The Perfumes that Witnessed my Work Wins, Weekends Bliss and World Wanderings
What was the perfume you were wearing when you graduated? when you got that job? when you were promoted? when you met your partner? when you got major news in your life? Do you remember? I am quite sure you do. And there is nothing like a fragrance to take you down the memory lane.
I was always the kind of woman who would stick to one perfume at a time. I remember being a small child and seeing my older sister have Cacharel's Anais Anais as her go-to perfume and I wanted to be a "grown-up" as well, with mine. Around 15, already living in France, I started creating my identity with Kenzo's Flower. Then I went with Mugler's Alien for a few years. Irresistible by Givenchy was also one that lasted for a couple of years in my life.
And then entered Chloé's Eau de Parfum which I have used up to the end this week and made me want to write this article. Chloé was the perfume I was wearing when I was promoted from Marketing Manager to Head of Marketing in 2014 when I was just 27 years old. It was the perfume I was wearing when I went on my first date with my now husband in early June 2015, almost 10 years ago. It was the perfume I was wearing when he proposed in Edinburgh in late 2021.
Jess
This perfume has a flowery yet not overpowering scent of peonies (my wedding bouquet flowers!) and something woody for me, like a very like amber or oud for women. I love this scent and it makes me immediately travel in memories.
Most people have perfume as their final touch before leaving the house. I just can't imagine putting perfume ON my clothes. I put perfume on as soon as I leave the shower before putting my clothes on. It's the primer step just before starting my skincare morning routine and my makeup routine. Yet it's a powerful stance that gives me confidence to tackle what I have to do during the day: head to work and its endless meetings, going out to play and socialise or get through the airport's security with a bit more dignity after the hassle and long queues.
Chloé is the perfume I would wear to work, to play, to travel, in a full size and a travel size bought on repeat or already with a second in my beauty apothecary as I didn't want to be left without at any time. This last bottle with its iconic cream bow tie finishing is so symbolic for me, like the end of an era. An era filled with everlasting memories. I am ready to let it go for now and start more memories with other perfumes I have gathered the past couple of years. But letting go of a perfume is like consciously closing a chapter in your autobiography, isn't it?
How to make your perfumes last longer ?
Preservation is key for your perfumes and you have to pay attention to the colour, the scent, any skin irritation after usage and temperature...
- Don't open too many at a time: you will never be able to finish your perfumes if you are using too many at a time. Keeping them open for more than 3 years can make the original scent change and cause skin irritation
- Hide them: I keep all my perfumes in my closed cabinet in the bathroom. They never see the light of day - except for the pictures I took for this article. It also makes the colour preserve it's original one. If your perfume changes colour because of UV, it is the worst of signs
- Keep them cool: I have aircon at home and my bathroom is temperature controlled. Not exposing your perfumes to light and sun is important so that they don't overheat
From old friends to more recent obsessions, here is what I have been wearing lately...
My Hair is my Signature
Balmain Paris Hair Perfume
Bought in 2017 at a hairdresser after falling in love with the scent, I had never heard of hair perfume before. I even imagined "why wear perfume on your hair? just to mask you didn't wash it?" but it's not like that. I love wearing it a day or two after a wash, it makes me feel even fresher and invigorated. Many people have complimented this perfume in the past when I wore it not realising it was all coming from my hair. It makes hair smell like a dream so I don't wear any other perfume when I am wearing it. And it's incredible that there is still some perfume left after almost 8 years but hey, still amazing. It has citrusy and woody notes, in a subtle way.
Moroccanoil L'Originale
I write about Moroccanoil in all my empties reviews as I finish a bottle of some hair product by this brand every month. My husband absolutely adores this smell on my hair and I was more than ecstatic when Moroccanoil launched its perfume a few months ago. Now I can double on the argan dream, I absolutely adore it. It's just a pity I don't feel it lasts long enough.
Jess
Learning the art of layering fragrances
Jo Malone Honeysuckle & Davana Cologne + Jo Malone Jasmine Sambac & Marigold Cologne Intense
My story with these two very different yet complimentary colognes started as an experiment. This is when I realised I wanted to elevate my knowledge on the notes that favoured me, my lifestyle and my outlook on how I want to be perceived. I dress the part, I know the part, I want to smell like the part too.
I tried to recreate a memory from the early 2010, when a friend from work gave me a Victoria's Secret Bath Gel at work. And she made me spiral into the amazing smells of this brand I had only seen in controversial catwalks online.
Victoria Secret's discontinued the Secret Charm fragrance range with Jasmine and Honeysuckle a few years ago and I was devastated. I grabbed a bottle of the fragrance in 2014 and can you believe I never wore it? It's like a precious token in the past in my beauty apothecary.
As I don't see the purpose of having a perfume I don't want to wear - and might lose its original incredible scent through the years - I decided to recreate its Jasmine and Honeysuckle notes with Jo Malone's colognes, made for layering.
The Jasmine Sambac & Marigold Cologne one is sultry and rich. That is why I always I put on first. A minute later I add the Honeysuckle & Davana for the other subtler notes. Both perfumes are amazing on their own but I love how deeper and more memorable they are when worn together. It's not the same as the original Secret Charm scent but I love that experimenting took me to new horizons. As Secret Charm smelled like the most delicious candy, this combination I created by Jo Malone makes me command a room (at least in my mind). I love wearing it to work and I feel it lasts at least in the mornings, which is went I have most meetings. Very strategic!
Sharing scents with my husband
Christian Dior Gris Diorivieira + Christian Dior Gris Dior
Christian Dior's scents are the definition of lasting luxury. The fragrances are deep and delicious. I started the love affair at the Christian Dior store at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. My husband and I went by the store several times and I went on my own the day before his birthday. And I bought him their latest launch at the time, which was Dioriviera. This perfume smells like travelling on a boat in Monaco. Very appropriately we went to the second best "Monaco like" destination on his birthday the day after, crossing the Chapman's Peak Drive to head to Chefs Warehouse at Tinswalo Atlantic. This perfume smells like a breeze and there is nothing like the sea and the ocean to enhance it. And I bought the biggest bottle so we started using this perfume both as it is unisex. And we decided only to use it when on vacation so we are in the mood. It's incredible how fragrance takes us back to very specific memories and this is our "let's relax and enjoy" quickstarter.
A few months later, my husband bought Gris Dior - in a smaller size - and we have also been sharing it. This perfume hits me quite different, it feels more serious and deep. I don't wear it often but I recently realised that when I have a big meeting, it's the one I usually grab. It lasts a big longer on my skin and it conveys me the confidence I need to be surrounded by suit-and-tie older men. It's like it empowers me to play in their league with the same weapons. It's impressive what a perfume can do.
Jess
Other ones...
Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Cologne
"Are you wearing English Pear by Jo Malone?" asked a girl I know from work when we were both at a formal event. I was quite surprised by the very precise question. She told me she loved this specific fragrance. I was almost about to ask her if she wanted the bottle! Let me explain: my husband gave me this perfume as part of a gift set with the hand cream and a candle. We burned the candle fast, it was so delicious. But as for the cologne in itself, I like it but I would not purchase it for me as it finishes. It's a very bright and spring smell, that tingles my senses and not in the way I prefer. It makes me smell good, but I like deeper and subtler notes. So this is the perfume I now use mostly when I will stay home for the day but I showered or washed my hair and want the freshness to last or when I go out to the supermarket or to my bookclub with my girlfriends. Let's put it this way: it's the perfume I use when I don't want to turn heads and people noticing me. Even if that encounter I mentioned was completely unexpected for me!
Sézane Eau de Toilette
I didn't purchase this one, a gift sample arrived with an order as most of what I wear is from Sézane, from head to toe to tote! This fragrance smells like their store: like fresh linen, wood furniture and the desire to take Paris by storm. I don't think I will purchase it but it makes for a great scent for more relaxed days.
Jess
Victoria Beckham San Ysidro Drive
Best for last. I tried this perfume for the first time at Victoria Beckham Beauty's counter at Le Bon Marché in Paris in January 2025. This was love at first whiff. It's such a luxurious exquisite fragrance that makes you want to become who you are meant to be.
I know what I want to write the next chapters of my autobiography with.
This is the one.
But now I need to save, I think I never held a more expensive bottle in my hand... one day, one day!
What about you?
What is the perfume you were wearing when your life changed? Share with me in the comments, I would love to know about the perfumes you are writing your autobiography with and even if we share any in common!
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