THE POWER OF PERFUME // how fragrance can add luxury to your home

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‘A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future’ – Coco Chanel

Isn’t it crazy how a simple fragrance can bring decades-old memories flooding back?

The smell of cut grass, coconut-scented suntan lotion, Charlie perfume… (if you’re nodding your head to that last one, you’re totally giving your age away).

Apparently, it’s because the olfactory bulb (the part of the brain that enables you to smell) is directly connected to the areas that control emotion and memory, so the three become intrinsically linked. 

But smell is important for so much more than just memory recall. Fragrance has been used for centuries to encourage happiness and wellbeing, and increase productivity.  Cleopatra is believed to have dabbed herself with the scent of blue lotus, while wealthy Victorians favoured crushed violets. Even baby Jesus was gifted with frankincense.

There’s just something about a beautiful smell that lifts your mood and adds that little bit of luxury to your day.

VISITING THE PERFUME CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

I travelled to Grasse, France, recently and spent an indulgently fragrant weekend in the perfume capital of the world. While I was there I got to create my own perfume at the historic, family-owned Molinard Parfumeries.

For the hour-long workshop I was in heaven! I had a selection of 90 essences to choose from, which were broken down into top notes, middle notes and base notes.

The expert parfumier recommended I select at least three notes from each section, dab a bit on to individual smelling tapers, then collect the strips together to see if the elements blend well together.

I love florals, so headed straight for essences like jasmine, honeysuckle and freesia. When you held them together it was clear to see which notes went well together and which jarred, and I was quite surprised to see some of my favourites just didn’t work in the final mix.

It made me realise how complex this perfume making business really is: instead I found myself gravitating towards fruitier fragrances, such as pear, orange and green tea.

Once I decided on my final selection of scents, the master parfumier helped me decide how much of each essence to add to get that perfect balance. Then I had my own, one-of-a-kind perfume to take home.

COMFORT INTENSE #LITTLELUXURIES

I was really excited to find out that Comfort employ the exact same techniques when creating their fabric softeners. Well aware of how certain smells can enhance mood and wellbeing, Unilever employs perfume experts to sniff out the latest fragrance trends. From there, they create perfectly balanced products designed to release their scent throughout the day for long-lasting freshness.

We were recently sent a fabulous basket of Unilever goodies, including their new fabric softener – scented with a mix of fresh tropical fruits and creamy coconut.

I washed my bedspread and the moment I opened the washing machine door the fragrance spilled out. As it dried I kept getting wafts of perfumed air, and every time it felt like an indulgent little treat – like a scented candle or a room diffuser.

I’m really particular about smells and can’t bear anything that’s strong or cloying, but this is a subtle, classy fragrance. Even now – more than a week later – the scent reactivates every time I make the bed, filling the room with its lovely warm aroma.

Fabric softener isn’t an essential, but it’s a small, budget-conscious way for busy mums (and dads) to enjoy one of those ‘little luxuries’ that just make life that little nicer.