Ahead-turner in red was Archana Vijaya when the TV presenter and entrepreneur walked in at luxury perfume and fragrance brand Santieb’s atelier on the second floor of Camac Square Mall, Camac Street. The Calcutta girl, on a three-day vacation to her “retreat”, checked out the fragrant address on Thursday and then sat down for an adda with t2.        

You look gorgeous. How much are you working out?

I am working out like a pig. I have also joined these amazing classes for the first time, besides personal training. Pilates has been revolutionary. I like to call it a more intense form of yoga. Also, kick-boxing, circuit training, running. I want to try spinning. But Calcutta… I have eaten out every day. I had a beautiful meal at Aajisai, Quest. I have eaten at Yauatcha and had the food from Tangra, Mocambo, the phuchka…. I had home-made Prawn Malai Curry today, it was divine. I miss the fish curry ya, and the Calcutta street food. 

What are your favourite smell-related childhood memories? 

Definitely looking at all my mother’s perfumes and trying to put them on. The one thing I hate is body odour. I also cannot bear the agarbatti smell. And if your food smells good, half the job is done. 

What are your first memories of a particular smell? 

Definitely my mother! My mother’s smell is very fresh and clean, just like how she is. It’s like the smell of powder… I associate the Oil of Olay smell with her. 

How would you describe the smell of Calcutta?

Today, just before it started raining… there is a particular smell that’s in the air and when I smelt that, it took me back to school. 

And what does Delhi smell of?

My husband (Dheeraj Puri)! And he smells very good thankfully and even after the gym, which is many, many brownie points. 

What was the first perfume you bought for yourself?

Davidoff Cool Water. I like fresh notes for my day perfumes, but at night I like to go a little bit more musky, a bit more sexy. 

What else have been your favourites over the years?

I am a huge Hermes fan. That’s my go-to perfume. I like their entire Mediterranean range, very floral, citrusy and refreshing. Lately, I have discovered a beautiful smell in this bottle called Decadence, the new Marc Jacobs perfume. When I was in America, I went to Neiman Marcus; they have this whole area where they customise perfumes. I put all my favourites… a little bit of citrus, musk, vanilla… a bunch of different notes… amazing. 

What is the best place to shop for perfumes?

France... Paris! I go to Paris every single year and I come back with perfumes. I buy five nice perfumes, but the thing is, I am also very moody. When I like a perfume, I am going with that perfume. Right now, it’s Decadence and Hermes. 

You have met so many celebrities. Who smells the best?

Shah Rukh Khan smells very nice. Musky. On men, I like musky, manly tones. 

What does your house smell of?

Lemon-y and vanilla. My house in Delhi has a huge garden with beautiful flowers. So, in winter, it is a melange of smells… an unbelievable smell, the best smell for sure. 

Which is the next place you are waiting to smell?

I am waiting to smell Marrakech… the spices. I have been lucky this year. I have done Lebanon, Beirut... Andamans; I am going to be doing Marrakech and Amsterdam. It’s the best thing… learning about new cultures, eating different kinds of food, meeting different people, the smells, sights and sounds… for me, it is the only way to live your life. I have also travelled across this country; Kashmir is my favourite place in India. It’s more beautiful than Switzerland. When I reached Gulmarg, I couldn’t believe my eyes, it’s this raw beauty. There is nothing manicured about Kashmir.