Top perfumer praises 'rare' fragrance of HK at Ferragamo launch

Italian fashion house Salvatore Ferragamo chose the upscale Sevva restaurant, in the Prince's Building in Central, for the local launch of its new scent Signorina.

French perfumer Sophie Labbe flew into town for the Thursday event to meet her local fans.

Labb? has been in the trade since 1992 and has developed fragrances for a string of major fashion houses, including Escada, Givenchy and Yves Saint Laurent.

The Ferragamo fragrance is a feminine floral aroma, which the brand said was slightly spicy with hints of jasmine, rose and peony.

Visiting Hong Kong for the first time, Labbe was intrigued by the city's skyline but also its smell.

'I sensed it as soon as I got off the plane. It's an interesting combination of the busy city and the ocean that's purely natural,' she said. 'It's pretty rare that you can have both.'