Hat? Check. Racebook? Check. Shoes that won’t sink in the lawns? Check. For many, a chosen fragrance for a big event is an afterthought, the cherry on top of the ice-cream sundae that is sometimes forgotten in the rush to get ready for the races. For others, like Peony Melbourne founder Jill Timms, fragrance is the be all and end all.

For me, fragrance can be inextricably linked to major events – both the good and not so nice – so recalling a big win whenever I put on a fragrance would certainly endear me to a certain scent. But I’m picky with things like fragrance. I can adore a particular scent while usually disliking every individual element in it or I can detest a perfume that is so similar to another that I do love. Maybe I’m just fickle? Jill can help me from spending hours sniffing perfume bottles in a vain attempt to find my desired fragrance. She never recommends purchasing a new fragrance as a gift for someone as scent is just too personal. Rather, she prefers to assist the individual wearer to seek out their own signature fragrance. Like magic, she has a special program to do just that!

Apparently I gravitate towards all things clean and green…cucumber, lime, green tea , freshly cut grass, mint and other leafy herbs. I’m not a flowery girl (except for when it comes to Jasmine. I’d walk in front of moving traffic if there was a Jasmine bush sending out its alluring fragrance on the other side of the road). So Jill recommends Diptyque’s Hesperides (named for a mythological garden and the nymphs that played within) or Miller et Bertaux’s simply titled l’eau de parfum #3 (appropriately subtitled green green green and…green).

In general, Jill has some recommendations for fragrance fanatics who want to match their outfit to their perfume across Flemington’s major race days. For the traditional Derby Day she suggests Baghari by Robert Piguet, named for an Indian town, it is a powdery floral bouquet (with jasmine!) over vanilla and musk. Melbourne Cup day is a time to go all out with another Piguet scent; Fracas is a heady scent of white flowers. On Oaks Day, the traditional ladies day, we turn to a very ladies primping in the powderoom fragrance like Sublime by Rancé (lime, lily of the valley, musk). And finally to Stakes Day we need a crowd pleaser so try Fleurs D’Ombre Jasmin Lilas by Jean Charles Brosseau. This pretty sounding scent contains cool melon and fruity pineapple over lily of the valley, lilac and jasmine. Jill recommends placing your fragrance on the brim of you hat or on the tip of your fascinator so that it gently wafts as you move through the crowds. Since it will likely be hot and crowded you don’t want to use too much at the races. One spray should suffice.

For the men and boys Idole by Lubin is an all-rounder starting out almost like something you’d drink on a cold winter’s night; spiced rum and bitter citrus, wood and leather but softens quickly into something surprisingly subtle on the skin. The totem head bottle is also mesmerising.

The shopping experience at Peony is very intimate. With hundreds of glass bottles to sample and sniff I could spend a whole day there and pretend I’m on vacation in some posh European city.

Visit Peony Melbourne, a little slice of heavenly Parisian charm in Hawthorn, at 107 Auburn Road.

Tags: hawthorn, Melbourne, peony, perfume, spring racing