Something strange happened on the way to these modern times: most of us started equating floral perfumes with fainting couches and, conversely, fragrances with top notes of scorched plastic with empowerment. But now, after a long stretch of silence in the scent department, Balenciaga is releasing Paris, which bridges these two schools of thought. Romantic, woody and slightly bitter, like violets doused with acid rain, the latest from master perfumer Olivier Polge smells like dainty florets of cement candy in grandma’s hand-cut glass bowl. Available next month.