My Life in Fragrance – Juana Parathyras

Today’s life in fragrance is a very good friend of mine, Juana.

We bonded over a Heat magazine (don’t judge us) while stranded at OR Thambo for days. Well, it was hours, but a hours feel like days in that airport. And now we’re such good friends I can spell and pronounce her surname correctly!

After doing a degree in Drama and majoring in English, Juana entered the bright and exciting world of publishing. Having worked as the deputy and beauty editor on five plus customer publications, she has tested, felt, smelt, squirted and destroyed many a beauty product in the pursuit of discovering the perfect volumising mascara, writing and creating pretty pictures. After more than five amazing years of cosmetic bliss she has decided to do the grown-up thing and take a dive into the big, bad world of business and has recently joined Groupon as Head of Editorial.

If not at her desk with a bag of Jelly Belly’s, you’ll find her at the gym (working off the Jelly Belly’s), having a glass of bubbles with her girlfriends or lazing at home with hubby (who exfoliates and scrubs twice a week, once a beauty ed always a beauty ed).

What is your earliest fragrance memory?

Granny spritzing her Gloria Vanderbilt. I just loved the bottle with the swan standing on her dresser and she still wears it today.

What was your first fragrance?

DKNY. My dad bought it for me on an overseas trip (gotta love duty free). I still have it with just a bit of fragrance left.

What is your favourite everyday fragrance? Why?

I hardly ever wear the same fragrance more than two days in a row… I choose scent very much based on my mood. If I had to choose one for everyday wear though, it would be Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline. It’s bright, but not perky (I’m not perky) and it has an understated elegance.

What is your special occasion fragrance? Why?

D&G The One. It’s one of my absolute favourite scents. My husband bought it for me on an overseas trip and I wore it on our wedding day.

Have you found your ‘signature’ scent? What makes it so special to you?

No and I can’t possibly choose one, there are far too many amazing fragrances. I am a total commitment phoebe when it comes to fragrance.  But faves include Chanel Chance (first fragrance my husband bought me), Marc Jacobs Lola (two of my favourite people gave this scent to me), D&G Rose The One (One of my most treasured and special friend gave this to me), Bvlgari Rose Essentielle, Chloe and currently I’m obsessed with Swarovski Aura. I love anything with rose, so if I could choose a signature ‘note’ it would have to be rose.

What is your best fragrance memory?

I have two:

My mom… She’s always loved fragrance and she has an amazing collection that she has neatly stacked on a beautiful tray on her dresser.

When I started dating my husband he wore CK Obsession. To this day it is my absolute fave scent on him and I can detect it anywhere. It’s my happy scent, it just takes me happy. He surprised me by wearing it on our wedding day.

Is there a fragrance that you love the smell of, but it just smells horrid on your skin?

Usually if I don’t like something, I know it won’t smell good on me (Angel). But recently I gifted a bottle of Thierry Mugler Alien to a friend (I knew she would love it and I’m not a fan) and it was absolutely amazing on her.