FRESH TAKES is an olfactive tell-all written by fragrance enthusiasts for fragrance enthusiasts. Fans of scent will share secrets, obsessions, and unfiltered insight into their take on perfume.

I have such strong memories of growing up and being surrounded by scent. I had a very swishy grandmother who really made an impact every time she walked into a room—she always dressed ‘to the nines’ and wore JOY, which is this intense Bulgarian rose scent. I remember being in awe of her confidence and joie de vivre! My own mother was also into fragrance, and I loved watching her get ready for the day, putting on her makeup and spritzing on her perfume. She favored more classic, aromatic scents like a Chanel No. 5 and Clinique Aromatics Elixir. So, growing up, my sisters and I were very aware of scent and created a wardrobe of scents to play with. Today, it’s absolutely an important part of my daily life. My favorite part of the day is picking out my ‘scent of the day!’

As you can imagine, I have a rather large collection. I spent years searching for my ‘signature scent’ only to realize that I love everything about fragrance. From researching perfume notes to sniffing my way through brands and picking out my favorites! So, my collection is all over the fragrance map and has evolved through the years. I gravitate towards warm, sensual, comforting, gourmands and never tire of a touch of vanilla!

The beauty of fragrance is that it can instantly transport you to another time or place. It can provide comfort. Make you feel happy. Invigorated. Sexy. Confident. It can put a smile on your face and make your eyes roll back in your head in delight! It is a rare day that I don’t wear fragrance, and I am not dressed until I choose that finishing touch!

For me, it’s really a day-to-day decision. I wake up and figure out what vibe I am looking for or ask myself “what am I needing that day”? Do I need energy? Comfort? Confidence? I will use specific fragrances to push me in the direction I want to go. For example, if I am feeling sluggish, I will put on a more clean, crisp, invigorating scent to get me going! - Ormonde Jayne Woman   Or, if it is a cold, damp, rainy day here in the Pacific Northwest, and I miss sunshine and warmth, I will put on a tropical floral to lift me out of the doldrums- Fragrance du Bois – Oud Jaune Intense. The beauty of fragrance is that you can use it to evoke so many feelings and vibes.

My go-to fragrance and dare I say, ‘signature scent’? If I had to pick just one, it would be Roja Parfums 51! 51 makes me smile. It makes me happy. And I never ever get sick of it! Feminine. Soft. Fluffy. Creamy. A tad powdery. Vanilla. Floral. It is pure JOY in a Bottle.     

A long-time love has been Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Mood- a deep jammy rose, vanilla, amber scent with a touch of oud. This one is intoxicating, addictive and a compliment getter! It is also a magical confidence booster. A little goes a long way and lasts all day long and into the next. For those of you who want a tamer version of this, I recommend the Oud Satin Mood Body Oil, which creates a delicate veil of this stunning fragrance.

My newest obsession is Fragrance du Bois New York 5th Avenue. This LITERALLY smells like NYC during the holidays. It transports me to NYC and reminds me of visiting my son who lives in the BIG APPLE. It is a brilliant composition of rose, caramel, violet notes on a warm bed of cashmere and guaiac woods, musk, with a touch of vanilla! A warm, elegant, BIG CITY gourmand. I am just obsessed!