We’ve read that Kirsten Dunst wears different scents depending on what character she's playing.

If you too are fickle when it comes to fragrance bypass the big name blends in favour of a beautiful indie scent ($45) created by Oregon-based alchemist, Heather Sielaff. Olo is just delightful. Each scent is hand-blended in limited edition batches and is inspired by the perfumer’s personal experiences.

Lightning paw (don’t you just love the name?) is subtle mix of bergamot, vanilla, jasmine, patchouli and wood. The combination of pine, juniper, cedar and vetivert in Forêt is lovely too.

And for the girl who really can’t commit, try a sample kit ($30).  —Athena Tsavliris

At Robber, 863 Queen St. W., Toronto, 647-351-0724, www.robberstore.wordpress.com

From Cacharel to Comme des Garçons, your signature scent has come along way, baby.

Summer begs for a return to innocence. One whiff of Musti, and I was hooked. It was created with tots in mind (alcohol and paraben free) but Euro mamas have doused themselves in its delicate loveliness for years.

It’s what I imagine clouds to smell like. —Athena Tsavliris

Available at Sephora.

“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different,” said Coco Chanel.

Seal your uniqueness with a signature scent from My Aromachology mix-your-own-perfume bar.

A ten question ‘scent profile’ lands you in one of the five fragrance personality groupings (Sophisticated & Sensual, Totally Edible, Exotic Spicy, Clean & Fresh or Bold & Brisk). Layer it with top notes that reflect your personal attributes (passionate, sensual, confident, courageous).

It’s eau de moi, in a pretty glass bottle.

By appointment, 416-669-0950, www.myaromachology.com

If Coco Chanel was right when she declared, “a woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future,” then perhaps it’s time we talked No. 5 year plans.

At Holt Renfrew’s Chanel Olfactive Bar, trade fortune tellers for fragrance experts and sit in a tweed chair surrounded by black and white photographs of Mademoiselle. Instead of crystal balls, there are ceramic blotters so you can smell the fullness of each fragrance as the perfumer would, without the successive sprays.

The bar is also the exclusive carrier of Les Exclusifs de Chanel collection, from which we found our next scent (we’d tell you what it is, but some things in life should remain a mystery).

Chanel Olfactive Bar at Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. W., Toronto, 416-922-2333 (call to book an appointment), www.holtrenfrew.com

Mother, model, designer and author, India Hicks lives an inspiring life with her four children and partner on the island of Bahamas. Hot off the heels of her third marathon, Hicks whizzed into Toronto for the 2010 Canadian Fragrance Awards. Here, she shares anecdotes from London, the Bahamas and one monumental royal wedding:

You have a speedboat named 'Spider Lily' after your Crabtree & Evelyn fragrance. What other floral scents do you love?
Tea Rose. Princess Diana wore it on her wedding day and she gave all her bridesmaids a small glass vase of it.

Do you remember the first scent you ever bought?
I had rather avoided fragrance growing up. However, my happy but perfume-less existence was interrupted by the arrival of Crabtree & Evelyn, whose name alone stimulated memories of an English heritage capturing home comforts and remedies. Apparently my Caribbean island sensibility and simple aesthetic had caught their eye. We have since had a happy marriage.

You have modeled for Gap, J. Crew and Ralph Lauren, among many others – what other designers do you wear?
I love Day Birger et Mikkelsen, a Danish brand that designs very wearable clothes. I sell a lot of the collection in my shop The Sugar Mill, which I own with my Canadian partner Linda, who shares my sartorial taste.

Whether it’s fashion or interior design – how would you describe your style credo?
Modern classic, but not too modern. I love to look at modern rooms and trendy clothes, but I don't want to live in them or wear them.

You were bridesmaid to Princess Diana in 1981 and wore a very frothy dress. Can you share a funny moment from that day?
Ever since that day I have had an aversion to frills.  However, I am enormously proud to have played a part in that historical event. There were so many moments chronicled before millions and millions of people but there were also many tender private moments, such as Diana dressed in jeans wearing a diamond tiara on her head, waiting to climb into her wedding dress, or the tin cans Prince Andrew and Prince Edward tied behind the carriage that Charles and Diana rode away in with the Queen, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret running behind joyfully. It's not often we see our Majesty run.

What do you look forward to most as you touch down at Heathrow?
The seasons ...leaves falling, snow on the ground, fog in the air, or the smell of summer grass wet from the rain. The Caribbean does not experience seasons and our smells are entirely different.

What do you always bring back to the Bahamas after a trip to England?
English marmalade, marmite and licorice Allsorts.

We took an scent census around the office and came up with six lovely pairs of perfumes for him and her. Herewith, our staff picks.

Marianne Wisenthal, Montreal editor, English edition
Couples who spray together, stay together. When we’re not stealing spritzs of our man’s woody Grey Vetivert by Tom Ford ($100), he’s dipping into our bottle of Private Blend Italian Cypress (from $210). Both at Holt Renfrew.

Tara Parker Tait, Publisher
Opposites attract with Parisian cult favourite Annick Goutal's Petite  Chérie (finally, she divulges her secret scent!) for her ($110 at the Bay) and the luxe Hermès Poivre Samarcande ($250 at Hermès) for him.

Joy Pecknold, Vancouver editor
For a date night, spritz  Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb ($120 at Holt Renfrew), a bouquet of sweet, fruity florals. If the boy shows up smelling of John Varvatos’ Artisan ($70 at Sephora), this relationship may have serious potentional.

Malwina Gudowska, Calgary editor
French girl meets American boy: YSL’s Parisienne ($65) is a match with the masculine John Varvatos Classic ($78). Both at Sephora.

Tonya Albulet, Western Sales Manager
Lalique's Amethyst ($110), with top notes of blackcurrant and blackberry, comes in a bold purple bottle worthy of your nightstand. If your BF wears Lacoste Pour Homme Grey ($75), it's meant to be. Both at Holt Renfrew.

Elsa Vecchi, Montreal editor, French edition
A spritz for you, a dab for him. A summery scent that is fresh and classic, Vétiver by Guerlain is made for a man, but also smells lovely on a lady. $95 at Holt Renfrew.

Most perfumes make Christopher Brosius want to gag.

And so rather than creating the usual floral whiffs, the NYC perfumer bottles places, experiences and memories instead.

Inspired by anything from a favourite drink (whiskey and ginger ale with a slice of cucumber) to a childhood memory, the Kiehl’s alumnus is considered to be one of the most eccentric noses in the business.

Brosius’ newest scents (from $65) include Sushi California Roll, Crayon and Burnt Wood. He also specializes in creating custom scents.

Eau de stilton, anyone?

CB I Hate Perfume is sold at Hazel, 116 Yorkville Ave., Toronto, 416-513-0333.

New year, new scent.

When she’s not dabbing on amber oil from Cairo, Vitamin T editor Athena makes her own unique scent by layering orange blossom and honeysuckle jasmine by Britain’s Jo Malone. At Holt Renfrew, www.holtrenfrew.com

Editor-in-chief Sarah’s mom wore L’Air Du Temps (remember the dove on the bottle?). Perhaps that’s why she loves the new cult hit Juliette Has a Gun rose fragrance from Nina Ricci’s French grandson. At Holt Renfrew, www.holtrenfrew.com

Technical director Miho loves the subtle yellow freesia, bergamot and white pepper notes of Mandarina Duck Ladies, and on a recent trip to Florence she was sure to stock up on the almost-impossible-to-find fragrance. Look for stock at www.escentual.com/Mandarina-Duck.html

Montreal editor Marianne gets blissfully content with a whiff of boysenberry bush flower and ruby red grapefruit tones of Clinique’s Happy. Customize your bottle with a personal picture and smile as you spritz. Available at The Bay, www.hbc.com

Vitamin V’s sales m anager (and resident beauty junky) Melanie Brummitt keeps her pregnancy smell-sensitivity in check with Stella McCartney’s Stella Eau de Parfum. Also works as a Heather Mills repellent. Available at The Bay, www.hbc.com