Perfume and Personality
December 10, 2024
Writer: Sam Luper
Editor: Hana Pitchon
It’s 2015 and my mom is dragging me out of Bath and Body Works after an hour of trying every product in sight. Warm Vanilla Sugar lotion, At the Beach body mist, Champagne Toast hand scrub, Sweet Pea candle. Although I didn’t leave with any products, I did leave with a multitude of paper strips drenched in scents I had tested and explored while my mom and sister waited impatiently for me to have my fun.
Ever since I was little I've been obsessed with scents. I was content sniffing candles at a candle store or trying out the new body mist at Victoria’s Secret. I’m not sure why or how this love formed, but I know that it has persisted over the years. Although I don’t still spend hours in Bath and Body Works, I love trying new perfumes at Sephora and am obsessed with finding my current “signature scent.”
Smells are powerful. Just smelling Pinrose “Secret Genius” brings me back to freshman year of high school when I would douse myself in that scent every morning before school. My dad’s cologne has its unique freshness and musky qualities that instinctively remind me of him. Even research shows the power of smell—studies have shown that scent is a powerful element in attraction psychology and mood. Alfredo Fontanini, a neuroscientist and professor at Stony Brook University explains “the pathway from the nose is the shortest and most direct way to activate the limbic system in the brain, which is responsible for creating, reactivating, storing, and recalling memories and emotions” (Strauss). Every perfume is tied to stories. The beauty of that is later in life when you smell a scent from your past, you are transported back to that specific moment. Memories, personal taste, and even skin chemistry play a role in determining whether or not you like a certain scent. Our sense of smell is highly subjective and our individual preferences allow us to express our personalities, which influences how others perceive us. The selection of a fragrance often reflects the desire to project a specific image or identity. Just as fashion communicates personal style, a scent speaks volumes in subtler, yet equally impactful, ways. For me, the ritual of choosing a fragrance has become a form of self-expression. When I’m rushing to class and quickly need a perfume that is light and goes with any mood I lean towards Glossier You. When I’m getting ready to go to a fancy dinner I make sure to pick a more sophisticated and expensive scent like Giorgio Armani My Way. If it’s a cold winter day I might pick a cozy vanilla scent like Vanille from Anthropology or Gourmand Crème Brûlée. Perfumes aren't just about smelling good—they're about identity, mood, and the small joys of daily life.
Scents have always been something I loved but it wasn’t until recently that I appreciated the beauty of the science and psychology behind perfumes. Perfume is just another avenue to express yourself, your mood, and a small yellow tool that can brighten your day.
Image: Scott Tran
