Fragrance Etiquette & Fresh Picks for Spring
This post may contain affiliate links and ads. Affiliate links and ads support my work at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your ongoing support!Fragrance can evoke feelings, memories of the past and even stimulate the release of endorphins. Certain perfumes may recall your youth, while others may remind you of your grandmother (in all the best ways, of course). Fragrance is a powerful force that can be used to attract and seduce or simply enhance our own mood and experiences.
Discovering a signature scent is one way to elevate your everyday. However, finding that perfect fragrance and wearing it well is as much of a science as it is an art.
Join me on an adventure to learn about fragrance etiquette and discover the best new perfumes for Spring!
History of Fragrance
Did you know? The first perfumer on record was a female chemist by the name of Tapputi. This understanding was discovered through the translation of stories about the chemist inscribed on a clay tablet found from Mesopotamia, dating the invention of perfume to sometime during the second millennium BC.
Fragrance has essentially been used to adorn humans, attract others, symbolize rituals and display wealth and status for as long as human history has been recorded - and likely even before then.
In 1533, Catherine de Medici married Henry II, and with that marriage brought a dowry of wealth and style. Etiquette buffs may know that Catherine de Medici is credited for introducing the fork to the French court, but it’s likely she also introduced and popularized perfume as well!
Today, fragrance continues to be a powerful tool we can use to influence, attract and enhance ourselves and the world around us.
Fragrance Etiquette
When it comes to wearing your signature perfume, there is specific etiquette to keep in mind. After all, we’ve all experienced when fragrance goes wrong - too strong, too potent, too obtrusive to everyone except the person wearing the offensive fragrance in question. So yes, perfume is sexy and stylish… until it’s not!
Avoid wearing heavy perfume in business environments, where it can be distracting. In medical facilities where perfumes could be an allergen to others, or in situations where you will be around those who are extra sensitive, (like small children and elderly adults) it’s best to avoid wearing perfume altogether.
When wearing perfume, apply it lightly and correctly. Refrain from ‘dabbing’ wrists together and instead, simply spritz each wrist from a distance of about 5 inches and allow the fragrance to soak into your skin.
Never reapply perfume in public. Not everyone may appreciate catching a spritz of your signature scent. And while you may feel that the scent has worn off, remember that you are likely to notice the fragrance less overtime even when it’s still noticeable by others.
The Best Perfumes for Spring 2024
Like our clothes and accessories, changing your signature perfume based on the season, time of day and even the occasion is something to consider. While heavier fragrances with notes of vanilla may feel extra cozy for the fall and winter months, something crisp and floral may be better suited for the warmer months of spring and summer.
Now that spring is here, it is the perfect time to assess your current go-to fragrances and add something new to your perfume collection.
Best Perfumes for Spring 2024
LoveShackFancy Bohème: A classic and clean, skin-loving floral featuring key notes of Blackcurrant, Peony, White Amber, offering a smooth and soft finish.
Carolina Herrera Good Girl Blush: Described as a “fresh, floral explosion of femininity” this stylish reinvention of Good Girl features warm floral notes of Mandarin, Ylang-Ylang and Vanilla.
Valentino Donna Born in Rome Green Stravaganza: This bold, warm floral fragrance boasts notes of Tea Accord, Jasmine, Vanilla - designed for “women born from the abundant gardens of Roma.”
Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia: This is a joyful, floral perfume built around the sensuous Gardenia flower for which it’s named. Cheerful and sweet, notes of solar jasmine absolute, cheerful pear blossom accord and sweet brown sugar accord are layered with Gardenia.
Jo Malone Orange Blossom: This iconic fragrance captures the wildness of honeysuckle, winding through the English countryside and has been noted as a long-time favorite of HRH The Princess of Wales.
Henry Rose Windows Down: This is my personal signature scent I wear on a near daily basis! This fragrance is created with clean ingredients and is described as “bright grapefruit and bergamot encounter honeyed neroli and soft Earl Grey tea for a light and floral finish.”
Replica Springtime in a Park: “A delicate perfume that recalls the memory of walking through a park in spring.” What could be more perfect? This delicate perfume features layered notes of lily of the valley, green blackcurrant and the fruity effect of pear.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian À La Rose: This fruity and floral perfume is described as an ‘ode to femininity’ declares that 250 freshly bloomed roses are captured into each and every bottle!
Do you have a signature scent? Do you rotate your fragrance wardrobe each season? I’d love to know what your favorite go-to perfumes are right now!
If you are interested in learning more about how you can elevate your everyday, join me this summer for my signature virtual course: Social Etiquette & Elegance.