Sexy Scenes in Movies: The Graduate (1967), Last Tango in Paris (1972), Brokeback Mountain (2005) and Body Heat (1981)

What makes a scent sexy? If you ask ten different people you will get ten different answers. The staff of CaFleureBon believe that  a sexy perfume seduces, either with a whisper or a shout, smolders and kindles desire. This Valentine's Day, whether you are in the throes of illicit passion or spooning the morning after, the way to your beloved's heart is not through banal Hallmark cards or sweet tarts heart shaped candy; it's through his/her nose.

Jasia Julia Nielson, Contributor

The smell of lipstick, red moist lipstick. You can almost see the kisses flow off the heart-shaped lips like little red mouth-shaped balloons, and evaporate like smoke rings into thin air. A swan down’s powder puff will sprinkle a soft layer of the finest powder, before the doorbell sounds and you’re off to a magical evening at the theatre. You could wear many different fragrances, but tonight is 1889 Moulin Rouge by Histoires de Parfums.

Michael Devine, Contributor

While reminiscing about her days in Paris training as a perfumer, Ineke Rühland, of the San Francisco-based artisan house INeKE, reflected upon the words of T.S. Eliot: "Life is measured in coffee spoons." WIth dreams of Parisian cafés, orange blossom breezes, and perhaps the understanding of true love, Ms. Rühland created Fields Notes from Paris. This fragrance is not the scent of between-the-sheets carnality, it's the morning after. It smells of the moment two hands reach across the bistro table, and two hearts know an absolute truth. 

Valerie Vitale, Contributing Editor

I’m not the type of gal who expects a dozen roses on Valentine’s Day, but around this time of year, I find myself strangely drawn  to a single dark complex rose fragrance.

Etat Libre d’Orange Eau de Protection, Rossy de Palma  is all edgy intensity, like the woman it is named after.This fragrance thrives in an altered state of extremes where lust and desire and pain and drama co-exist. The lines of decorum blur and bend with Eau de Protection, a stunning blend that starts out with a ginger opening and an almost rose bouquet freshness that crests into a darker thorny peppered rose. The thorn pierces the heart and sinks into its naughty base of patchouli; incense and resin, allowing this seductive rose to bloom again. Notes include: Ginger, Black Pepper, Bulgarian Rose, Frankincense, Cocoa, and Benzoin.    

John Reasinger, Editor

Sexy, much like beautiful, is in the eye of the beholder. What I find sexy others may find too musky, heavy and sweet or too dark. What makes a perfume sexy, for me, is an oriental woody/semi-sweet base on which have been piled rich dark or spicy floral notes after an opening that is either fresh and invigorating or spicy and rather “naughty”. Though Valentine’s Day is about sharing or falling in love…we cannot argue that, more often than naught, “sexy” is a big part of that! Sexy and smoldering? Here are some of my favorites:

Le Labo Rose 31 is, without a doubt or second thought, my favorite male rose scent. What says LOVE more than a rose does? An opening of tender roses balanced by caraway takes the “girly” edge off the flower immediately, as it heats up. The body of (more) rose along with the dry vetiver and gentle strength of cedar is amazing giving it a decidedly masculine vibe while managing to keep the sensuality and tenderness of the rose alive. Finishing on a base of musk, resins and fresh guaiac wood supported and accented with just the right amount of oud is, to me, the epitome of both sexy and smoldering!!

Etat Libre d’Orange Charogne, like many of this House’s scents, truly defies gender associations. It has flowers (lilies, jasmine and ylang) yet also contains just the right amount of spices, resins, incense and woodsy muskiness to cut right to the chase with that enticing “come hither” aura, without being vulgar or too forward. Vanilla and leather in the dry down do dominate the scent, without obliterating the other notes, and make this scent truly magnificent.

Spadaro Luxury Fragrances Noche del Fuego is one of the most seductive scents I have smelled in a long time. This perfume is patchouli-based and lends an air of natural sexiness with just the right amount of “earthy”. Foregoing any fruits or citrus (but bergamot) and any flowers other than saffron, it concentrates on the darker side with black pepper, paprika and sandalwood and melts into an almost carnal deliciousness of honey and vanilla without using any musk whatsoever! This may be made (and marketed) towards women…but it’s robust (and sexy) enough for a man.

Tama Blough, Senior Editor

When people think of the Marquis de Sade, it is with a mix of allure and repulsion.  Renowned and reviled for his erotic writings that feature various forms of torment, with a name that is the root word of “sadistic”, the Marquis brings to mind the most extreme forms of whips and chains. His legacy lives on in the sometimes underground, sometimes above-board world of domination and submission, fetish, and sado-masochism.  Lovers today play with fur-lined handcuffs, silky blindfolds, and tickly feathers, to add a little spice to their romance. But how do you scent this? Histoires de Parfums 1740 Marquis de Sade does an admirable job. It is sensual, reeking of darkness, with just enough sweetness to keep it from being too dangerous. It would smell amazing on a swarthy man dressed all in black, or a woman embraced by leather. Let the play begin…

Notes: Bergamot, Davana Sensualis, patchouli, coriander, cardamom, cedar, birch, labdanum, leather, vanilla, elemi, and immortelle

The first time I smelled Vero Profumo Onda extrait, I accidentally poured it on myself from my precious and tiny sample vial, instead of the tentative dab I was planning. I very nearly literally swooned, I was so overcome by the immediately intoxicating aroma. It was instant perfume lust. Technically a vetiver perfume, to me Onda embodies the sensuality of skin that has been lived in. This is snuggling up to someone wearing a soft sweater, who has smoked a cigar that day; the smoky tang of skin bathed in pine tar soap;  the smell of your lover in the morning. To me, this is the kind of perfume that is truly sensuous, because it is visceral and real, and not full of the artifice of sex.

Notes: Vetiver, ginger, mace, and coriander

Mark Behnke, Managing Editor

The way to smolder is to surround oneself with confidence as you lock eyes with the object of your desire. Once that connection rises to action even more confidence is needed. That is why on those nights when I wanted to attract attention I wore a fragrance which contained my favorite notes. So when my object of desire whispered in my ear “You smell good” it was time for things to move to the next phase. Nasreen by Parfums M. Micallef, a bespoke perfume created for the proprietress of Parfumerie Nasreen, was not available to me in my less monogamous days but if it was it would have been a permanent part of my rotation because Martine Micallef uses all of my favorite things for Nasreen. The flirtation begins with an eye-catching rose and exotic saffron as additional come-on. The gourmand heart evokes the figurative devouring with the eyes as gingerbread drizzled with honey makes us lick our lips seductively and a swirl of incense makes us ask for the check. Behind closed doors a beautifully rich patchouli, smooth oud, and sensual musk entwine their notes just as our limbs are doing. So often Mme Micallef’s fragrances seem formal; Nasreen seems to pulse with a heat underneath that formal bearing, yearning to be released.

Michelyn Camen, Editor in Chief

I read somewhere that Parfumerie Generale’s Coze is a man’s scent; if that’s the case I am hanging with the boys. Coze is sweetly sensuous with a lusty dusting of dark chocolate (the kind you won’t find in a ubiquitous heart-shaped box in the drugstore).  The year is 2002. We are at a bar in Paris and the air is thick with the smell of spicy cologne, booze and cigarettes.  I order another bourbon.  I saw him through a haze of smoke. Our eyes lock as he approaches. "Bonjour Mademoiselle", would you like to dance?.  His breath is a puff of vanilla in my ear. His close fitting shirt smells wild and earthy. The glow from the overhead light shimmered on his day old stubble and I touched his face because  there was no turning back. It's 3 a.m. and his sweat is redolent of pulsating pepper and patchouli. Drunk with pleasure, we nearly collapse and order espressos – to go.
Art direction:Michelyn Camen

For our draw:

 Courtesy of  Histoires de Parfums

2 oz of Moulin Rouges 1889

OR

 2 oz Histoires de Parfums 1740  Marquis de Sade

From the lovely  Ineke Rühland of INeKE 75 ml of Field Notes from Paris

 From our friends at EuroScents USA either:

 50 ml Rossy de Palma Eau de Protection created by Antoine Lie and Antoine Maisondieu available at New London Pharmacy

OR

 

50 ml of Charogne created by Shyamala Maisondieu and inspired by the poem "Une Charogne" (A carcass) by Charles Baudeliere available at B-glowing.com

From  the beautiful Kim Spadaro of Spadaro Luxury Fragrances  100 ml of Noche del Fuego

With Love from Nasreen of Parfumerie Nasreen in Seattle, 100 ml of her signature scent Nasreen

Grand Bises from Pierre Guillaume of Parfumerie Generale 100 ml of 02 Coze available at Osswald NYC 

To be eligible for our draw please list all the sexy scents that you would like to win from our draw ONLY (there will be 6 winners). Since it is Grammy Night you could include your predictions (or if you reading this after the show what 55th Grammy awardee you rooted for). Michelyn is hoping Tom Waits will win for Best Alternative Music Album "Bad as Me"  (even if the song is kind of weird). No one can compete with Tom Waits and his voice smolders- smooth (the early years),  raspy and smoky. Feeling creative? Name the sexiest movie scene from the top photo composite. Draw closes February 14, 2013.

There are some new  EU regulations so please include your Country in the comment

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume