September 11, 2023 in Escentials- Paragon, gentlemen from varied walks of life gathered for a night of perfumes and suits. The workshop, led by the industry veteran Shahrul Nordin from Escentials and yours truly, representing PIMABS Bespoke, sprouted an idea of combining scents to your overall outfit. We wanted to engage the growing market of men’s perfume and showcase how one can make informed choices to stamp their mark with their scent and look. A personal image is 50% look and 50% substance. Like a well-plated food of Lobster Risotto with shaved Black Truffles (Yum!), the eye eats first then the aroma follows through. We are not a plate of a Michelin star food, but you get what I mean.
The night progressed, as Shahrul discussed the different families of perfumes. From captivating aromatics, bright citrus to masculine woody families, men exhausted their olfactory senses with different scents from niche perfume brands. I, on the other hand, highlighted the basics on how you can build an adaptable, stylish (not fashionable) wardrobe that can stand the test of time. How blue is the new black for men, how to spot trends and work it into your style. Most men, especially in Singapore, dare not to stand out. I don’t know if it’s because on how the authority “influenced” people to be that way or maybe it’s the conservative, slightly boxed views we have in the society.
Wearing a suit on a hot Singapore day is frowned upon, as one may look too spiffy for the locale. But then again, on this day and age where there are countless of choices for tropical jackets, we must take advantage of it and not be sloppy. Casual doesn’t mean dress down to the bare essentials. Find clothes that fit and color that complement your skin tone, this is a good philosophy for dressing up. Suits that are made of cotton and linen or even linen blend should be indispensable in Singapore’s humid weather. Participants took home sample fragrances from Annick Goutal, Atkinson’s and Maison Francis Kurkdjian (MFK) to name a few. Of course, I am biased towards MFK, as I am an avid fan of his Aqua Universalis Eau de Parfum, it’s one of the most comforting and delicious scents I’ve ever used. Imagine collapsing on a bed of white feathers in an exhausted summer’s day. That’s how it smells like!
You can visit Escentials Paragon (290 Orchard Road, #03-02/05) to try out the wonderful collection of scents, or if you are around Boat Quay area, pop by PIMABS (32B Boat Quay) for a visit and get suited up our designer/bespoke tailor, Leslie Chia.
Words by Ernie Lim, Style Consultant at PIMABS and His Style Diary contributing writer.
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