We connect with fragrances on so many levels. Whether we realize it or not, when selecting a scent, we don’t simply choose what smells good. The connection is deeply emotional, far deeper than our conscious minds. Is there a note deep within the composition that smells like mom’s garden? Is it the scent of the chalk from your grammar school, or your grandfather’s pipe, or your first love’s varsity jacket? Once the perfume is chosen, the connection deepens as we create new memories, forever linking scent and story. In some ways, the fragrance becomes a part of us, in other ways, we become the fragrance. Have I been drinking my Drakkar? No. I’m talking about creating your own fragrance!

Sue Phillips understands this concept and as a renowned expert in the fragrance, cosmetics and personal care fields, she has built a successful career exploring the trinity of mind, heart and scent. She began as a Training Director for Elizabeth Arden and soon transitioned into product development and marketing, joining the teams at Chloe, Lancôme, Lagerfeld, Burberry and Trish McEvoy. Soon thereafter, Sue became the Vice President of Fragrance Marketing for Tiffany. For five years, Sue served as an Adjunct Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) teaching Cosmetic & Fragrance Marketing.

At the core of this successful career is a genuine love and understanding of the art of perfume and scent. Ms. Phillips has now taken this passion and experience and has formed her own company, Scenterprises. This exciting venture branches out into many areas of the fragrance industry, but its fundamental objective explores the latest sub-trend in luxury fragrance: custom perfume. 

From her Park Avenue studio in New York City, Sue presents parties, workshops and seminars to small groups of fragrance lovers. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an erudite aficionado, you’re in the right place. Recently, I was fortunate to spend a fantastic evening at one of Sue’s custom-perfume workshops.

In a posh, but relaxed, setting, I sat with a small group of folks, sipping champagne and sneaking sniffs from the multitude of bottles surrounding us. Accords, blends, raw materials; I felt like Charlie in the Chocolate Factory. Though clearly structured, the event felt free and unhurried. Before we jumped straight into building our own fragrances, we learned about fragrance categories and classifications with a bit of perfume history thrown in (you’d be surprised how many of us know-it-alls didn’t know it all!). Sue had used her expertise to create individual blends to help us readily identify the components from which we would create our masterpieces. Floral, marine, woody, citrus, balsamic, earthy, mossy, green, herbal… Each blend was comprised of five or more individual accords. Using these pre-composed blends was a very practical and almost-foolproof way to construct our custom scents without limiting creativity. Paper blotters were dipped into each blend and passed to each of us; this method allowed those of us without a degree in chemistry to compose by merely shuffling and sniffing.

I was taken aback by the unbelievable quality of these materials. Clearly no expense was spared (pass me the real sandalwood!) and I realized this was truly a unique, uncompromised event.

I gravitated toward the earthy, mossy, green blends over an ambery base. I mentioned that it reminded me of the smells in Ireland and I exchanged stories with a new friend beside me who was very familiar with Irish culture and history. She described a burial ground on the east coast of Ireland where a series of passage tombs pre-date the Egyptian pyramids. This area, I learned, is called Brú na Bóinne. And so, my custom fragrance now had a name. Sue and her assistant blended the actual juice based on our designs. I left with a beautiful atomizer filled with my bespoke fragrance and a deeper appreciation for the art and history of our shared passion.

Ms. Phillips and Scenterprises aren’t restricted by the studio walls. Bridal parties, corporate events, private affairs, scent dinners — these workshops and seminars can be enjoyed anywhere. You can find a complete listing of Scenterprises prices and services on their website,

Deservingly, Scenterprises was recently nominated for Fashion Group International's Rising Star Award in the Beauty/Fragrance Entrepreneur category. Ms. Phillips was also nominated for Martha Stewart's “American Hand-Made Awards.” More information (including how you can vote) can be found here.

If you’re not in the New York area, you can still be a part of Scenterprises’ bespoke perfume services as at-home kits, which incorporate these luxurious blends, are available at their website.

Sue Phillips is kindly offering one of these at-home kits — her Oriental set (an $85.00 value) which was featured in Oprah’s “O” magazine to one lucky reader. This is a US draw only. To be eligible leave a comment on what you would use as the foundation for your bespoke fragrance. The draw ends August 12, 2013.

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

-Mike Devine, Senior Contributor