new year, new you.


While in London, I picked up a new fragrance for 2014: Jo Malone Vanilla & Anise. I am picky when it comes to scents. Anything too floral or heavy gives me a headache. I tend to spray myself with my favorite, then leave the store (much to the salesperson's chagrin). If I can make it for a few hours without picking up a nasty headache, I find my way back to the store (much to the saleperson's surprise) and buy the scent. 

As we walked away from the store, beautiful bag in hand, I realized it isn't just the scent which makes my perfume purchases so time-consuming. It is the fact I attach memories to whatever scent I buy. The Jo Malone pick from London will always remind me of our European escape. For me, the perfumes below have big {and small} memories attached to them. Some were worn for a season of my life. Others lasted years. Those scents can immediately take me back to the good memories I earned while wearing it. I regret purchasing a few, mostly because I didn't have the same shopping sense that I do today. {Read: headache city!}

Buying a perfume over the New Year's holiday also made me feel like I was getting a shiny, happy lease on 2014. This smell could be the one with which I remember {what I hope are} exciting things ahead. In the strangest way, it made me even more hopeful for the new year. Sometimes, the whole "new year, new you" idea rings true in the most realistic of ways. This year, Jo Malone and I will take on the world.

Am I the only crazy one who attaches memories like this to smells or are you in the same camp? I'm praying I'm not alone here! If you have a picky nose like me, what fragrances have recently passed your test? xoxo {av}


21 comments:

  1. I feel the same way about fragrances. I had my college fragrance, then my immediate post-college fragrance, and now I'm on the hunt for my mid-20s fragrance! I've always wanted to splurge on Jo Malone, so maybe this is the year :)

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  2. I totally think that you associate memories with smells. For that very reason, I bought a special perfume for my wedding day. I wore it on my honeymoon and wear it for special occasions with my husband...hopefully he notices too!

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  3. Such a lovely post. Perfumes are so special to me and my mother-- she grew up stealing spritzes of her mother's Chanel NO5, and when she was older, she got her own, and then passed the tradition on to me. Perfumes can bring back memories in the same way that an old photograph can. I've since moved on to my own fragrance (Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede-- highly recommend!) but any time I walk by a Chanel counter, I'm flooded with memories and love for the women in my life!
    Xx

    liztisch.blogspot.com

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  4. I definitely attach memories to scents, too! Live Colorfully by Kate Spade will always remind me of my wedding... Angel by Thierry Mugler and Ralph by Ralph Lauren will always remind me of college... Tommy Girl by Tommy Hilfiger will always remind me of high school :) Burberry Brit is my newest go-to in the last few years though :)

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  5. Funny...my husband and I went to London (and Scotland) over the summer and I was thiiiis close to buying a Jo Malone scent myself after 2 shop visits. When we got home I couldn't stop thinking about it and he ended up getting it for me for my birthday that fall. It too will remind me of our little UK trip. I love the association of scent with memories!

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  6. ...by the way, I got Wild Bluebell.

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  7. There's science behind your theory! :) Scent is actually one of the strongest triggers for memories because the olfactory nerve (where the brain processes smells) is right near the amygdala (where we experience emotion and emotional memories). I can totally be brought back to a time/place by a smell and love when the people I love have a signature scent I can associate with them! My go-to for the last 5 years has been Chance by Chanel.

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  8. I totally do the same thing! Loved following along on your European journey via Instagram (and I adore Jo Malone perfumes!). :)

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  9. I love this post. I think it's fun to associate these types of things with experiences, and memories. I hold some of my favorite artwork dearly to me that I purchased in the markets while in London. I think they serve as tokens that remind me you of something much more, versus your run of the mill souvenir. As for scents, I'm not much of a perfume wearer yet but I do love how delicate the Coach Poppy perfumes are. You should try them, if you haven't already done so! :)

    Cheers!
    Simply Akshara

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  10. LOVE this post. I have a perfume from high school and when I smell it, I FEEL LIKE I AM IN HIGH SCHOOL. Crazy and wonderful!

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  11. Oh my gosh, I love this post! I have a "college" perfume that no matter how long I've continued to wear it after college, still makes me think of that time.

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  12. I'm the exact same with fragrances! They are always linked to memories :)
    Hope you enjoyed your trip! xo

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  13. I am SO picky, and I definitely feel your headache pain - as we speak, I'm still picking up a new-ish scent lingering on my scarf from yesterday, and am hating it right now. Bonus challenge is Jack's super, super sensitive sense of smell. Your new scent sounds positively delightful for a new year!

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  14. I am completely addicted to Jo! I have several fragrances and a body butter that is heaven!

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  15. PS I think Jo Malone must be a foodie, because all of her scents are scrumptious, I could wear them and eat them!

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  16. Chanel Chance has been my go to for four years now! It's light and fresh and I love it to feel fancy or even for every day! I've heard great things about Jo Malone though, it's next on my list to try!

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  17. Every time my husband smells "Twirl" by Kate Spade, he remembers that I wore it when we first started dating! Lucky for me, I'm not sensitive to smells - I probably have a DULLED sense and feel like I always bathe in it before I leave. Glad you found something you like!
    - Catherine

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  18. I completely understand this. I'm excited to read that someone else attaches memories, too!

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  19. Great shopping idea, I've never thought of it! What would you recommend for my wedding day? I need to shop and am looking for inspiration!

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  20. I love Jo Malone! My signature scent is Nectarine Blossom layered with Vanilla Anis, so it´s not sweet and has this fresh fruitiness to it. I love it!

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