SCENTS & SENSIBILITY

A well-rounded fragrance wardrobe does more than make you smell good helps you create scent memories and tells a story about who you are.

- Liesl Robertson

There is something undeniably romantic about having a signature scent. Something touching about the idea that it instantly conjures happy memories – or sends your loved ones into a tearful reverie once you’ve slipped off this mortal coil. It’s a nice thought.

But really, when you think about it, committing to just one fragrance does seem quite limiting. No one would expect you to eat the same meal every day, or wear the same outfit day in and day out regardless of your mood, the weather or the occasion. And you certainly wouldn’t don the same outfit for a date as you would to a meeting. So why not embrace the idea of a ‘scent wardrobe’ – a multifaceted collection of fragrances?

An interesting thing to note is that layering is having a major moment. Perfume houses are launching collections aimed at your inner mixologist, specifically designed to be mixed and matched. Clinique recommends layering scents from its new My Happy range ‘to mix your own scent memories’; Chloé’s Atelier des Fleurs line is ‘designed to work in harmony in endless combinations’; and Kayali even includes combo suggestions on its packaging. Chanel, meanwhile, has taken the more traditional route in terms of layering, introducing new ways to ensure your one chosen fragrance lingers, with oils, body lotions and even hair perfumes to lend staying power.

‘The year 2025 will be defined by a deeper connection to fragrance – an era of experiential slow perfumery,’ says Bernardo Möller, co-founder of House of Bō. ‘This philosophy invites us to see fragrance not as a fleeting accessory but as a profound act of reflection and storytelling.’

Still not convinced? Here’s why we think you need a scent wardrobe:

1 SCENT IS LINKED TO MEMORY