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If you could capture the essence of the Bay State in a bottle, what would it smell like? We're relieved to report that Sasha Bertran and Samantha Sherwin, the minds (and noses) behind United Scents of America, eschewed eau de dirty water when concocting their brand-new fragrance, Massachusetts ($58). With notes of bergamot, sage, tart cranberry, northern red oak, and tobacco leaf, the scent is meant to evoke memories of autumn in New England. It joins the line's six other made-in-America offerings: Florida, California, Hawaii, New York, Texas, and their best-seller — wait for it — New Jersey, a tribute to their home state (which smells of fresh buttered popcorn, cotton candy, and caramel, not, thankfully, of chemical exhaust, expressway rest stop, and a soupçon of Snooki). Find Massachusetts online at shopunitedscents.com, or get a whiff at a launch party on February 21 at North End shop Shake the Tree, which will be dolling out fragrance samples and limoncello from 7 to 9 pm. In the meantime, check out how Facebook and the Twitterverse responded when asked what #MassSmellsLike."Olympia Dukakis, obviously." via @vMichaelv
"Hopefully they use like Plymouth as an inspiration — cranberries and the ocean — but probably it's outta Southie . . . bad cheap cologne, beer, and maybe a hint of blood." Jessica Homer via Facebook
"Stale Dunkin's coffee." via @LanaCook
"12 Sam Adams and a gallon of chowder that has been vomited into the Charles River." Daniel O'Brien via Facebook
"The old Garden by fourth quarter or third period." via @dbernstein
"Unwarranted regional pride." via @emmet_smith
WHERE TO BUY ::SHAKE THE TREE, 67 SALEM ST, BOSTON :: 617.742.0484 OR SHAKETHETREEBOSTON.COM
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Lifestyle Features
, Massachusetts, perfume
