I do believe I get my love of fragrance and perfume from my Mother and Godmother respectively. I recall watching my Mom get ready for her day and without fail, after the outfit and shoes were put together the last thing she does is spray on her favorite perfume. A spritz or two on the wrist then the rub on her clothes. I remember the smell of her Halston perfume vividly and I remember sneaking into her room and dousing myself in whatever fragrance she left in my reach. It seemed like the fragrance was the finishing touch to whatever she wore and it became a part of my daily habit as well.
Now that we have been in quarantine for these last 8 or 9 or however many months, I have not stopped applying my favorite fragrance almost daily. It’s just a part of my daily grooming. Even if I am just wearing a body oil or spraying on my Chanel, I still wear perfume in some form every day. It took me some time to figure out what my “signature” fragrance is. And while I have some favorites, I can say that I typically go for scents that are fresh, clean and vibrant. I don’t wear too many florals because I feel that they do not mesh well with my body chemistry. And if a fragrance is too light and sweet, I’ll pass on that as well.
On a daily basis I usually reach for my Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue. It is the perfect mix of fresh and citrus and smells so amazing. I tend to wear the same fragrances year round and this one fits so perfectly in whatever season. My other favorite fresh scent is Chanel Chance Eau Fraishe. I have wanted a full bottle of this perfume for two years. I shamelessly went to Sephora and got a free sample of this more times than I care to count. Finally, for my birthday gift to myself this year, I purchased a bottle. This perfume has some floral notes but not overwhelmingly so. The Jasmine and Teakwood balance each other out and make a beautiful medley together.
There is one exception to the “no floral” rule in my collection and that is the Burberry Her perfume. This is the most feminine and soft and elegant fragrance with hints of Jasmine and Amber. I do believe the amber and musk combination is what sells it for me. I love wearing this fragrance when I’m dressed up, it adds just the right touch of femininity to any ensemble.
What are the common fragrance notes? Let’s look at some examples below:
Fresh: Fresh fragrances are light and citrusy, with hints of oranges, bergamot giving the fragrance a subtle sweetness. Examples of fresh perfumes: Chanel Chance Eau Fraishe, Gucci Flora, Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue
Floral: Floral fragrances are feminine and some are light with Jasmine notes, and others can have a heavier scent highlighted by rose and lily. Examples include: Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet, Burberry Her, Tom Ford Black Orchard.
Woodsy: Woodsy perfume or colognes can lean towards more unisex or masculine scents. Sandalwood and Patchouli are often the primary notes in these fragrances, leaving you smelling clean and earthy. Examples of woodsy scents: Tom Ford Noir Extreme, Chanel Bleu, Armani Acqua Di Gio.
Warm & Spicy: After Fresh fragrances, warm and spicy would definitely be my next pick. These fragrances tend to be heavy with notes of Sandalwood, musk and cashmere. These are great for cooler months as they tend to have notes that linger long after the spray has dried down. Examples of some Woodsy and Spicy perfumes are: Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb, Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium and Prada Candy.
If you are still looking for the perfect scent, there are many online quizzes that you take. I’ll link the one from Sephora.com here: https://www.sephora.com/beauty/fragrance-gift-guide
