We could all do with a mood boost right now, couldn’t we? I thought so. With winter, lockdown and *gestures at everything* the world as it is, a little bit of cheering up wouldn’t go amiss, and perfume is an excellent way to do that. So how about it? Shall we cheer ourselves up with some beautiful scents to boost our mood?
But first, how can scent boost our moods? Well, perfume may be a functional product because it’s created with a specific function: to make us smell good. But we all know that perfume is so much more than that. For a start, it’s an emotional thing. When we think back to all of the significant events in our lives, we know they’re coated in a cloud of scent – a haze reminiscent of the fragrances we wore. It’s also a costume we can wear to project-specific images onto the world, or it can simply be something we take comfort in, with scents that make us happy, calm, joyful and confident.
Here are five mood-boosting perfumes to make you feel a bit of joy…
1. Radiate Positivity
Nothing boosts the mood quite like roses and sugar, am I right? Put those two things in perfume, and you have happiness, my friends, and luckily for us, Parfums de Marly has done precisely that. Delina is a soft, pale pink rose dusted in sugar. It has bright, fruity notes of lychee, rhubarb and bergamot, and a soft, milky feel that makes one think of delectable treats that cost more than a few pennies – all finery, luxury and delicacy. The base is softwoods and musks, with a light, airy feel. If you like roses or gourmand perfume but are looking for something a bit more luxe (something more ‘Ladurée’ and less ‘Gregg’s’), Delina is perfect. Delina is so gorgeous; there’s no way it won’t bring a smile to your face.
2. Escape To Sunnier Shores
White flowers are known for their intoxicating trails. They’ve evolved to attract pollinating insects in competition with their multicoloured floral friends, who frankly rely on their good looks. There is something beautiful about an unassuming flower finding a way to bloom so differently from those around it. Because of this, each white flower possesses its distinct perfume. Songes celebrates the tenacity of these blooms, specifically sambac jasmine and ylang-ylang, pairing these heady notes with the creamy sweetness of vanilla. The result is a tropical island of a scent that speaks of perseverance and beauty. If that doesn’t lift your spirits, I don’t know what will.
3. Boost Your Confidence
To me, Century feels entirely self-assured. It’s the kind of fragrance that projects quiet confidence. It doesn’t need to grab attention or shout; it merely says, “Hey, I smell good”, without any fanfare or fuss. Century’s central theme is a lightweight sandalwood note extended and made fresh by the green, mineral quality of violet leaf. Like a freshly ironed white shirt, Century is spotless with a soft, creamy quality to it that makes it feel like the most comfortable thing you could wear; this is the scent to rock when the mood you want to boost is one of certainty and determination. It also smells really, really, really good.
4. Exude Happiness
What I’d give to be in Italy right now, sipping a Negroni under the sun at a luxury vineyard retreat. I mean, that sounds pretty good, but as we all know, it’s not on the cards for a little while. So, instead of cocktails amongst the vines and to bring me some summer happiness, I’ll be spritzing some Arancia di Capri instead. It’s the scent of oranges, all sticky and juicy with a touch of caramel to give a toasted sugar, almost marmalade-like feel, all carried on a summer’s breeze of petitgrain and musk. Arancia di Capri transports you away to warmer, sunnier places and that, dear readers, really does put you in a good mood.
