Artwork by Tinkerbell Poblete
Scents evoke vivid memories. For these renowned Filipino directors, their favorite fragrances serve as time capsules of intimate stories and sensations.
Nothing in beauty is quite as personal as discovering one’s favorite scent. Our olfactory senses are directly tied to the brain’s emotional and memory centers, making fragrance a deeply intimate experience. For some, there may be a gravitation towards certain notes that echo cherished childhood memories or favorite seasons. For others, a current scent obsession might simply bring to mind a loved one. Fragrances are, in essence, stories captured in scent.
Below, award-winning local filmmakers, namely Martika Escobar, Quark Henares, Baby Ruth Villarama, Isabel Sandoval, and Pepe Diokno, share their own personal notes from their favorite scent memories.
Martika Escobar
“Versace Bright Crystal reminds me of the time when my mom encouraged me to buy my first bottle of perfume. I had been working hard for a year already, and she told me that sometimes it’s okay to buy things that you like, even if they’re a little expensive. I remember us having this small tour around the department store, trying out different scents until I found one that I liked. I ended up choosing the one she always wore at that time.”
Quark Henares
“I’m a big fan of Le Labo Santal 33. I’m honestly not a big cologne/ perfume guy but a friend in Singapore recommended it and it’s a nice light scent that actually works for both men and women. I gifted my wife with the Matcha scent but she loved this so much she uses it too!”
Baby Ruth Villarama
“The scent of Anais Anais always brings back vivid memories of my grandmother from Baliuag, Bulacan. She had an extraordinary green thumb, and our ancestral home was surrounded by a lush garden filled with fruit-bearing trees like guava and chico, and the delicate blooms of white rosal. The floral notes of Anais Anais transport me back to those moments of scooching into my grandmother’s underarms, enveloped in her comforting embrace and the fragrant atmosphere of our home.
“Currently, I use Jo Malone. During my time in Birmingham, where I pursued my master’s degree, I often visited the Jo Malone shop at the Central train station. This shop was particularly generous with samples, allowing us to mix and match scents freely. The scent of Jo Malone’s Lime Basil and Mandarin Mint became a signature of my carefree life in the UK, symbolizing the freedom and adventure of those days.
In a way, these fragrances have become a bridge between different phases of my life. Anais Anais ties me to my roots, my family, and the warmth of my grandmother’s love, while Jo Malone represents growth, exploration, and the new experiences I embraced during my studies abroad. Together, they weave a tapestry of scents that tell the story of my journey and the people and places that have shaped me.”
Isabel Sandoval
“Right now I’m in love with Bal D’Afrique from Byredo. Exquisitely complex and yet hushed and reserved. It opens on my skin with a splash of citrus and then blossoms into something creamy, woody, and earthy—the epitome of enigmatic grace. I love wearing it during the day in the spring and early summer.”
Pepe Diokno
“My favorite fragrance is Another 13 by Le Labo. I bought it last year while I was in Italy attending the Torino Script Lab, where I started writing a horror film called “San Genesio”, which has been brewing in my mind for years. Another 13 is a scent that was commissioned by AnOther Magazine, and it smells a bit like old books—perhaps that’s why I was drawn to it, being in a writer’s frame of mind. The scent is handsome and distinct, but what I love about it is that it isn’t overpowering, and it doesn’t call too much attention to itself. It’s also super versatile. I wear it every day when I go out, whether I’m shooting, writing at the office, meeting people, or hanging with friends.”
