I’m back in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine. We had 110 hours of air raid alerts over the past week alone. I’ve learned to sleep through the blaring sirens. I’ve seen what drones and mines can do to a human body. I’ve smelled the smoke and tasted ash on my lips. Against it all, life continues relentless. Every day a new flower blooms on the sidewalks and a new bud unfurls its sticky leaves. An apricot tree embracing the wall of the old synagogue blooms in such a graceful way that it looks like a Japanese painting of itself. The skies during the blackouts are full of stars so vivid and bright that they seem within reach.
I travel to the frontlines. I volunteer on the evacuation missions. I record people’s stories. And I make time to smell violets in the park, wear perfume and teach fragrance classes. I continue writing my Substack newsletter. Your support enables me to continue my work and help here in Ukraine.
74 Perfumes We Had to Learn by Heart at IFF
5 Things That Stayed With Me in February
Three Mini-reviews of New Perfumes (short videos)
Perfume Class 3: Structure, Tension, and Control
What I Learned From Memorizing 74 Classics
The Art of Seduction: Field Notes from a Perfumer and a Former Ballerina
Our “Recommend Me a Perfume” thread is open this week. You can use this space to find perfume recommendations, to share your discoveries and favorite scents, and to ask any questions about scents, aromas and flavors. Or you can just tell us what perfume you are wearing. If you received recommendations from this thread, please let us know what you sampled.
How does it work: 1. Please post your requests or questions as comments here. You can also use this space to ask any fragrance related questions. To receive recommendations that are better tailored to your tastes, you can include details on what you like and don’t like, your signature perfumes, and your budget. And please let us know what you end up sampling. 2. Then please check the thread to see if there are other requests you can answer. Your responses are really valuable for navigating the big and sometimes confusing world of perfume, so let’s help each other!
To make this thread easier to read, when you reply to someone, please click on the blue “reply” link under their comment.
Photography by Bois de Jasmin
22 Comments
OnWingsofSaffron: Dear Victoria, I am quite speechless with admiration for your committment! Please do not forget to take good care of yourself in your tireless endevours to help other. I wish you the very best! April 7, 2026 at 10:04am
Victoria: Thank you so much. I try to leave time and space for winding down. April 7, 2026 at 11:05am
KarenA: Echoing OnWingsof Saffron’s comment to take care and be safe.
Trying some new perfumes by Veronique Gabai, Souvenirs de Tunisie and Eau d’Azur, and a beautiful Tobacco flower cologne by Misha Banyo. All are very lovely and an uplifting breeze to the news and headlines.
Thank you for your beautiful writing and inspiring words! April 7, 2026 at 3:15pm
Marianne: Karen, these sound perfectly gorgeous! April 8, 2026 at 8:30pm
Karen A: It’s so fun discovering new treasures! The tobacco flower cologne is really lovely! April 11, 2026 at 8:48pm
roxann: I just got the Veronique Gabai fragrance sampler from Nordstrom. Really enjoying all of them except Sexy Garrigue (too heavy). Love that there are 10 ml available as I don’t need anymore 100 ml bottles. May 27, 2026 at 10:09pm
Alityke: Your bravery is so admirable.
I am preparing to reduce my collection. It is causing me to be indecisive & I end up wearing nothing.
Cutting down to just those scents I adore will
mean I will actually wear what I love April 8, 2026 at 12:14pm
Marianne: Admirable! And what is your most favourite?
🤔🤗 April 8, 2026 at 8:32pm
Alityke: The old version of Cristalle EdT. I will be keeping all my back ups. April 9, 2026 at 5:28am
Roxann: My local shop has regular swaps. I have traded fragrances I have tired of for new fragrances. It breathes new life into my collection without adding to numbers. I have about 65 fragrances and anymore would give me indecisiveness. May 27, 2026 at 10:10pm
Marianne: Victoria, your words resonate with my heart and guide me to more than note, but to learn from, your bravery and sacrifice, and your deep understanding of how humanity and nature are one. I love how perfume, its joyful lovely whimsical presence, shines and shares as the emblem of your indomitable spirit.
No question about perfumes come to mind today, just sending love xxx April 8, 2026 at 8:29pm
Karen A: Beautifully written! April 11, 2026 at 8:48pm
Marianne: Oh yes. Quite different to the current. To me the old version was without apology whereas the current is too polite. April 9, 2026 at 5:54am
Marianne: Sorry, the above comment’s re Cristalle April 9, 2026 at 5:55am
Fleurycat: I am wondering if anyone has tried the Ffern edp’s and what they think of them. I have mixed feeling about the sales model, but I am mostly curious to hear any feedback of about the fragrance blends (likes or dislikes) and any other insights about these particular fragrances.
Thank you! April 13, 2026 at 1:47pm
Aurora: Hello Fleurycat: On Love at first scent on YouTube Persolaise reviewed Ffern spring 24, it might give you an idea of what they’re like. April 16, 2026 at 6:04am
Maryjane Morris: You are to be admired Victoria, for your bravery and humanity, and your ability to derive pleasure from nature.
I would very much like perfume suggestions : I am seeking a light, clean perfume with soapy yet elegant overtones. I often smell the sillage of Chance Eau Tendre and am entranced by this, yet when I spray this on my skin its just “meh”. I long for something comforting, soft and pretty to wear on a daily basis (if that’s possible!). Many thanks in advance, MJ x April 15, 2026 at 10:47pm
Aurora: Hello Maryjane:. For clean and soapy I recommend Philosophy Pure Grace, it’s my cleanest scent but you have to like lavender -not overpowering though, there is now a new Edp which I haven’t tried but you might chec it out, I’m devoted to the EDT. For more recs perhaps let’s stay with Chanel as you like Eau Tendre and there is a Chanel DNA, have you tried Les Exclusifs No 18, it might suit you, I would add Eau Premiere which I adore but should mention that it’s not fruity. April 19, 2026 at 2:48pm
Maryjane Morris: Thanks Aurora, I shall certainly follow these up! I appreciate your reply x April 19, 2026 at 9:43pm
Roxann: I would suggest Orpheon EDP by Diptyque. Understated and classy. Great for everyday. They recently released Orpheon EDT, but I haven’t tried that yet. May 27, 2026 at 10:19pm
Aurora: *check, sorry for the typo. April 19, 2026 at 2:49pm
la_ninon: Your witnessing and recording are so important, Victoria–another form of service. April 20, 2026 at 10:37pm