As with clothing and skincare, fragrance is also seasonal, maybe even more so when you start to think about it. You have your obvious scents, like pine and cinnamon for Christmas, florals for spring, and sandalwood for summer. Scents can come in many forms — perfume, oil, beauty products, candles, flowers, baking, etc. There are many avenues to incorporate scent into a space or upon a person. Scents can be welcoming, they can tell a story, and they can certainly set a mood.
For this spring, I’m looking to change up my personal fragrance. I have different types of perfume not only for different times of the year but also for different places, spaces, and activities. Here is a rundown of things to consider when picking out a scent for the season, whether it be a daily signature scent or just for special occasions.
Smell can be very emotional; it has the strongest link to memory sensors in the brain than any other of the five senses.
I try to be mindful of that when picking a personal fragrance. What feelings does it evoke? Does it remind me of a particular place or person? Sometimes a smell can have bad memories or associations, so obviously, stay clear of those.
When shopping for a perfume, take the time to breathe it in deeply. I like to close my eyes, focus on what the top notes and undertones conjure for me, and consider what occasions a particular perfume would be best suited. A crisp citrus smell may not feel appropriate for a date night, while a heavy floral scent can overwhelm at work.
A trend I’ve been sniffing around lately are sweet, edible, or gourmand fragrances. These scents have notes that resemble the flavors of food. These tend to be sweeter, richer scents recalling treats like cotton candy, marshmallows, and whipped cream. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of a sweet scent, at least on my person. My preferred means of accessing these edible notes is via a candle. Recently, I picked up a “Party Like It’s Yo’ Birthday” candle from Candier that smells like birthday cake, buttercream, and bourbon — now that’s a party! Other edible scents can include products that incorporate vanilla and fruit flavors. I’m not saying you can’t wear these types of scents, but be thoughtful if you do; a little goes a long way.
Speaking of application, personal fragrance can come in many forms, from oil roll-ons to body sprays, to old-school perfume toppers. I think spring is a great time of year to experiment with body-and-hair mists and sprays. There are so many intriguing scents in spray form. Pacifica, available at Target, has hair and body mists in single bottles and in sets of three. I recently picked up their Dream Moon spray, which features patchouli, sandalwood, and pink rose notes, which is hitting all of my marks for a warmer weather scent. Target also has Being Frenshe’s Cashmere Vanilla spray for hair, body, and linens. I like the idea of spraying your bed and towels to acquire a hint of fragrance versus spraying directly on pulse points. Plus, what a dream to awake wrapped in fresh scent. Talk about a sunny spring morning!
Of course, strong scents aren’t for everyone. This spring, you may want to play around with skin scents that are vaguely salty with notes of musk and amber and sometimes vanilla. Skin scents can be very subtle, so I’d recommend applying them directly with a roll-on perfume. Carter + Jane’s Surfer Girl roll-on has lemongrass and blue tansy top notes, a base of rosewood, and middles notes of honeysuckle and bergamot. Honeysuckle, this time of year, is a quintessential fragrance and helps you bring the outdoors inside. For a beachy version, check out Skylar’s Salt Air rollerball with hints of driftwood, sea salt, water lily, and vanilla. With this, you can give your olfactory some foreshadowing of summer fun to come.
The iconic spring floral that has fallen out of fashion in recent years is set for a comeback this spring. This comeback also features florals mixed with fruity scents. Think grapes and roses, jasmine and clementines, or lavender and tart apple. If you’re looking to splurge on a signature scent that revamps flowers with fruits, consider Jo Malone London’s Necataor Blooms and Honey cologne, which has a fresh and light feel perfect for the season and a great Mother’s Day idea.
Springtime is a time for renewal, and if you are ready for a fragrance makeover, then consider one of the options above. Or get out there and start smelling. Go to the store and just sample some scents and smell what sparks.
