Giving presents to my partner has always been an intuitive dance. We understand each other implicitly, often exchanging subtle hints that lead to the perfect gift. Over the past year, he’s developed an interest in fragrances. Perhaps reaching his mid-30s and being an entrepreneur has sparked a desire to have a signature scent. New Yorkers often joke that everyone in the city smells like Santal 33, and if not that, you’re bound to encounter someone wearing a scent reminiscent of your ex. In a city where we try to break uniformity, finding a unique fragrance becomes a personal statement.
After experimenting with many travel-sized spray bottles, there was one scent, Courrèges C Eau de Parfum, that lingered the best, blending with his body chemistry so well that I knew he had to have it. Of course, if I love the smell, then it’s just as much a luxury for me as it is for him. Courrèges C conjures up the image of a sexy woodworking man who just did all his laundry, thanks to notes of jasmine, clean-laundry accord, and ambrox, which gives the fragrance that slightly masculine, woody scent without being too overpowering. The smell is quite complex but not intense; trust me, you want to be wrapped up in it.
When you’re wandering about town, you get used to pinpointing certain scents—the markings of a certain type of man. They can tell you a lot about a person, but Courrèges C feels new to me. It smells like the scent of my future husband. Perhaps Valentine’s Day is making me sentimental about our relationship, but my partner and I openly discuss marriage in a very relaxed yet romantic manner when the topic arises. Even the slightest waft as he walks by, and I’m certain, yup, husband. Scent is heavily tied to memory, and I’m curious to see where this one will take us. How many more trips, dinners, dates, and gatherings?
It’s endearing to watch his transformation from a man who once relied solely on deodorant to one who now appreciates the art of fragrance. And there’s a comfort in slipping into his oversized T-shirt at night, enveloped in a scent that tells the story of us. I like that story smelling like Courrèges C.