A little-known fact about me is that I’m a very olfactory person. In simpler terms, I have a strong sense of smell, and consider that as my most powerful sense. I’m near-sighted and have to wear glasses so I can see better at night. I also have hearing loss in both of my years, from all of the years I’ve spent at raves and rock concerts in the 1990’s! But my nose seems to be the best out of all my senses. Due to this, scents I love from perfumes and other products truly lifts my mood. Especially in disorienting or uncertain times, like those we’re experiencing from COVID-19, spraying my favorite perfumes, room spray, and even lighting scented candles instantly boosts my mood. I think a great fragrance or scents are something everyone appreciates, and wanted to share my favorites with you!

Everyone loves scented candles, and I believe they can truly brighten up any room-not just with their light, but with fragrance as well. I love lighting Tobacco & Sandalwood candles by Sydney Hale Co.’s candles; they have a very sultry, woody scent with sweeter tones of vanilla (though I adore all her candles!). I also like that they’re native to Virginia—so I’m able to support a beloved local brand when I need new candles—and donate part of their sales to animal rescue operations. Giving back is really important to the world and our communities; when that’s combined with a local product you love, it’s a win-win for everyone!

For me, the most important fragrances are the ones I put on myself. I like to say that I start applying fragrance in the shower, which is somewhat true. My favorite body wash, Brazilian 4 Play by Sol de Janeiro, is a creamy gel that smells like caramel and pistachio. Not only is it super hydrating, but it always starts my mornings with a delicious scent! After showering, I always apply body lotion or moisturizer that matches whatever perfume I’m wearing, since most of my favorites have a corresponding scented lotion (Pro tip: if you apply moisturizer before you spray on perfume or cologne, it will last longer!).

I usually have several perfumes or colognes on rotation; there are too many great varieties to choose just one! My favorites to wear are Byredo Mojave Ghost, and either Atelier Cologne’s Cedre Atlas or Orange Sanguine. I love Mojave Ghost for it’s scent that’s both masculine and feminine, which Byredo is known for. It’s a woodier fragrance with a cedar base, but also contains violets, sandalwood and amber for a perfume that smells amazing year-round. Atelier Cologne makes fantastic fragrances that smell amazing on anyone, which is why I love Cedre Atlas and Orange Sanguine; cologne’s not just for the guys! Cedre Atlas is another cedarwood-based fragrance that’s tinted with citrus from Italian lemons; it’s a cooler, lighter scent that I wear in the summer and often in the winter. Orange Sanguine contains blood orange, sandalwood and geranium, so it’s fruitier and more floral than the others; I prefer to wear that in the spring and summertime. 

In general, I love perfumes or colognes that are woody but contain floral notes with an extra ingredient, whether that’s fruit or something stronger like amber. I feel like they’re more universally-loved, and don’t smell too much like a perfume or cologne; they smell like naturally-occurring scents. My favorites are also all unisex, which was a pleasant surprise. Even though I think anyone can smell like whatever fragrance they want, regardless of the fragrance’s masculinity or femininity, that helps me when recommending my favorites to someone else. Since these are all neutrally-scented, in a way, I know I’ll be able to recommend them to anyone!

I don’t just love particular scents for candles or my personal products, but for rooms too. A room spray can completely refresh your sense of smell in a certain space, especially in a room that might need a scent touch-up if the air feels stuffy or stale. Byredo’s Bibliothèque room spray is my all-time favorite. It’s a lighter scent that contains fragrance elements I love, like peach, plum and violets. 

Though fragrances are loved individually, when I chose Bibliothèque I had to find a scent I loved that wouldn’t overwhelm the kids or my husband at home. When I picked this room spray, I wanted to make sure I wasn’t compromising scents that I like and was choosing ones that had broader appeal; even though it’ll be awhile before Ella and Logan are shopping for their first fragrances, and they develop their individual tastes. My family all agrees that it smells great, which was awesome to hear! Since the fragrance notes are similar to ones I regularly use, too, the room’s scent doesn’t clash with my own. Overall, it’s very harmonious, which I feel like we could all use at home right about now.