A Scent For Every Style: A Guide To Your Signature Fragrance

“Like fashion, your scent should should fit your mood and where you’re going, says Sheena Chandran, Sephora’s director of fragrance merchandising. So how can you choose your signature scent? Your sense of style can lead you in the right direction, because the nose knows, right, babes? Any girl worth her Louboutins knows that good style seldom happens by accident. The same rule applies to scent. And just as your style can leave a lasting impression, so can the right notes. In fact, scent might be the single most important sense when it comes to attracting a lover.
Dr. Gary Beauchamp, Ph.D, of the Monell Chemical Senses Center says that scent is “the most primitive of all the senses.” And so, scent and sex are inextricably entwined. Beauchamp explains that in the wild, scent helps attract two things: your mate and sustenance. Maybe you’re on the hunt for a significant other, or maybe you just want to leave a lasting impression of your inner goddess. Either way, choosing a scent is easy if you follow your instincts and stay true to your style.

French Kiss

The Look: Big sunnies, statement lip, and an effortless confidence help you achieve Parisian chic street style.

The Scent: TOCCA Violette is touted to evoke “Vibrant blooms along the Champs-Elysees.” With notes of Italian Bergamot, ginger oil, coriander seed oil, African violet, Bulgarian rose, black currants, and cashmere musk, this fragrance makes you go oh la la.

Rock N’ Rolla

The Look: Rocker tee, tattoos, and a penchant for black help. But to really pull this look off, your attitude screams, “No f*cks given.”

The Scent: Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen are the style mavens behind Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black, and though the twins are known for their bohemian look, they unveil a rock n’ roll wild side with this scent, which has been called an “addictive blend of alluring violet, sensual sandalwood, and rich vanilla.”

Flower Child

The Look: You may or may not don a flower wreath, but you definitely lace your wardrobe with floral patterns that speak to your signature look.

The Scent: Marc Jacobs Daisy exudes the essence of grapefruit, musk, vanilla, wood, jasmine, and strawberry. Picture yourself lying in a field of daisies.

Rugged Femme

The Look: Mixing masculine with feminine is the key to your style. Or better yet, your style has no gender, but is fierce baby, fierce.

The Scent: Terre D Hermes by Hermessmells just as good as a woman as it does on a man. The woody, mineral notes give this cologne staying power. Slay, girl, slay.

Minimalist Miss

The Look: Messy bun, invisible makeup, and a clean, tailored blouse keep your look low-key. If you wear accessories, they are simple and classic, and keep the focus on you, not your outfit.

The Scent: Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin is a classic unisex scent that’s simple yet alluring. Bergamot, grapefruit, lime, mandarin, orange, iris, lilac, basil, and thyme give the essence of a Caribbean.

Beach Babe

The Look: A tiny bikini top is your go-to piece, and you live to layer as you go from beach to bar with the ultimate cool girl savoir-faire.

The Scent: Bobbi Brown Beach offers essences of sand jasmine, sea spray, and mandarin so you can wear the beach wherever your adventures take you.

Cosmopolitan

The Look: Mixing classic staples with edgy accents is second nature to you. As a cosmopolitan babe, you’re unafraid to take risks and wear your sexuality on your sleeve.

The Scent: Fracas is a bold scent for a bold woman, with its intoxicating notes of fruity peach, orange blossom, floral jasmine, iris, lily of the valley, sandalwood, musk, and cedar.

Night Fever

The Look: Brows on fleek, a bold nail, and sunnies to match your mood keep your party girl look fresh, because you own the night, even during the day.

The Scent: Tom Ford Jasmin Rouge is perfect for the boudoir, with accents of neroli, ylang-ylang, vanilla, leather, amber, and wood. It can’t get sexier than this.

About the author

Jill Di Donato

Fashion Editor

Jill is a New York native who holds a BA in Literature from Barnard College, and an MFA in writing from Columbia University. She is the author of the novel Beautiful Garbage (She Writes Press, 2013) about the downtown Manhattan art and fashion scene in the 1980s. A former staff writer for The Huffington Post and Bustle, Jill comes to Culture Trip after working with Refinery 29, Vice, Salon, Paste Style, Los Angeles Times, Nylon, Shopify, Autre, and producing content for emerging fashion labels. She teaches classes about fashion and culture at Barnard College and The Fashion Institute of Technology. Her prized possessions are her Gucci fanny pack, vintage rocker t-shirts, and her grandmother's collection of costume jewelry. She's always on the lookout for a gem-encrusted turban.