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.

My dad used to playfully tell me to “never leave the house smelling like nothing” and I believe that was what prompted me to enter my body spray phase that all girls go through in middle school. I remember feeling so pretty once I veiled myself in my little vanilla scented spray at the end of my morning routine, and I never felt finished without it.

Surprisingly, my fragrance collection blossomed, or rather exploded, soon after the beginning of quarantine and I realized that my love for fragrance is ultimately due to its power to give me a feeling. Whether it’s to give me that boost of confidence that I need for the day, to make me feel cozy and comforted, or to make me feel like I’m in a totally different location. It’s also extra exciting when my perfume of the day comes up in conversation because then I get to exchange favorites, meaning that I can potentially add another to my shopping cart!

My collection now is extremely diverse, and each scent serves to convey a certain feel for the day. If I want to feel elegant, I use Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Gentle Fluidity Gold which, to me, is a modern classic and definitely an elevated version of my retired vanilla body mists. It’s sweet, airy, powdery, and I instantly feel like I’m ready to throw on a dainty dress, wear my hair in pin curls and walk through the streets of Paris.

Mango Skin from Vilhelm Parfumerie is another favorite of mine and each time I smell it, I am instantly taken back to last summer and every memory that I made replays in my head. Not only is it nostalgic, but it also makes me feel like I’m on a tropical vacation drinking freshly squeezed juices on the beach when I’m actually just running around in a metropolitan city. I love how the notes of pink sugar and red wine add a bit of heaviness for wear in the colder months too!

I’ve recently discovered Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Aqua Celestia Cologne Forte and I love to spritz this on when I want to hold on to that straight-out-of the-shower freshness. Lime is nowhere in this fragrance, but I am obsessed with how it smells like a refreshing cool lime cocktail. The bottle sort of looks like an ice cube or a glacier, which perfectly sums up the feeling of this fragrance. It’s like a cold drink of water on a hot day, a crisp white shirt, and oversized sunshades.

Just as we all have a clothing wardrobe, I think having a fragrance wardrobe is equally as important! Putting on a fragrance at the end of your routine is like slipping on a fun pair of shoes or adding a cute purse to your outfit, except it entertains more than meets the eye.

My dad used to playfully tell me to “never leave the house smelling like nothing” and I believe that was what prompted me to enter my body spray phase that all girls go through in middle school. I remember feeling so pretty once I veiled myself in my little vanilla scented spray at the end of my morning routine, and I never felt finished without it.

Surprisingly, my fragrance collection blossomed, or rather exploded, soon after the beginning of quarantine and I realized that my love for fragrance is ultimately due to its power to give me a feeling. Whether it’s to give me that boost of confidence that I need for the day, to make me feel cozy and comforted, or to make me feel like I’m in a totally different location. It’s also extra exciting when my perfume of the day comes up in conversation because then I get to exchange favorites, meaning that I can potentially add another to my shopping cart!

My collection now is extremely diverse, and each scent serves to convey a certain feel for the day. If I want to feel elegant, I use Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Gentle Fluidity Gold which, to me, is a modern classic and definitely an elevated version of my retired vanilla body mists. It’s sweet, airy, powdery, and I instantly feel like I’m ready to throw on a dainty dress, wear my hair in pin curls and walk through the streets of Paris.

Mango Skin from Vilhelm Parfumerie is another favorite of mine and each time I smell it, I am instantly taken back to last summer and every memory that I made replays in my head. Not only is it nostalgic, but it also makes me feel like I’m on a tropical vacation drinking freshly squeezed juices on the beach when I’m actually just running around in a metropolitan city. I love how the notes of pink sugar and red wine add a bit of heaviness for wear in the colder months too!

I’ve recently discovered Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Aqua Celestia Cologne Forte and I love to spritz this on when I want to hold on to that straight-out-of the-shower freshness. Lime is nowhere in this fragrance, but I am obsessed with how it smells like a refreshing cool lime cocktail. The bottle sort of looks like an ice cube or a glacier, which perfectly sums up the feeling of this fragrance. It’s like a cold drink of water on a hot day, a crisp white shirt, and oversized sunshades.

Just as we all have a clothing wardrobe, I think having a fragrance wardrobe is equally as important! Putting on a fragrance at the end of your routine is like slipping on a fun pair of shoes or adding a cute purse to your outfit, except it entertains more than meets the eye.

Cyra White |  Fragrance Enthusiast