eerrretererirerrryrs fragrance should be an exten- sion of your per- sonality, your mood and your emotions, says Anita Dang, who oversees the marketing and merchandising of cosmetics for Shoppers Drug Marts across Western Canada. At Shoppers’ head office at Park Royal, she’s seen her share of fragrances come and go. Dang herself changes fragrances as often as she changes her clothes. What's hitting a top note with customers today is “anything (with the scent of) vanilla.” ; Chanel and Gender One — Shoppers Drug Mart’s lower priced alterna- tive to Calvin Klein’s “shared” fragrance, CK g One — are best-selling women’s scents. Polo and Stetson are big for men. Dang’s choices are a light fragrance for day, like Polo Sport For Women; an cau de. . ¥ _ toilette like 4711 or a body a splash, for sports and wark- * outs; and perfume, like Coco by "Chanel, for evening when she'll often “layer” the fragrance to extend” its wear, - Layering is a way for fragrance companies to boost sales, by offering a variety of scented products in the same fragrance family — ie. soaps and bath gels, moisturizers, powders, body splash, eau de toilette and perfume — that can be worn together or separately. But customers need not purchase an entire line, says Dang, who suggests wearing no more than nwo products at a time to avoid fragrance overload. Switching to a moisturizing lotion or talc when a fragrance proves too strong for summertime wear is another option. Above all, fragrance should linger, Dang advises. “When it’s overpowering, it can be offensive to peo- ple around you.” In order | to sniff out a broader perspective, the North Shore News asked some North Shore resi- dents for their fragrance picks and pans. ‘Paul Minichiello, owner of Paul’s of North Shore Tailors and Cleaners Top note: None (Minichiello is not a cologne wearer.) _ Close to the heart: Joy. “I kcep buying my wife all NEWS photo Cindy Goodman’ kinds of perfume but keep coming hack to Joy.” Sour note: As a tailor for more than 30 years he’s: had a whiff of countless colognes.-His nose knows that. “really strong, musky smelling” cologne just: doesn’t measure up. Sweet scent: Fresh garden roses Ruth Payne, exhibition coordinator, Ferry Building Gallery and Harmony Arts Festival Top note: Visionary by The Body Shop. A lover of aromatherapy, Payne. is. drawn to essential oils, - which she purchases from Escents in Park Royal or The Body Shop. A few drops of lavender and berg- amot in the bath or in bubbling water on the stove-: top scent the air and soothe the: soul, as well as harken memories of a restful stay in the South of, France last year. Close to the heart: “I don’t really. like’. cologne on men.” Clean and natural is-her®: preference. oo, Sour note: “I’m always seduced by per- fume counters,” admits Payne, though she~ «. can’t stand the “chemical smeil” of :fra-- grance. , : Sweet scent: Baking bread, honeysuck-.) - le in the sun and “rhe smell of ocean ... even at low tide.” : Alan Roberts, firefighter, North. Vancouver District Fire Services... Top note: Drakkar Noir ‘, Clove to the heart: “The smell of |: baby powder — clean and fresh.” Sour note: Perfurne that over-.: powers Sweet scent: Fresh cut grass Denise’ Cameron Taylor, West Vancouver fashion con- sultant Top note: “It takes me a long time to decide on a perfirme. Once J find one I stick to it for a very long time.” Gianfranco Ferre, La Perla, Basile she’s been wearing for nine to 10 years “since even before they were available outside Europe.” Close to the heart: Cerutti ee Sour note: “I like to have a sense of fragrance but 1 don’t like to walk into a room and smell some- | body.” She steers away from heavy and spicy fra- grances: “They make me cough and sneeze.” Sweet scent: “I love the smell of ginger and | love +, the smell of lilacs and [ love the smell of tily in the valley.” The scent of the sea is immensely calming for this Dundarave resident who hails: from Aberdeen, Lime and orange blossoms please the nost in summertime. A whiff of Chanel No. 5 elic- its fond memories of her mother but site steers clear when it comes to her own use. “It smells like vanilla extract on me.”