10 Fragrances You Can Wear All Year Long
We associate certain scents with certain seasons. The very phrase “pumpkin spice” brings up images of colorful autumn leaves, orange jack-o-lanterns, and the ubiquitous combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves used to flavor all things pumpkin. The scent of pine reminds us of Christmastime.
So, too, do people vary the fragrances they wear by season or even by time of day, such as lighter scents for daytime wear and heavier scents for evening. Fragrances worn for special occasions make those occasions even more special, but an everyday, go-to fragrance that works all year round establishes your personal brand.
A personal fragrance should complement your personality. Different scents give olfactory cues, from lively to reserved, outdoorsy to outgoing, and sparkling to sultry. Fragrance entrepreneur Sylvaine Delacourt categorizes fragrances by season and the wearer’s personality, with many customers aligning their personalities with specific seasons. With those seasonal personalities go certain scent preferences:
Spring personalities (sparkling, fresh, lively) work best with citrus and fresh, green fragrances, with marine notes being suitable for men and florals for women.
Summer personalities (feminine, artistic, elegant) are best matched with powdery scents reminiscent of oriental spices, florals, and subtle woodsy notes.
Autumn personalities (calm, thoughtful, authentic) work best with woodsy, leathery, and spicy scents combined with fresh, green notes and vanilla.
Winter personalities (dramatic, intense, seductive) prefer deep, sensual, oriental notes and strongly scented florals.
The best fragrance that becomes part of your personal brand is one compounded especially for you. This endeavor should take into consideration your personality type, the scents that appeal to you, and the environment in which you work. A closed, confined workspace necessitates a low-key fragrance.
A skilled perfumer will work with you to create a custom fragrance that people will associate with you no matter the time or the season. These all-season scents include:
Floral: peony, lilac, orange blossom, rose, tuberose, jasmine, frangipani, lavender, ylang ylang, neroli
Herbal: eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint, rosemary, lavender, chamomile
Citrus: lime, lemon, orange, bergamot, coconut, pineapple
Fruity: pear, vanilla, raspberry, peach
Woody: sandalwood, cedarwood, juniper, pine, labdanum
Spicy: cinnamon, clove, ginger, patchouli, oud
Marine: lime, eucalyptus, fennel, geranium, lavender, rosemary, vetiver
Earthy: patchouli, amber, vetiver, mushroom
Metallic: chrysanthemum, rose, nasturtium, balsam, lily, watercress, pennyroyal, cucumber, geranium
Musky: ambrette, vetiver, citronella, myrrh.
The Journal offers a guideline on how to determine which fragrances suit you best: “[T]o get the most out of your perfume, think about it like you would think about the cut of a jacket. Dare we say it, look for meaning.” Your perfect fragrance will be as multifaceted as your personality. Just as no one word fully describes you, no one scent comprises your signature fragrance.
Enhance your custom fragrance with lemon, lime, basil, orange, amber, or lavender. Strong floral and spice notes add boldness to a more subtle fragrance. For an even more complex and intricate olfactory experience, add texture with ingredients that make your personal fragrance reminiscent of powder, chalk, leather, metal, or smoke.
Find the custom fragrance that speaks to your personal brand and which you’ll love wearing all year round at Paula Howard Essentials.
