Fragrance memories

[#1]

Do you have a fragrance that when you smell it, you remember the same fragrance from when you were a child, or a fragrance reminds you of a particular event?

My Mom used to wear Coty Emeraude, so now whenever I smell something similar (I don't think it's even made anymore), I remember her getting ready to go out.  Powdery fragrances remind me of my grandmother, she used to put sachets in her dresser drawers, so lavender/powdery fragrance reminds me of her.

[#2]

It's so funny how scents can bring back such a strong memory.  I have no idea what fragrance my mom used to wear, but it was something woodsy.  The only time she wore it( or any fragrance) was when she'd go out with my dad to the symphony or opera, so when I smell something similar, I always remember her all dressed up and ready to go out.

[#3]

I actually dont. My mom has never had a signature scent, she changes up her scents frequently and often heehe.

But powdery scents remind of the beach because it smells like sunscreen to me.

[#4]

hey sephoramusthave,  I feel like I'm following you! Coppertone always brings back those memories, I mentioned it in a earlier post, Is that the scent that 'takes you there'?

Another distinct smell, me, in the Hamptons, no Coppertone, some low SPF no name  brand that a friend had,(she swore she had a high SPF Coppertone down at their house....NOT!  gave me the sun poisoning of a lifetime. and I am white!! whiter than white. People could actually see me burning on the beach, you know That's not a good sign. But, it was an experience, and experience that may give me skin cancer....an experience that taught me not to trust or hang  with that gfriend much longer (good thing). but nonetheless, an experience.

*oh, and 2 hot guys! - don't tell anyone though, okay? let's just keep it between us.

[#5]

Actually, any sunscreen has that "sunscreen smell" for me, even the natural ones. Banana Boat especially. I get burned real easy too, and I tan *real well* for a pale white girl. I go from fair to medium real quick, especially after I come home from a beach vacation.

[#6]

Me again.... how could I have forgotten the smell of Coppertone? Love It!! Still use it sometimes.

To this day, I close my eyes when I get even the slightest whiff of it and I'm instantly transported to Blue Mountain Lake as a child, back when My mother used to put t- shiirts on us after a little while (even though we had copper-tone on) just to make sure we wouldn't burn and recalling how much I used to fight with her about it because I didn't want to cover up my little girl bikini, why? "Because then the 'life-savers might not look at me." at the age of 4 or 5, really? Really!

My Poor Mother!

[#7]

Aw what a nice post! I have a VERY strong sense of smell so the slightest things will remind me of certain people,locations or events.

For years my  mom wore Jessica McClintock perfume. I still remember the bottle shape and everything. So each time I smell it now, I think of her! She likes the Salvatore Ferragamo and Dior J'Adore now, but JMC is always SUPER potent and reminiscent of being around my mother as a child.

There's a certain plant nearby my home, in front a restaurant that reminds me of my grandmother and being in elementary school. It's a green giant bush that sorta of looks like an overgrown bonsai tree with a very potent almost eucalyptus-like and strong earthy scent. I remember my grandmother picking me up from kindergarten and walking me home in the afternoon before we went to run errands and what not.  

Anytime I smell Acqua di Gio I think of my first boyfriend, same with Lancome Hypnose for my last. Not the best memory AT ALL to have for such a nice scent, but it's so funny how the mind can be triggered by something as simple as a scent. The plus side of the Hypnose is I can always just think of Clive Owen instead LoL. 

 

[#8]

I love that fragrances can take you back to a particular moment from the past! There's so much comfort in nostalgia. 

Victoria's Secret Love Spell reminds me of my high school days. It's a really distinct smell that's sweet. The notes are a rich blend of peaches and cherry blossoms. After wearing it for 4+ years it's pretty safe to say I'm Love Spelled out.

Chanel Chance and Pink Sugar remind me of my first year of college. Every afternoon I'd hang out in my good friend's dorm during one of my breaks. Her roommate (who had a cute Southern California/Urban Outfitters style) wore Chanel Chance daily so it always seemed to linger in their room. One of my whimsical dorm friends loved sweet smelling scents, and she would constantly wear Pink Sugar, so I often associate that with her. Living in the dorms was such a life defining moment for me, every time I smell either scent I think of my friends and all of the good times we shared together.

[#9]

Scent has always invoked such strong memories, I grew up on a farm, with a bunch of cows and I wouldn't trade my great childhood for anyones.  I had so many baby animals to play with and when I'm stressed and drive past a farm that others would hold their noses past I breath deeply, and I feel calmness come over me. 

My Mom used to wear Chanel No. 5, I still think of her everytime.  She also would put covergirl blusher on me while she would get ready, it was such a special feeling being beautiful like my Mom. 

My Granny had a bunch of granny perfumes in bathroom and my siblings and I would spray them on eachother, I think one of them is Estee Lauder with the gold bow, I don't love the scent but brings back silly memories.

[#10]

Hi prettyinpa - what an excellent question that will no doubt bring smiles to many faces.

White Shoulders - my grandmother,

I even wear it on occasion, I still love it so much. I even have a bottle of hers that had a few drops left in it, it's in my little girl jewelry box. Believe it or not, on occasion I will open it and it smells as good (if not better) than all of the White Shoulder I've purchased through the years.

Funny, a friend bought a knock off brand, it was close, but definitely no cigar, I always called it Beige Shoulders or Off-white Shoulders.

Old Spice - my dad.

Our neighbor and my bff, 13 years my senior, started having babies who literally grew up in my house, it was a wonderful relationship to be a part of. My friend still talks about when she would get the babies back when they were little and they were at our house or we were at her house, babysitting or what not and they always smelled yummy like my dad's Old Spice. We've since moved but if he isn't wearing Old Spice when she/they come to visit they all get Really upset.

Since someone else mentioned cigars, I'll mention a tobacco that my dad used to smoke on occasion in a pipe. It's Cherry Tobacco and it smells so delish! I hate Cigs, Cigars, Tobacco and all. But that one's different. I actually have a Lip Gloss that smells very similar to it, think it's my Original Duwop. (have so many glosses, hard to remember)

ps about my dad, when the Spice Girls came out he busted into song and dance, when we were in CVS one day and the Spice Girls came on the radio - He was so funny, I gave him his honorary Spice Girl name....you guessed it...Old Spice!!

He was also in the Navy, so sometimes he's Old Navy.

[#11]

I remember wearing the fragrance Lucky You in high school, it brings back a lot of memories. I also used to wear the Encanto fragrances in my early twenties. It makes me feel really young when I spray them on now I think each fragrance that you wear can bring back good and bad memories. I have some fragrances that I dont wear just because of what or who they remind me of!

[#12]

One of my all time favorite fragrances is Bobbi Brown's Beach.  I'm a complete island girl & live for laying on the beach with a mai tai in hand!  The Beach fragrance is something that completely embodies that feeling.  Its a combo of sunshine, sea breeze & suntan all rolled into one.  I filled an atomizer with some to carry along with me & lighten my mood anytime I need a pick me up  If you're a beach girl like me, definitely give it a try!

[#13]

Lavender&vanilla reminds me of childhood. Basically I don't have the concept of moisturize or SPF until in high school. I was such a tomboy before age of 10, picking fight with boys bigger than me and bringing home bugs hoping to raise as pet (except no one told me about this thing called oxygen, or that bugs die when I put them in glass jars and twist the lid close. I suspect it was very intentional from my mom), so I always run away to play as soon as I finish washing with water/soap/shampoo. My mom or grandmas would always chase me down to rub some lotion/moisturizer on me, and they are lavender & vanilla scented.

p.s. THANK YOU Sephora, for the auto-save feature of the posts.

[#14]

Yes!! I was just thinking about this the other day when I found a perfume I haven't worn in a long time...my friend had been wearing it and later got it for me, so I think of her whenever I smell it.  Funny how there's such a strong connection!

[#15]

Joy -Jean Patou.  Getting a whiff of this fragrance evokes memories of my mother.  Her dresser and bathroom had a very faint aroma of it.  Makes me happy to smell it but at the same time, it's quite expensive. Thus why I do not have even the smallest sized bottle of it. 

Clinique Happy - I find it repulsive (now) yet it reminds me of when I was twelve.  I was a kid back then enjoying the free time and not really caring about quality of fragrances. 

The smell of cigars.  While is it not a fragrance it does remind me of the old places and trips with one of my grandmothers.  Before all the no smoking rules came into place (which I am glad they did.  Some of those places were suffocating and miserable for long periods of time).

And due to current mother nature, hot dogs for a long time are going to remind me of ongoing fire westward.  In other words, I've lost my appetite for hot dogs. 

[#16]

Growing up, I lived on a farm. Not a gross one with a bunch of cows, but like a ranch. We had a little house surrounded by open fields, and a little forrest behind our house. When I was a child, my family used to walk along the edge, looking for honeysuckles. My dad taught us to pinch the bottom and pull to get a drop of "honey" out. When I smell perfumes with honeysuckle, like Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy, I think of the sun on my face and long grass tickling my legs.

[#17]

@ry22 - I was beginning to think that nobody other than me and my family and a few friends had ever done that!!. What a beauriful memory you just brougt back to mind, I can actually smell and almost taste the honey from the honey-suckles, yum. We used to go to my cousins house and pick raspberries in the woods behind her house, I've never tasted raspberries that delish! Isn't that always the way though? We also had about 3 sprigs of mint leaves that ended up taking nearly 1/3 of the garden, they were yummy too. Childhood now seem so different. Thanks for the memories though, honey!

BTW, I had to come back and edit this post after reading your post again, the 2nd time I got an even bigger smile on my face and in my heart (yes, I do believe your heart can smile, some might think that's odd) I loved the way you wrote your post, it was just so beautiful. I initially just got caught up in the honeysuckles but was glad I re-read it. Do you always write so picturesquely? (hope spelled correctly) You should be writing if you already aren't. That was lovely. Thank you.

I have issues with migraine inducing perfumes, but this one will have to go on my list, I really hope it comes up as a sample.

[#18]

Prettyinpa,

I love this post.

I am not a huge perfume wearer. Florals or heavy scents (even some fabric softeners) tend to make me ill. I’m a “hold your breath through the perfume dept.” girl. When I got married I wanted a scent to wear that would be lovely and soft. I found Philosophy Falling in Love. If I was to describe it I would say it smells like blackberries with a hint of jasmine and vanilla, although it’s not really sweet.

Every time I smell someone wearing this I think back to my wedding day.