Whenever I smell wild flowers and the sea it takes me back to the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, a place I have been visiting for the last five years and which is close to my heart.
Our sense of smell, when presented with a particular scent, can trigger memories and evoke emotion; the olfactory function allows us to make these connections.
A key ingredient present in some of my favourite fragrances is iris. The rich, sensual aroma reminds me of my childhood; more significantly my Mother. The scent of Lou Lou by Cacherel was used everyday, it was my mother’s signature smell. The small blue bottle encased in a floral box, a delicate yet bold fragrance that represents my mother. As the times have changed, so has my mother’s scent; Armani “Because its you” and Valentino “Donna Acqua” are her favourites now. Still whenever I smell Lou Lou, for me it will always signify Mum.
The elegant, classy Mon Guerlain takes me back to my first endeavour into fragrance. It was my first job as agency in John Lewis to promote the fragrance launch. Released only a year ago, for Mothers Day, Mon Guerlain was the stepping stone for me to envelope myself in the world of fragrance and discover high end brands. The deep vanilla and aromatic lavender allowed me to explore luxury, French perfumery and appreciate these beautiful smells that I once considered “old”.
I’ll never forget my first fragrance. My 14th birthday, a gift set from a distant relative. An upgrade from Impulse and Charlie body sprays; Lady Gaga “Fame” – sensual floral Belladonna and Orchid transports me to my school days. More specifically my high school prom. A night filled with memories, my first grown up occasion – a milestone shaping my transformation from a girl to a young woman, A-levels were coming, my life was changing.
Jimmy Choo and Coach were my signature scents as a teenager. Sweet, floral, fresh and youthful. Whenever I smell these fragrances I think of all the under 18 discos, friends parties and family occasions in which I wore them.
As a 20 year old, my fondest memories are not far behind me . Gucci Guilty absolute transports me back to my childhood. The juicy blackberry notes evokes memories of blackberry picking with my Grandad every summer, the berries that grew in our back garden and the local fields. It reminds me of simpler times, enjoying the hot sun and exploring the outdoors.
My most recent scent memory is Acqua di Parma “Colonia Pura” released only last September. This immediately transports me to August 31st, my first agency job in House of Fraser Croydon where I now work as the Dolce and Gabbana consultant. Bergamot and Orange, the fresh citrus scents of the summer. Working in HoF, I created friendships and memories for the 2 months I did the Colonia Pura campaign. A Christmas temp job would soon follow this in October until January where I transitioned from a temp to a Dolce and Gabbana consultant. The Acqua Di Parma stand is opposite my DG counter and everyday at work, I am reminded of where I started and how far I have come, and how far I will continue to go.
I’ve always loved perfume and growing up my mum would take me to Duty Free to choose a new one every time we went on holiday. I think I was 11 or 12 when I got my first bottle of Angel by Thierry Mugler. My Nan liked it so much we ended up buying her bottle after bottle. It’s a little bit too sweet for me now as I generally lean towards more masculine or musky scents, but I still keep a bottle in my bedroom to spritz whenever I’m feeling nostalgic.
My scent memories are the smell after the Monsoon rain in Bangladesh & the smell of night blooming Jasmine in my Gran’s garden.
A favourite scent memory from childhood is my mother’s perfume, Chamade by Guerlain, which she only wore when she was going out or for special occasions. As soon as the scent began to waft through the house I knew that my mother would appear looking glamorous and I associate the smell with grown- up elegance. As a child I was fascinated by the beautiful perfume bottle with its glass stopper though I was never allowed to play with it!
When I wear any Jimmy Choo women’s fragrance, I think back to when I was younger and watched Sex in The City hoping that one day I will own a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes.
By Terry’s Reve Opulent will always remind me of my wedding day. I chose the scent for its floral bouquet and underlying warmth of vanilla and musk – an absolute favourite of mine. It was like something I had never smelt before and made me feel special. I haven’t worn it since but I am already looking forward to spritzing myself on our first anniversary to be reminded of our big day.
Holidays always bring fragrance to life for me; spending hours at the airport duty free, picking out my next ‘summer scent’. Memories of sunsets and evening dinners come flooding back on that first post-holiday spritz. My go to would always be something ultra-sweet or super fresh, how could it not at that time of year!
The memory that is etched into my senses is the smell of burning coal winding its way up through the chimneys and into the sky
I can be walking down a street and my nose instinctively twitches as the familiar musky, earthy, sooty odour fills my head evoking those memories of when I was a child.
I spent a lot of time in Yorkshire visiting my grandparents and during the cold season, every house burned coal to keep warm as the winters could be vicious.
It evokes a family oriented happy time, of sitting around the TV watching the old classics of the Two Ronnies and Morecambe & Wise amidst lots of laughter.
It is my favourite smell – it makes me smile every time.
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