Beauty & Fashion
“A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.” – Coco Chanel
I knew Chanel No. 5 before its connection to my namesake. It was one of the few essentials lining my mother’s vanity, that and endless tubes of lipsticks that were variations of her favorite shades: purples, plums, mauves, and wines. Chanel had a writing of its own in the contributions to my mother’s signature. The glass bottle with its contents of liquid gold evolved to become synonymous with my mother and the scent of a woman. After she twisted the tube of lipstick until its royal velvet met the air and painted her lips, she’d take the perfume and spray it on the pulses at her inner wrists, along the length of her neck, and briefly in the space most immediate to her body. Chanel.
The 7 scents below are staples to the women who chose them as signature scents they are currently coveting. Read on, get inspired, fall in love, and maybe find a new signature to call your own.
“I love this fragrance because it is the perfect scent for summer. It contains two of my favorite scents – vanilla and coconut – and I’m always in love with a fragrance that can do that well. It’s not too sweet and not too fruity and has mostly a floral smell to it, but every time I spray it on myself, I feel like I’m back on the islands, sipping a piña colada.” – Elise, 32
Described as, “A sensuous, sun-drenched blend of Bergamot, warm Amber, Tiare Flower and Vanilla combined with creamy Coconut.”
Estée Lauder's Bronze Goddess, $65
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“I like perfume that makes me feel more womanly, more feminine, and more elegant and Coco Mademoiselle does that, inside and out. I’ve worn it every day since I first purchased it about a year ago and it has this floral, jasmine, rose scent to it. I always think happy, light thoughts whenever I breathe it on or catch a whiff of it during my day. It’s how I feel sensual. It’s what makes me feel like a woman.” – Monet, 26
Described as, “Sexy, fresh Oriental fragrance recalls the irrepressible spirit of the young Coco Chanel. An elegant, luxurious spray closest in strength and character to the parfum form.”
Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle, $124
“I’m not big on perfume, but to me, the absolute best fragrance is L’IMPERATRICE. It smells really sweet and delicious. I think it’s like me in a way, unique, youthful, hard to really pin down, but definitely something that sticks with you.” – Alex, 20
Described as, “Succulent exotic fruits and bright pink florals give way to a musky, appetite-arousing base.”
Dolce & Gabbana’s 3 L’IMPERATRICE, $74
“I’m all about putting things in and on my body that are as natural as possible so I use essential oils. I’ve really been loving Balance Me by Sinne Firenze. They are a cruelty-free, vegan, pure, fair-trade, organic – all words that I love and live by – company (laughs). The scent is very woodsy but with a hint of lavender to it that acts incredibly soothing. I feel like I’m enjoying a beautiful summer day or a great book while I’m overlooking the forest. I apply it daily and two to three times throughout the day.” – Evangeline, 35
Described as, “Emotionally balancing and soothing to body and mind. Deep woods with oriental extravaganza embraced by lavender.”
Sinne Firenze’s Balance Me, $19.99 (USD); sinne.it
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“I use Miss Dior throughout the year and Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet during the spring and summer seasons because to me it’s the perfect summer scent. I like it because it is a sweeter, more floral version of Miss Dior. It’s really light too. I love what the scent does to my body, I feel instantly pretty.” – Kelsey, 25
Described as, “Its heart holds a tender accord of Peony and Damascus Rose refreshed by a radiant Calabrian Bergamot. The poetic trail is enveloped in soft notes of White Musk.”
Christian Dior’s Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet, $65
“I discovered this perfume after it won that Consumer Choice Award last year and got head over heels for its bottle design. I like fresh, fruity scents, especially during the summer, which is why Daisy Dream is my go-to signature scent. It’s the perfect way to dab on some sweet-smelling fragrance that is there but not overbearing and is light enough to get me through the long, hot day. It’s summer in a bottle.” – India, 31
Described as, “The fruity-floral fragrance has a light and airy touch, bursting with top notes of blackberry, grapefruit, and pear. The heart notes are introduced with a bouquet of jasmine, lychee, and blue wisteria, and a medley of white woods, musks, and coconut water reveal the base notes.”
“My boyfriend and I love this scent! It smells like bergamot and has a lot of citrusy tones to it with a hint of spice. There isn’t a floral scent in sight which I can appreciate and I’m sure my boyfriend can appreciate too (laughs). I wanted a perfume that made me smell clean, not necessarily sweet, but clean. Bergamot fits that. I had their entire body care product line so now that there is a scent, my life’s complete. It’s kind of mysterious, kind of warm, kind of elegant. I can talk about it all day.” – Samantha, 43
Described as, “Hints of fresh green mint and glistening spices add intoxicating energy, while a dry down of woods and musk imparts an elegant, understated sensuality on the skin.“
What is your go-to signature scent and why?
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