I’m thinking today about better living through chemistry.
(No, not THAT kind of chemistry!) The magic of perfume, of course.
As I mentioned in the Posse’s Top 10 of summer earlier this month, Le Labo’s Tubereuse 40 is, without a doubt, instant liquid happiness for me. It lifts my spirits, puts a smile on my face and
makes me feel 10 pounds lighter. Too bad I can’t afford to wear it every day.
Dior’s Escale a Portofino and Prescriptives’ Calyx have similar (albeit somewhat less powerful) effects on me, and as I have a greater supply of those, they will have to pick up the slack for the remainder of this long, hot summer. (Which, where I live, could easily continue through early October. Grrrrr.)
Anyway, I’d love to know what scents give you an instant boost when you wear them. And do you use them frequently, or save them for special circumstances or events?
I love all of my perfume pals and each lifts my mood in it’s way. But true confessions here. Ssssshhhhh, I’m afraid to type this out loud as my instant mood lifter scent isn’t very fancy. It’s Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy. It’s so doggone simple and fun and atypical of my other “adult and more interesting scents” that I instantly get happy and spray it with abandon :”>
Don’t worry, Shevette. Your secret’s safe with us.
I think we all have a scent or two like that, but as long as we like them and they make us happy, it’s all good.
Are the the kind and lovely Anne that sent me the MMM and back to black? Well just yesterday I was in Barneys and smelled this tubereuse 40 and I cannot get it out of my mind….just as u say, sunshine in a bottle, instant happiness…a kind of fizzy tuberose…the price tag is so high, I already forgot it!!
At the moment Annick goutal neroli gives me a happy feeling as does ecume de rosine.
Hi, lady. So glad you got the samples. That Tubereuse 40 is super, isn’t it? But happy you are enjoying the AG Neroli, too, it’s a nice one. Haven’t tried the other yet. Hope you’re having fun in the Big Apple!!
I lucked out on Ebay and bought the biggest bottle of Azzuree Soleil EA made…for peanuts. The Frag Fairy loved me muchly that day. I have been basting in this wonderful stuff all summer. Especially wonderful just before sleep. I think I consistently wear scent to bed than any other time. I swear it steers your dreams.
Wow, Marielle! You really did hit the jackpot! I’ve never had the pleasure of smelling that one, but it sounds great. Enjoy sweet dreams!
P.S. Maybe I ought to find some of that — might help my insomnia ;)
I think that citrus for energizing/wake-up & get going (E.A.Green Tea, Penhaligon’s Blenheim Bouquet) and spices (Opium,Tabu,Comme des Garcons) . One fragrance felt a bit TOO comfy for wearing at work -I felt like I was too relaxed(like having your blanky and pillow in hand and wearing jammies) and not in a good alert/focused/prosessing/organizing frame of mind .
The fragrance…Emeraude.
Hi, Jennifer. That’s so interesting that a scent made you too comfy — and that it was Emeraude. I haven’t sniffed it in years but just might have to try some again. I’m having trouble sleeping lately, so something like that might be just the thing. :)
When I’m looking for a boost to my mood, I tend to wear citrusy energizing blends like Rejuvenating and Renewal, both essential oil blends that can be used for aromatherapy or worn as perfume. These are blends offered by Escents.
Well, thanks to you pretty lady, I have to agree on Calyx! The way it marries green and calm with something that is tropical and wild makes me feel like I’ve wandered into some enchanted world. Goodness, I love it!
Other mood lifters for me include: Sarah Horowitz’s aptly named Joy Comes From Within (flirty, happy and quite unique for a gourmand fragrance); Parfums delRae Amoureuse (sexy-sexy happy!); and Sonoma Scent Studio Jour Ensoleille (also quite unique, a mixture of sun and shade that lends it a more private and contained sense of happiness…makes me feel like I have a delicious secret up my sleeve).
I love the idea of entering an “enchanted world.” Like the others you mentioned although I haven’t tried the Joy yet though it sounds lovely.
Most cheerful (and most worn) scent for me is Ormonde Jayne Champaca. It’s very uplifting!
Glad you found a cheery Ormonde Jayne to love.
Funny, I just sprayed a sample of Lys Mediterranee on my wrists, and it put a great big smile on my face!
Hey, sweetie!!!!! :d
I was just about to sign off and saw your comment! 😡
I love that fragrance – on everyone else but me. I amp up the musk just a tad too much for my taste – but the lilies are so sunshine-y gorgeous!!!! I’m smiling, just thinking about them.
xoxoxoxo>-)
It’s one of my favorite lilies as well, and one of the first I ever smelled.
The best mood lifter I have is, I think, Cartier Brillante. I don’t think it’s the best perfume I own but I will own that it never fails to sparkle-up a crappy day!
xo >-)
That is definitely a sparkler of a scent!
Ditto what everyone else says! Yes, each scent has a mood associated with it. I use De Bachmakov and Lady Primrose Celadon (light green scent) to get going Mondays. Some other favorite mood lifters are Sinfonia di Note Petale Rose (gentle, angelic rose; need to find a FB), Nanadebary Pink, AG Neroli, Poopoo Pidoo (gotta smile at a name like that), powder queens Alessandro, Cara, etc and of course the vanilla family–Lann’Ael,SDV, Lea St. Barth. I also love, love,love all Lady Primrose gentle bath products.
Good choices, all, Sherri. I think we’ve talked about this before, but are you easily able to get Lady Primrose products? I last saw them in the downtown Dallas flagship store and as the house toiletries in a Dallas hotel a few years back. My store no longer has them (hasn’t for ages) and don’t see it on the NM site either. Hmmm …
What a great post for a Monday! I’m wearing Lubin’s Gin Fizz today. It’s a light, summery pick-me-up that does well on the happy vibe. Cheerful. It’s from a sample. I like it a lot, but have other focuses right now than plunking down for a FB.
What sends me over the edge into the divine spheres of rhapsodic joy is indulging in my vintage Apres L’Ondee that I just mangaged to get my mitts on. :) Happy, happy, joy, joy!
Just tried Gin Fizz and love its bubbly (to me) vibe. And although I may be the last man on the Apres L’ Ondee train, I do have some winging its way to me and can’t wait to try it. Hope I get the “divine spheres of rhapsodic joy” too!
Definitely La Chasse aux Papillions. Such a happy scent.
Oh, it’s so lovely, isn’t it?
I get a lift from just about every perfume I wear; it seems that many feel this is one of the primary reasons for wearing scent, and I agree. The enhancement can go in several different directions – calmer, sexier, warmer, more focused, etc. There are a couple of perfumes that do tend to make me more cheerful, though, and I think this is what you’re asking about. One of these is, oddly, a scent that I’m not sure I even think of as a really good perfume – Rich Hippie’s Maharishi. There’s a definite “liquid sunshine” aspect to it that puts a grin (rather than a smile) on my face. The other is Lann Ael by Lostmarch. It’s a hugely sweet gourmand that seems to make most people feel a sense of comfort and love (it has notes of cereal and milk, so you can figure that one out for yourself). For me, though, Lann Ael is transportive, and makes me feel like I’m in a light-filled and enchanted space. The LuckyScent description is spot on: breakfast in fairyland.
Rich Hippie’s Maharishi is really uplifting, I agree! Thank you for the samples you sent me, (I’m pretty sure it was you right?) I needed liquid sunshine on that particular day your package arrived. I still owe you a return package. Thanks so much for sending a little good perfume karma my way. :) I loved Bohemian Wedding too. Glad you restored my opinion of the Rich Hippie line of scents.
Have not tried any of the Rich Hippies, but thanks, ladies, for putting it on my radar. And yes, Lann-Ael’s “breakfast in fairyland” is definitely a happy meal.
Joanna, yes, that was me. Glad the package came on a day when you needed it!
One that I discovered this summer is Alba from DSH. It just makes me feel good. An emotional lift. And no, not every scent does that for me. Alba is creamy and pretty and there is something really comforting about it.
Safran Troublant is also very comforting. I mean, it smells like comfort food so it makes sense that it would be a comforting scent to wear, (Although I wouldn’t want to wear other comfort food scents. Mashed potatoes and gravy anyone?)
Another scent I wear when I need a lift is Dzing. It’s not comforting like the other two but it is uplifting and fun. Dzing is a visceral reminder that I am more than the sum of my mistakes and problems. I find myself wearing it when I’m feeling brave and adventurous but also when I need reminding that I am brave and adventurous.
“But also when I need reminding that I am brave and adventurous.” Well-spoken!
Yes, love that “brave and adventurous”! I like the Safran, too, and find it very soothing. But I couldn’t find my sample of it, so went with Diptyque’s Eau Duelle to help calm me during a job tryout today. And it worked nicely.
Oh yeah Eau Duelle is good stuff Ann!
Thank you Ann and KirstenMarie. I always sort of picture myself as that lady on the tiger on the Dzing bottle when I’m wearing it.
My instant summer boost is SSS Champagne de Bois, while in winter it’s Guerlain’s Spiritueuse Double Vanille. Like others have said, I really enjoy all of my perfumes, but some are more powerful than others at lifting a mood.
Nice choices! I only wear the SSS very lightly but in cold weather I do love a good spray of SDV.
Replique.
Oh, Patty, haven’t seen that name in quite a while. Is it hard to find these days?
The same as the others; however, not all of mine are equally mood-lifting on any given day. And sometimes none of them are exactly right. (Is that the hidden motivation for buying more?)
Debbie, you might be onto something there! I know I have several that serve as uplifting, many that are comfort scents and others for serious concentration, a fun night out, etc. Seems we’re always on the lookout for more great things to try.
Rosarita, love your examples. And also the concept of creating your own “scent” soundtrack — very cool!
Most of the things I wear all the time have that effect. I love perfume for the same reason I love music – you can, in effect, choose your mood, or at least soundtrack your mood. Rosine’s Un Zest de Rose is instantly mood boosting, like maybe old school Michael Jackson. SL Gris Clair, on the other hand, is more trippy, like Pink Floyd. Tons of examples in my collection :)
Just about anything I have. Perfume’s mood-lifting effect is the #1 reason I wear it.
Amen! Sometimes I’m a little tempted to sort them into groups by what they do best.
I agree , O …that’s the reason I wear fragrance , if it doesn’t make me feel good , I don’t wear it !
Hi, Carol, thanks for stopping by. Those who don’t love perfume don’t know what they’re missing.
Almost all perfumes that I own (FB or decants) have that effect on me. So when I’m having a bad day I make sure to wear one of my favorites and not to do any testing of unknown scents.
I like your thinking, Undina. On those iffy days, it’s good not to take any chances.