It’s cold, rainy and gloomy. What do you wear to brighten up your mood? Since January transitioned into April without much difference in weather, this question has been on my mind a lot. I have a whole arsenal of mood lifters, and perfume is one of my favorite ways to dream. In my article for ELLE, titled Perfume for a Rainy Day, I explore fragrances that bring a ray of sunshine. I also describe why you don’t need a separate seasonal wardrobe and how you can experience your fragrances in new ways at different times of the year.
“The calendar and the blossoming cherry tree near my apartment building suggest that spring is here, but the lingering presence of winter is still noticeable in the biting wind and dark clouds. As I wake up to yet another cold, foggy morning, all I want to do is huddle under the blankets until summer. Hibernation, unfortunately, is not an option for me, so when the incessant rain feels especially oppressive, I instinctively reach for perfumes that warm me up.” Please read the rest at ELLE.com.
What perfumes perk you up instantly?
Photography by Bois de Jasmin
95 Comments
Jillie: A great article, lyrically written.
My favourite “cheering” fragrance is PdN’s L’Eau a la Folie, with its summer fruitiness and zing; I am always singing its praises. In the winter it reminds me of sunshine, and in the summer it refreshes me but is more than simple cologne. And it’s thanks to you that I discovered it! April 8, 2013 at 8:00am
Karima: I am a perfume newbie with my first purchase a couple of weeks ago being PdN’s A la Folie. Am spraying it on every few hours as it makes me feel warm and cozy and sensual. April 8, 2013 at 8:55am
Victoria: Thank you, Jillie! And can I just say how pleased I am that L’Eau a la Folie has other fans. In general, I admire Parfums de Nicolai for its quality, beautiful style and its reasonable (especially for niche!) prices. That’s truly refreshing! April 8, 2013 at 2:02pm
Marieke: A lovely article! You could be describing ME. I hate this weather and want to hibernate until it warms up. I’ll have to use more perfume to lift my mood. April 8, 2013 at 8:28am
Victoria: I’ve gotten used to it, but in the beginning, the Belgian weather drove me crazy. Perfume can be the best mood lifter. Some chocolate also helps! April 8, 2013 at 2:04pm
Beth: Victoria, I loved your article and it is so true. I use fragrance to help me face the day some mornings. I spend much of my winter in the Orientals, and I love Parfum Sacre for it’s ability to be a warm cashmere blanket.
More and more this spring I’m reaching for my sample of Ormonde Jayne Woman. I really think I’m going to need a bottle of this one. There’s just something about it that’s green and spring like, without being crisp and aquatic. April 8, 2013 at 8:59am
Victoria: Oh, I like how you’ve described Ormonde Jayne Woman, and I completely agree. It’s green but sultry, which is a very unusual combination. April 8, 2013 at 2:05pm
Karima: Oh, and delving into this captivating blog is also a great mood lifter. Thanks Victoria for introducing me to the fascinating world of scent, which I discovered right after reading “The Perfume Lover”. April 8, 2013 at 9:07am
Victoria: Thank you very much, Karima, and I’m happy that you liked “The Perfume Lover”. It’s a great way to be introduced to fragrance! 🙂 April 8, 2013 at 2:06pm
Debbie: Although I am in my 60s, I’m new to perfume. I had a bad cold a few years and almost lost my sense of smell and once it returned, I wanted to smell everything. That’s how I started collecting perfume samples – and now I have 7 full bottles. What a beautiful idea to give yourself a boost with a spritz of perfume. Marc Jacobs Lola always makes me happy. It was a gift from my granddaughter who went away to college last year. April 8, 2013 at 9:11am
Victoria: Thank heavens your sense of smell has returned, Debbie! I hope that you continue using it to the fullest. Doesn’t the world become so much brighter and more interesting when you’re aware of scents? April 8, 2013 at 2:08pm
Shirinalzebari: Paris of YSL, reminds me of the raindrops in Paris! April 8, 2013 at 9:26am
Victoria: What a romantic image! YSL Paris is such a stunning, memorable perfume. April 8, 2013 at 2:10pm
Maureen: I love orientals & woods, but today the sun is out & it is suppose to be in the 70’s for the first time since September, so I spritzed on Pure White Linen Light Breeze…I wanted something light & citrus today. April 8, 2013 at 9:48am
Victoria: Mmmm, sounds so nice! White Linen had such an interesting collection of flankers, and I also liked Pure White Linen Light Breeze with its tea and grapefruit notes. April 8, 2013 at 2:23pm
Ari: Congratulations on your article, Victoria!! I commented over there so that Elle knows how much we adore you 🙂 I am impressed by how you are slowly but surely expanding the lay lady’s understanding of perfumery- for example, identifying Calice Becker as a “Givaudan perfumer”.
In general, my perfumes are not very perky. 🙂 But I do get a sort of grim energy from Jo Malone Black Vetyver Cafe. April 8, 2013 at 10:21am
Victoria: Thank you so much, Ari! What a touching, sweet thing to say. Given that today was a hectic, stressful day, I appreciate it even more so.
Black Vetyver Cafe is one of the few coffee fragrances from which I actually get a whiff of espresso. It’s brief, but so pleasant. April 8, 2013 at 2:25pm
Sandra Levine: L’Eau d’Hiver is my go-to mood brightener, in cold and warm weather. It’s bracing, but beautiful, and seems to make a cold, rainy winter’s day cozy and a hot summer day, cooler. April 8, 2013 at 10:54am
Victoria: I enjoy L’Eau d’Hiver for this very reason. It’s perfect all year round, but in each season I find something else to enjoy in it. In the warm weather, I get more caramel-almond notes. April 8, 2013 at 2:26pm
Becky: It’s obvous but Clinique Happy really makes me feel better if I’m down. Gueralin Lys Soleia is on my wishlist since last year, and I’m excited to see you mention it. It’s so underrated! April 8, 2013 at 11:04am
Becky: Gueralin sounds pretty, but I meant to write Guerlain! :)) April 8, 2013 at 12:01pm
Victoria: 🙂 No worries! I cringe how many typos I make as I respond to comments, and Gueralin does sound lovely. April 8, 2013 at 2:28pm
Victoria: Happy was formulated based on research into the mood lifting power of scents, and while I’m not sure if much of the findings were all that scientifically rigorous, the perfume itself is fun and bubbly. That grapefruit note is so good. April 8, 2013 at 2:27pm
Cornelia Blimber: So I can find myrrh in Grand Amour! Good to know! I never explored the Goutals, don’t know why. There are so many perfumes around!
I want to have one with myrrh, but not so expensive and hard to find as La Myrrhe. Perhaps Grand Amour!
Your article was helpful and a pleasure to read, as always.
My comfort perfumes are Guerlain. Of course Shalimar, unique. Also Mahora (now Mayotte) gives me a warm, rich feeling. April 8, 2013 at 11:07am
Victoria: Have you tried Caron Parfum Sacré or Annick Goutal Myrrhe Ardente? Myrrhe Ardente especially has a lot of myrrh, and if you stop by Goutal’s counter to smell Grand Amour, it’s worth a sniff. It’s one of my favorite myrrh fragrances, right up there with La Myrrhe. April 8, 2013 at 2:30pm
Cornelia Blimber: Thank you! All noticed in my black-and-gold perfume notebook: to try as soon as possible. April 9, 2013 at 11:09am
SnowyOwl: Once again, LOVED your article and am making notes of what to try next based on your sumptuous descriptions! I live in Oregon where it rains nine months out of the year, so wrap myself in warmth through fragrance. I love so many but L’Heure Bleue vintage is my ultimate comfort. Thank you for a great article and blog, I read it daily 🙂 April 8, 2013 at 11:20am
Victoria: Thank you for your kind words! L’Heure Bleue is one of the best cashmere wrap perfumes, especially when it finally settles into its velvety, soft drydown. Whenever I wear I want to sniff my wrists obsessively.
Btw, I love your screen name, since I adore these birds. April 8, 2013 at 2:33pm
@19coco76: In that case,I choose an oriental(but no Oud for me,and no vanilla OD). Another choice is a poudery scent.But no zesty sitrussy cologne kind of thing here. April 8, 2013 at 12:07pm
Victoria: I have a few ouds I like, but today I feel that 50% of niche fragrances are oud of some sort. It starts to feel like a cliche. April 8, 2013 at 2:34pm
Allison: Wonderful article! My happiest scents are Etro’s Vicolo Fiori and Tilleul by D’Orsay. They both cheer me right up. April 8, 2013 at 12:08pm
Victoria: I have revisited Vicolo Fiori recently after a few commenters mentioned it as one of their spring favorite. It’s such an elegant floral, and it feels lighthearted and joyful. I can see how it could be an instant mood lifter. April 8, 2013 at 2:35pm
maggiecat: a wonderful article by a talented writer! I wear ormonde Jayne Woman when I need both encouragement and strength (it’s out for later this week when the weather is supposed to turn exceptionally nasty). For days like today – tired and headachy – nothing beats Chanel’s Cologne – a bright pick-me-up scent that never overpowers. April 8, 2013 at 12:35pm
Victoria: Thank you! And I’m glad that you’ve reminded that colognes can be great when one feels tired. When I have a headache, I reach for my box with citrus essential oils. Unless my headache is related to cold or some ailment, the effect is immediate. April 8, 2013 at 2:36pm
noele: Love beginning my day with your writing, ms V. I needed a bit of comfort this morning, so reached for CdG Luxe Champaca. That and a mug of hot chai. Until I find myself a cashmere bodysuit, this combo will have to do.
Other favorites for this sort of mood: L’artisan Passage d’Enfer – comforting in a silent, still, meditative way. I echo your sentiments on Jour d’Hermes entirely, though it feels less ‘interesting’ than most I wear. April 8, 2013 at 12:41pm
Victoria: 🙂 Your comment about a cashmere bodysuit made me laugh out loud. In the winter, it was freezing nearly all the time in our apartment, and I survive with a portable heater and chai. At one point, I even wore ballet tights under my clothes! I clearly need some Luxe Champaca too. April 8, 2013 at 2:53pm
Ksenija: My happy-go-to fragrance is definitely Acqua Universalis by MFK April 8, 2013 at 12:45pm
Victoria: A very nice cologne, and the strong lemony notes like that also have an instant effect on me. April 8, 2013 at 2:55pm
Monica: Hello Victoria, Congratulations! This is a perfect article for a newbie like me. I depend on my samples all the time. During these spring rainy days I am wearing Chanel 19, Prada Infusion d’ Iris, Guerlain Lys Soleia and the uplifting Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess. April 8, 2013 at 1:03pm
Victoria: Thank you, Monica! Sounds like you’re all set to enjoy the rainy and non-rainy days alike with that fantastic perfume wardrobe. I’m about to search for my bottle of Bronze Goddess, which is my ultimate “dream of summer” perfume. April 8, 2013 at 2:57pm
Natalia: A wonderful article, so poetic 🙂
As for me, I think the genre of chypre is the perfect perfume for a rainy day. Usually, I don’t have a problem with a gloomy weather, quite the contrary, it makes me feel cozy and comfortable (unless, of course, it’s this insane endless winter that we had this year) so I don’t really need warming up and won’t usually wear an Oriental. Eau du Soir, Philtre d’Amore, Miss Dior, Aromatics Elixir, etc would be my pick for the rainy weather. In fact, I wore Eau du Soir last Friday (heavy raing that day), and have to say it was divine. But in the sunny weatherm, however, it just doesn’t seem to be able to reach its potential.
On a side note, I, too, adore Jour d’Hermes, can’t seem to get enough of it these days. Such a delightful fragrance, a great launch, indeed. But then again, I pretty much like all Ellena’s fragrances (some love and enjoy, some admire from afar), but nontheless, I seem to be very much in tune with his work. Will probably get Un Jardin Sur le Toit for the summer being the faithful worshiper of the rest of the collection. April 8, 2013 at 1:22pm
Victoria: Thank you, Natalia. I’ve grown to tolerate the gloomy weather much more. I love the idea of chypre the way you describe it, and your examples fit perfectly too–warm enough to be enveloping and comforting. April 8, 2013 at 3:05pm
key change: That was a wonderfully written article, although I can’t say I’m even remotely surprised. On days when it’s rainy and cold, I tend to drift towards comfort scents–ones that make me feel warm and cozy. Often, that means Prada Candy, as it’s kind of close to the skin and feels appropriate for rainy or cold weather. I also like Miracle by Lancome for days when it’s bitingly cold and I want to feel sharp and pretty. April 8, 2013 at 1:54pm
Victoria: I’m happy to see Miracle mentioned. I smelled it again the other day, and I enjoyed it very much. Definitely bright and happy, and I can see why you reach for it on cold, dreary days. April 8, 2013 at 3:08pm
Tomate Farcie: In rainy weather I reach for L’Artisan’s Mure et Musc. I find it really comforting April 8, 2013 at 1:58pm
Victoria: It’s the smell of summer for me, so deliciously rich. April 8, 2013 at 3:08pm
rosarita: Lovely article, V, I enjoy your writing so much. :-). For transitioning into spring, I’ve been enjoying both Un Jardin Sur le Nil and En Mediterranee for their green aspects; they are summer staples for me but perfect for right now. April 8, 2013 at 2:07pm
Victoria: Thank you very much! 🙂 I myself have been wearing lots of Jardins lately, even Jardin Sur Le Toit, which isn’t my absolute favorite (but it can hit the spot on a right day). Unfortunately, my Jardin En Mediterranee has turned, so instead of a garden filled with ripe figs, it now smells like rotten tree trunks. Time to get a new bottle. April 8, 2013 at 3:10pm
Merlin: Chergui. any weather. April 8, 2013 at 2:34pm
Victoria: That’s a beauty! April 8, 2013 at 3:11pm
Austenfan: A lot of my most loved fragrances affect my mood in some way or other. One perfume that invariably brings a smile to my face and lightens my days is Vamp. It is so sunny! April 8, 2013 at 2:37pm
Victoria: I need to revisit Vamp soon. Where is it sold in the Netherlands (or Belgium)? April 8, 2013 at 3:12pm
Austenfan: I think Senteurs d’Ailleurs has it. I got my Carottes there last year. I tried to check their site but they seem to be doing some work to it.
In the Netherlands the line is carried by Parfumerie Céleste in The Hague ( which is where I got Vamp, it is quite a nice shop, and they are generous with samples. They have an internet site by the way) If you make it to The Hague, and have time on your hands(!) Panorama Mesdag is very interesting and the Haags Gemeentemuseum has a pretty impressive collection. There are also two shops in Amsterdam that carry HdP: Azzaro Due (P.C.Hooftstraat) and Spoiled (Wolvenstraat).
Vamp is very sweet so I am not sure whether you like it. April 8, 2013 at 3:57pm
Victoria: Thank you very much! I will check at Senteurs d’Ailleurs. They have so much that I must have skipped this line. April 9, 2013 at 7:59am
Emma M: Lovely article Victoria. I find rose fragrances both comforting and uplifting; Nahema’s lush chocolatey notes always feel warm and suitably decadent on a grey, rainy day.
I’ve also been reaching for Santal Majascule a lot on cold days; I’m interested to find out how it will wear in the warmer months. April 8, 2013 at 3:07pm
Victoria: Emma, your description of Nahema makes me want to find my bottle asap. 🙂
As for Santal Majuscule, I wore it a lot last summer, and it worked really well. In the cold weather, you get more of the rose-saffron notes, but on a hot day, SM strips almost immediately to its luscious sandalwood drydown. April 8, 2013 at 3:13pm
Annikky: Beautiful writing and a thoughtful selection, as always. I currently deploy a different tactic, simply pretending that spring has, indeed, arrived and the flakes that are falling are in fact unusually large cherry blossom petals. En Passant is a huge help with this exercise in denial. If I choose to face reality, there is Iris Silver Mist – an absolutely perfect fragrance for those very early, reluctant days of spring. (“Carrots!” proclaimed my perceptive boyfriend, somewhat spoiling the magic. “But I like carrots,” he hastily added.) April 8, 2013 at 3:22pm
Victoria: Thank you! And that’s a good tactic, because there is nothing like the persuasive power of imagination. 🙂 Your boyfriend is right about carrots, of course, since the iris and carrot roots share the same aromatic compound. You know, as I grew to love iris more, I’ve become addicted to carrots. I even love peeling them now, because I get that orris-like, earthy whiff. Obsessed, what can I say… 🙂 April 9, 2013 at 8:19am
Annikky: The first time I smelled ISM, I immediately thought of how I used to peel our home-grown potatos and rinse them in ice-cold water when I was a child. The dirt, the cold and the raw potato peel all seemed to be present in this perfume. I was always jealous of people who had those (for me) exotic childhood scent memories of jasmine or mimosa. But then I thought – I’ve got my own Iris Silver Mist moment! Beat that! April 9, 2013 at 9:22am
Victoria: That’s a very familiar scent to me too. As a child I hated peeling potatoes, but it was one of my chores. And yet today whenever I peel them these days, it’s a sweet (or sometimes, bittersweet, depending on my mood) recollection. So, our love for the regal iris takes root (no pun intended) from the humble tubers. 🙂 April 9, 2013 at 9:38am
Austenfan: One of the regular contributors on NST ( Erin) always comments that ISM reminds her of turnips, which is of course a carrot “relative”. I think it smells of carrots, very good carrots.
We had some rain today, haven’t had any in a long time, and it was the first time it smelled of spring. You know, that damp earth smell. April 9, 2013 at 3:56pm
Victoria: I was just talking about the after-rain scent with my husband. We observed that it was such a wonderful smell and that unusually we haven’t had much rain over the past few weeks. I even could wear my suede shoes. 🙂 April 9, 2013 at 4:23pm
Caroline: Almost hesitate to mention since it’s no longer made, but nothing’s more cheerful than the zesty orange of vintage Diorama…the perfect dreary day pick-me-up. Thanks for the info on orientals. I admire them on others but find I’m unable to wear them. Every time I encounter a scrubber, it inevitably falls under this category, according to M Edwards Parfums du Monde. I wear 31 RC with no problem (which is ambery)…I wonder which component is my bugaboo? April 8, 2013 at 3:40pm
Victoria: Perhaps, it’s the sweetness (vanilla, tonka bean) that bothers you? 31 Rue Cambon can almost be a mossy chypre, despite its ambery notes. April 9, 2013 at 8:21am
minette: nice article! it’s so good to see someone who actually knows about perfume writing about it in a mainstream outlet!
a warming pick-me-up favorite of mine is coco in the edt formulation – it is much sunnier and warmer than the edp. i also love ambre fetiche, ambre sultan, diptyque’s 34, ELdO’s rossy de palma, and malle’s une rose during the time of year you describe. i am wearing westwood’s libertine today, and i would have to add that to the list as well. April 8, 2013 at 3:46pm
Victoria: Thank you! There are many great perfume writers out there today, so I think that the quality of what you read about fragrance is higher overall. It always makes me happy.
Libertine is an old favorite, but I’ve been ignoring it lately for some reason. I definitely must revisit it. April 9, 2013 at 8:23am
maja: I find Mitsouko incredibly uplifting and appropriate in a rainy, damp weather. Rive Gauche, too. During rainy, gloomy evenings nothing beats a cup of chai and an oriental. 🙂
I realized today that I read your articles and posts with a smile a priori. Your writing is truly lovely. April 8, 2013 at 4:24pm
Lydia: Maja, that made me laugh.
“Cuppa chai & an oriental to go, please.” April 8, 2013 at 4:52pm
Lydia: p.s. If only we could get good perfume samples at Starbucks or the local cafe! April 8, 2013 at 4:53pm
Victoria: What a dream that would be! 🙂 April 9, 2013 at 9:05am
Victoria: I laughed out loud over your “a cup of chai and an oriental”. Wouldn’t a tea and perfume shop be fantastic! 🙂
I appreciate your nice words, Maja! April 9, 2013 at 8:24am
Lydia: Love the article. Orientals for comfort on an overcast day are great.
I’ve come to love really gloomy, dreary, rainy days, and I like to amplify the gothic vibe of them with incense-y perfumes.
DSH Cathedral is a big favorite – deep, dark, musty incense, like taking refuge from the rain in an abandoned church.
I’m trying a Mazzolari Patchouli sample today & that would also work really well – amber-spiked patchouli. April 8, 2013 at 4:49pm
Victoria: Oh, that’s a great tactic! I immediately thought of Etro Messe de Minuit, which is dark, somber and Gothic. April 9, 2013 at 8:50am
Lydia: Great suggestion! April 9, 2013 at 12:53pm
Cybele: PC Tuberose-Gardenia, Osmanthe Yunnan, and Lime Basil Mandarin really cheer me up! April 8, 2013 at 9:03pm
Victoria: Just reading these names makes me smile. Such sunny perfumes! April 9, 2013 at 8:54am
annemariec: L’Heure Bleue. I only wear it on cold damp days. I meet melancholy with melancholy. Of course it helps that L’HB has sweet and powdery facets. It’s like dashing into in a warm cafe on a wet day, to watch the rain from the inside. You know you are going to have to face the world eventually, but for a brief while you have shelter and some comfort. April 9, 2013 at 3:46am
Cornelia Blimber: What a lovely image, Annemaiec! Today I will wear L’Heure Bleue and fancy I go to a coffee-house in Vienna, have a Mocca and Topfentorte, watching the rain outside. April 9, 2013 at 5:03am
Cornelia Blimber: Annemariec I mean April 9, 2013 at 5:04am
annemariec: Oh that sounds lovely! I’d gladly change places with you – for a day. Where I live it is Autumn and we are having a delicious golden sunny days. If I could bottle some sunshine and send it to you (and Victoria, who must be feeling very sun-deprived), I would. April 9, 2013 at 7:08am
Victoria: All the same, we appreciate the sunny thoughts. 🙂 April 9, 2013 at 8:57am
Victoria: I agree with Cornelia, it’s a beautiful image. Today is raining, and I threw the curtains open in my office and lit some plain candles. The contrast between the grey, somber outside and the warm, cozy inside is comforting. Once I’m done working, I will wear Guerlain Shalimar. I have a craving for it today. April 9, 2013 at 8:56am
Lynley: Victoria, I love reading your magazine articles. The idea of inspiring people to seek perfumes beyond the often questionable department store counter offerings is one that makes me very grateful 🙂
It is the very slow beginning of autumn here (although 37C is not much of a beginning!) so I’m moving in the opposite fragrance direction. The last couple of days have been a bit emotional and stressful for me, and I remembered you mentioning once about jasmine being a great mouse sedative 🙂 I remembered from my aromatherapy that it’s a wonderful antidepressant so immediately reached for Nasomatto Nuda to be my delicious jasmine valium 🙂 Perfect! It was instantly calming, and cheered me up instantly. April 9, 2013 at 5:42am
Lynley: I am currently wearing Manoumalia, and i find its rich tropical lushness is also very comforting. We dont really have very cold temperatures here, but it’s probably something I would wear to try to invoke the heady days of summer April 9, 2013 at 5:48am
Victoria: Manoumalia is fascinating, isn’t it! I know that it’s a love or hate perfume, but those who love can’t get enough of it. I find it the closest thing to traveling to the tropics. April 9, 2013 at 9:04am
Victoria: Thank you, Lynley. I do enjoy a lot of the offerings at the department store counter, but there is so much low-quality perfume too. Of course, this is not just an issue for the department stores. There is plenty of uninteresting stuff in niche as well. On the other hand, the best of the niche is really impressive, and it can be very exciting to explore. I still remember how much I loved smelling Annick Goutal fragrances for the first time. They were unlike anything I’ve encountered!
Jasmine is one of my favorite relaxing scents. I wear A La Nuit or my own almond-jasmine oil whenever I feel especially tired. April 9, 2013 at 9:02am
Lynley: Oh that did sound a bit snobbish didn’t it, I didn’t mean it to be! I live in one of (the most maybe?) isolated cities in the world in Perth, and whilst in many ways it is fast catching up, our 2 department stores don’t carry a big range, and certainly I do buy from them, the selection is often only the biggest sellers. We have a couple of niche stores now, but for the most part most people don’t know they exist. So I meant really, that it’s great to be introducing great perfumes to a wider audience 🙂 and you write in a way that really captures the feel and smell of a perfume without having ever smelt it. I’ve bought a couple of perfumes blind from your reviews because I know from your writing whether I’d like it, and ‘we’ haven’t been wrong yet! 😉 April 9, 2013 at 12:45pm
Victoria: Oh, I didn’t read your comment this way at all! And there are plenty of mediocre perfumes at the department store counters, and they are the ones that often receive the most publicity. I was thinking the other day that most venerated classics (even the modern classics like Thierry Mugler Angel, Shiseido Feminite du Bois, J’Adore) were the “department store” perfumes. But they were well-crafted, memorable and distinctive. I wish they were more perfumes like that!
And I’m happy that my reviews are helpful! Thank you for letting me know. 🙂 April 9, 2013 at 1:56pm
solanace: Perfume is my heroine. I tried to stay away for a couple of months, because of the baby, but I gave up in a week (I’ve been wearing very tiny amounts, though). And I like them big. L’Heure Bleue, Shalimar, Chergui, Eau d’Hadrien, Nicolai’s Vanille Tonka, Amouage Gold or incredible Strange Invisible Perfumes Fire and Cream, that I just got on a swap, come to mind. April 9, 2013 at 5:23pm
Victoria: Your baby will have such a rich olfactory vocabulary when she grows up! 🙂
I’ve never tried Fire and Cream, but the name alone sounds curious. April 10, 2013 at 8:37am
Lynn Morgan: Dark weather usually suits my mood perrfectly, but if I am looking for a mood elevator of a scent, I go with a light floral- something with neroli, since it is a natural euphoriant, or something with a lot of lit of the valley. Despite the name, Agent Provocateur’s “Petal Noir” is very light anf flowery without being insipid, and I loved Tocca’s “Cleopatra” for its orange blossoms and sunny Mediterranean feeling. April 9, 2013 at 6:08pm
Victoria: I haven’t tried Petal Noir yet, but it sounds interesting. A light floral that’s not insipid is rare enough! April 10, 2013 at 8:31am
Victoria: I haven’t tried Petal Noir yet, but it sounds interesting. A light floral that’s not insipid is rare enough! April 10, 2013 at 8:31am
Laura: Well it depends on the rain doesn’t it?
My fragrance choices sometime mimick the weather outside rather than counteract it.
Spring rain – cold notes: Chanel 19 Poudre, or Decleor Aromantic
Warm rain – Guerlain Vetiver Pour Elle, Annick Goutal Un Matin Apres L’Orage, PG Aomassai, Hermes Un Jardin en Mediterannee / Sur le Nil
Autumn Rain: Lancome Miracle, SL Five O’Clock au Gingembre April 10, 2013 at 9:02am
jb: For rainy days, I wear mandragore pourpre, chanel egoiste and federic malle noir epices; I like spicy fragrances when its wet and cold February 5, 2014 at 8:18am