Among its many emotive powers, the olfactory sense encapsulates the spirit of time and place. The feeling of personal identification with a fragrance is often rooted in the familiarity of a smell – a memory harkened by the sense of nostalgia. Sometimes, it’s the rush of excitement for something entirely new, a scent unlike anything else you’ve known. In return, the novelty of a new experience becomes unforgettable.
A single spray of fragrance can exist as the sole impression that sparks a memory. It can give us the illusion of time, recalling something familiar and potentially forgotten. This is not a coincidence as olfactory aromas are received in the temporal lobe which is also responsible for processing sensory input into the associations that will become memories. It wouldn’t be a far stretch to say that fragrance is a metaphoric bridge between past, present, and future helping us to find a deeper connection with ourselves. The lingering air of an unforgettable moment can scent a lifetime. It only needs to be resprayed to anoint the wearer with the fondness of days gone by.
USING SCENT TO PAIR WITH MEMORABLE EVENTS
Using scent to navigate our environment is human instinct. The connection with our lived experiences is usually already perfumed by everything around us, we just have to pay attention. The ocean smells of salt and plumeria. The garden is in bloom, pollen carries the powder of sweet petals. In reality, we are quite good at registering smells, but without the vocabulary to catalogue them, the data will eventually fade. The human nose is sensitive to approximately one trillion different scents, what we use to distinguish them are the combinations of aromas most familiar to us. It could be years before a scent presents itself in the exact (or comparable) combination of ingredients that recall to the nose a memory, environment, or experience, giving us the remarkable phenomenon of scent-memory. Associating perfume with lived- experiences can help us find joy in the present and past.
All this to say, the pipeline between scent and memory does not operate on chance alone. These associations will happen naturally as we accumulate bonds with people, places, and periods of our lives. They will become the foundation for new connections and define our relationships. But we don’t have to wait for the next time we “accidentally” encounter a scent from our past. We can also harness the power of scent-memory in the present by using the narrative of a perfumer’s creation. By pairing a fragrance, either a candle or perfume, we can bookmark special occasions and rituals we wish to immortalize. The smell of a lasting embrace. A cinematic summer holiday. A childhood whimsy.
Understanding the potential for maximizing scent can expand on the fantasy of our ideal. Fragrance is a tool of expression, much like art, music, and literature, it can say things about ourselves that may be hard to articulate. Perfume can inform and inspire the moments that would go by without the full dimensionality of our 5 senses. Adding scent to the ritual of our best selves, the events that make it all worth it, and with the people that matter the most, will result in the kind of memories that linger. It’s worth noting when pairing a scent with a special event there are different criteria to look out for. Here are a few guidelines to help you choose a fragrance for any important occasion.
CHOOSING THE IDEAL WEDDING SCENT
Weddings are one of the most important milestones in a person’s life, unlike other intimate events, it is usually by design an occasion to be remembered by many. The day will be marked by a million sensory details that may go unnoticed but when experienced as a whole they will create the ambiance of a perfect day. Whether a fragrance is worn as a finishing touch or applied as a souvenir of the idyll, it will embody that inextricable feeling you felt when you wore it. It will define the day itself, which can be revisited more easily with a spritz than trying to fit into your wedding attire and for less expense than renewing your vows. The promise of forever can live on through perfume.
Important things to consider are the location and time of year. Aspen in Winter is very different from Cancún in Summer; a gourmand in Paris is as fitting as an aquatic scent in the Pacific. Where is the venue? Will you be in the halls of a gothic church or on the deck of a sailboat, is the fantasy domestic or destination?
Essentially, you want to ensure that you capture the essence of the environment by choosing a scent that compliments the space as much as it does your personality. Generally, people decide upon scent as an individual discernment, “Does this scent speak to me? Does it smell good on me?” This decision-making process is ideal for the signature scent but overlooks the crucial elements of place and time. A successful pairing should consider The scent family, intensity, concentration, and expectation.
When understanding your expectations, note that richer fragrances will probably wear better in cold weather and inversely brighter notes pair well with the heat. As a rule of thumb citrus, verdant, and floral notes tend to dissipate quicker than heavier notes like vanilla, wood, and musk. The concentration of fragrance will be the best guide to understanding longevity.
As a quick guide, these are the common concentrations you will most likely encounter:
Concentrations with a higher percentage of oils will typically last longer. Note that longevity and strength can be different concerns but may not be as important as you think. A concern for the signature scent should not be a concern for an occasional scent. You don’t want to wear anything so overpowering that you (or worse others) become overwhelmed. For weddings it’s better to air on the lighter side and reapply, An Eau de Parfum is a perfect option.
Most importantly don’t forget to account for the thematic elements – build on the inspiration of your aesthetic choices. For a day, you are creating an entire world, your fragrance should transport you there. Consider colors, textures, and details that bond you and your partner. Florals, Tea, Musk, and Amber are fantastic fragrance profiles for bridal options. For more masculine styles a Fougère, Citrus, Leather, or Musk are great places to start. Just like everything else in the process, trust that you will know what is right. Finding the perfect scent is a matter of instinct and patience. Experiment with the boundaries of what you know to discover what you love.
And lastly, make sure to account for the color of the liquid! Fragrance oil can sometimes have a saturated color, which should only be worn on the skin whereas clear liquids are safe for application on clothes.
EXPLORING FRAGRANCE TO ACCOMPANY GATHERINGS
Other occasions that can present the opportunity for a scented memory are events that celebrate you. Whether that be a birthday, a dinner, a gallery show, or a concert – adding fragrance with those that matter most will make for an unforgettable time. As a result, you may even become associated with your great taste!
Context is everything. Time and place will dictate how formal or casual a perfume (or Eau de Parfum in our case) should present, but in any scenario, you should feel comfortable wearing your fragrance. Just like a great outfit, it should accentuate your best assets and define your style.
Attempting to discover the boundaries of your palette begins with exploration. Take the time to test a scent out before dedicating yourself to its expression. More ambitious scents tend to take hours to unravel, in the scenario of an event it will ebb and flow with your experience, a marriage of poetry. Consider the space. In a small and intimate room, a quiet composition may work better. Fine dining can be disrupted by pronounced fragrances that will mute the nuances of food. A cocktail bar can be bold and exciting, sparkling with the tickle of something daring. The options are limitless and will be best defined by the company you surround yourself with.
TAKING SCENT WITH YOU ON VACATION
Travel is one of the most exciting experiences, particularly when it involves leisure and adventure. We live in a global expanse where navigating sea and land is ever easier. For many of us, a proper holiday is still a luxury. We savor every second with excitement and we indulge in the slow unraveling. It only makes perfect sense that memories as rare as holidays should be immortalized beyond the the pictures we take and the souvenirs we bring home.
Location, location, location! Where are you going? What’s on the itinerary? Who are you with? When pairing a scent with a place ruminate on the associations with the culture, language, art, and food. Most often if you’re traveling somewhere new, you don’t yet know the nuances of that place so lean into the fantasy and be prepared for inspiration to associate itself with your fragrance later. Be aware that you will likely be active and perhaps a little sweaty, lean into it and test your fragrance in activity to ensure that it works with your natural odor.
Modern perfumery has achieved nearly photorealistic accords that mimic in specificity plants, food, objects, animals, and concepts – real and immaterial, like petrichor or lightning. Perfumers have taken certain creative liberties using their own memories to create olfactive ideas that resonate with the human experience. Embrace the opportunity to use these associative notes with your points of inspiration. A fully finalized perfume may start with a concept but is given life and meaning by the person who chooses to wear it and the places they go.
A pro tip, when traveling it is a good idea to purchase small atomizers to dispense your juice into, thus not compromising any of your glass bottles. This way you can maximize on a few different scents as well. Bear in mind that your fragrances will register differently wherever you go as they react to external environments such as heat, humidity, and stress – Something that you’ll hopefully have forgotten at home
Another idea for maximizing the experience of a fragrance is to include them in your rituals. Look for ingredients or smells that calm you and use them to study, meditate, or even sleep. The limits of aroma exist only insofar as your imagination can take them. Be mindful of your senses, environment, and those around you to ensure that whatever scent you wear to whatever engagement will be a memory worth revisiting.
