Interview with Odessa Paloma Parker of The Globe & Mail

Currently the Fashion Editor at The Globe And Mail newspaper in Toronto, Odessa Paloma Parker is as much known for her own colourful ensembles as she is for her well-crafted editorials and resume. She co-founded and ran the magazine Plaid, and started Vintage Crawl Toronto—both showcasing a keen interest in local fashion talent. With such individual style, we had to ask—what does she spritz? As you might expect there are some niche picks and local suggestions.

QUESTION: What is your favourite scent memory of childhood?
ODESSA PALOMA PARKER: My parents have a garden in their backyard and my grandfather has a lot of vegetables back there. I used to love smelling the tomatoes right after they were picked from the vine, and also the smell of my mum’s roses.

Q: What was the first fragrance you bought yourself and why did you buy it?
PARKER: CK One—because I wanted to fit in, naturally.

Q: What does your favourite fragrance say about your personality?
PARKER: Jack, the scent created by one of my favourite actors, Richard E. Grant: The mix of notes is eclectic and includes some of my favourite things, and I also love the fact that even though Richard knew nothing about creating a fragrance, his passion and curiosity lead him to this new endeavour. It’s a great story.

Q: What makes you notice a fragrance?
PARKER: I usually notice scents I love or loathe. If it’s middling, I don’t pay any mind.

Q: How many fragrances you own?
PARKER: 10.

Q: How many fragrances do you regularly wear?
PARKER: Jack, Chanel no. 5, Marc Jacobs, Fiori di Capri by Carthusia, and the collaboration scent between Province Apothecary and Easy Tiger Goods (which is travel-size, and I take it everywhere with me). I sometimes mix two scents together, too, or layer with oils from Saje.

Q: What do you smell like?
PARKER: Saje’s Peppermint Halo, Leaves of Trees’ Pink Grapefruit Argan lotion, and See By Chloé Eau Fraîche.

Q:  Who is the best smelling person you’ve ever met, and what did they smell like?
PARKER: Wow, this is a tough one! The last person whose scent made me go wild was Jano Badovinac, a friend and amazing designer. I made quite the spectacle of how he smelled, which was very mellow and earthy.

Q: If you could bottle the scent of a favourite place/city/memory/moment what would it be and please describe the smell.
PARKER: I really love the smell of freshly mown grass; it makes me think of growing up in the suburbs and how fun the summers were.

Q: How important is fragrance to your life, to your sense of style?
PARKER: I often leave the house without makeup on, but never leave without scent. If I’m traveling, I’ll be sensitive to the needs of others and wear a light oil that will dissipate over time, but I never feel ready to leave the house without wearing a scent, and if I’m hanging out at home, I usually have incense or a scented candle burning.

Read more of our questionnaires here!