An olfactory of odors: Demeter

The sense of smell is biologically considered to be among the most powerful emulators of memories, and that's precisely what makes the Demeter Fragrance Library work. The smells of rain, warm desserts, fresh fruit and new books trigger nostalgia in most people; Demeter captures those odors, and many more, in little glass vials of perfume distilled from the actual and natural subjects after which they are named.

More than 300 scents are filed away in white drawers in this Sanlitun Village shop, divisible into 11 categories according to its brochure, covering everything from specific brands in Candy, to the vaguer fragrances of Youth. There's even a line of Alcohol scents, in case you don't smell like you've staggered in from the clubs first thing in the morning, but wish you did. Upon purchase, your perfume bottle is secured in novelty packaging that looks like a book.

According to Demeter's bilingual website for China, the American brand was created in 1994 by cofounders Christopher Brosius and Christopher Gable after a year of consideration and collaboration. Seven years later, the perfume Snow won a FiFi award as U.S Women's Fragrance Star of the Year; Sugar Cane follows suit for the men's division in the following year.

Unlike typical perfumes, these do not have top, middle or bottom notes, meaning the scent remains the same from the moment it is applied to the time the last whiff dissipates three to four hours later, according to salesclerk Li Lei. Amusing and unexpected odors include Bubble Gum, Irish Cream, Fruit Salad, Dirt, Tootsie Roll, Earthworm and Laundromat, the last of which is most impressive, as it's truly captures the scent of waiting for your clothes to finish the dryer cycle. In a huskier smell spectrum, those gents who want to smell dandy without actually lighting up may consider a little bottle of eau de Pipe Tobacco. "Fashionable guys would like this one," a shopper named Li Jiang said. "I think the light scent of tobacco can make a boy smell mature, like a real man."

Another cheerful shopper named Xu Jianjie particularly liked the candy collection. "For me, if I can have a bottle of the scent of candy, it would be great. It brings me back to more carefree days and puts me in a good mood for working when I'm tired," she said, continuing, "you know girls tend to eat sweet things when they don't feel happy, but with this scent, you just need to smell it instead of eating, so you won't put on so much weight."

Purchase from The Fragrance Library online at their website or at demeter.yoho.cn.

Address: SLG 29, The Village at Sanlitun, Sanlitun North Street, Chaoyang District

Hours: 10 am to 9:40 pm, daily

Website: demetercn.com

Price: 285 yuan per 1 oz bottle

Source: Global Times/Agencies