When you travel, do you wear perfume and if so, what are your favorite scents for such an occasion? In general, what are your favorite strategies to make air travel more enjoyable?
While I generally avoid any strong blends whenever I know that I will be in close quarters with other people, I like wearing very light scents with an intimate aura. Given the hassle of today’s travel, they are like my little talismans, calming me down and uplifting my mood. Hermès Osmanthe Yunnan, Chanel 28 La Pausa, and Annick Goutal Néroli are my current choices. I also pack a small decant of pure orange blossom water in my carry-on to refresh myself on a long airplane journey. Nothing is more relaxing for me than the scent of orange blossom.
On this note, I shall be traveling for the next couple of weeks. There will be several scheduled articles and a giveaway on Bois de Jasmin during my absence, and I look forward to chatting with you again once I am back!
Image credit: Pénélope Jolicoeur.
19 Comments
skilletlicker: I like clean bracing scents like Herba Fresca with its touch of mint… June 3, 2011 at 7:23pm
Elisa: This winter I found Tauer Incense Rose to be great for travel. I wore just a tiny bit so as not to piss anyone off, but it was warming and calming and lasted all day on the cuffs of my flannel shirt. Belle en Rykiel is also good for travel purposes as I find its lavender/heliotrope/patchouli/incense notes very comforting, and long-lasting but quiet on me. June 3, 2011 at 6:27pm
Undina: When I cannot use any perfume (e.g. when I’m sick) I suffer tremendously. So whenever I can, I do wear a perfume. For air traveling I prefer solid perfumes or roll-on bottles. I need just a small dab where I will be able to enjoy it but it won’t bother anybody else (I hope!)
In Duty Free shops I usually watch with horror people spraying themselves lavishly with all those perfumes I wouldn’t dare to wear to the office let alone bringing it on a 10 hours plane ride. June 3, 2011 at 6:55pm
Uella: I used to wear strong perfumes by today’s standards, of course pre-reformulations of En Avion and Vol de Nuit were always favorites of mine amongst other classics. I’m not a light fragrances person and since the political correctness of Hermes and the Hermessences bores me to death, if I had to fly tomorrow I would probably wear Serge Lutens Bas de Soie or Un Lys. June 4, 2011 at 12:11am
Musette: I carry a handkerchief scented with Imperiale. If it’s a long flight or train ride, even in the summer, I carry a wrap, usually scented with something like Imperiale or Pamplemousse Rose.
Safe travels, V!
xo June 3, 2011 at 8:57pm
elizabeth: Mmm, excellent idea to pack some orange blossom water for a long flight. Do you have a preferred brand? June 3, 2011 at 9:17pm
Style Spy: Ambre Sultan for flying. It’s one of my favorites, and enough of a skin scent that it can’t offend if someone else gets a whiff. I’m also thinking my Cartier XIII will be good on a plane. June 4, 2011 at 7:28am
Penelope: I’m not a good traveller on any form of transport- I have to take travel sickness pills, and if I don’t suffer from nausea I will probably develop a headache. I wear a perfume with citrus – Voyage d’Hermes is my current favourite- or herbal notes which have a healing freshness. Hermes Vetiver Tonka is lovely. Anything with lavender is good, and I take with me a little bottle of lavender oil to sprinkle on my handkerchief and pillow. I also like ‘Breathe in’, from This Works, which is a phial with a roll top, containing Frankincense and eucalyptus. Rolled on to the back of your hand and inhaled it clears the head and will often avert a headache. June 4, 2011 at 1:45pm
behemot: I will be on the plane tomorrow, for 16 hours with small breaks. I will wear AG Neroli. I am trying to avoid stronger scents white on the plane. I will never forget the olfactory horrors of sitting next to the woman who repeatedly, every half an hour, sprayed herself with Chanel Chance. FYI, the flight was almost 10 hours long and I had a migraine when boarded.
Since then, whenever I smell Chance, I run away!! June 4, 2011 at 2:59pm
Madelyn E: I wouldn’t think of altering my perfume usage or choices when travelling. Unfortunatly , there are still people that do not bathe adequately … So I appreciate scented seatmates. I would probably chosse something with vanilla during the colder months and greener scents for summer travel. I used Guerlain Spirituese Double Vanille , and conversely, Chanel. No.19 .
I adore Duty free shops as we in America do not seem to have the same choices in the stores. I do love La Chasse Aux Papillons for orange blossom. I have a sample of the annick goutal Neroli . Bassed on the pleasng effects you described I may succumb ad buy it !
Scent is my secret weapon, “my drug” during the travails of travel too.
I wish you a wonderful trp and look forward to your updates,, photos too if possible ! June 4, 2011 at 4:20pm
maggiecat: Pvel calls fort light,calming scents – and great sensitivity to our fellow -travelers! I like light colognes currently enamored of Chanel’s – and neroli scents (love AG’s!). SJP’s Lovely body lotion is an oldie but goodie. I wear it by itself when I’m looking for a pretty and inoffensive scent. I can even wear it when I have aheadache, and that’s saying something! I wish you safe travels and a wonderful trip! June 4, 2011 at 4:24pm
maggiecat: Typing on notebook not my forte…the first word above should be “travel” Sigh. June 4, 2011 at 4:25pm
Lenore: Barney’s “Route du the” helps me retain a sense of freshness during the weary-making process of 21st century air travel. It doesn’t bother others and a whiff of my collar is very soothing…. June 4, 2011 at 5:58pm
Marion: Huh, yes Madelyn…on long haul flights from Australia I would be more than happy to smell wafts of perfume instead of all sorts of unpleasant bodily stink!
I often think of the BO issue when people complain about perfume! June 4, 2011 at 6:24pm
astrorainfall: I tend to bring light scents like Paris by YSL or Marc Jacob’s Daisy because I may wear certain garments again and day old perfume on a used top may not be that great if it’s a powerful scent. I also just stick to a non-scented body lotion or a lightly fragranced one and I try not to mix fragrances — I just use one so everything smells the same if I re-wear a top. June 6, 2011 at 12:50am
nan: I always carry and wear the solid version of Roxana Villa’s Aurora. It’s a lightish floral with spices and amber and wears very close to the skin. I find it comforting to surround my small little cocoon with such a delightful scent. Whenever the cramped confines of the plane gets to me (which is rather often), the odors of too many unwashed uncomfortable bodies threaten to envelop me, or the long lines and rude officials threaten to dislodge my equanimity, I take a small whiff and all is well for a few moments or so. Occasionally, instead of Aurora I use Roxana’s solid version of Q, a greenish ambery wood that is not too sweet and also is quite comforting. June 8, 2011 at 2:55pm
Rowanhill: I wear what I would wear anyway, depending whether it is business or pleasure, the season… but with moderation. When in doubt, Chanel No 19 is always good, or La Pausa or some fresh, clean scent like Acqua di Parma’s Colonia. June 27, 2011 at 11:37am
Sofie: Mhahaha, that picture really had me laughing out loud!
I usually try to browse away at the duty free shop and try to test something that I think will not be too overpowering. Last time I ended up with Chanel no 19 on a long haul flight. I never gave it a proper chance, but now I had all the time in the world to appreciate it. Starting to see what everybody is raving about :-).
I usually carry some lavender oil, I find it really calming. November 12, 2014 at 7:26am
Victoria: Isn’t it terrific! 🙂
My mom carries a little decant of some rose perfume to freshen up the air in hotel rooms. It makes such a nice difference. November 12, 2014 at 11:05am