Comfort Monday: Scents that soothe

soothe deep freeze 2
Hello, dear Posse folks. It is with a heavy heart that I write this: I have been reaching heavily the past week for my favorite scents that soothe body, mind and soul. We’ve just returned from attending my brother-in-law’s funeral in Florida. It’s heartbreaking to see a beloved husband, father, son, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend pass away from cancer at 66; that seems so young these days and I always think that modern medicine with all its advances should be able to do more. But it doesn’t always work that way, does it?

We take comfort in happy memories, celebrating a wonderful life well-lived and well-loved, but to be honest, also with a bit of dread, knowing how hard it will be without them, and how much that person will be missed.

So I have been taking comfort in the beauty of Carnal Flower (wore it very lightly for the visitation and funeral), and Guerlain’s Lys Soleia. And now that we’ve returned to chillier climes, Les Couvents des Minimes Eau des Missions and Guerlain’s Cuir Beluga are providing a warm, cozy balm for me, and helping soothe my grief and sense of loss.

What scents do you wear when you feel in need of a comforting hug? What fragrance works to help soothe and smooth your toughest days?

  • Sarah says:

    I am truly sorry for your loss. Nothing can prepare you for something like that. I would have to say that my comfort scent in times of great stress and anxiety is Frederic Malle’s L’eau D’hiver. It’s such a gorgeous and elegant scent. And there’s something so soothing about it at the same time. I do believe it is one of Malle’s most underrated scents in his line. Jean-Claude Ellena is a genius and one of my favorite noses in the business. I think Sali Hughes put it best in her review of this perfume when she basically called it Valium in perfume form. It is comforting and soothing. But also beautiful and simply understatedly gorgeous. One of Malle’s best. Again, my condolences to you.

  • laurallls says:

    I am very sorry for your loss. That is never good to manage. I do not have a favorite comfort scent. However, when I was ill for a week this winter I found myself gravitating to Mont Blanc Femme Individuelle, not because I love it really, but because it was a soft and sweet soothing scent.

  • Rosemary says:

    Ann, so sorry to hear of your loss, prayers and blessings to your family. I don’t know that I have a comforting perfume in my possession, but I do have some Nag Champa lotion by Earthly Body that definitely gives me a comforted feeling, like being hugged by fragrance.

  • Tara C says:

    So sorry to hear of all your losses, may their memories be a blessing. I wear vanilla or incense scents for comfort, such as Cuir Beluga or Incense Extreme.

  • Ann says:

    Thank you all for your kind comments and lovely fragrance notes. And so sorry to hear of your losses as well; it is a beautiful life we live, but can be so very bittersweet at times. It’s what makes us human and gives us a sense of connection; we’ve all felt the pain of losing loved ones. Alas, we have suffered another loss in the family (my MIL’s younger brother) so had to deal with yet another funeral. I feel so badly for her, having to say goodbye to a son and a brother within a week. Deep sigh. But thank you all again for all your kind words and thoughts. Hugs to each of you ,,,

  • mikasminion says:

    I’m so sorry for your loss. I tend to avoid my favorite perfumes when I’m really upset for fear that I will associate them with a bad time, but No. 5 is one that I wear for stressful times and find I can usually tolerate.

  • RoseMacaroon says:

    I’m very sorry to read of the loss to your family!
    Everyone’s scenthe selections sound very right on to me. I’ve been wearing The Rose with the Broken Neck by SIP, and it really is soothing my multilevel heartbreak of the moment. Probably many things with a similar profile would work about the same for me (I do think that one is perfection itself, though).
    Again, really really sorry this happened, I agree 66 seems young. I hope slivers of peace are coming in for all of you.

  • maggiecat says:

    So sorry for your loss! This week is the anniversary of my father’s death, and I’m still thinking about how to find comfort these next few days. Perhaps Shalimar Souffle – always a good one for me.

  • rosarita313 says:

    Dear Ann, I’m so very sorry for this aching loss to your whole family. That is too young for someone so vital to be gone. I think my most comforting scent is whatever feels good for self care, like Nuxe oil after a long warm shower, or my treasured Nu body cream. Hugs to you ?

  • Queen Cupcake says:

    Sincere condolences to you and your family, Ann. March is a sad month for me; my brother-in-law passed away exactly a year ago. Not sure if a scent could comfort me enough, as I miss him; he wore 4711, a wonderful scent that never lasts on me. Maybe I will just keep a small bottle of it around so that I can sniff it to remember him. I know you will miss loved ones, too, and send warm wishes to you for peace and comfort.

  • Koyel says:

    I’m so sorry for your loss.

  • Suzanne says:

    Ann, I’m so sorry to learn of the loss of your brother-in-law. Sometimes wearing a fragrance that reminds you of that person, whether they wore fragrance or not, can be a comforting act. When I used to decant perfumes, a woman purchased Serge Lutens Un Lys and wrote me a brief note, confiding that her son had just died and she wanted the scent of lilies because they reminded her of him. I remember how touched I was to read that.

  • Taxi says:

    Warm condolences to you.
    My family has just lost a beloved member, 2 days ago, from consequences of a cerebral hemorrhage. No thoughts yet of fragrance. I’m figuring out how many phones to get to put on floors in every room. The outcome would have been better had she not lain on her floor for 2 days partially paralyzed & unable to call for help.
    Please, if you live alone, think about floor phones. It’s easier to slither or crawl than rise.

  • Kathleen Smith says:

    I’m so sorry for your loss. May find memories ease your grief with time. My comfort scent is Chanel Coromandel. It brings peace and calmness, and makes list lives feel closer with memories.

  • MrsDalloway says:

    Sorry for your loss. Anima Dulcis is a great comfort scent (and the bottle is glorious too).

  • Melissa Rosen says:

    So sorry for your loss. I miss Lea. It reminds me of my Mom who passed a few years ago…63. Makes no sense. 🙁

  • Maya says:

    I am truly sorry for your family’s loss. I think too many of us have been to that place of sadness. I agree on Apres l’Ondee, but for me it’s more of a beautiful melancholy scent. Other than that, I would go for soft, creamy, white or yellow florals, such as Annick Goutal Songes or Arquiste Flor y Canto. I find the smells of the tropics and the South Seas soothing and life affirming.

  • HeidiC says:

    I’m so sorry for this love — much love to you and your in-laws’ family. That’s so tough. I understand wanting your most comforting scents giving you a big olfactory hug. Your picks sound lovely — I would definitely want Cuir Beluga too. And probably Chergui or Fumerie Turque. Or I might just go with Apres L’Ondee because it’s the saddest perfume ever so why not just wallow in it for a while.
    Again, condolences to you and yours.