How I used Airbnb to find my signature fragrance

Hi, my name is Kate and I am a self-proclaimed product junkie. I'm not ashamed; I come by it honestly. My mother was the original beauty and skin care fanatic. Her bedtime routine was the stuff of legends in our household, and the years of slathering every cream and potion imaginable on her skin paid off.

Her medicine cabinet was a rotation of the latest and greatest products to hit the market, but she was much more loyal when it came to her signature scent. She wore two fragrances throughout my life. The first was Emanuel Ungaro's Diva, a sweet, indulgent scent that was lovely but certainly a reflection of the era in which it was created - let's just say it paired well with costume jewelry and shoulder pads. Around 2000, she made the switch to BVLGARI Eau Parfumée Au Thé Blanc, a clean, soothing and earthy scent that much better aligned with her newly evolved yogi lifestyle.

Kate Brennan chooses from more than 80 scented oils to make her own unique fragrance.

Upon arriving for my scent-making "Experience," I was greeted by my mixologist, Meredith, whose unpretentious and enthusiastic vibe let me know from the get-go that I was in good hands. After giving a little background on Good Fortune's products - lotions, scrubs, essential oils and diffusers, men's products, bath bombs and, yes, soap - she laid out how this whole thing would go: I'd choose my favorite scents; she'd mix them based on her knowledge of what complements what; I'd choose which product (or products, in my case) I wanted to make; she'd mix, and then, voila! I'd have my signature scent. It was time to start sniffing.

Armed with a small jar of coffee beans to cleanse my olfactory palate between inhales, I stood before the wall of over 80 scented oils and got to work. The fragrances were conveniently divided into eight categories: botanical and essential oils, food, clean, floral and plant, floral and perfume, fruit and food, men's, and musk and earth.

The first winner was a scent I named "Swaddle," a comforting, mellow mix of vanilla, lemon verbena and a sweet and spicy blend called Harvest Moon. The moment Meredith handed me the sample, I was transported to what I can only describe as a warm, cozy adult nursery of the mind, which sounds 100 percent creepy but, believe me, is a place you'd want to go.

Kate Brennan samples a scent for her personalized body scrub at Good Fortune Soap.

Next up was a subtly dreamy combination of clover, aloe and coconut which was also deserving of an inventive name, but since I'd apparently used my daily creative juice allotment on Swaddle, I landed on "Clean." The name may be basic, but the scent is downright ethereal. It's what you want to smell like when you get out of the bath.

Now it was time to choose my products. I came into the experience thinking I'd make a simple perfume, but they offer so much more than that - body spray, goat's milk lotion, liquid soap, room spray, bath fizzies, candles, tinted lip balm and more. You name it, you can more than likely make it there. A majority of the products are hand-mixed by your mixologist, while others, like the bath bombs and rubber-ducky-shaped soaps, are more hands-on, making for a perfect rainy day activity for the kids.

Meredith Denning puts the final touches on a custom scented body scrub.

Now came the moment of truth: How will these products measure up in the real world to someone who knows a thing or two about good skin care products (i.e. this girl)? My answer: Satisfyingly well. Mixing a few drops of the body oil with unscented lotion results in an extra-luxurious post-shower moisturizer featuring a subtle scent that lasts all day without giving your co-workers a headache. The scrub is even better. It gently exfoliates the skin to a dewy glow without stripping it of moisture, all the while filling your bathroom with a calming, spa-like aroma. Per Meredith's suggestion, I've also used it to prep my skin for shaving, which has resulted in a much smoother, closer shave.

The final verdict from this beauty and skin care zealot? Two thumbs up. Locally and female-owned, beautiful and convenient location, high-quality products handmade from organic ingredients, a friendly and knowledgeable staff and a full menu of customizable spa treatments. What's not to love?

Whether or not I discovered my signature scent still remains to be seen. I adore both Swaddle and Clean, but I have a feeling Meredith could whip up several other fragrances I'd love just as much. Perhaps one day I'll find what my mother found in Diva and Eau Parfumée Au Thé Blanc, but in the meantime, you can find me at Good Fortune Soap Company smelling all the smells.