This Time, It's Personal

This Valentine's Day, don't blame your significant other for being
possessive. We all know and hate that smothering feeling, but when you
think about it, can you blame them for wanting a monopoly on your
fantastic self?

Selfishness is a virtue, said philosopher Ayn Rand, so there's
no shame in narcissism, especially if you share it with your special
someone to make them feel unique this Valentine's Day.

Creating a product that's yours alone is hard to come by, but
these three companies take customization very seriously, offering
people their own lines of perfume, vodka and truffles.

Eau de Me

Francis Kurkdjian compares his custom-made Sur Mesure fragrances to the haute couture seen on Paris's runways, the city where he lives.

In fact, many of his clients wear haute couture on a daily
basis, so a one-of-a-kind fragrance is a must. "It's a state of mind
and a state of living to have everything customized," says Kurkdjian.

In 2001, Kurkdjian began making tailor-made perfumes for a
very select, private clientele who want to avoid telling others what
label they are wearing.

Even niche products just don't cut it anymore for those seeking an item absolutely nobody else has access to, says Kurkdjian.

Time and money are no object when Kurkdjian conjures his fragrances. "My only limit is my own imagination."

It takes him two to eight months to create a fragrance specific to a
client's parameters and tastes. After Kurkdjian finds the perfect
scent, the perfume is delivered in a one-ounce flacon made of special
glass, which is engraved and hand-sealed with wax.