by Wendy
What’s your favorite fragrance? This question was posed during an afternoon spent visiting friends and family in New Jersey. The answers were as varied as you would expect – as was the general interest in the topic. After everyone else drifted back to other subjects, I enthusiastically chatted about perfume and cologne with the questioner, who works in the luxury beauty industry and is a wealth of knowledge. To hear him discuss various designer scents is like listening to a sommelier describe wine.

We talked about the fun of taking a new sample fragrance on a trip, and then forever being reminded of that time and place by the perfume or cologne. This is not a new idea – other writers have mentioned this connection. But I think we often forget how powerful our sense of smell can be, how immediate our reaction to scent can be. A fragrance can be so evocative, almost conjuring memories to the surface as if by magic. It can influence an atmosphere or give a hint of someone’s personality.

I’ve been drawn to perfume since I was a kid. I remember spending my allowance on Love’s Baby Soft in grade school, and moving on to Liz Claiborne (remember that red triangle?) and United Colors of Benetton in junior high/high school. Of course, my classmates were all buying the same bottles – signature scent this was not. We wore uniforms to school, and perfume was a way to add a little glamour.

In college I bought trendy CK One and ubiquitous Happy by Clinique, but also tried Vanilla Oil from the Body Shop and Chloe. I thought I was unique wearing Chloe Narcisse, with that delicate, elegant vial, but my friend loved it so much that I gave it to her for Christmas. We all copied each other. April discovered Burberry in college and that was everything for awhile. We were crazy about the original formula – it is a work of art. But it’s fun to try a new style, so eventually I picked up a discounted Burberry Weekend at TJ Maxx that became my go-to in graduate school.

Some of my current favorites are Parisienne by Yves Saint Laurent (the answer I gave to my friend’s question above), Eau d’ Hydrien by Annick Goutal, Light Blue by Dolce&Gabbana, Van Cleef and Arpels’ California Reverie. And Zara Floral – I scored this for $15 and Jack says it reminds him of Spain.

Obviously there is a thing as too much perfume/cologne. People can be extremely sensitive or allergic to certain scents. Buying fragrances is not essential (es-scential?) – but it can be one of those beautiful extras that enhance experience, heightens senses and elevates your mood. Even when I’m working from home, I always include a spritz of perfume. I might be wearing yoga pants, little makeup and a messy ponytail, but in my mind I’m Marilyn or Brigitte. Or maybe if it’s Burberry Weekend, I suddenly feel like a 24 year old student studying in Chicago, kind of overwhelmed but pretty optimistic about everything.

Now it’s your turn: What’s your favorite fragrance?