When you’re in a rut, in the doldrums, or ready to doze off at the wrong time, what fragrance wakes you up, bops you on the head and jolts you out of your mood? What do you wear to shake it up?
On many of these cold winter days, sitting in my cubicle at work after lunch, feeling cozy and full, with the furnace going ninety-to-nothing and my always chilled “roommates” blasting their little space heaters, it’s near-impossible to stay awake. And only the thought of the horror I’d feel if I actually nodded off (or heaven forbid, starting snoring), keeps me awake and upright.
Now my office has gone fragrance-free, so I have to work “naked,” but when I’m at home I’ve been poking around to create the perfect perfume buzz, like Jolt cola in a spray.
The first scent that comes to mind is Amouage Interlude Woman. With its thrill-ride aura, twists and turns of marigold, incense, coffee, and who knows what else, it cuts like a knife through any mental fog that might be hovering about me and dares me not to be alert.
Neela Vermeire’s Bombay Bling tends to do the trick when I want something to shake it up and chase the blues or the snooze. A fruity floral done right with a nice wallop of spice, even its tiny bit of cumin amazingly doesn’t dampen the party for me. A little hit of this and I’m ready to jump into a Bollywood musical.
And who could forget the olfactory whoosh of Gucci Rush? I found my little decant and wore a spritz recently — all I could say was “Wow!” every time I sniffed my wrist. That one fairly screams “Get up! Shake it up! Get on the dance floor!”
What are your favorite scents to wake up and shake off the cobwebs?
I recently discovered (after years of working out with a trainer) that my spine rewards me with a lack of pain when I soak in a warm pool at the gym rather than antagonize it. In a similar vein, Dame Perfumery’s Black Flower Mexican Vanilla is soothing in bitter weather. As for non-perfume environments, I’ve taken to putting a dab on the end of my nose when headed to the pool or gym. Hey, sometimes you just gotta have it.
I am really liking the idea of a warm soak, Andrea! And I hear you on the Dame scent — a friend sent me a sample and I have enjoyed it. Must try the dab on the nose 🙂
I thought about this question all day, and I think the closest perfume I have to a wake-up scent is probably Lalique Encre Noire. The perfect balance of sharpness to cut through the mental smog, along with a nice earthiness to make it not terribly painful 🙂
Nemo, I’m all for cutting through the mental smog 🙂 . BTW, I’ve always wanted to try that Lalique, but the line is sometimes hard to find. So I’ll put on my perfume detective hat and go to work …
Hi Ann, If you’d like a sample of Encre Noir, just shoot me an email at pattor at rcn daht com.
Thanks, Farouche — that is so kind of you! A bit is already on its way to me — thanks again!!
Since there isn’t a no perfume policy at work, I can mostly wear what I want but I’m thinking Mitsouko to wake me up today. Part of it is because I forgot about it and it does keep me awake. Chanel Sycomore will wake one up too and no 22 does the trick.
All right — another vote for Mitsy’s wake-up call! I can’t do Sycomore (smells like I’ve been doing something bad 🙂 ) but could get into some 22 — thanks!
Hey Ann,
Great question….
Love a hefty spritz of Geranium Pour Monsieur by Frederic Malle, Mitsouko by Guerlain or Ballets Rouges by Olympic Orchids for zingy wake up calls. I will al;so give Bombay Bling a whirl next time I need to be alive.
Portia xx
Howdy, Portia! I would never have thought to call on Mde. Mitsouko for this but I will give it a go. And I’ve been meaning to try the Ballets scent; I keep hearing good things about it. Thanks!
+1 for Olympic Orchids, but I really like Elektra (formerly called “Midsummers Day Dream”). Its fig and green aspects evoke a sunny, warm summer day that is SO opposite of what I’m feeling now during the typical February weather in the midwest, with snow, ice and grey skies pressing down.
Mmmm, Diana, that one sounds lovely, too!!
I am fond of a mint scent. CdG’s Peppermint or Guerlain’s AA Herba Fresca are favourites for this.
Thanks! I’d forgotten about the Herba Fresca — great choice! And that peppermint sounds quite lively as well.
Le Voyage or Reveiller by JoAnne Bassett… both are a bright & citrus, one with May Chang and the latter with St. John’s Wort.
Those sound lovely; I’ve been wanting to try her line for a while, so this gives me a good place to start. Thanks!
I like Sonoma Scent Studio’s “Forest Walk” to get me going. It’s hemlock and galbanum braces me like a brisk walk in redwoods, minus that pesky exercise factor. Occasionally I put on the fragrance, then my tennis shoes, and go for the real thing, which is just a 10 minute amble from my doorstep. If you MUST exercise, at least enjoy breathing in deeply!
Gwen, that sounds like a lovely way to get motivated. Wow, now even exercising is easier through fragrance, yay! I’ve been meaning to try that Sonoma scent, so now you’ve given me the push I need. Thanks!