polls: 59 posts

What fragrances do you find relaxing? What perfume do you wear when you want to wind down?

A scent that I invariably find relaxing is that of orange blossom. It soothes and calms me in a way that few other things do. Annick Goutal Néroli, Tom Ford Neroli Portofino and Atelier Cologne Grand Néroli are among my favorite relaxing orange blossom scents. For days, when I simply want to kick back and de-stress, I choose something mellow, with an intimate aura. Recently, Guerlain Tonka Impériale and Bulgari Eau Parfumée au Thé Vert have been my staples on such days.

While the fragrance is much more than the sum of its parts, there are certain notes that attract me, whether used as accents or as a part of the dominant accord.  Iris, rose, jasmine, cardamom, violet leaf, sandalwood, and ambery notes are among my favorites. I also love the accents of fruity notes like black currant and rhubarb (as in Yves Saint Laurent In Love Again and Hermes Eau de Pamplemousse Rose) and some apple scented aroma-materials can provide an interesting crunchy, juicy effect (Donna Karan Be Delicious).

While there aren’t any materials or notes that I dislike on their own, overly strong lily of the valley and lilac accords bring up associations with air freshners and laundry detergents. I also find strong vanilla notes difficult, because when it comes to fragrance, my sweet tooth is rather tame.

What notes do you like in fragrances? Do you have notes that you avoid in fragrance?

Photograph of cardamom © Bois de Jasmin.

Strong emotions lead to lasting love, therefore a polarizing fragrance is much more likely to provoke a strong emotion and may perhaps forge a stronger bond than a perfume that is simply pleasant. Sometimes, however, some fragrances simply remain challenging and as much as you try to like them, they do not return the favor.

Among my favorite challenging fragrances is Robert Piguet Bandit.  I initially found its combination of green notes, leather and moss is roughewn and quite brutal, and in fact, I still feel the same way about it. Yet, Bandit has such a bold, dramatic and confident aura that inspite of finding it difficult, I was tempted to put it on again and again. It is now among my top 25 all-time favorites.  On the other hand, there is no such successful courtship between Serge Lutens Miel de Bois and me. Its overdose of honey notes that verges on urinous takes me to a New York backstreet alley on a hot summer day–not a pleasant olfactory experience.

What fragrances do you find challenging and with which one did you form a lasting bond? Conversely, which do you find unwearable?

Image: Robert Piguet Bandit ad.

Falling down the rabbit hole of fragrance is quite easy for some of us. It all starts very innocently: a sample, a spritz of something beautiful on a friend, a vintage bottle found at a garage sale. Suddenly, you find yourself reading everything on the topic, checking Ebay auctions before you have your morning coffee and talking of “sillage, indoles, top notes” and other things that leave others confused (or bemused, depending on how often you unleash your perfume talk on them.) Of course, I am being slightly facetious, but each one of us has a story of how we got interested in fragrance.

I have many childhood scent related memories and I have collected fragrances, essential oils and books on scent for as long as I can remember. But my personal fragrance turning point came thanks to the internet. I discovered a vibrant online community, starting first with MUA and later with other excellent forums like Basenotes and Perfume of Life.  It was the experience of meeting like-minded individuals that made me realize my passion for fragrance. I cannot say that there was one specific fragrance that drew me into this world. Exploring the likes of L’Artisan, Annick Goutal and Serge Lutens was an exhilarating escape. I do, however, remember one of the earliest fragrances that I reviewed: L’Artisan La Chasse Aux Papillons was love at first sniff!

So, what is your story, how did you develop your interest in fragrances? Do you remember what fragrance got you hooked?

Photography VeraKl

Although the earliest uses of fragrances were for the divine purposes (a word “perfume” is derived from the Latin “per fumum,” meaning “through smoke,” the smoke of sacrificial offerings,) the link of perfume and romance is likewise a strong one. With Valentine’s Day coming up, I thought that it would be interesting to talk of romantic fragrances.

What perfumes do you find romantic? Do you have specific favorites to wear on romantic occasions?

For me, it is very simple–a romantic fragrance is above all the one that makes me feel beautiful, and many different scent can evoke this feeling. My selection runs gamut from opulent roses like by Kilian Rose Oud to sensual musks like Narciso Rodriguez for Her, from mysterious chypre like Sisley Soir de Lune to lush orientals like Tom Ford Black Orchid. When a perfume envelops me seductively the way Guerlain L’Heure Bleue or Frédéric Malle Lipstick Rose do, I find it irresistible. In a different spirit, Caron Nuit de Noël has a strong aura of romance for me, given its suggestion of a quiet, snowy evening spent in front of the fireplace.

Edit: simply could not avoiding mention my favorite lush florals like Serge Lutens A La Nuit, Frédéric Malle Carnal Flower (my wedding perfume), Ormonde Jayne Frangipani and by Kilian Love & Tears. They always put me in a romantic mood!

Photograph by Tim Walker, Wadhwan, Gujarat (India) from egodesign.ca.  Thanks to Marcello for sharing this beautiful, romantic image with me.