There were plenty of unusual insights into the olfactory arts at iD International Emerging Designers Show judge Benny Castles' perfume masterclass at the Wall Street Mall yesterday.
The World fashion house designer and director took a group of about 20 on a highly scented journey through the history of fragrances, and explained the best way to both choose and use them.
Finding the right perfume, he said, should be like "the moment of joy when you find something beautiful".
Mr Castles told the stories behind a dozen perfumes.
The attendees, perhaps giddy with the many complex odours wafting their way, heard stories from the French Revolution, and the input into perfume by everyone from Marie Antoinette to Cary Grant to Grace Kelly, as some remarkable tales unfolded.
The best perfumes, Mr Castles said, were made for a reason.
"I find it abhorrent to think things are just made to be sold."
There were specific places on the body perfumes should be worn, especially where the blood ran close to the skin, like the back of the neck or behind the knees, and the best time to apply was shortly after getting out of the shower.
The wrists were another place, but don't rub those wrists together, as that "bruises the fragrance."
Perhaps going against his own advice, Mr Castles said he used perfume on his clothes, his arms and in his hair.
On choosing a scent, he suggested narrowing down the possibilities to about three, then going with instinct.
"You make the best decisions when you choose instinctively."
