Page 28 - S/ Winter 2024

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F ragrance has always been an important part of my life, and I remember the first time I had a tangible encounter with it. I don’t remember my exact age, but I was still living in Tehran at the time and vaguely recall taking the opportunity to sneak into my mother’s dresser
while she was cooking to help myself to her perfume—which I didn’t know at the time was CHANEL N°5. I would only find out what it was when my dad gifted me the same twist-top version a few years later. Upon the first spritz, I felt as though—for a small moment—I’d transformed into one of the sophisticated, glamorous women I had idolized at our family gatherings—or as Iranians call them: “mehmoonis.”
Beyond its aesthetic benefits, scent has the power to conjure up memories (good and bad) in an instant and is tied to different eras in your life. Fragrance is also entrenched in cultural nuances, varying significantly depending on where you’re from. In Iran and neighboring countries, rose water, for example, is used in religious ceremonies and cleansing rituals, while also seamlessly integrating into the culinary landscape, adorning foods and pastries with its fragrant touch.
While I consider myself a relatively open person, when it comes to beauty, I’ve found it increasingly harder to break away from habit and routine. I’ve been wearing the same fragrance—Boy CHANEL—since 2016. It was gifted to me on my first press trip to Paris and I’ve been wearing it ever since.
This scent is tied to a particularly significant trip in my professional life, as it would be my first Haute Couture and CHANEL show. In a sentimental way, this fragrance symbolizes ambition for me, and every morning I spray it, I feel I can achieve my goals with more conviction. As I ring in my 10-year anniversary with the magazine, I’m reminded how fragrance has been more than just a pleasant aroma in my life—it’s a connection to my past and anchors me to the present. Each spray
tells a story of my journey, from childhood memories to professional milestones—and I hope it will continue to serve as a symbol of transformation and resilience.
Sahar Nooraei
Editorial & Creative Director sahar.nooraei@contempomedia.com
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Photography by Ted Belton.