What's in a scent?

I used to always know who my favorite co-worker was.  Now the competition is getting a little intense.  Today my supervisor presented me with a small gift in a bag labeled "Made in Oregon."  Before I could open it I caught the scent of the fragrance inside the bag.  I might have made an audible sound of ecstasy at that moment.  Inside the bag was a small box of Pacifica Sandalwood Natural Soap that my supervisor picked out for me on her recent trip to Portland, Oregon.  "Rich Indian sandalwood, a symbol of compassion, is at the heart of this cherished woody blend with top notes of tangerine and sweet orange."  Precious wood and citrus! How did she know that fragrance would be so intoxicating to me? I couldn't have picked a better soap for myself.

Inside the box is this statement: "Much like music, fragrance is a beautiful connection between cultures, experiences, and memories.  It has the ability to place us in the moment or bring back the past.... We blend these essences and essential oils in unique combinations that inspire passion, evoke a mood, and take you on a journey." Our sense of smell is truly miraculous. 

Each time I visited/lived in France I visited a perfumerie.  I'm happy to say that perfume and scents have become a lovely little interest of mine.  During my last trip I wanted to pick out a new perfume that would become my signature scent--one that I could wear everywhere and people would recognize it as me.  It was  suggested to me to visit a Sephora store to do research.  At Sephora stores, or online, the ingredients or fragrances in each perfume are listed out for reference.  The customer is able to compare and contrast the scents that they like in order to pick the best combination.  I like the idea of a signature scent, but you won't always find a scent like Chanel No. 5, which has been produced for decades.  Chances are you'll have to shift around and try a new scent every few years (perfumes and colognes don't have a very long shelf life, so even if you still have a bottle of your favorite stuff after a year, you're better off not wearing it).   So it is helpful to know the contributing fragrances in your perfume so you can pick out a new one somewhere along the line. 

These are some of the scents I have worn through the years (I did not write the blurbs):


Clinique Happy.  Launched in 1997, the original Happy is a lingering, multi-layered floral. Wear it and be happy.

Notes: Ruby Red Grapefruit, Boysenberry Bush Flower, Hawaiian Wedding Flower.
Style: Chic. Modern. Sparkling.

Clinique Happy Heart.  A wealth of flowers. A hint of warmth. A deepening of emotions. Wear it and have a happy heart.

Notes: Water Hyacinth, Mandarin, Cucumber, Yellow Primrose, Blond Woods.
Style: Fresh. Warm. Optimistic.

I loved Clinique Happy and Happy Heart when I was younger and loved getting the free samples with my makeup purchases.  I still enjoy these scents but avoid wearing them because it makes me feel a little too young. 

Lovely.  A fragrance as lovely as the woman who created it, Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker is part style-icon, part star-next-door. Like her eclectic personal style, Parker's fragrance is a flashback to the classics of fashion design, made modern with her trademark twists on tradition. Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker weaves lavender, orchid, apple martini, and musk to evoke innocence, exoticism and sophistication all at once. With a body for fashion and a nose for fragrance, Sarah Jessica Parker brings us a signature scent that's feminine, timeless, and ageless. Lovely is in the air.

At some point during high school or college I received a free sample of Lovely.  I toted the sample around with me to use on the go.  

Sensi by Giorgio Armani.  Sensi by Armani is the fragrance for women - like light kashmir - oriental romance with italian spirit.  Warm like love. 

Notes: akazia, kaffir-limette, orgeat, jasmine, palisander, benzoe. 

When I wear Sensi by Armani I think of when my mom let me wear a few sprays from her bottle the night of my senior prom.  She said I needed to wear something a little more sexy than my girly Clinique scents.  Then a year later she bought me my own bottle of Sensi.  It now appears to me that I had a sort of coming of age through perfume.  My mom bought me a second bottle last year for my birthday.  I still enjoy wearing it.

Burberry Brit Red Perfume by Burberrys.  Brit Red is a special edition fragrance with that fun, exciting playful British attitude. The vivacious red bottle is a perfect blend of oriental fruits with sensual florals.

Notes: mandarin, red rose, gingerbread, patchouli, jasmine, sandalwood, vanilla beans.

I received this perfume as a hand me down.  Someone was giving it away and I loved the scent.  I'm glad I snatched it up. 

Very Irrésistible Givenchy.  An homage to Givenchy's early days when fashion and cinema were intertwined, Very Irrésistible Givenchy, unites the elegant tradition of French style with the energy and pop-culture pizzazz of American film. Bursting with roses and infused with star anise, and verbena leaf, Very Irrésistible Givenchy is a fresh departure from the traditional floral fragrance.

Notes: Centifolia Rose, Peony Rose, Fantasia Rose, Passion Rose, Emotion Rose, Verbena Leaf, Star Anise.
Style: Vibrant. Brilliant. Captivating.

This is probably my favorite perfume.  I always loved wearing it.  Sephora's blurb about it makes me love it even more. 

Amarige Mariage by Givenchy.  Sparkling, luminous, and sensual, Amarige Mariage is a celebration of love and romance. Radiant and enchanting, it possesses all the emotion of the most beautiful day of your life - a moment of pure happiness reflected in the bright notes of citrus mingled with soft florals, rich spices, and a drizzle of patchouli.

Notes: Sicilian Bitter Orange, Calabrian Bergamot, Magnolia, Egyptian Jasmine, Ceylon Cinnamon, Siam Benzoin, Sandalwood, Patchouli.
Style: Sparkling. Luminous. Unforgettable.

I received a sample of Mariage when I received Very Irresistible.  I accidentally broke the glass vial and I was heartbroken. I had loved the scent so much that I wore it sparingly so I could make it last longer.  It was sad to lose it so prematurely.  I still imagine that I will one day wear it for my wedding.  

Before closing this post, I have to mention my favorite scents for men. 

Polo Black Cologne by Ralph Lauren.  This phenomenal fragrance was created by Ralph Lauren, in 2005.

Notes: iced mango, spanish sage, patchouli noir, sandalwood, and tonka bean.

This is my new love.  When I receive Macy's ads in the mail, I search out these samples. 

Pi by Givenchy.  Pi is a celebration of what makes a man seductive - his intelligence, courage, and contributions. Pi is more than a name, it's a symbol. The masculine bottle, designed by Serge Manseau, has a hi-tech closure system and plays on the contrast between pure lines and perfect proportion.

Notes: Mandarin, Pine Needles, Rosemary, Guaiac Wood, Benzoin.
Style: Adventurous. Sensational. Masculine fragrance.

My mom bought my dad a bottle of Pi but he almost never  wore it.  So once in a while I wore it and fantasized that one day my husband would embody this scent. 

Oh my goodness, I wish I could insert the scent of the sandalwood soap here so you can smell it.  It is divine. 

beck