Grey Likes Weddings Rockin' a new rock?!

Some of us wear perfume daily and others rarely. It’s a luxurious choice we can make with no signs, signals or labels that only the nose knows.

A bottle of Shalimar always sat on my grandmother’s boudoir. I couldn’t say much about the scent, but its shape, like her, was seductive and powerful with poignant edges and a very slim silhouette.

My first attempt at finding a fragrance was anything but personal — it started with the Gap in 1994 and it was called Dream, the whole sticky-sweet floral mess of it. Thankfully, my preferences have evolved since fifth grade.

I bet the majority of brides today plan on a spritz or two of a sentimental scent, and here’s why.

Model Perfume

Bazaar nailed it when they called the appeal of perfume, “ephemeral and empowering … that lingers in the room long after its wearer has gone.”

For most, our scents are not just for ourselves, but are the first and last impression we make on a working olfactory. Perfume is powerful because it’s alluring and intriguing — but this legacy works in both good and bad ways.

I was giddy to jump into the world of fragrance when my former agency put me on the Coty account. But one enduring question was still hard to answer: what makes a perfume wearable?

As has Elle noted, perfumes succeed by burning a memory into your brain. Those that “work” have very particular top notes (preferred by humans and robots e-noses alike): grapefruit, bergamot, orange, lime, freesia and mimosa. On the other hand, musk and patchouli are wince-inducing.

How do you know what will work for you on your big day?

Etsy

 

Unlike many other experiments, trial and error with fragrance can leave you sick and stinky. Consider these tips below before testing:

— A celebrity is pitchman and only a pitchman

Wake up early to visit a boutique

— If you’re drawn to a scent, see if there are more versions in the line

Looking for something au courant? Refinery 29 just debuted their springtime favorites — old and new scents from Jimmy Choo, Valentino and Chloé — and the choices are right up a bride’s alley.

For brides looking for a no-fuss route, there are some fragrances that outweigh the rest and lend themselves to something intangible and timeless. Thanks again to Bazaar, here’s an easy roadmap for the faint of heart:

 

Failproof Fragrance 2

Then there’s application, which should come before anything else you put on your body. My dear friend Olivia Palermo advises the right spots and the right ways to put on your perfume. Take note: for those of us in the District, the summer only intensifies the scent.

Finally — (unlike the dress) when it comes to fragrance, I am more than willing to share what I’ll be wearing:

Chloe

Styled bride photo via Style Me Pretty // Custom perfume image via Etsy Weddings // Collage by the author via Polyvore: Prada Infusion d’Iris / Marc Jacobs fragrance / Calvin Klein perfume / Chanel No. 5 pink / Designs by Inslee // Bride and perfume via Style Me Pretty