Cupcakes and Cashmere

Scent Bar

October 26th, 2011

I’m a huge fan of perfume, so it’s crazy that I only discovered Scent Bar a couple of weeks back. While most of the fragrances I own are from department stores, I love the idea of supporting local businesses. It’s a tiny shop stocked with tons of under-the-radar scents, all categorized into sections (from white florals, to minimum, to leather, and vanilla). I’m drawn to floral fragrances with a slightly heavier finish, rather than powdery or sweet. I bought Nasomatto’s Narcotic Venus (which combines tuberose, wood, and spice) and I’m intoxicated by its scent. I often switch perfumes every few days, but I’ve always wanted to be one of those girls with a signature scent…and I think I’ve finally found it. Do you have one favorite you swear by or do you rotate?

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  • http://7legs.wordpress.com 7legs

    One of my friends is a “nose” which is pretty much one of the best jobs i can think of. ps I rotate between Jo Malone and Eau de Calandre (my all time favorite and onetime signature scent) pps love your site

  • Kait

    I have worn both Bond no.9 Andy Warhol Union Square and Bond no.9 The Scent of Peace for years. Both floral with strong finishes.

    http://www.bondno9.com/shop/eau-de-parfum

  • http://7legs.wordpress.com 7legs

    Sorry don’t meant to bombard you with comments but right after commenting saw a post on Jezebel.com that is so on point I can’t help sharing: http://jezebel.com/5853633/worth-it-a-perfume-for-the-discerning-nose

  • http://dssuggestion.blogspot.com MEL

    My signature scent is Tom Ford’s Black Orchid. It has been for about 5 years now. It is intoxicatingly spicy and mysterious and I absolutely adore it.

  • http://4scarlet.com Hannah

    Any Ralph Lauren scent is heavenly. But I’ve got some fragrances from a little perfumeria in Bermuda that are AMAZING!

    real girl, real body fashion:
    4scarlet.com

  • Candice

    My go to is Viva La Juicy. It smells like home to me. However, I just became addicted to Taylor Swift’s new perfume “Wonderstruck.” It smells absolutely devine and so sweet :) I love the lighter scents.

  • http://dustyanna.blogspot.com Dusty Yurkin

    This place looks amazing!
    I have had the same signature scent since I was probably 13. I’ve always worn Clinique Happy Heart. I do have other perfumes, and I wear them occasionally but I almost always wear Happy Heart.

    dustyanna.blospot.com

  • http://beingvogue.wordpress.com C

    WOW! i’ve never seen anything like that before! very neat!

    http://beingvogue.wordpress.com/

  • http://diamondsjoyandcharm.blogspot.com/ Sofia

    My signature scent is Miss Dior Cherié because I’m only 13 and wearing something stronger would not really be appropiate fr my age. I can’t wait to get a few years older and try some Chanel N. 5! But for now I’ll stick to girly florals. I’m more than delighted with Miss Dior anyway, I’m trying to change my style to Gamine.

  • http://passion-for-shoes.com GGshoe

    Signature scent gal over here! Mine is Thierry Mugler’s Angel blended with Serge Lutens Vanille & a hint of Jalaine Patchouli & Vetiver.

  • http://arsavin666.blogspot.com/ Andy

    OMG, a lot of perfume
    Sure the price is relatively expensive perfume?

  • H2H Collection

    Very nice pictures! What camera did you use?

  • http://www.prevailingetquette.com/ Kelly

    That seems like such an amazing place, I look forward to visiting it!
    http://www.prevailingetquette.com/

  • http://dailydaniblog.blogspot.com Dani

    I used to wear “Lovely” by Sarah Jessica Parker, until a few years ago a friend gave me Victoria’s Secret PINK body splash in “fresh & clean.” It’s exactly that, and I’m happy that my friends now associate this scent with me. :) Plus, it’s cheap! Haha.

  • http://www.cestbourgeois.blogspot.com the bourgeois girl

    as a perfume addict, i think i might overdose if i entered a facility like this. oh my godddd i want haha

    check my blog out!
    i have an amazing giveaway happening right now :)

    xxthebourgeoisgirl

    http://www.cestbourgeois.blogspot.com

  • http://neverretail.wordpress.com/ Rachel @ Never Retail

    I swear by Burberry Brit – wear it every day!

  • http://1moreshoppingblog.blogspot.com Rose

    I have been a Jo Malone Orange Blossom girl for MANY years now.

  • http://mostlyclothes-cristina.blogspot.com/ Cristina

    I love that this is a local store in your area! I feel as though I need a new scent as well. I have been wearing Channel Mademoiselle for a while now, and although I love it, I would like to switch it up a bit.

    http://mostlyclothes-cristina.blogspot.com/

  • http://mostlyclothes-cristina.blogspot.com/ Cristina

    I love that this is a local store in your area! I feel as though I need a new scent as well. I have been wearing Channel Mademoiselle for a while now, and although I love it, I would like to switch it up a bit.

    http://mostlyclothes-cristina.blogspot.com/

  • http://www.fashion-feast.com Alexandra

    I need to check this place out sometime! I have a few favorites, I tend to wear them either by season or by occasion..

    *My “date night” scent is Chance by Chanel
    *My Fall scent is Stella
    *My everyday scent is either Daisy or Lola by Marc Jacobs
    *My Winter scent is Issey Miyake
    *My summer scent (discontinued, but I can find it online..YAY) Dolly Girl by Ana Sui

    I also wish I had just that one signature scent… There are just too many great perfumes out there! It’s so hard to just choose one!

    xo
    Alexandra
    http://www.fashion-feast.com

  • Paula

    My favorite perfume is Citizen Queen from Juliette Has A Gun – the whole range is beautiful though

    http://www.juliettehasagun.com/#/citizenqueen_en

  • maya

    You should try perfumes by Serge Lutens. They are unique so if you like under-the-radar scents you should check him out.

  • http://glass-of-fashion.blogspot.com katie

    i go through phases with perfume! i went through a long phase of chanel cristalle (during which, incidentally, i was reading Wonder Boys, & they kept mentioning it as the common perfume!), I also love dior poison.. & nina ricci L’air du temps – & what a gorgeous bottle!

    Katie x

  • Jamie James

    Every time my perfume bottle runs out I buy a completely different scent, I find that smells are too evocative for me – once I’ve worn a perfume during a certain period in my life, that smell always brings back too many strong memories for me to feel comfortable carrying on wearing it! Is that weird? At the moment I am absolutely loving Kenzo scents… so light and fruity. Just the perfect lift on a dull autumn day.

    Love the blog – keep up the great work!

    JJ xx

  • http://thewildfleur.com The Wild Fleur

    What a gorgeous place. I really want to see this place!

    My signature scent is Sheer by Stella McCartney. It’s divine!

    xx
    Camille @ The Wild Fleur
    http://thewildfleur.com

  • erica

    Tocca’s Stella Collection is by far my favorite scent and has thus become my signature. It also comes in a handy solid fragrance for traveling and going out! Love! http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P38220&categoryId=B70

  • Gina

    I have only been wearing one scent for the past 2/3 years and get compliments daily!! Ecentric Molecules its fresh and clean and can be layered with others secents or sents from the same range. love love love, cant live without !!

  • http://insidethebelljar.blogspot.com Han

    I need one of these in Cardiff!

    http://insidethebelljar.blogspot.com/

  • http://seramariamichael.blogspot.com Sera Michael

    I love the perfume Leila Lou, it took me forever to find the perfect scent but I think it’s the one for me. I used to switch it up all the time too. Love the idea of Scent Bar, thanks!

  • http://missbobino.blogspot.com The life after

    Such a cool place!!

  • http://outsidethebricks.blogspot.com Nina

    I absolutely LOVE Opehlia…Its a beautiful white floral scent. Wish I lived in LA so I could check this place out! Nice scent collection you have there.

  • http://taylordcoil.com Taylor Coil

    Scent Bar sounds like a great experience! I’m a huge fan of niche fragrance – I don’t like smelling like everyone else. A perfume crafted just for me sounds wonderful.

  • Susan McIntosh

    My dad was super allergic to perfume so I could never wear it growing up. As soon as I moved the last box into my apartment I grabbed my bag and headed for the nearest department store and bought myself a big ol’ bottle of some inexpensive vanilla odoriferous compound. I have been obsessed ever since. I change my scent everyday, but more often then not i wear “song in d minor” by tokyo milk or a scent my dear friend made just for me at a perfumerie in Bourdeaux, France.

  • http://www.etsy.com/shop/rebelbellevintage Alyssa

    Scent Bar looks amazing, I actually shy away from traditional department store perfumes because they’re often too strong. I love the idea of a natural perfume, but my favorite that I use all the time, has to be my pheromones. :]

    Shop Vintage ♥

  • http://zolicious.blogspot.com zolicious

    wow, love it. It looks very lovely.

    zolicious

  • http://tradedmyfriendsforyou.tumblr.com Sarah

    For years mine has been Coco by Coco Chanel. But for the summer it was Bronze Goddess by Estee Lauder.

  • http://clothespaper.wordpress.com The Clothes Paper

    it’s the paradise :O

  • piia

    Hi,
    I used to sell Nasomatto perfume’s at my shop in Helsinki.Nowadays no one sells them here anymore since I closed my shop and decided to stay home with the baby and have one more; )
    Anyways my signature scent has been Nasomatto’s Nuda since it was published. It’s so strong yet vulnerable, sexy yet innocent, elegant yet rough… perfect for me, I love it. Thank you for writing about scents.

  • http://howficklemyheart.wordpress.com Allie

    I’ve never seen these before, but I love the idea! I love the idea of a store where the employees aren’t trying to promote just one perfume but can help you find the perfect one for you. I’ve worn Viktor and Rolf’s Flowerbomb for the longest time.

    http://howficklemyheart.wordpress.com

  • http://beagleandbear.blogspot.com Kelly

    I have always wanted to be one of those girls with a signature scent, as well! I wear CKIn2U for women most of the time, but I also wear some basic, more casual body sprays from Bath and Body Works sometimes.

  • http://www.miuu-me.blogspot.com Miu

    Such a cool store!
    I wish we had something like this here, too!

  • Lauryn @ the Skinny Confidential

    This is so cute! I hope they open one in San Diego.

    http://www.TheSkinnyConfidential.com

  • http://itsawant.wordpress.com/ Lee Anne

    Wow! Such an amazing concept!! I would love to go!

    http://itsawant.wordpress.com/

  • http://www.whoorl.com whoorl

    I’ve bought several fragrances from their Lucky Scent website, but have never visited the store. You’ve totally inspired me to visit!

  • http://pinklemonincrystal.blogspot.com michelle
  • http://tryintobestylin.com Lori

    Wow! Who would have ever known there was a scent bar! I rotate my scents, but within those scents I do have a few signature ones :)

  • princessglee

    Alas the secret is out. Scent Bar is heaven on earth. If you’re a real “scent head” follow the blog ismellthereforeiam. I beleive the writers work at Scent Bar, can describe in vivid detail all the latest and the best and has informed opinions about classics.

  • http://www.mochaandmoccasins.blogspot.com/ Monica

    I love how this shop is a tiny, local one. Those attract me to them so much more. Right now, I’m wearing Daisy by Marc Jacobs. Perfumes can get quite expensive, and one that I’ve always loved is Miss Dior Cherie, perhaps it’ll be a Christmas present to myself?

    M.

  • http://www.katiepuckriksmells.com/ Katie Puckrik

    Emily, Scent Bar is my happy place, and discovering it turned me from “just” a perfume aficionado into a full-blown fumehead. Thank you, Marita, for mentioning my blog – and you’ve also listed some of my very favorite perfumes: Chanel Coromandel and the combination of Commes des Garcons Avignon and the (sadly discontinued) L’Artisan Vanilia, which is what I wore on my wedding day.

    It would be too self-denying to stick to only one “signature scent”, but I do wear the heck out of Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle. It’s an opulent, decadent cloud of rose, incense, patchouli and musk.

  • http://www.youngdumblove.com london camille

    i totally agree. i am always on the hunt for new scents. i wear a different one each day depending on my mood but i have always wanted to have a signature scent. but then the thought of a signature scent and only one pretty bottle on my fragrance tray bums me out too. right now i am playing with Chloe and Flowerbomb by Viktor and Rolf. i would love to visit Scent Bar!
    Thanks for sharing :)
    -london camille
    youngdumblove.com