Show Her the Love with Parfums des Beaux Arts

Perfumes are one of the most popular””and desired””gifts for Feb. 14 for some very good reasons: luxurious, romantic and feminine, fragrances allow lovers to express their feelings in a way that is personal and thoughtful (not to mention sensual!). The latest collections from Parfums des Beaux Arts, particularly the spicy Cimabue and Indochine scents, deliver exactly that.

Dawn Spencer Hurwitz is the artisan behind the line. Her philosophy about fragrance is fabulous, and speaking with her made me question all those not-so-tongue-in-cheek articles about luring him with a signature scent. She believes in a “fragrance wardrobe,” that you should choose a “fragrance that you have a relationship with — to reflect not just who you are, but how you feel on any given day.” Her fragrances tell stories about places, emotions and life.

Unlike overpowering perfumes, both scents are subtle yet savory as soon as you put them on. They thrive on skin contact, creating not only an opulent aroma, but also an enlivening signature scent for which your sweetie will praise you over and over (and over) again. They are deliciously organic yet sexy in a sophisticated way. These scents are more “mature” – requiring a certain confidence in mind, body and spirit to pull them off.

As with many parfums, the wearer should allow the fragrance to mellow for a couple of minutes before forging an opinion. Indochine, for example, has an initial eau-de-Sri-Lankan-rice-dish quality that quickly gives way to a pleasant, lemony Vietnamese ginger. The lighter of the two, it is perfect for Southern California’s perpetual spring because it has a tropical airiness.

The Cimabue blend falls into Parfums des Beaux Arts’ category of the gourmand. Its top note is spicy saffron, but the scent also has a golden vanilla quality, giving it a body of mystery and delicacy.

Exotic scents such as those from Hurwitz make the traditional gift of perfume unique and heartfelt. They require thought and inspiration on his part, so if your honey presents you with a scent from the Parfums des Beaux Arts line, give him a big kiss and take an immediate spritz. It will ensure that your scent lingers in his thoughts, just as your charisma already does.

Parfums des Beaux Arts fragrances are available online at https://www.dshperfumes.com/index_pdba.asp. The Cimabue and Indochine scents, like many of the others in the line, come in lotion and body crème forms as well.

Cimabue:
1 ounce Spray: $80
.25 ounce Spray: $27
4 ounce Lotion: $24
4 ounce Crème Body Wash: $22
Gift Set: $85

Indochine:
1 ounce spray: $60
.25 ounce spray: $20
4 ounce lotion: $24
4 ounce crème body wash: $22
Gift Set: $65