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Photo: permission Astier de Villate

As the temperature increases so does my desire to wear colognes. Colognes have really been popular for the last few years, and that interest isn’t waning anytime soon as more and more niche house introduce them into the market each year.

^{Bella Freud EdP bottle - bellafreud.com}

For a long time now, I’ve toyed with the idea of having a nose create a perfume just for me. Every now and again, I explore the idea. I research, I study and I investigate. And there are plenty of perfumers out there who offer their services to create bespoke perfumes.

^{DXB Dubai by Scent of Departure - perfumeniche.com} 

^{Red Rose - Wikimedia Commons - D. Sharon Pruitt}

One of the questions that Kay and I are often asked is: how do you develop a great sense of smell. I was reminded of this when I came across an interview with nose Mathieu Nardin:

^{Photo from Wiki Commons: Square in Florence showing a white high water mark from the 1966 flood}

An escape from the cold, dull Toronto spring to the warmth of the Tuscan sun. Driving along the FI-PI-LI on day trips to Siena, Pisa or Livorno, the windows down, singing along to Paolo Conti on the radio.

Photo: Courtesy L’Artisan Parfumeur.

^{Heretic Parfums embossed packaging for 15 ml. - hereticparfums.com}

^{Iris pallida flower - Wikimedia Commons - Pamwik, April 20, 2015}

^{Red Rose by Andrele Bohner, Nov. 18, 2007 - Wikimedia Commons}

“So, what do you think” I asked the sales assistant.

She wafted the blotter back and forth under her nose a few times before answering.

“This one is a challenge,” she said finally.

“How so?” I asked.