I know someone who refused to wash her bedsheets for months because they smelt like her long-distance lover. I’ve also heard a story about a mother who wouldn’t wash or get rid of any of her son’s clothes after he had passed because his scent engulfed them. My Syrian coworker keeps a jasmine-scented perfume by his desk at all times because it reminds him of home.
Every one of us has a specific scent or perfume that we treasure and cherish purely due to the memories it evokes. Our memories of scents can even change how we feel about them. I myself hated the smell of lavender until I received a bouquet of roses with lavender in them. That one happy memory is now associated with the scent of lavenders in my mind’s eye forever.
The Science Behind This
It is no coincidence that smells evoke memories. Plenty of research has been done on this, and many perfume companies, candle makers, and retail chains have capitalized on this for years. According to an article published in Harvard Medicine, the magazine of Harvard Medical School, titled “The Connections Between Smell, Memory, and Health,” when we smell an odor, it directly routes to the amygdala and the hippocampus, the regions related to emotion and memory.
Simply put, the olfactory cortex, the part of our brains that identifies scents, is closely linked to the parts that generate emotions and store memories.
Fragrances That Evoke Memory
A simple question was raised:
“What are some fragrances that you have a special connection to due to the memories they remind you of?”
I was not surprised when I was given precise answers about scents and fragrances that people associated with happy memories. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how vulnerable and open some people became when stating the beautiful memories they associated with these fragrances.
1. Dior Fahrenheit EDT
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Dior |
| Best for | Men |
| Fragrance Family | Aromatic Fougere |
| Notes | Top Notes: Nutmeg Flower, Lavender, Cedar, Mandarin Orange, Chamomile, Hawthorn, Bergamot, and Lemon Middle Notes: Violet Leaf, Nutmeg, Cedar, Sandalwood, Carnation, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, and Lily-of-the-Valley Base Notes: Leather, Vetiver, Musk, Amber, Patchouli, and Tonka Bean |
| Release year | 1988 |
| Longevity | Over 8 hours |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Jean-Louis Sieuzac, Michel Almairac and Maurice Roger |
I’m starting with a personal one here. Fahrenheit by Dior was my grandfather’s signature scent. Growing up, I remember my mother constantly expressing her love for this fragrance. I didn’t realize it immediately, but I eventually figured that she speaks highly of it because it reminds her of her father.
This mesmerizing fall fragrance is deep and warm. The opening features comforting notes like nutmeg, lavender, citruses, and bright florals. The heart and base are complex and rich but are also well-balanced. I can see why my grandfather loved this scent so much.
2. Jacques Bogart Silver Scent EDT
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Jacques Bogart |
| Best for | Men |
| Fragrance Family | Amber Woody |
| Notes | Top Notes: Orange Blossom and Lemon Middle Notes: Lavender, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Coriander, Rosemary, and Geranium Base Notes: Litchi, Tonka Bean, Teak Wood, and Vetiver |
| Release year | 2006 |
| Longevity | Over 6 hours |
| Projection | Strong |
| Perfumer | Jacques Bogart |
“Silver Scent by Jacques Bogart reminds me of the past a lot because it was the first perfume I used, and until now, its scent gives me a sense of comfort.”
This sounds like a feel-good perfume at its core. With Orange blossom and lemon in the opening, lavender, cardamom, nutmeg, coriander, rosemary, and geranium in the heart, and litchi, tonka bean, teak wood, and vetiver in the base, this fragrance feels like a warm hug. This certainly is a nighttime perfume for the colder months of the year.
3. Victoria Hills Victoria Couture EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Victoria Hills |
| Best for | Unisex |
| Fragrance Family | Amber Fruity |
| Notes | Top Notes: Bergamot Middle Notes: Ylang-Ylang Base Notes: Anise |
| Release year | – |
| Longevity | Over 8 hours |
| Projection | Strong |
| Perfumer | – |
“Victoria Couture by Victoria Hills. Every single time I wore this perfume, my mom would get a headache. She used to scold me because of this perfume. She prefers light and sweet fragrances, and this is not one. This fragrance always reminds me of her scolding.”
This fragrance has a simple composition yet packs a punch. The bergamot, Ylang-Ylang, and anise blend to make an impression. It is worth trying if you love strong perfumes that last for hours.
4. Azzaro Pour Homme EDT
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Azzaro |
| Best for | Men |
| Fragrance Family | Aromatic Fougere |
| Notes | Top Notes: Lavender, Lemon, Caraway, Basil, Bergamot, Clary Sage, Iris, and Star Anise Middle Notes: Vetiver, Sandalwood, Cedar, Patchouli, Juniper Berries, and Cardamom Base Notes: Oakmoss, Leather, Amber, Musk, and Tonka Bean |
| Release year | 1978 |
| Longevity | Over 6 hours |
| Projection | Strong |
| Perfumer | Gerard Anthony and Richard Wirtz |
“My father used to wear it 25 years ago. When I was a teenager and would come home after curfew, I would know if my father was home or not by smelling his perfume. Azzaro Pour Home saved me so many times from getting in trouble.”
This fragrance, along with Dior’s Fahrenheit, was very popular in the early 90s, so I would assume that many would associate it with their father or any older male figure they looked up to when they were young. This aromatic fougere has a very distinct scent that is warm and sophisticated. It is best for winter and fall wear.
5. Bvlgari Aqva Pour Homme Marine EDT
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Bvlgari |
| Best for | Men |
| Fragrance Family | Aromatic Aquatic |
| Notes | Top Notes: Grapefruit, Neroli, Mandarin Orange, and Petitgrain Middle Notes: Water Notes, Seaweed, and Rosemary Base Notes: Virginia Cedar and Amber |
| Release year | 2008 |
| Longevity | Over 6 hours |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Jacques Cavallier Belletrud |
“In 2017, I bought more than just a fragrance. Bvlgari Aqva Marine was the first thing I bought with my first paycheck, and it holds a piece of my past. Every time I spray it, it takes me back to when I first entered the working world, earned my very first salary, and felt a sense of independence. This fragrance has been with me for years, not just as a scent but as a reminder of my beginnings. The memories it holds will stay with me forever.”
Bvlgari’s fresh and sweet scent opens with sweet citrus notes, which dry to water, seaweed, and rosemary notes at the heart. The rosemary gives the perfume a herbaceous and resinous scent. The base is grounded with notes of Virginia cedar and amber. Due to its aquatic nature, this Bvlgari fragrance would be an ideal beach day perfume. Still, I recommend it for everyday wear regardless of activity during the summer and spring especially.
6. Bleu De Chanel EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Chanel |
| Best for | Men |
| Fragrance Family | Woody Aromatic |
| Notes | Top Notes: Grapefruit, Lemon, Mint, Pink Pepper, Bergamot, Aldehydes, and Coriander Middle Notes: Ginger, Nutmeg, Jasmine, and Melon Base Notes: Incense, Amber, Cedar, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Amberwood, and Labdanum |
| Release year | 2014 |
| Longevity | 8 hours |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Jacques Polge |
“My uppa (Dad) didn’t need any clocks to wake up. Every single day, without any disputes, he used to follow the same routine. I remember how he would apply his sandalwood oil before he bathed every morning. While applying the oil to himself, involuntarily, the fragrance of the oil filled our home. Every room used to have this smell. While studying in college, I finally got the courage to use the oil for myself. My father used to store it in a small aluminum tub. I don’t know if courage is the best word; maybe I finally felt the urge to use it.”
“Slowly, by applying the oil behind my ears, I started to inherit my father’s identity. When Uppa passed away, I resided in the Gulf, far from my homeland. Uppa’s memories were with me always, but that scent went extinct in my life. I couldn’t write down the smell, but it was in my heart. I knew I would encounter it again someday and will forever make it a part of my life. When I opened a Chanel Bleu Eau De Parfum bottle, it felt like my father was close to me. A lot of emotions—confidence, courage, happiness, and love—were felt quickly. I use it daily; the perfume is my companion, just like my father used to be. Then I knew how perfumes can bring back moments.”
7. Chanel Chance EDP
| Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Chanel |
| Best for | Women |
| Fragrance Family | Chypre Floral |
| Notes | Top Notes: Pink Pepper Middle Notes: Jasmine and Iris Base Notes: Patchouli, Musk, and Vanilla |
| Release year | 2005 |
| Longevity | 8 hours |
| Projection | Moderate |
| Perfumer | Jacques Polge |
“I was in 10th grade when I first bought this perfume. Technically, I didn’t buy it myself. I nagged my dad to buy it for me. I had decided that year that I had become a grown woman and should start wearing a grown woman perfume. Initially, I wanted Chanel No.5, but everyone told me it was an old lady scent that was not fit for a teenager. Therefore, I opted for Chanel Chance. This was my signature scent for a couple of years until a Burberry fragrance dethroned it, but it still holds a special place in my heart.”
This one is a classic. It is suitable for any young girl who is just getting into luxury fragrances. The base’s vanilla, patchouli, and musk notes appeal to the majority due to their comforting and attractive nature. This versatile scent would make the ideal signature fragrance if you want one.
Find all your favorite fragrances and relive your favorite memories with V Perfumes‘ scent collection. You can find everything from perfumes to candles to hair mists here.
