Dissolve and conquer

Few things, nowadays, denote class. With the proliferation of bargain-basement priced fake goods from your neighborhood pirate, anything, from the season’s must-have logographic handbag to high-end mascara, can be attained for a few hundred pesos. But unlike bags, scents are more difficult to pirate. If only because the complicated alchemy of fragrances, the combinations of notes and ingredients, are too difficult to recreate, making the purchase of faux perfumes and colognes little more than an exercise in futility.

An elixir for the rich and beautiful, perfumes have been in vogue throughout history, scenting the necks and wrists of great leaders. Cleopatra, Alexander the Great and many an Egyptian pharaoh used the stuff lavishly, from priceless ointments that anointed their bodies to incense that burned constantly in their homes and by their thrones. The allure of scent is simple: its emotional power evoking feelings of arousal, tranquility, langour or rejuvenation.

Perfumes have long been considered the olfactory thumbprint of the well-to-do. While the wealthy could afford the most expensive eau de toilette, the less than affluent had to make do with colognes or cheap copycat versions. Scents marked the great divide between classes. Even Socrates frowned on the stuff, believing that it obscured the distinctions between slaves (who supposedly smelled) and free men (who did not).

Thanks to our good friend Socrates, scents retained their cachet as a rich woman’s olfactory ornament. Women who read that Joan Collins used a certain perfume while jetting from the set of Dynasty to St. Tropez would buy the very same scent, imagining that the self-same qualities they so admired in Joan – unapologetically sybaritic and opulent – would be imbued on them as soon as they got to that first spritz.

Today, many people pamper themselves with scented products in order to feel luxurious. Celebs even layer scents, using the same perfume in various forms, starting with a bath gel or soap to lotion to perfume or cologne. The scent that rises remains steady and continuous, lasting much longer than a simple spray of cologne.

Acca Kappa’s latest toiletry line follows the same path of indulgence with a three-scent set that includes soap, lotion and cologne. A luxury label that’s spawned high-end biodegradable brushes and scented products, this Venice-based company is known for their remarkable mix of innovative technology and old world style. Acca Kappa’s roster of products include hand wash gels and creams to toothbrushes and, unbelievably, even nail brushes, which makes this label an expert when it comes to caring for the skin.

Inspired by the lush tropical landscape of Asia and South America, the latest from Acca Kappa includes a three-scent line based on three equally unique and beautiful flowers. Mimosa, the yellow-flowered plant, is known for its thigmonasty capabilities – better known as touch-induced movement. Basically, you touch it and it moves. Ancient tradition has it that Native American Indians would give a Mimosa branch to their significant other as a gift. Hibiscus, a plant that grows large vermillion blossoms, originated in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Traditionally used as hair ornaments or placed in garlands by Polynesian women, this shrub grows beautifully with lush petals and luxuriant panicles, making its definition in the language of flowers – Hibiscus means delicate beauty – more than real. Wisteria, otherwise known as Glicine, came from China and Japan where its fresh lavender petals have come to symbolize friendship. A climbing shrub that blossoms in spring and shoots verdant leaves in the summer, the Japanese Wisteria is known to twine clockwise, while Chinese the version goes counter-clockwise.

All three floral scents are sweet and mild, easy on the nose and easily adaptable into an everyday beauty regime. Acca Kappa latest scented baubles create a feeling of languor and relaxation, making it an indulgence that soothes the senses and lifts the spirits. With soap, lotion and cologne available under each scent, a triple-layer of subtle floral scent makes for a very fragrant diversion. Now there’s royal treatment Cleopatra can relate to.

The Acca Kappa toiletry line, featuring scents of Mimosa, Hibiscus and Wisteria, is available at Rustan’s Essenses, Glorietta 4, Makati.