Happiness is a feeling that is hard to describe in words, but the latest research by Quest International claims to have found a scent of happiness. The British and American respondents identified the aromas of red berries, tropical fruit as well as orchard fruit as the scents that made them feel happy. The French prefer the smells that are sweet, powdery, floral, and musky woody. Does this mean that the American market will see even more fruity-florals in the future? (via Cosmetic World).
31 Comments
chayaruchama: Interesting comments, V-
I tend to side with the French, myself… October 19, 2006 at 8:29am
Judith: Oh, dear! I have nothing against the smell of berries and cherries–as long as it’s not in perfume! I hate it there. The French have the right idea! October 19, 2006 at 9:01am
newproducts: Good lord, I hope not. We may all have to move to France for the perfume! October 19, 2006 at 9:01am
Madelyn E: Dear Victoria,
Sent of happiness . What a great concept. I thought the reason we perfumelovers etc. wear scent is to feel “happy” ultimately. My personal tastes side with the French as I prefer scents that are powdery, musky ..However there is an immediate uplift to inhale the rush of fresh fruit, isn’t there ?
The French tend to be more sensual as do I.
Best Scented Regards
Madelyn E October 19, 2006 at 10:26am
Madelyn E: Dear Victoria,
Sent of happiness . What a great concept. I thought the reason we perfumelovers etc. wear scent is to feel “happy” ultimately. My personal tastes side with the French as I prefer scents that are powdery, musky ..However there is an immediate uplift to inhale the rush of fresh fruit, isn’t there ?
The French tend to be more sensual as do I.
Best Scented Regards
Madelyn E October 19, 2006 at 10:27am
Robin: Apparently, this is a new trend:
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1546172006
Have you tried Smiley? October 19, 2006 at 11:07am
Leopoldo: Of course, I’m on the side of you Francophilic bunch. I wonder what the smell of happiness would be in Briatain. I imagine a melange of France and the US for some reason, or perhaps treacle sponge pudding and custard… October 19, 2006 at 12:03pm
cynthia: I am with you guys. Enough of this fruity-floral business! October 19, 2006 at 1:41pm
Flor: I love fruit, but I don’t wear fruit. I side with the French all the way. I really don’t know if there are any fruity fragrances I like. I’m a huge Guerlain and Chanel fan, don’t think there are any fruity notes there. I guess they asked a bunch of teenagers what scents made them happy. October 19, 2006 at 2:37pm
Christine: I like fruity fragrances, and they do make me happy. 🙂 Still, too many fruity-florals can get boring. October 19, 2006 at 3:45pm
BoisdeJasmin: Chaya, I do too. My scents of happiness are jasmine, sandalwood, rose, oakmoss (as I have discovered after acquiring the absolute), orange blossom…. Or actually any of Jacques Guerlain’s fragrances. October 19, 2006 at 11:55am
BoisdeJasmin: Judith, I love fruit, but only to eat it. There are very few fruit heavy fragrances that I enjoy. October 19, 2006 at 11:55am
BoisdeJasmin: Newproducts, yes! I cannot agree more. October 19, 2006 at 11:56am
BoisdeJasmin: Madelyn, yes, very true. I notice that I like the scent of some fruity perfumes upon the first inhale, but almost as quickly, the allure vanishes. I get tired of them right away. October 19, 2006 at 11:58am
BoisdeJasmin: R, I have not tried it. Off to check out the article. October 19, 2006 at 11:59am
BoisdeJasmin: Leopoldo, I was surprised, but it is the same as for the US: the aromas of red berries, tropical fruit as well as orchard fruit. Does it ring true to you? October 19, 2006 at 12:10pm
Ina: Well, if that’s what it takes to be happy, I’d take fruity-florals any time over the overwhelming anti-depressants. 😉 October 19, 2006 at 1:28pm
Fleurs d ‘Oranger: I only know one scent of ‘Happiness’ …Fleurs d ‘Oranger by Serge Lutens! October 19, 2006 at 7:28pm
ALotofScents: Let’s keep the fruit on the trees or in the fridge please 🙂 Don’t want to be bombarded by more fruit fragrances. October 19, 2006 at 8:52pm
BoisdeJasmin: Ina, between those two, I would take fruity-florals anyday. 🙂 October 19, 2006 at 5:30pm
BoisdeJasmin: Cynthia, they are popular–there is no getting around this fact. October 19, 2006 at 5:31pm
BoisdeJasmin: Flor, in general, I do not care for overly fruity fragrances, although there are some exceptions for me. I find that the fruiy notes I like are the abstract ones, like peach lactones in Guerlain Mitsouko or a hint of apricot in Chanel Bois des Iles. I part way with perfumes like Lancome Hypnose and Miss Dior Cherie–nicely done, but impossibly sweet for me. October 19, 2006 at 5:33pm
BoisdeJasmin: Christine, yes, you are right. There is not enough diversity. October 19, 2006 at 5:34pm
patchamour: Oh, I absolutely agree that fruits don’t belong in perfumes, except, as you say, the abstract ones that don’t overwhelm the fragrance. I detest Hypnose and the other fruit-heavy moderns. The notes I dislike most are watermelon and cantaloupe — wonderful fruits to eat but…pure Eau de Shopping Mall. October 19, 2006 at 9:39pm
BoisdeJasmin: Fleurs d’Oranger, it is nice to hear. I have always called the scent of orange blossoms to be a scent of happiness. Whenever I smell Fleurs d’Oranger, it immediately lifts my mood. You have reminded me that I have not worn it for a while. Perhaps, I need to revisit it soon and offer a review. October 19, 2006 at 9:49pm
BoisdeJasmin: ALotofScents, neither do I. There are plenty as it is. 🙂 October 19, 2006 at 9:50pm
BoisdeJasmin: Patchamour, those are the two notes that can turn a pleasant perfume into something quite unbearable for me. I do not know why, because I love the scent of real watermelon and real cantaloupe. October 19, 2006 at 9:52pm
Laia: I think fruity florals and sweet perfumes are babyish, French preferences are more in the way of what perfume really is, sophisticated and abstract. Miss Dior Chérie makes me sick, and so does Hypnose and above all, L from Lolita Lempicka wich is not fruity but it is so horribly sweet! what French say ” degeulasse”. I think for Spanish people happiness smells of citrus and jasmine and just a bit of vanilia. By the way Victoria said once Spain smelled of roses and tobacco. I would say it smells of jasmine, orange blossom and lavender. October 20, 2006 at 3:27am
Erika: Are these the scents of happiness, or in the case of the US, the scents of laundry care products? Well, at least we now have an insight into why so many ‘new’ fragrances are just oversweetened and fruity; apparently that’s what makes us happy! I’ll stick to my (possibly more gloomy) woods, thank you – and keep on taking my meds rather than douse myself in cloying flowers/tropical fruits 😉
(Dolce Vita is making me very very happy right now – despite only having that lovely stewed peach/plum, and not a whole fruitbowl!) October 20, 2006 at 8:34am
BoisdeJasmin: Laia, jasmine is definitely a scent I associate with Spain as well as citrus. My first visit to Spain though always seems to be linked with roses and tobacco, but perhaps it is just my romantic imagination. Beautiful country, whatever smell evokes it! October 20, 2006 at 5:55pm
BoisdeJasmin: Erika, I love Dolce Vita–it is another example of fruity notes serving the kind of role I like them to serve, as ornaments. I also love the fruity sweetness in Ferre (2005). October 20, 2006 at 5:56pm