My Complicated Relationship with Florals

Especially when they are white, and/or aqueous, fruity, fresh and green...

I have several perfumes as such, so I technically like them. But wearing them I feel depressed, and I mean really depressed.

That's becoming such a struggle for me, because if I am to eliminate certain perfumes from my wardrobe, or use them less, I'm only left with 3-5 orientals and chypres which I'm an all time fan of.

Here goes my list of sad perfumes (some of them really good which makes it all the more sad):

Original Formula

Avon Today

Eden Classics Le Jardin

Reformulated

I guess a discontinued rare find nowadays...

Avon Rare Pearls

These are the ones I can think of. Florentyna by Marks & Spencer, Anais Anais by Cacharel (original formula) and Chloe by Chloe (original) are the ones I have to be respectively careful with. The patchouli note in Anais Anais thankfully makes it rather more comfortable for me than depressing. And for Chloe, I need especially the right mood which seems to come ever so rarely. I don't seem to get on so well with Dior's Poison either. I guess I love tuberose in oil form or in Versace's Blonde, which is utterly divine for me.

Other than that, I have problems with fragrances centered around the musk note (like Avon's Soft Musk, TBS White Musk, or Narciso Rodrigues for Her) despite I like musk in Indian attars.

I will never be the person for "fruity", "citrusy-fresh" or "candy" fragrances on the other hand.

Give me spicy orientals, like pre-reformulation Opium and Youth Dew. Give me YSL's original Nu, Dana's Tabu, Reminiscence's Patchouli and Montale's Patchouli Leaves. And as for a chypre, I will always love Clinique's Aromatics Elixir.

I know my time has come to try and buy more niche fragrances. I am open to suggestions.

Amrita 11 years ago

I have some good news to share on this issue. I am no longer that much irritated or depressed when I wear such florals :) I meditated on it and found the subconscious reason lying behind my reaction. Albeit there was no particular negative event in my childhood which I associated with florals, (the green, fresh and big ones, bouquets, white flowers) these were the very stuff constantly worn around me during a particular hard time of mine. I am more comfortable wearing them now because I forgave the experience.
That said I wasn't fond of Le Jardin as a child because of my immature nose, and the same went with Opium which is my all time favourite :) But now indeed I see Le Jardin better for what it is. And today a spritz of Pure Poison didn't depress me at all:) I am wearing Rare Pearls in a row since two days, and in a generous amount.
I guess the case is successfully resolved and I'll continue enjoying my different types of perfumes according to my moods:)

Amrita 11 years ago

Cryptic, your idea is awesome! I considered the same thing and couldn't remember any particular event; yet I'd never thought of wearing one of those perfumes to bed and see what I dream about. I will try that!

Cryptic 11 years ago

They call our sense of smell the most primitive of the five and it seems to tie into the subconscious more than the others. Perhaps our bodies know things that our minds can't, at least on a conscious level, and that's why we have negative reactions to different notes that we can't explain. Maybe you had a bad experience that you're not remembering, but you unconsciously associate it with certain florals because that smell was present when it occurred? This may sound daft, but you could always wear one of the problem perfumes to bed and see what you dream about.

Amrita 11 years ago

Thanks for your replies guys. I am aware that fragrances merely trigger a feeling, perfume alone is not sure that potent to cause depression. As for the reason of my situation, that stays a mistery. Maybe it's simply my chemistry, or rather my nature/character etc. When certain florals don't fit with it (despite they smell ok and good on my skin), this may be causing the feelings of depression. Maybe I don't totally feel true to myself wearing certain fragrances and that's the reason lying behind. Maybe some florals smell extremely happy or extatic to me way beyond my usual mood. Again, the issue of character and nature. I don't experience any problem with earthy/fiery fragrances, but I'm not as ok with airy/watery aromas.

Dulcemio 11 years ago

I agree with Sleuth. The fragrances themselves would seem to be merely at the wrong place at the wrong time. "Really depressed" is so much bigger than fragrant liquid. Sounds like you would benefit from determining the true cause of your depression.

Sleuth 11 years ago

Hi Amrita. Reading your blog I get the impression that it's less about the fragrances but more about the feeling you get when you wear them. I think that when you figure out *why* you feel less comfortable with these fragrances you will be able to search for florals (white/aqueous/fruity/fresh) that somehow do fit your criteria for what make it comfortable to wear. Or maybe you should only wear them on a few specific occasions, as it is for me with patchouli & fougères. Good luck!