La Creme Beauty’s scents aim to take you away

If you can't afford that island retreat this Valentine's Day, opt for the next best thing – a sensual experience that will remind you of those days spent in the south of France, a tropical vacation or the promise of an exotic vacation to Morocco or Egypt.

Autumn Asbury, owner/perfumer of La Creme Beauty, can recommend scents that will transport you to another place and time. "People come in all the time and want something that brings them back to a place they visited," says Asbury. They also visit her shop and see perfumes that they purchased in their travels and are delighted to find them in Seattle. "It's a chance to put yourself back into a place that made you happy," she says.

Asbury also notes that many fragrances are produced by renowned perfumers who are also rabid travelers. "A lot of fragrances are derived from perfumer's travel journals," she says. "They're combinations of things they smelled, tasted and touched in their travels." She also considers perfume therapy in a bottle. "Perfumes that have a beachy scent sell all year round here. I think it's a way out of seasonal depression," she says, only half-joking.

Here are some of the scents available in Asbury's shop that will captivate your senses and take you to another land.

Italy
"Caterina de Medici" from I Profumi di Firenze ($79)
This is a little piece of history in a bottle. One whiff, and you'll know what it smelled like to be in the company of Caterina de Medici in the 16th century. It's a true reproduction of the original secret formulas commissioned by the Italian-born queen of France and wife of King Henry II of France. The perfume is hand-blended in small batches with floral and botanical essences from Italy and around the world. The scent is exquisitely floral with hints of Damascus rose, lily of the valley and iris of Florence.

Morocco
"Patchouli" from L'Orientalist ($56)
The inspiration for perfumer Nadia Nassif's scent is derived from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and the markets of Marrakech. Sandalwood, amber and patchouli mingle in a sweet, musky scent that evokes the mystical drama of Morocco.

Egypt
"Beyond Forever" from Immaginal ($265)
Janet Piedilato developed this scent to bring peace and balance to the wearer. The gorgeous vessel is 10-karat gold overlay in the image of the goddess Hathor, protector of women. Hathor's temple is in Dendera, Egypt. The perfume blends gardenia and Italian bergamot with tuberose, ylang-ylang and jasmine and a base of orange blossom and musk.

Japan
"Ume" by Keiko Mecheri ($80)
This scent is perfumer Keiko Mecheri's Japanese childhood in a bottle. The perfume is rich with fruity scents such as persimmons, peach tree leaves and yellow mandarin. It has dashes of bergamot with floral notes from Japanese wisteria and tree peonies, as well as South Sea jasmine, Hinoki wood, Cambodian mahogany and touches of patchouli from Singapore.

France
"Chypre Rouge" by Serge Lutens ($120)
This complex fragrance was developed by Serge Lutens, who has fond memories of playing in the forests of France as a child, especially in the wintertime. The combination of Spanish and red oak moss, pecans, candied fruits, beeswax, thyme, pine needles, patchouli, vanilla, amber and musk make for a delicious scent.

The Tropics
"Hidden Cove" from Majenty ($48)
This perfume oil roll-on was created to unleash the scents of tropics. This "island in a bottle" contains coconut, water lily and tropical flower essences. You can almost smell the beach and feel the sand between your toes.

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