Lire & STYLE. Have a fitness tip or recipe to share? Contact the editor at lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca PTACe amazing Scent of a woman Sexy scents for fall Sharon Miki, Columnist H™ you ever walked into a room, inhaled a whiff of ascent, and been transported to another time/ mood / state of being? A snort of Calgon Hawaiian Ginger body spray, for example, takes me away to early-20s sticky-floored and sticky-bodied college-themed Thursday nights spent at Mirage with my friend Christine (she did—and still does—obsess over the drugstore relic); similarly, a hint of burning incense in the air instantly tugs at my heart with spindly wisps of memories of afternoons spent in awe of my Buddhist grandmother. Fast-forward to the here and now, and this intangible scent- tacular impact is why having a truly fab signature scent is such an easy and stealthy way to instantly make yourself more memorable and attractive. As we approach the home stretch of the fall semester, skip the binge- clothes-shopathon, and instead reward yourself for your hard work thus far with a simple and sexy new fragrance. Amazing Grace by Philosophy: You're welcome, HONEY Amazing Grace by Philosophy, Honey by Marc Jacobs, and Vanilla by The Body Shop | Photos compiled by Joel McCarthy stalkers: this is what I personally smell like 99 per cent of the time. Crafted with notes of bergamot, muguet blossoms, and musk, I find this soft and sweet scent from Philosophy to be just fragrancey enough that people notice—but not in an overly perfumey way for everyday. The most common reaction I get when wearing Amazing Grace is “Oh, you smell good.” What more can you ask for? You can snag, a 0.5 oz eau de toilette spray for only $15 at Sephora. Honey by Marc Jacobs: This is what I imagine a Manic Pixie Dream Girl smells like. This new kid on the fragrance block hits my nostrils with a charming and tasty, fruity mix of pear, mandarin, orange blossom, and peach nectar—it’s an intoxicating, instant pick me up. Being designer, this one is a bit pricey at $52 for a1 oz eau de parfum spray at Sephora. That being said, Honey will almost certainly make your favourite sad, narcissistic male classmate fall in love with you, so it could be an investment in your personal allure. Vanilla by The Body Shop: Perhaps my senses are clouded by my own memories of cozy blankets, crisp autumn nights, and baked goods rising in the oven, but there is something infinitely comforting about the warm seduction of vanilla. At just $14 for a 1 oz eau de toilette, it won’t break the bank. A spritz of this on your infinity scarf might just calm your nerves and send you to a land of oven-ready bliss when you’re commuting to the college on a cold November morning. Scent is a powerful yet underrated sense; it can enhance or ruin an experience, and it can oh so subtly convey feeling. Take my suggestions (they don’t call me “Toucan Sam-Sharon” for nothing, after all), or follow your own nose to a sweeter smelling fall. A guide to NaNoWriMo Planning, perspiration, and pep talks Cazzy IC Lewchuk — Staff Writer ‘3 —_ ovember is the month when scarves become a fashionable necessity, facial hair crops up all over campus, and everyone gets sick of Christmas music before the season even begins. It’s also the time of year when frustrated writers all around the world collectively work on National Novel Writing Month, usually shortened to NaNoWriMo. Now in its 13th year, the event has advanced through word of mouth and the Internet to grow from a couple dozen participants to hundreds of 10 thousands across the globe. The rules are simple, yet daunting: create a novel of at least 50,000 words in the 30 days of November. Extensive planning can be done in advance—in fact, it’s highly recommended— but no actual writing can commence until November 1. The writing process works out anything, and quantity is highly valued over quality. In fact, the website’s slogan is “No Plot? No Problem!” The main goal is simply to get people to write, with the deadline and word count serving as motivation. For many, NaNoWriMo is their first completion of or even attempt winner. The novel length is calculated using software, so nobody even sees the novel if the author chooses not to show it to others. Many organized events for NaNoWriMo exist, such as local meet-ups, write-ins, and parties. Friendships are made through these events, as writers Its a challenge, a creative burden, and if many participants are to be believed, incredibly rewarding and satisfying upon completion. to at least 1,667 words a day. It’s a challenge, a creative burden, and if many participants are to be believed, an incredibly rewarding and satisfying experience upon completion. Otherwise, the criteria for NaNoWriMo is quite loose. The novels can be about pretty much at a full novel. The writers come from all levels of experience, with lots of diversity. In order to officially “win,” one must submit their novel for word count verification on the official website (nanowrimo.org). Anyone who completes at least 50,000 words is considered a bond over their shared creative challenges and burdens. Forums on the website also allow writers to connect with each other and share tips or discussion. Words of inspiration are shared periodically on the website from past participants and famous writers. Neil Gaiman, James Patterson, John Green, and many others have all shared pep talks on the website in the past. Many of the novels have gone on to be published independently or through a publisher, some even becoming successful. Water For Elephants was a NaNoWriMo novel and was turned into a movie with Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon. Even if one doesn’t become famous from their novel, it’s a chance to discover or improve their writing prowess. NaNoWriMo is an excellent way to create a piece of art and discover new things. Writing a novel in a mere 30 days is a daunting but rewarding task; if nothing else, it’s a way to cross “write a novel” off the bucket list. For more information, check out nanowrimo.org