I like tennis a lot – and as we are entering into what many perceive as the most exciting part of the tennis year, with tournaments played in some of the most beautiful cities of Europe, I felt that it was about time to write a post on tennis and perfume. So while for the most part, I contain myself to living room tennis sessions, I have just secured myself a centre court ticket for this year’s French Open at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, combining fragrance and tennis in one trip. I don’t think it gets much better than this.

Left to Right: Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer (top three seeds)

Ok, I can sense some of you getting bored with the tennis aspect, but bear with me, because you see, that was my initial thought before my first ever tennis encounter. I was a student at the music academy when I was contacted to sing a national anthem at a Davis Cup* semi final in Hamburg. I knew absolutely nothing about tennis, but was paid well, so didn’t hesitate to accept, and when asked if I wanted a ticket to the event as well, I thanked yes, thinking that it shouldn’t be too hard to leave should things get terribly boring. Luckily for me, my friend knew all there was to know about the game of tennis and also knew how to explain it well. And so I was smitten from the first serve to the umpire spoke ‘game, set and match’. The atmosphere was ecstatic yet extremely polite, and I have been following men’s tennis ever since and even attended a few tournaments.  A few is really all it has been, since the ticket prices for any seat worth your while (i.e., where you can actually see the little yellow ball) vary from a Serge Lutens bell jar to a Puredistance FB. 

So quickly skipping the tennis celeb fragrances (sorry,Gabriela Sabatini, Maria Sharapova, (et tu)? Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Bjorn Borg and Chris Everet) here are my matches:

 

First fragrance to spring to mind is Serge Lutens’ dirty, red hot Muscs Koublaï Khan, the fragrance which suggests that you are ‘with the band’. This would be a smell of locker room and a hug from a player after a match and before shower. Whether this one, when reaching your skin, behaves more like one of the contemporary warriors on court, gentlemanly shaking hands after battle, hot and sweaty sensual skin warmth, or like its unwashed savagely brutish Mongolian historic namesake can vary from person to person. If scenario two is the case, people might just think you have questionable personal hygiene, which of course isn’t the thing to go for. So another fragrance, which actually has tennis written on the bottle, is the fresh and elegantly sporty, a men’s cologne; Nicolaï’s Balle de Match.  Its grapefruit opening and pepper and juniper berries make it sound a lot more masculine and sharp than the rounded cologne that it is. The base of moss, patchouli and incense keeps it an invigorating yet handsomely inviting cologne. And it sounds like it was made with the French Open in mind- is Madame de Nicolaï perhaps a tennista?

 

Or how about a coffee scent to get you through the rain delays? There is nothing quite as uncomfortable as being at an outdoor event when it rains because there are rarely any indoor places where you can seek shelter. So one would need something warm and comforting, like a perfume version of a tall chocolate flavoured latte. Here I would choose Bond No. 9’s ‘So New York’, with its plum and warm citrus top, it quickly finds the espresso I’m looking for, although it’s a quick shot, before a milky patchouli takes the fragrance into a woody and dark chocolate baked dry down. This, of course, makes it a great comfort scent too, should the matches not pan out as one should have liked. Speaking of Bond no 9: why have they not yet produced an Eau Flushing Meadows for the U.S Open? Can you imagine the cool bottle? 

And regarding Grand Slams, how about the mother of them all; Wimbledon. I’m thinking Après L’Ondée (after the rain) just to make sure, because there will be rain delays, after all – it is London. But perhaps something more British is called for, something to make you stand up and sing 'God save the Queen' like Penhaligon's Jubilee Bouquet since it will be the 60th year of Queen Elizabeth's reign.

Also, one could seek inspiration in choosing a scent to mirror the nationality in support of a favourite player. Current world number 3, Roger Federer is Swiss and hence a Tauer or Vero fragrance would be a possibility. However in the proper Swiss diplomatic style it would seem appropriate to choose a Thierry Wasser creation, a Swiss and perfumer chez Guerlain.  I would choose his very own Cologne du Parfumeur, it’s classy and summery in all the right ways. The hesperidic opening hits you like sunshine at the Mediterranean, a bergamot note leads the scent into the discreetly green tinged orange flower and mellow lavender. And then it just gets warmer and muskier, almost nutty, as the cologne melts into the skin, to become your skin- just better.

 

In support of world number two, the sexy  Spaniard Rafael "Rafa" Nadal I choose Carner Barcelona D600, a very charismatic perfume.  D600 has top notes of grapefruit and pepper, the latter giving instant life and warmth to the citrus and blends beautifully into the embracing cardamom.  Thus, it goes from fresh to spicy before landing at a soft and delicate powdery heart of iris. A dry sweetness of vanilla and vetiver makes for a dusty and warm base, like skin after a sunny summer day at the clay courts.

For the current No 1, Serbian Novak Djokovic, I’m at a loss, since I’m a bit short of fragrance houses from Serbia, one might have no choice but to wave a flag. If you are a Serbian reader or Perfumer please advise.

–Jasia Julia Nielson,  Contributor

*The Davis Cup is an annual international team event in men's tennis, played between teams from competing countries.

 

Editor's Note: The French Open, with its clay courts is the most challenging to win because you need a combination of endurance and strength..not just power. I think it is the most exciting to watch. Did I mention I watch Rafa…alot (see photo below for why…)

When: May 27 – June 10, 2012.  

Rafael Nadal of Spain has won six of the last seven men's singles titles at Roland Garros, and a win this year would give him the most men's French Open singles titles ever in the post-1925 era.

 

Our thanks to the gracious Sara Carner for five 2.5 ml  Carner Barcelona D600 for our draw to one winner. To be eligible pick a perfume for Jasia to wear at the French Open, choose a cologne for Novak Djokovic or let us know if you think Nadal will break his tie with Bjorn Borg and become the first man to win seven singles titles at Roland Garros in the modern era.

 Draw ends May 31, 2012.

 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.