A friend of mine recently asked me what my “signature fragrance” is. I had to take a moment and really think about it. If you look at my perfume tray on my vanity right now, it’s a wide variety of scents, from warm and seductive to light and floral to sweet and gourmand. I’m always trying out new fragrances and new combinations, trying to find what works best for me. But her question got me thinking about this idea of a signature fragrance and what that means for consumers.
To me, a signature fragrance isn’t the same perfume every day. It’s knowing which notes and fragrance categories work best for you and make you feel the best. And I think that’s the beauty of fine fragrance: each category is so deep and complex. Just look at the gourmand family as an example. The first scents that come to mind in this grouping are usually evocative of desserts and sweets, but it also includes notes like pistachio, strawberry and cherry.
There is so much room to explore and experiment as a consumer, which also allows perfumers the freedom to be more creative and take risks in their formulations. The combination of certain notes and scents can create an interesting new dynamic, something totally unexpected and unique. Tomato candles are a perfect example; what do you mean my candle will smell like a tomato? But the creative combinations of tomato and other notes, such as tarragon and black pepper and green leaves, creates a wholly new experience.
The fine fragrance category is seeing so many new launches and innovations every day, and it’s not going to slow down anytime soon. Well established brands are redefining themselves in the fragrance space and firmly planting their stake in the ground. It’s an exciting time to see how brands use fine fragrance to give their bottom lines the much needed boost as well as giving consumers a new way to engage with them. One of the most surprising launches to me was the Adidas Vibes hair and body mists. An athletics brand with a fragrance scented like caramelized hazelnut and fudge? I’m already intrigued.
So what’s my signature fragrance? I’ve determined that I like both florals and fruity scents, but they need to have a warm base. I can’t give up my amber and musk notes.
