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 new 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, 737 Dunsmuir St., Vancouver, 604-681-3121 (call to book an appointment), www.holtrenfrew.com

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.

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

You now have a fall wardrobe, but do you have a fragrance wardrobe?

If it’s time to expand your fragrance closet, we suggest the new Badgley Mischka Fleurs de Nuit (Flowers of the Night) perfume.

Inspired by a trip to India where the couture design duo experienced moon gardens where the flowers bloom at night, the white floral scent (think jasmine, magnolia and quince blossom), it’s retro hollywood glam at it’s best.

Now you can’t complain you have nothing to wear.

$98/100ml at Holt Renfrew, www.holtrenfrew.com