Fragrance

Johann Maria Farina founded his fragrance house in Cologne in 1709 and named his citrus scent after the city, which is how Eau de Cologne got its name. Fragrance traces scent from that point to the niche brands that now fill department store counters. The 4711 cologne still carries the house number of the company's old address in Cologne. Le Labo opened in New York in 2006, founded by Eddie Roschi and Fabrice Penot, with perfumes mixed to order in the shop and named after their main ingredient and the number of raw materials in the formula. Estée Lauder bought the company in 2014. Past the history, the topic gets practical. The guide to building a fragrance wardrobe explains concentrations, from eau de cologne up to eau de parfum, and how to match a scent to the season and the setting. There are notes on testing on skin instead of paper strips and on why a fragrance smells different after a few hours. One spray on each wrist and one at the neck is usually plenty.