“After a hard day’s work pushing through Mumbai local trains in my first job, the end of day would be so dreadful and exhaustive.

It was my neighbor who noticed my plight and gifted me a perfume with the thought that not only could one begin the day fresh but also hopefully end it too with the same feeling of freshness.

The gift was significant in many aspects, it made me introspect about my own body odor and the need to feel and smell good. No turning back since, and thereafter not a day in my life have I begun without wearing a perfume on me.

More than three decades since that day and I have used many brands. To my own surprise I have still treasured the half sparingly used first perfume bottle gifted to me, reminding me of my early days.