Prepare yourself for some very random musings on perfume. I was wearing Le Labo’s Bergamot 22 the other day, and popped out to grab some lunch at a local sandwich shop. As I was paying for my meal, the cashier – male, mind you – leaned over and said, “Ma’am? Your perfume smells really good.” It wasn’t in a creepy or lecherous way. He really just thought I smelled good.
It got me to thinking about signature scents, and how different perfumes read on different people. Along with Bergamot 22, I was recently sampling Diptyque’s Do Son and had a good friend (hi, Rach!) comment on it and tell me she thought I smelled great. I thought it was funny, because neither of these scents are ones I consider signature scents, or in other words, my absolute favorites. But now that I think about it, rarely do people tell me I smell good when I’ve spritzed on a signature scent (hmm!).
Here’s another random thought: isn’t it funny how you have different favorite fragrances at different times in your life? Like remember when Gap Dream was the THING? I lived for that fragrance in middle school. Or Sunflowers – does anyone remember that fragrance from the mid 90s? Later in high school and early college, I was always spritzing on Ralph Lauren’s Romance or Chanel Chance; these were definitely the signature scents of my early 20s. Men aren’t immune either: in middle school, every single guy had a bottle of Ralph Lauren’s Polo Sport, and I thought it smelled amazing; now it makes me want to gag (I think I just smelled it too often!).
Do you have a signature scent? Did you have a favorite perfume when you were a teenager? Is there a fragrance that always nets you compliments when you wear it?
In this post:
1. Chanel Gardenia | 2. Christian Dior Miss Dior | 3. Christian Dior Grand Bal
4. Lancome La Vie Est Belle | 5. Byredo Gypsy Water | 6. Chanel No. 5
7. Hermes Eau de Merveilles | 8. Ralph Lauren Romance | 9. Diptyque Do Son
Actually I live with a perfum addict, my sister has over 60+ bottles. So I never actually buy my own, my fave brands are Hanae Mori and Burberry. But i think my signature would be Dior pure poison. When I was a teen I was obsessed with Lolita Lempicka.
xo
http://pinksole.com
Christian Dior Miss Dior is without question my signature scent. Unfortunately I ran out recently so I have been trying a few others I have. A close second would have to be Kenzo, especially in the winter!
X Kenzie
http://www.cavegirlinthecity.com
I switch between Jo Malone’s Orange Blossom, Chloe, and Boyfriend. For date night, my go-to is D&G The One (my husband’s favorite!).
I’ve been wearing Chanel Chance (the green bottle) since high school and I absolutely love it. I always get compliments on it and to me it never gets old!
xx
Abby
I was all about Clinique Happy in high school! In college I tried to wear D & G Light Blue because I loved it on my roommate– it never quite smelled the same on me!
I’m definitely a signature scent kind of girl now and go back and forth between Lovely by SJP and Raplh by Ralph Lauren.
Molton Brown Liljang. Oh I can not get enough of it and I usually get sick of perfumes fairly quick.
I’ve been wearing Princess by Vera Wang since high school, still waiting for the bottle to run out. Question – where/how does everyone apply their perfume? I’m looking for a way that isn’t overwhelming but lasts for most of the day. Thoughts?
It’s always been interesting to me how scents can smell completely different on different people. Gucci Guilty is my go-to but lately Marchesa parfum de extase has been winning out.
In high school I thought the guy’s Abercrombie scent was everything… now it makes me gag just thinking about it!
I have that Lancome scent- it’s my go-to. Sexy but still sweet!
I don’t have one. But I always get a ton of compliments when I wear bath & Body works Malibu Coconut hand lotion. I just put it on to keep my hands smooth, and I always get complimented. So maybe coconut is the scent for me. Do you have any recommendations for picking out a signature scent?
I have about 10 bottles that I have collected over the years and I probably now only like 2 of them! It’s funny how your tastes change. I have Chanel, D&G, hugo boss, issey miyake, DKNY and god knows what else and really the only ones I am wearing at the moment are testers I was given which I quite like, the lastest Victoria’s Secret bombshell and by Chloé (a year on I may hate them!). One thing I did find recently with a perfume (which I thought was my signature scent) was when I went to pick up a top that I wore on a night out it still really smelled of this perfume and I actually didn’t like the smell so I no longer wear it! So in future I may also spray it on a top and a day or so later see if I still like it!
i don’t have one right now!
kw ladies in navy
I am a perfuma-aholic and my signature scent for the last two years was YSL Parisienne, until I discovered See by Chloe and Chloe, now I love all three and can’t decide which is my favorite. I also really like Le petite robe noir by Guerlain and have that, but it is a bit heavy for summer and I usually wear it only at night.
I have a few signature scents! I either wear vanilla and lavender essential oil, Kate Spade Twirl, or Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb. I also have a great Issey Miyake scent for special occasions.
I used to love Gucci Rush, and I was super sad when they stopped making it. Now I wear Chanel Chance all the time, and I do get compliments occasionally, but I’m wondering if I should look for something new so I can switch it up occasionally. It is really hard to find a new scent, though!
OMG, I forgot to say: I totally remember when Gap Dream was a huge thing and also Sunflowers. I don’t think I ever liked either, though. I had some kind of Gap perfume, but I can’t remember which. Om, maybe? Or Day?
Hermes Vetiver Tonka is my go-to, I also love the Hermes Un Jardin sur le Toit. Great post!
XO, Stefanie
Life on the Squares
Gucci by Gucci, always gets “you smell nice” compliments :)
love this post! i had been wearing the chanel beige perfume and actually just bought the gardenia yesterday – i came home wearing it and my fiancé immediately told me i smelled good.
I am a floral, fresh kinda gal. ;)
http://happinessiscreating.com/
I mix things up between Creed Love in White and Chanel Bois de Iles…. it’s funny, I spent nearly 8 years working in the fragrance category and I didn’t find a “signature scent” until this year!
Whoa I love this post!!!! I bought Frederic Malle Lys Mediteranee for my wedding {I wanted a signature scent} and it is my all time favorite. I wear it to remind me of our wedding day. I also mix in Stella McCartney too!
IF I wear anything like that it’s Kate Walsh Boyfriend, Keihls Musk, some variant of Clean or Sarah Horowitz Perfect Veil. I seem to like stuff that smells like soap and slightly of vanilla.
I wore Ralph Lauren Romance from 8th-12th grade. I loved it back then! I was into J’adore Dior for a couple of years, now I love so many fragrances I can’t keep up. Versace Vanitas for summer, Valentino-Valentino Assoluto for evening, Stella for everyday wear, and I never get tired of Narcisco Rodriguez, which smells shockingly similar to SJP Lovely.
I used to rock Ralph Lauren Hot like I was the coolest kid on the block back in middle school..then they discontinued it and I thought about crying.
I wouldn’t say I have a signature scent, since I don’t wear perfume that often in the first place, but I’ve always loved J’adore by Dior. It’s so light and pretty, it’s my go to!
My signature scent for the past few years has been Calvin Klein Euphoria. I really like Tocca Cleopatra as well. I picked up Bobbi Brown Beach last summer and use it in warmer weather but I would hardly call it my signature scent.
I went through my Sunflowers phase, a Clinique Happy phase then RL Romance, Pink Sugar and Marc Jacobs Daisy.
ah yes, ‘dream’ by gap, i definitely remember that one! this very chic, stylish girl that i looked up to in high school only wore ‘angel’ by thierry mugler and that made me want a signature scent. i found ‘burberry brit’ and have been wearing it exclusively for the past 8 years!
i also remember when ralph lauren ‘romance’ was really popular, clinique ‘happy’, and my roommate wore this really nice perfume, ‘flower’ by kenzo.
xo julesinflats.com