For me, fragrance is the most personal aspect of the beauty world. Each fragrance always has a different effect depending on the person wearing it, making it all the more private. The idea that a scent can speak volumes about the person wearing it, not just with one whiff of the top notes, but throughout the day as the perfume evolves on someone's skin, is truly special. The sensory experience of scent is unrivalled - it can evoke an array of memories you didn't even know where lingering in the back of your mind, and with these memories come emotion as you associate the scents with people, things, and places.
Fragrance is also a form of expression, a reflection of your character, of how you feel in one particular moment. In this respect, it works much like clothes do. You dress for the appropriate occasion, weather, time of day, and, most importantly, for yourself. This is why I view my fragrance collection as a sort of wardrobe. Consider this post a peek into this 'wardrobe' of mine, if you will.
Hermès Un Jardin Sur le Nil: This is my all-rounder perfume. Day, night, summer, winter... It opens with a citrus party, with grapefruit notes leading the way. Green mango creeps in a few moments later, adding another kick of freshness to the scent, and the finish is that of a soft incense smell. When I first tried this, I had never smelled anything like it before. I loved the way it was vibrant, but did not have any harsh edges, making it a constant pleasure to bring my wrist up to my nose to see how it was developing. This perfume awakens the senses, and I wear this whenever I know I've got a long day ahead and that I will need plenty of energy. This is the jeans and crisp white t-shirt of my fragrance wardrobe.
Marc Jacobs Biscotti: Everyone loves Marc Jacobs's Daisy fragrance, but Biscotti is closer to my heart. It does not smell of the famous biscuit, but it brings out the best in the popular coffee accompaniment. It starts with notes of orange blossom, then transforms into the most wonderful combination of vanilla and pistachio blossom. I often wear this in summer and autumn, when just a touch of freshness is welcome on those balmy evenings. The perfume's softer side comes out later, making this a comforting scent. It is reminiscent of a light cashmere sweater: thin enough to stay cool, but also soft enough and providing just the warmth you need.
Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Mirto di Panarea: Staying in the crisp, clean scents category, this cologne is slightly more romantic than the Hermès perfume. Notes of basil, myrtle, lemon and bergamot sit at the top, and it slowly descends into a woody finish through a hint of sea breeze. This is used when I still want a perfume that zings, but without the citrus. This is perfect for hot summer days and nights, and the way this wears on the skin instantly transports me back to my holiday last year in Dubrovnik, where the intense heat of the day gave way to an evening in which all the smells would rise up from the greenery and the pavements, complemented by a slight breeze coming in from the Adriatic Sea.
Hugo Boss Boss Bottled: "What is a men's fragrance doing in your collection," I hear you ask. Allow me to diverge slightly and take a quote from Jean Claude Ellena's The Diary of a Nose (which I finished reading in a day) in an attempt to explain why I wear this cologne.
L'Artisan Parfumeur La Chasse Aux Papillons: This is spring in a bottle. I don't usually care much for predominant florals in a perfume, but this jasmine and tuberose concoction remains fresh and light thanks to a few citrus elements and an addition of orange blossom. This isn't just a garden in full bloom, it is also a bouquet of flowers that have just been freshly cut. La Chasse Aux Papillons is the fragrance equivalent of a light floral print dress, the kind that you would wear to an afternoon picnic in the park.
Diptyque Vetyverio: Vetyverio is another fragrance for all seasons. It is so versatile that it makes me think of Mediterranean gardens in the summer and winter nights in by a fire in equal measure. It introduces itself with distinctly peppery green notes and citrus, but hints of florals, woods and sweet fruits lend themselves well to the edges of the lemon, mandarin and bergamot. Shortly after the initial hit of greens and citruses, the perfume becomes very subtle, yet still interesting. The 'little black dress' (LBD) comes to mind when I smell this, simply because of its passe-partout nature - it can be as understated or as intricate as you'd like, through any detailing or ornamental features.
There you have it, the star scents that I wear regularly whenever different moods hit. I truly believe that fragrance is as important as what you wear, and the options are not limited to perfume. Body moisturisers also have the same effect, and the Laura Mercier Ambre Vanillé Soufflé Body Crème is my favourite moisturiser scent. Sometimes I even find that the smell of certain detergents or fabric softeners makes me do a double-take when I pass by someone who has just washed their clothes. Odd, I know, but that just shows how multifaceted and individual fragrance can really be.
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"[...] I don't believe perfumes should be for women, for men, mixed or unisex. It is the people who wear them who give them their gender."Boss Bottled, for me, is pretty much attraction in liquid form. The first time I smelled this, it fit the person wearing it so well, and ever since, I have worn this cologne not just as a reminder of this person, but of all the things I associate with him. This is a typical winter scent - it is sweet, spicy and woody all rolled up in one. The amalgamation of sweet apples, bergamot, cinnamon and vanilla is pure perfection. Imagine the feeling of a large, soft scarf that you can wrap around your neck two to three times, and in which you can just bury half your face as you go out to brave the bitter winter cold. That is exactly what this cologne feels like. It is comfort scent-ified (as opposed to personified), and it is down to both the association with warm apple pies and how personal this fragrance is to me.
L'Artisan Parfumeur La Chasse Aux Papillons: This is spring in a bottle. I don't usually care much for predominant florals in a perfume, but this jasmine and tuberose concoction remains fresh and light thanks to a few citrus elements and an addition of orange blossom. This isn't just a garden in full bloom, it is also a bouquet of flowers that have just been freshly cut. La Chasse Aux Papillons is the fragrance equivalent of a light floral print dress, the kind that you would wear to an afternoon picnic in the park.
Diptyque Vetyverio: Vetyverio is another fragrance for all seasons. It is so versatile that it makes me think of Mediterranean gardens in the summer and winter nights in by a fire in equal measure. It introduces itself with distinctly peppery green notes and citrus, but hints of florals, woods and sweet fruits lend themselves well to the edges of the lemon, mandarin and bergamot. Shortly after the initial hit of greens and citruses, the perfume becomes very subtle, yet still interesting. The 'little black dress' (LBD) comes to mind when I smell this, simply because of its passe-partout nature - it can be as understated or as intricate as you'd like, through any detailing or ornamental features.
There you have it, the star scents that I wear regularly whenever different moods hit. I truly believe that fragrance is as important as what you wear, and the options are not limited to perfume. Body moisturisers also have the same effect, and the Laura Mercier Ambre Vanillé Soufflé Body Crème is my favourite moisturiser scent. Sometimes I even find that the smell of certain detergents or fabric softeners makes me do a double-take when I pass by someone who has just washed their clothes. Odd, I know, but that just shows how multifaceted and individual fragrance can really be.
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