Last week’s bed weather won’t be the last in a stretch of days where it will be hard to change from your pajamas and to constantly nap. It’s during these times that I appreciate a good scent.
Scents have a unique way of tapping into our memories and moods. The oralfactory system is directly linked to this part of the brain. So it’s no wonder that a scent can transport you somewhere, lift your spirits, and energize your day.
This is why I’ve written about how even though we’re just at home, I still make it a habit to spritz on a scent. Now, I want to share a few perfumes with you that I love and that I constantly reach for.
How do I choose what scent? It really depends on what I’m feeling. It’s random to a point so I’ve got quite a collection of perfumes and sprays that I can play around with.
Over the weekend, I reached for Byredo Mojave Ghost. The name comes from the Mojave Desert. Hence, the scent is very unique. It’s mostly woody with top notes of musky Ambrette and Jamaican Nesberry. Mid notes are a Powdery Violet , Sandalwood. Base notes includes Chantilly Musk rounds out a base of crisp Amber and Cedarwood.
If you’re still browsing around for a new favorite scent, try to look up the brand Frédéric Malle. The man behind the name is a perfume publisher or an ‘Editeur de Parfums.’ He committed his whole life to the creation of perfumes. “Frédéric Malle is one of the few to be able to grasp perfumery as a whole because he has a deep knowledge of every aspect of it: from creation, composition, manufacturing and packaging design, to store design and communication.”
Malle’s knowledge is somehow backed up by instinct: His maternal grandfather Serge Heftler-Louiche is the founder of Parfums Christian Dior.
In 2000, he established Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, elevating perfumes into artistry. Under this brand, prestigious perfumers are given the chance to show off their know-how and are given the recognition to the scents they create.
Log on to the website and you’ll able to fund unique combinations of scent you didn’t think were possible. When looking for a scent you be asked to select up to three different categories among the following options: green, aldehydic, bright, floral, patchouli, fresh, musky soft, noir, citrus, oriental, opulent white flower, woody crisp, vanilla warm, amber warm, and rose.
Maison Margiela is another brand I like to collect perfume from. Their Replica collection isn’t just about the fragrances. It’s about the exact mood, time, and place they represent. You’ll see it immediately in the names like “Jazz Club”, “Lazy Sunday Morning”, “Coffee Break”, and “Springtime in a Park” to name a few.
I personally like “Beach Walk” because it provides an escape to salty shores with notes of bergamot, coconut milk, musk, pink pepper, and ylang-ylang.
Le Labo Fragrances is another go-to fragrance brand. Their ethos is quite powerful including lines like “We believe fine perfumery must create a shock – the shock of the new, combined with the shock of the intimately familiar” and “We believe it is more humane to test cosmetics on New Yorkers than on animals.”
What you get are social media stars like Santal 33. In the description notes, the scent gives celebration to the Marlboro Man of yesteryerars. It’s a mix of cardamom, iris, violet, ambrox Australian sandalwood, cedarwood, some spicy, leathery, musky notes. A unisex scent, you can enjoy it layer it with the shower gel and body oil editions.
There is also Rose 31. It’s aim is to “transform the famous Grasse Rose, a symbol of voluptuousness and unqualified femininity, into an assertively virile fragrance that can be worn by men and women”
My last on this fragrance list is from Van Cleef & Arpels. The name of the scent? “First.” The primary scent from the luxury brand made in 1976
It’s labeled as the jeweler’s fragrance. It’s described as “invisible yet overwhelming.” The bottle is crafted after the High Jewelry Snowflake and is a feminine scent of hyacinth, jasmine, amber, and sandalwood.
