Many people ask why they should wear fragrance at all or get surprised when I tell them how much I spent on a beautiful-smelling niche fragrance. My teenage nephew and niece think I’m crazy since I have a decent sized collection and they have recently witnessed first-hand my several fragrance packages that have arrived in the mail with various samples in them. Today’s blog post will cover some of the reasons as to why people wear fragrances. Fragrance might not be for you for various reasons: maybe you are allergic or have a strong nose and get offended by strong scents and that is obviously totally fine! For others, it is part of who they are and they love their fragrances as they would a pair of shoes or an outfit. This is by no means an exhaustive list since wearing fragrance is a personal thing, let’s get into some of the common reasons to wear fragrance.
To Smell Elegant & Receive Compliments
This is probably the most popular reason as to why people wear fragrances. Many folks get a kick out of it when they receive compliments from strangers or coworkers telling them how good they smell. I’ve definitely received compliments ranging from “Wow, you smell amazing” to “What are you wearing, that smells so good?” It’s a good feeling, especially when you have dropped a couple hundred hard-earned dollars on a top shelf niche fragrance. Also, when reading or watching fragrance reviews, many times the reviewer will devote a category to “complement factor” in which he will give the fragrance a score as to the likelihood you would receive a complement for wearing that particular fragrance.
Personally, I enjoy smelling nice everyday no matter the occasion: whether it be in the office, at the store, at a formal event (especially at these!) or just out and about running errands. After a shower, I definitely enjoy wearing a fragrance to go about my day since it adds a nice layer of personality and freshness to my outfit.
Different seasons and occasions or even moods call for different fragrances. I go into more depth in my niche fragrance overview blog post that is a great starting point if you are just getting into niche fragrances.
To Attract A Partner & Be More Appealing
This is also a very popular reason to wear a fragrance. Many single folks wear fragrances to appeal to and attract potential partners. For this reason, many fragrances are geared towards nighttime wear or dates. If done right, smelling nice definitely can only help your chances to get that date with the person you’ve had your eyes on. Dressing up and pairing your outfit with an elegant, sexy smelling scent is a great way to make a positive first impression since you will hopefully become more appealing and attractive while out on a date.
To Be More Confident & Express Yourself
This kind of ties in with the reason above of potentially attracting a partner and being more attractive. Many people wear a fragrance to feel a sense of confidence. Whether you are at a networking event or on an interview, smelling great can help you feel more sure of yourself and put you in a positive mindset. Just be careful not to over-spray your fragrance before a job interview, especially if you are wearing an extrait de parfum (these fragrances have the highest level of pure fragrance oil in them) since these can be quite potent. I recommend you test the fragrance out on your skin and clothing before ever wearing it for a job interview. The last thing you want to do is ruin your chances of landing your dream job because you over-sprayed your fragrance. Two sprays should probably do it since you don’t want to leave a huge scent trail in front of your potential co-workers and manager!
Fragrance is also used by some people as a means to express themselves. Think of it as an article of clothing or an accessory. It’s your personal touch that you can add to complete your look. Most folks have a “signature scent” which is a fragrance that they absolutely love and if they had to pick one out their collection and stick with it forever, that’s the one they would choose.
To Evoke A Memory
They say your sense of smell, or olfactory sense, is the strongest of the five human senses. A certain smell in your childhood or from an event can trigger your brain to remember that smell and bring happiness or a sense of peace. I fondly remember my very first fragrance, Cool Water by Davidoff, which is still a staple in the fragrance world. It’s a fresh scent best suited for warmer weather and geared towards men in their 20’s or younger, so at the time it was a perfect gift for me that my oldest brother purchased for me (thank you brother for introducing me to the world of fragrances!). If I were to smell it today, I would be able to immediately identify it. In my Louis Vuitton niche fragrance post, the master perfumer Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud clearly remembered his mother rubbing rosewater on his face every day to freshen it and he now uses rose in all of the fragrances he produces for Louis Vuitton.
As you can see, there are several reasons to wear fragrance. Obviously there are other reasons and it’s one of those things that is personal. There is no right or wrong reason to wear fragrance and there are several different types of fragrances that appeal to different occasions and moods. So, have fun with it and don’t let anybody deter you from wearing something you enjoy since at the end of the day, it’s a form of expression! Cheers to smelling great 🙂