PERFUME AREA


Air Val International, “Pokémon”

Like bars, movie theaters conceal grime in darkness and leisure. But at least bars reek of antiseptic liquors. The cinema makes no distinction between food, floral, and fecal. The same can be said for Pokémon. (And Pasolini). Unfortunately, the fragrance named for my favorite childhood media franchise smells like waiting in line for the restroom at a movie theater. Yellow butter substitute and cherry Jolly Ranchers combine in an unexpected accord that approximates pink liquid soap. And any illusion of sterility that triclosan might afford is quickly dispelled by a whiff of some mother’s powdery floral as she whisks her child—who waited 90 minutes for this moment to arrive—into a stall.

Air Val International