I hated the smell of cigarettes so much that any encounter with a smoker would end with me dramatically covering my nose and a terrible spell of nausea. If you would have asked 10-year-old me what the worst smell in the world was, I would, without a doubt, say cigarettes.
During the summer of 2017, I spent two months in Moldova with my brother and sister visiting family, attending summer camps, and exploring exhilarating, remote independence. Not only was I in love with the country itself, feeling as if a part of me belongs to it, but I was an eager 18-year old on my first trip without parents ready to experience everything I could
In Moldova, the smell of cigarettes was everywhere.
I distinctly remember the first time I smelled a cigarette when I returned home from my trip. I was walking along some shops at the beach when I froze. A powerful wave of nostalgia and warm memories flooded my mind as soon as I processed the smell. I was mystified by the fact that I was actually enjoying the smell of cigarettes. I closed my eyes as the scent triggered a full physical and emotional response to the resurfacing memories.
I’m sure everyone can relate in some way to my personal experience. “Odors take a direct route to the limbic system, including the amygdala and the hippocampus, the regions related to emotion and memory,” according to a Harvard study.
What smells trigger a physical response in you?
Thus, smell, scent, fragrance – whatever you want to call it- can be used as a tool. For example, smells like essential oils can be used to enhance memory recall when studying or preparing for contests. Scientists even use the sense of smell to catch early signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
There are even studies investigating whether or not individuals can have a successful relationship based on the compatibility of their body odor. Wild, right?!
Fragrances, like perfume or cologne, only amplify and enhance our senses through natural olfactory processes. Did you know that the same fragrance will smell different on different individuals? That’s because temperature and varying oil levels on the skin affect scent, among other things.
The first thing to remember before setting out to find a personal fragrance is that it is ultimately up to your individual preference and will take some trial and error. You will need to consider the 3 main components of a fragrance: top notes, middle notes, and base notes. Top notes are the very first thing you smell as soon as the fragrance is sprayed. Once the top notes evaporate, you’re left with the heart of the fragrance, also known as middle notes. The base notes are foundational components of a fragrance and will remain on your skin the longest.
With that in mind, there are a few things you can consider when trying out new fragrances.
1. Temperature
Your body temperature will affect the smell of a fragrance. Your mood can affect your body temperature, but so can the climate, weather, and body type. The warmer your temperate, the stronger and more concentrated the fragrance will be. There are winter and summer fragrances for this reason.
2. Skin Type
Everyone’s skin is different. If your skin tends to be oilier, any fragrance you choose will mix with your own odor and the smell will be more distinct. On the other hand, fragrance evaporates quickly on dry skin. A moisturized body will hold fragrance well.
3. Applying Fragrance
Moisturize your pulse points well. These are the places you should apply your fragrance. Think wrists, behind your ears, neck, inside elbow, behind knee, or chest to name a few. Applying to these places on the body will ensure your fragrance lasts longer and adjusts to your body.
4. Perfume Types
A fragrance is either Eau de Parfum (EDP), Eau de Toilette (EDT), Eau de Cologne, or Eau Fraiche. The difference lies in perfume oil content. EDP contains between 20-30% of perfume oil, EDT contains around 5-15%, and Eau de Cologne contains only 2-4% of perfume oil. Eau Fraiche carries the lightest scent that may only last an hour or two. Thus, the more oil content in your fragrance, the longer it will stick around.
After trying many different fragrances, I have personally settled on Chanel’s Gabrielle Eau de Parfum as my main fragrance. I chose Eau de Parfum because it has the highest oil content and therefore provides a stronger scent. I find this fragrance works well with my drier skin type and compliments my own body chemistry.
The bottom line is that smell is more important than it seems. Fragrance can be leveraged to improve out mood, enhance our memory, and even establish compatibility! I hope I’ve inspired you to pay closer attention to smells and become sensitive to your body’s chemistry as it relates to smell!
Happy fragrance hunting! What are your fragrance faves?