Stellar scents suited to Oscar-winning starlettes

By Deborah Fulsang

When the stars name-drop designers at the Oscars—Prada, Armani, Dior—and call out their diamonds—Bulgari, Tiffany, Fred Leighton, style scribes take note. Of course, we’re waiting for the red-carpet journos to enquire about fragrance choices. After all, one doesn’t just spritz on anything when donning Academy Award-night couture.

But, since none of us got the inside scoop on the scents of the night, we got to imaging what three statuette winners were spritzing before they headed out the door enroute to L.A.’s Dolby Theatre.

FRESH FACETS FOR THE ENGENUE
Lupita Nyong’o was the undeniable belle of the ball in her ice-blue, custom-made Prada. When Pierce Morgan asked after her style secret pre-show, she quipped “Listen to your heart.”

Fragrance-wise, we imagine Nyong’o would do so via a feminine perfume but one that was fresh and new; something modern, maybe with green or aquatic notes to suit that ethereal destined-for-magazine-covers dress.

Our reco: Carven’s new eau de toilette. This is a pretty fragrance but not without nuance; we think its dreamy veil of white floral notes swirling with greenness, citrus and musks, would have been just the ticket for the 31-year old beauty.
Carven EDT, $85 (50 ml), at Holt Renfrew

MONOCHROMATIC ELEGANCE FOR THE ICON
Cate Blanchett in beige. Beautiful, sparkling, pailette-covered beige. How refined. How Old Hollywood. 

And to match that Armani understatement? How about Chanel Beige? The iconic French house has just released the sheer sunny floral in perfume-extract form. A 15-ml bottle of Beige could have easily slipped into Blanchett’s minaudière after the star dabbed on a few drops of its powdery, honeyed and flowery essence. And given her Blue Jasmine win, we think the perfume’s heart of jasmine and rose alongside ylang-ylang and hawthorn, would offer the ideal olfactory accent to Blanchett’s ensemble.
Chanel Beige Parfum, $200 (15 ml), www.chanel.com

BOLD NOTES FOR THE EXPRESSIVE
Catherine Martin, the designer who last night took home a fourth Oscar for her costume work in The Great Gatsby, wore a vintage-style gown accented in crystals and a graphic black-floral print. Very 1920s. 

Fragrance-wise, we imagine something bold and voluptuous for the creative A-type. Something spicy and rich. Something like the new eau de parfum from Reem Acra. The plush amber scent with ginger, jasmine, lily of the valley, peony and a base of sultry patchouli and musk would have been a spot-on scent to pair with that bias-cut gown.
Reem Acra EDP, $105 (50 ml), www.saksfifthavenue.com