Jeremy Scott has one overriding aim with his fashion and fragrances: Make people smile.

“It’s the best gift I can ever give someone,” the Moschino creative director tells Alexa from his Los Angeles home. “In good times, it’s important, but even moreso when things feel dour.”

Indeed, the Kansas City, Mo., kid, who spent some of his childhood on a farm, designs his clothing and beauty products with an abundant sense of humor. Take his scribble- and sewing-inspired spring 2019 show in Milan, which featured a needle-strewn gown topped with a thimble hat, along with squiggle-decorated suits and tights. Or his latest women’s eau de parfum, “Toy 2.” The sparkly, fruity-floral liquid is housed in a glass teddy bear bottle so jolly and adorable you’ll want to display it when the scent is gone.

“A teddy bear is a great universal sign of joy,” says the pop culture enthusiast, who’s outfitted everyone from Katy Perry to Miley Cyrus. “There’s a wonderful feeling of nostalgia; it takes you back to being a child. And it’s comforting and such a totem of protection,” he continues. “I always try to articulate feelings through objects and visuals; a teddy bear brings up a lot of emotions, and that’s what I love about fashion.”

His own personal teddy was stitched by his grandmother in the ’40s and first belonged to his father, Jim. “He’s a little threadbare,” says Scott of the handmade heirloom. “His ear has always been slightly detached. I used to hide a penny in there when I was a kid. He was overly used and loved.”

The house’s late founder, Franco Moschino, was also a fan of plush toys and tongue-in-chic togs. In fact, he showed a black body-con dress with cuddly teddy bears clambering around the neck back in 1988. “It’s one of the most iconic pieces of fashion in my memory,” says Scott. “It was fun, fabulous and exciting.”

During his five years at Moschino, and even before that in his signature collection and Adidas collabs, Scott has paid tribute to teddies. His 2014 Moschino “Toy” unisex fragrance was packaged in a furry bear bottle. A year later, his “Ready to Bear” capsule collection for the brand featured the ursine mascot on everything from a cellphone case and message T-shirt to a quilted backpack.

And now, the friendly cub is cheering up fragrance counters around the world. “I just got the extra-large display bottle,” says Scott. “It’s so cute!”

What’s your must-have Moschino accessory for spring?
My new scribble-printed portrait hat. Bring your Julia Roberts ‘Pretty Woman’ shopping fantasies to life with this little hat!

Should girls decorate their tights with Magic Marker for spring?
Absolutely! I’m a big proponent of making a runway look your own!

Where in Milan can you have your cake and eat it too?
Marchesi is a feast for your taste buds and your eyes. The art direction is as delicious as the panettone.

Carb-lovers need to know: What’s your No. 1 pasta joint in the city?
Da Giacomo on Via Pasquale Sottocorno. It’s like out of an old film: classic Italian done to perfection!

Your favorite pampering place?
The most decadent spa in Milan is the Shiseido spa. It’s like a futuristic temple.

What’s the main thing you’ve learned during your time in Milan?
That most of Milan’s beauty lives behind closed doors. In other words, don’t judge a book by its cover.