Perfume or eau de toilette?
Smells like a hint of grapefruit

Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 15/98) - As you sip your morning coffee, give it a whiff.

Your olfactory faculties will be cleansed just as cheese neutralizes a wine taster's palate.

"It sort of clears the nostrils for smelling," says Kimberly Staples from the Merle Norman fragrance boutique in Centre Square Mall.

"Because after about three fragrances, it's often hard to pick one. And, of course, when you first wear perfume there is a top note (and) a middle note."

Staples said Merle Norman carries more than 200 designer fragrances including many new ones Yellowknifers would see if they vacation in Paris or New York: ones from Jean Paul Gaultier, Issey Miyaki or Dolce & Gabbana.

Meanwhile at Wal- Mart, dozens of fragrances are kept in a locked glass cabinet.

"All of Walmart's prices are phenomenal," says Mary Chipman, who worked in the health and beauty section for one year and now is the assistant manager of the shoe section.

"The ones we carry are the ones people are asking for."

While many Yellowknifers are married to a single fragrance, others prefer a wardrobe of fragrance to match different kinds of events or moods.

Chipman says mostly men come in to buy fragrance for their wives, and they know exactly what they're looking for.

"My first love was Charlie," Chipman says while holding a bottle. "For fragrance," she quickly adds.

And for young women today, she says they tend to buy Vanilla Fields.

Perhaps cashing in on that craze are the makers of similar vanilla products: Vanilla Musk, French Vanilla or even the more carnal Raw Vanilla.

For those wanting glamorous name brand scents without succumbing to the high price tag, Chipman says Mystic scents are popular.

These knock-off scents sell for a fraction of well marketed originals listed on the box: scents like White Diamond or Obsession.

For connoisseurs, however, fragrance can be fun.

"I like spicy with floral," Staples says of different essence groupings.

"Such things as Poeme by Lancome, Jill Sanders No. 4 and Chanel Coco."

At Merle Norman, fragrances range from $29 to about $100 while at Wal-Mart, Oscar de la Renta is the highest price at $44.

Merle Norman has also come out with small three tiny bottles for about $15.

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