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fragrance

Handout

The scent

Marc Jacobs Dot

The back story

Following the success of Daisy (2007) and Lola (2009) comes another scent from Marc Jacobs christened with a vaguely retro girl's name (Dot being short for Dorothy). "For me, she's eclectic, vivacious, surprising, effervescent, alive," Jacobs says via e-mail about the kind of woman Dot reflects. Of course, there's also a double entendre at play, the polka-dot being one of Jacobs's favourite motifs.

What it smells like

Who ordered the fruity cocktail garnished with chunks of strawberry and pineapple on a plastics word? To wear Dot is to smell like punch. Jasmine and musk add body and coconut water is a trendy touch. "It's surprising and bubbly and sort of catches you," Jacobs says.

The nose

Ann Gottlieb is the Nancy Meyers of fragrance, which is to say she creates and oversees light and lovely crowd-pleasers. Past hits include Calvin Klein's Obsession and CK One, Dior's J'Adore, Sarah Jessica Parker's Covet and Jacobs's recent bestseller for men, Bang. Note: She also develops scents for AXE bodyspray.

The look

You can always count on Jacobs to create a counter statement. This time, the playful bottle appears to be an animated ladybug-butterfly-fantasy-flower hybrid with its red and black spots, plastic petals and pearly bits. "The packaging reminds me of a little silk scarf or something quite chic and conservative, but it still has this kind of life to it," Jacobs explains.

The face

Australian strawberry-blond ingénue Codie Young could pass for a member of the Twilight brood in the Juergen Teller-photographed ad (or maybe they were just going for "jetlagged nymph").

Who it's for

This is a juicy, youthful scent that teens with designer tastes will proudly display in their lockers and beside their beds. That doesn't preclude older, emo types who still worship Winona Ryder from mixing their Dot with a thin veil of cigarette smoke.

Cachet factor

Jacobs's fragrances are extroverts that achieve popularity because they are on the safe side of unconventional. Dot might prove too ubiquitous for some, but she's a darling who can't be ignored.

Where to buy it

Widely available at Holt Renfrew, The Bay, Ogilvy, Murale, Sephora and Shoppers Drug Mart.

Price

$79 for 50 ml, $105 for 100 ml.

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