and female, sampled popular perfumes and colognes to provide some interesting and amusing feedback.
We asked our male participants, Alex and Kyle, to disclose their views on some popular perfume brands. Here’s what the boys had to say:
WHAT DOES THIS SCENT REMIND YOU OF?
Kyle, 18: “Ummm, it smells like lake water (laughs).” Alex, 18: “Wow, that smells like something that’s rotten.”
HOW DO YOU IMAGINE THE PERSON WHO IS WEARING THIS IS DRESSED?
Kyle: “Something plain, maybe a simple black or grey dress.”
Alex: “I imagine someone who doesn’t really care about material stuff. She’d probably be in jeans, a simple blouse, hair not too well done, and definitely flip-flops.”
IMMEDIATELY UPON SMELLING IT, HOW DID IT MAKE YOU FEEL?
Kyle: “I don’t know, it’s not very stimulating. I guess I’d say ‘fluid’.”
Alex: “I felt pretty turned off. Let’s just say if a girl approached me wearing this, I’d cut the conversation short.”
WHAT TYPE OF PERSON WOULD YOU BUY THIS FOR?
Kyle: “I’d probably buy this for a female friend – one who I’m not sure if I love or if I hate.”
Alex: “I would say that I’d buy it for my dog, but I think my dog is better than that.”
VERDICT
According to these boys, the Victoria’s Secret ‘sweet up’ isn’t so sweet.
WHAT DOES THIS SCENT REMIND YOU OF?
Alex: “It smells like my mom, flowers. It’s really nice, not too strong and not too faint.” Kyle: “Somewhere between peaches and my sister.”
HOW DO YOU IMAGINE THE PERSON WHO IS WEARING THIS IS DRESSED?
Alex: “Dressed for like a semi-formal occasion – nice dress, heels, possibly something exotic.”
Kyle: “Something like a band Tshirt and jeans. Maybe an oversized hoodie and sneakers.”
IMMEDIATELY UPON SMELLING IT, HOW DID IT MAKE YOU FEEL?
Alex: “I was in a bad mood and this didn’t do much to change it (laughs), but it’s still nice.”
Kyle: “Annoyed, because it reminds me of my sister. But, excluding my sister, it makes me feel a little bit comfortable, I guess.”
WHAT TYPE OF PERSON WOULD YOU BUY THIS FOR?
Alex: “A very sophisticated girl who likes to pretend she’s simple; a couple of my female friends.” Kyle: “My sister or my mom.”
WHAT DOES THIS SCENT REMIND YOU OF?
Britney, 18: “Umm ... a ball vibe? Ballrooms, banquets, chandeliers.”
Rajini, 17: “It reminds me of banks/the corporate atmosphere – shiny shoes and pinstripe suits.”
HOW DO YOU IMAGINE THE PERSON WHO IS WEARING THIS IS DRESSED?
Britney: “A black tuxedo, tailored – Italian style.”
Rajini: “I can’t imagine this person in anything but a suit and tie.”
WHERE WOULD THE GUY WEARING THIS TAKE YOU ON A DATE?
Britney: “Definitely to an upscale restaurant.”
Rajini: “He would take me somewhere expensive, like Fromage.”
WHAT WOULD THIS PERSON ORDER TO DRINK?
Britney: “He’d take coffee, but he would be the type of guy with a very specific and detailed coffee order. Very complex.”
Rajini: “A whiskey on the rocks, Scotch, and/or something else expensive like bourbon.”
WHAT DOES THIS SCENT REMIND YOU OF?
Rajini: “It reminds me of the sea. It’s a fresh scent.”
Britney: “In a word – Mondays.”
HOW DO YOU IMAGINE THE PERSON WHO IS WEARING THIS IS DRESSED?
Rajini: “I imagine he would be dress in something like jeans and a button-down.”
Britney: “I feel like he’s the type of guy who wears plaid shirts and jeans.”
WHERE WOULD THE GUY WEARING THIS TAKE YOU ON A DATE?
Rajini: “The person with this scent would take me to somewhere like TGI Fridays or 100. Or maybe to a concert!”
Britney: “I see us on a date at Devon House.”
WHAT WOULD THIS PERSON ORDER TO DRINK?
Rajini: “A mojito, for sure.” Britney: “Hmm ... he’s not the type of guy to order healthy drinks. So more simple, artificial flavours like Hawaiian Punch – a grab and go.”