How to choose the best perfume for Pakistani weather, and the Houdini scents we would pick for summer days, the office, evenings and weddings in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
Heat and humidity burn through light fragrances fast. Look for Eau de Parfum rather than body spray or Eau de Toilette, and for base notes such as woods, amber, musk and vanilla, which hold on long after the fresh opening fades. Then test it on your own skin, because the same perfume smells different on everyone.
For him, Tsunami Chill (Rs 3,800) opens with cold orange, grapefruit and black pepper over vetiver, and Flying Spur (Rs 3,500) is bergamot, lavender and rosemary on cedarwood. For her, First Glance (Rs 4,190) is mandarin, peony and rose on sandalwood.
Clean and easy to wear all day. For him, Prime Time (Rs 3,250) with pineapple, bergamot and oakmoss, or Prodigy (Rs 4,100) with bergamot, clary sage and cedarwood. For her, Mademoiselle (Rs 3,950), freesia and mandarin settling into sandalwood and amber.
Warmer and deeper. For him, Black Mayhem (Rs 3,290) with ginger, amberwood, tonka and incense. For her, Très Belle (Rs 3,200) with peony, iris, tonka and vanilla, Pretty Wild (Rs 3,690) with rose, violet and patchouli, or In My Element (Rs 3,600) with peach, jasmine, sandalwood and amber.
If you want the scent to last into the evening, choose the ones with the heaviest base: Black Mayhem (amberwood, incense), Tsunami Chill (amber, patchouli) and In My Element (sandalwood, amber, musk). Spray on moisturised skin and on clothes for the longest wear.
Order the Discovery Box: any five Houdini scents in 5ml for Rs 1,200. Wear one each day and see which one still smells good on you at night. Every 50ml order also comes with a free 5ml tester card.
Every Houdini scent is an Eau de Parfum made with imported oils and finished in Karachi. Delivery is Rs 250 to any city in Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.