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Make your scent part of your signature

Make Scents allows you to create a custom fragrance.

By Krissy Tripp

Published Oct. 1, 2010

I wasn't sure what to expect when I walked into Make Scents on a rainy Wednesday afternoon. I had walked past the storefront countless times, wondering what they sold. Perfume? Candles? Scented oils to make my own?

"We get that a lot," owner Christina Kelley said. "But we sell a little bit of everything."

Looking around, I saw fancy packaging and decadent products organized into clusters of branded smells covering nearly every surface. There's something a little mesmerizing about great packaging that you know will smell good. I found myself touching and smelling half the products in the store, most of which I'd never seen before.

Kelley prides herself on seeking out the most socially responsible personal care producers. Although not all of the stores’ products are certified fair trade (perfumes and body care products generally aren’t) she said the companies the store works with do know where their ingredients come from. A handful of suppliers are from Missouri.

Although I was personally fascinated with the TokyoMilk brand and its snappy perfume names such as "Poe's Tobacco" and "Dead Sexy," I wasn't there to ask what scents were already available. I was interested in how customers create custom scents.

"As you can see, we have a lot to work with," Kelley said, motioning to the wall full of flasks behind her. "So we start by asking what type of scents you usually like."

She explained there are a handful of scent families such as fruity, floral, citrus or aldehydic. Scents not inspired by nature are considered aldehydic scents. Chanel No. 9 is one of the most famous perfumes of that type.

Then the fun begins. Scents are combined and created on paper to the customer's desire. After the paper scent is decidedly perfect, it's mixed and added to whatever medium the creator chooses. Finally, all scent recipes are kept forever on file with the creator's name, and if the creator chooses, he or she can even name the scent.

"It can be fun for people," Kelley said. "It lets them use their creativity."

It was clear from my store tour that Kelley wants to keep a fun atmosphere.

The store was being redecorated for the holidays and both store decorations and seasonal products lay everywhere, either waiting to be looked at by a customer or to be placed on a shelf.

I picked up a bottle of Skull and Crossbones liquid hand wash by Primal Elements.

"We keep things like that stocked year round," Kelley said, mentioning the store also carries a men’s line. "I try to keep things in the store for men, too. Most men feel comfortable in here, not like it's just a girl store."

She said customers come to her shop for a variety of reasons. They're either trying to create their own unique scent, recreate a discontinued scent from what Kelley deems fashion scent shops, such as Bath & Body Works, or simply purchase a scent-free product, most likely due to an allergy.

The scent business is driven by more than advertising. It's the way it makes people feel. Our scent is a core part of our identity or our mood. It's fashionable. It's a signature or perhaps an extra confidence-boosting ritual for a special night out. Some psychologists even say smell has something to do with attraction.

Either way, a visit to Make Scents will create a strong desire to pamper yourself with its array of delicate-looking products.