Thoughts on building a fragrance wardrobe
Whether you’re a collector or want a small, curated wardrobe of scents, you’ve probably wondered how to approach adding new scents or decluttering old scents. There aren’t any rules except that fragrance should be fun and delight you. These are some thoughts on what I consider when building a fragrance wardrobe.
One to wear when you don’t know what to wear
I don’t want to give this more importance by calling it a signature scent, but this could become your signature. I’ve been serially monogamous to signature scents and at different times have worn Must de Cartier, Boucheron Jaipur Saphir, J’Adore Dior, Guerlain Idylle, Hermes Kelly Caleche, Trussardi Donna, Cacharel Yes I Am, and La Rive Wave of Love among others. The only thing these scents have in common is that (in my opinion) they are crowd pleasing and I feel comfortable and at ease wearing them. The fragrance accords include everything from leather, chypres and light florals to musk to woods and amber. Most of them can be worn year-round.
Here are some guidelines for selecting an easy-reach scent:
- It should be classic and mass appealing.
- It should be suitable for daytime wear throughout the year.
- It should be comfortable to wear in various situations, including work, school, running errands, or visits with friends and family.
Some For Fun
Now that you have an easy-reach fragrance in mind you can build out your wardrobe with fun fragrances to suit your mood or a specific event or situation. This is where you can express your personality and be as daring or reserved as you want. You can also indulge your taste for specific notes (Pineapple? Marshmallow? Camp Fire? Leather?) and consider seasonally specific scents. As an example, Lolita Lempicka with its licorice and ivy notes used to be my Saturday play-day scent, and L'Artisan Parfumeur Amour Nocturne with its gunpowder note is what I wore on New Year’s Eve. You may want a date-night or club scent that will get you noticed. You might want different scents for spring/summer/winter/fall as the seasons change.
- Cover your bases by having at least one for each season.
- Use your fun scents to explore notes you’ve discovered or want to know better.
- Consider an energizing fragrance to lift you out of a funk, or a calming fragrance to help you chill. And don’t forget one that makes you feel beautiful/handsome and sexy.
Special Occasions
We all have clothes reserved for special occasions. They’re a little more formal, designed to make us look our best. You also want a fragrance that completes the package. When selecting a special occasion fragrance, think about those clothes and the events to which you’ve worn them, or will wear them. The scent you choose should project the same feeling as the clothes and reinforce the image. If you change your special occasion look, review whether you need to select a different scent to go with it.
- Most special occasions are evening events, so look for fragrances that are suitable for evening wear.
- Special occasion scents can be opulent and regal; more formal than date night or clubbing scents.
When to Declutter Fragrances
Sometimes we fall in love with scents but have nowhere to wear them. I think it’s okay to keep one or two scents that you just sniff because you love the smell, but ultimately fragrances are meant to be worn.
- Have you worn the scent in the past year? If not, can you picture occasions when you would like to wear it? If so, make a note to wear it on the next occasion you think it fits. If it still doesn't feel right, get rid of it.
- Do you feel uncomfortable or dissatisfied when you wear the scent? If so, make sure you’re wearing it for the right season and occasion (day vs. evening). Don’t judge a spring/summer scent in fall/winter or vice versa since they may not perform as well in the opposite seasons. If it’s not the season or occasion that’s wrong, it might be the wrong scent for you.
- Keep in mind that fragrances don’t last forever, so if you’re not using them, let someone else enjoy them before they deteriorate.
What are your easy-reach fragrances?
Have you found an easy-reach fragrance? What are your fun fragrances and when do you wear them? Share your thoughts with us!