5 questions with Dior’s fragrance specialist Kelly Leng

SINGAPORE — Fragrance specialists, such as Dior’s Kelly Leng, are hired for their nose for detail and the ability to offer you a bespoke experience by helping you pick out a scent that you can truly call your own.

They do so by asking a specific set of questions to glean personality traits and the type of scents one prefer, said Leng. Here’s the best part: This personalised consultation is complimentary.

“If she has a distinctive preference from the first set of scents, we will actually get a sense of what she likes,” she said. “If she is outgoing or has an air of elegance or uniqueness, we will let her try two to three sets of scents. We try not to let one smell too much as well because your nose will be exhausted and you won’t be able to smell scents well after that.”

Q: Tell us more about this questioning process: How does it identify the appropriate scent?

A: We actually conduct consultations with customers to understand their routine ... and to really narrow down a fragrance that is right for them. Every fragrance speaks a different language so it will appear differently to and bring out a different memory in a certain person. Hence, a scent really represents you as a person, so we have to find out more about your character, the scents you prefer and narrow it down to choose the fragrance best for you.

Q: Is there really a Dior perfume for every woman?

A: We have a vast collection for every range and every perfume represents a different character so you will definitely find something that suits you. For the fashionable and outgoing type, Miss Dior Eau de Toilette (S$178 for 100ml) is a happy and girly scent. J’adore Eau de Parfum (S$230 for 100ml), however, is a bit more sensual and feminine but within the J’adore range, we have perfumes that suit different personalities too.

Q: Should people try different scents for different occasions?

A: Yes. Christian Dior believed a woman can change five outfits in a day. He also believed that there’s a different fragrance for a different outfit. It’s actually a finishing touch to your dressing. If you were to dress that way, you can spray that scent to really bring out the look or the feeling you want to achieve. Even for work, if you want to have a soft or more dominating aura, you can actually do that with 
a scent.

Q: Most women like floral scents: What should they get?

A: Yes, women who like floral scents will like Grand Bal (S$390 for 125ml). Christian Dior actually created this fragrance for women who frequent balls. As you may know, people like to attend balls a lot in the past and he wanted a woman to smell like she’s wearing a dress full of flowers.

Q: Which part of our body should we spray the perfume on?

A: On your pulse points, such as your wrists, the back of your ears and the back of your knees. When you spray it on the pulse points, your pulse will actually bring out the scent. So as you walk, people can smell the fragrance you’re wearing. It’s like a lingering trail. ZHANG WEIFANG