Your signature scent is your favorite fragrance. Today. You can’t predict the future.
It may be your favorite perfume for various reasons. Because it suits you. Because others admire it on you. Because it reminds you of an era that no longer exists.
But today is the scent you like the best.
Many people wear the same fragrance for years, which is understandable. Being consistent is essential.
Some of us keep changing fragrances over the years. As our tastes change, so do our lives.
When we smell our old signature scent, however, we remember that specific time.
In my case, I do it intentionally. I stop wearing a fragrance, but I keep it. After a few months or even years, I wear it again.
The old days come back with a smell. It’s a little nostalgia trip.
Come with me, and I will tell you how to find a signature scent.
What is a Signature Scent
Several of us associate a scent with a person. Our dad’s aftershave. A smell from Grandma’s house. Our mom’s vanilla perfume.
That is a signature scent. A smell tied to a person.
Although we live in a world of mass-produced items, we still value our individuality. [1] Even as children, we want to pick our own clothes.
From here, we get the idea of having a specific fragrance that represents us due to our inner need to express ourselves. Isn’t that sweet?
My Signature Scent(s)
In the last 10 years, I have changed a lot. This includes my signature scents.
My passion for fragrances began in 2011. As always, everything started by chance. It was a co-worker who sold me my first fragrance, Paco Rabanne Black XS.
Until I purchase my second fragrance, for about two months, I used it every day. It was after my third that I lost count.
Years passed, and what began as a hobby turned into a profession. I have professionally written about my favorite scents. I have sold perfumes for a living.
But I still think of scents as a hobby. Something that brings me joy. It all comes down to my love of smells.
So, what is my signature fragrance today? Glad you asked. I tend to wear a different scent most days. I don’t overthink it.
If it is a cold night out, I wear something loud like oud or vanilla fragrance. If we are in the middle of the summer, I will grab a citrus scent or a cologne that’s lying around.
My daily routine is basically this, but I’ve always had one perfect scent I wear more often. I can’t recall all of my signature scents, but I’ll try to remember a few of them.
Paco Rabanne Black XS
I still have my bottle from 2011. It reminds me of people I no longer see. A loud woody scent that I always received compliments for.
Cartier Declaration
A perfect scent if you work in an office. I wore it every day for almost a year. My skin loves it, and it’s a citrus fragrance that everyone should at least try.
Creed Aventus
I wore it every day until the bottle was empty. The smell makes me think of my ex, so I didn’t rebuy it. It’s a woody parfum with sex appeal as an ingredient and probably my most complimented signature perfume.
Find Your Signature Scent
Enough about me. This article is about you. How do you find your favorite smell?
No postgraduate degree or knowledge of every fragrance family is necessary.
Consider the following 3 factors when making your decision.
Personal Taste
What are your favorite smells? Are you a floral type of person? Is that rose I smell? Not your taste, fine.
Do you like musk? How about amber? Maybe vetiver? I’m sorry. I jest. I want to help you, not complicate your life.
I depend on you here. Which is your favorite fragrance style? Is it fresh? Do you like vanilla? A floral smell? How about a woody scent?
Try a few different fragrances. A couple of scents one day. A couple the next. Go to the mall. Spray them on your skin. One on each arm.
Continue with your life. Take a whiff once in a while. So, what do you love?
Lifestyle
I still depend on you. How would you describe your lifestyle? Do you work from home? Does your daily work involve serving the public?
Moderation is the key to using any fragrance. If you like warm spices or a potent rose, wear it proudly. Apply a little less than usual. Don’t overthink about it.
If you work from home, go nuts. Wear your patchouli bomb in the middle of summer. Use your floral fragrance as a room spray. Anything that makes your skin smile.
Your Inner Circle
Ultimately, you should wear a fragrance that you enjoy. But, what about our partners? What if they love a scent we wear?
What if they hate it? Uh-oh. Technically, I’m a therapist, but I’m not your therapist. I’m kidding again.
Relationships are all about being happy together. If they enjoy your scent, well, wear it more often!
It’s not perfume science. If they hate your fragrance, ugh, I will let you decide what to do.
How to Layer Perfume to Create Your Signature Scent
This section is a bonus smell track. If you want to create your own perfume, you may use more than one scent at a time.
A former boss taught me this. One day I asked her what perfume she used, and she said: “several at once.”
Her literal advice: the left and right sides of your body. One fragrance for each half. Spray liberally. I worked with her for 5 years and people always complimented her perfume. It works.
Recommendations
Unisex
Molecule 04 by Escentric Molecules
I recommend this perfume constantly. With good reasons, though. A deep sandalwood smell, but it’s not your typical santal parfum or candle.
Molecule 04 smells differently on every person. This type of scent profile makes it an ideal signature fragrance.
Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum
Not your typical signature perfume. And that is good. I can’t decide if it smells like makeup or cotton candy. Maybe both.
I love it so much. The perfumer is one of my favorites.
Women
Diptyque Philosykos
Diptyque makes beautiful floral scents, but this is not one of them.
Pure fig smell with a spectacular coconut middle note. Fresh in a way that words don’t make justice to it.
A comfort parfum that is not just for women. Its smell deserves a broader audience.
Men
Tom Ford Grey Vetiver Eau de Parfum
If you only want one fragrance in your signature collection, Grey Vetiver comes to mind.
The effective smell of orange blossom and vetiver as a power base note.
Simple yet powerful. Ideal for corporate men and fancy people of all ages.
