Perfume to suit literature’s beloved heroines

What would the most famous literary leads dare to dab in 2013? As we take time over the holidays to read, or re-read the classics, we got to pondering the potential perfume habits of the beautiful and bookish set.

Anna Karenina’s Anna

What should she spritz: Paco Rabanne Lady Million EDT
Russia’s most famous desperate housewife has a penchant for all things hyper-real. In her day and age, she partied like a Lohan, flashed like a Kardashian and wore so much lavish fashion that if she were around today, she’d probably out-Trump Ivana with a QVC jewelry line of her own. Since she clearly lives for and lusts after full-scale drama, Paco Rabanne’s Lady Million is the most accurate modern-day fragrance choice for the woman. Hefty notes of potent raspberry and crisp mint reflect Anna’s lush life in so many ways. It’s a bottle of extreme sweetness and unfailing opulence.
Paco Rabanne Lady Million EDT, $68 (50 ml), www.pacorabanne.com, www.thebay.com

The Scarlet Letter’s Hester Prynne

What should she spritz: Prada Infusion d’Iris EDP
If Hester Prynne were a single mom living in 2013, she’d never wear Abercrombie and Fitch, let alone anything with some trashy, sorority-looking scarlet logo. John Updike wrote Prynne as a grand dame lover/fighter who ignored convention and avoided mediocrity in all forms. This is why Prynne’s current scent of choice would clearly be Prada Infusion D’Iris. Fueled with a smoky, woody floral mix and blended with incense, vetiver and cedar, Prynne’s tastes would reflect Miuccia’s whole raison de spritz.
Prada Infusion d’Iris EDP, $80 (50 ml), www.prada.com, www.thebay.com

The Color Purple’s Shug Avery

What should she spritz: Valentina Assoluto EDP
Dripping with personality and sensuality, Blues singer Shug ‘Sugar’ Avery is one of Alice Walker’s greatest literary creations. In The Color Purple, her artistic chutzpah instigated transformation wherever she went and if Avery were real and touring the world today, she would exude the coolness of singers such as Diana Ross and Solange Knowles. Her stage scent, Valentino’s Assoluto—with top notes of truffle, peach and bergamot—would mirror her power to provoke.
Valentina Assoluto EDP, $105 (50 ml), www.parfums.valentino.com, www.thebay.com 

Pride & Prejudice’s Elizabeth Bennet

What should she spritz: Diane by Diane Von Furstenberg EDP
Lizzie Bennet is probably the most self-assured heroine on our list. The amount of tough negotiations done with Mr. Darcy before deciding on what life she’d lead seems to match DVF’s own strong-willed affectations. Both women are also supremely articulate and have a history of falling in love with distinguished, wealthy men (Von Furstenberg married a count, Bennet married a Lord). Aside from the personal similarities, the top notes of violet and frangipani in Diana—which slightly and nicely clash—combine potent, classic florals that by no means smell like wallflowers.
Diane by Diane Von Furstenberg EDP, $98 (50 ml), www.sephora.ca

Romeo and Juliet’s Juliet

What should she spritz: Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia EDT

Although Shakespeare’s “rose by any other name” is one of the most over-quoted lines in literature and will always be tied to the romantic/aromatic identity of Juliet, methinks she wouldn’t throw on rose-y perfume to err, save her life. In this new age of R&J, a 21st Century Julez would be a smart, self-reliant whippersnapper, watching HBO Girls on her free time and singing Britney Spears “I’m Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman” ironically while dabbing Gucci Floral Gardenia on her wrists. (Also: The intricate suicide plot would def not be on her I-Cal anymore.) Created with notes of pear, red berries and, of course, White Gardenia, Gucci’s fresh, new-ish scent is a much more intelligent, age-appropriate choice for Juliet as it certainly won’t have her smelling like old Lady Capulet.
Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia EDT, $87 (50 ml), www.gucci.com

Lolita’s Lolita

What should she spritz: Moschino Pink Bouquet EDT
No other perfume can claim to exude the bratty/bawdy character of Lolita like Moschino Pink. Anointed with pink lily of the valley, gingerbread and musk, the fragrance has kitschy, sex kitten-y notes all over it that has Lolita mining the land of wink wink, nudge nudge (think Eartha Kitt not Pam Anderson) over creepy Honeyboobooville.
Moschino Pink Bouquet EDT, $89 (100 ml), www.thebay.com

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’s Lisbeth Salander

What should she spritz: Montblanc Legend EDT
She’s kind of frightening. Kind of severe. Really intense. But, still, somehow stylish. Ms. Salander’s whole look is built on an assortment of goth, biker and punk influences that set her apart from anyone else on this list. To help further amplify the message she’s going for (that would be “mess with me and die”), her fragrance choice would be Mont Blanc Legend. With top notes of French Lavender, Green Pineapple Leaves and base notes of sandalwood and Dry Amber, its slightly masculine scent is perfect for any gal whose busy hacking into databases, changing identities and solving extremely disturbing crimes on her free time.
Montblanc Legend EDT, $75 (100 ml), www.thebay.com, www.montblanc.com

Anne of Green Gables’ Anne Shirley

What should she spritz: Margiela Untitled EDP
It seems appropriate that the poetess of PEI would wear a fragrance called Untitled. Her whole upbringing and education amongst the ultra-prissy set would have undoubtedly brought her over the edge at some point…right into this Amy Sedaris-ian realization: there’s more to life than chasing kindred spirits and a proposal from Gilbert Blythe. Untitled’s citrus top notes and its delicate drops of jasmine and incense give Anne Shirley what she really needs: a fresh, new unfussy fragrance that allows her to finally undo the pigtails and let loose.
Margiela Untitled EDP, $110 (50 ml), www.maisonmartinmargiela-parfums.com, www.thebay.com 

PHOTO: ALLIANCE FILMS (LAURIE SPARHAM)