Scent Strip is a new regular column on fragrance in T: The New York Times Style Magazine. Chandler Burr, the author, has been widely touted as the "first full-time perfume critic for an English-language newspaper" (see The Guardian, also CosmeticsDesign, Gawker, and an interview with Basenotes, among many others). More from Burr in The Guardian:

He argues that the industry as a whole will benefit because the column will enliven public interest.

"All false humility aside, I and the New York Times hope it will do that. We would not be doing this if we didn't intend for the column to become the reference point for perfume around the world," Mr Burr said yesterday. "The industry is extremely nervous about this, but they shouldn't be."

The column debuts today with reviews of Guerlain Rose Barbare, Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir and Frederic Malle Bigarade Concentrée. While he is at it, Burr takes on the natural vs. synthetic debate in a separate column.