Do you use perfume to medicate?
Do you – conciously or not – utilize the aromatherapeutic properties of perfume?
What are your secret weapons against all kinds of aches and pains?
My Answer:
I wrote a big post about the issue, it will be up later today, right now I am very curious to hear about your fragrant remedies.
Olfactoria's Travels 
I wear Eau d’Hadrien or Rose Ikebana to revitalize; Teint de Neige, Lyric and La Rose de Rosine to bed as I find them very soothing; Eau du Soir and Cabochard to empower myself at business meetings.
When I feel really ill I try not to wear any fragrance as I cannot enjoy it.
I’ve written down La Rose de Rosine. I should really take a tour through all the Rosine’s some time soon. Thanks for your recommendations, Caro.
can’t wait for your longer post (and please tell me that your oud review is scheduled for tomorrow- curiosity is killing me and I’ve already signed up for a tiny 5 ml split because of you..:))
I don’t know about medication – but I’ve used Tam Dao in the past to calm my nerves during exams..More recently I’ve worn Bois des Iles to comfort and calm (must be all the sandalwood).
During one particularly difficult week I wore Cepes and Tuberose on one wrist and Shiso on the other and felt like I could take on the world..
I don’t know how much of this is due to the aromatherapeutic qualities of the specific perfumes..I think it is more because of the mood enhancing qualities of these scents, i.e the way they are constructed rather than the effect of the ingredients..Not sure though..hmm
Yes, Oud is up tomorrow. 🙂
I like your remedies, Lavanya. Especially the Aftelier combo sounds divine…
I am not very knowledgable about aromatherapy as well, and I don’t really care what it is that helps, as long as I feel it does, I’m good.
medicate/give balm to/nourish… to the point of planning ahead. like grocery shopping. or qtips. unsurprisingly, the people in my life ask to be medicated; even if taken aback by the first wave of aromatics to come at them from one bottle or another. being libran, of course i think perfume can heal the world- plant based, naturally.
“Perfume can heal the world” – that is beautiful. I wish it were true. Being a taurean, I fear I am more skeptic and/or pessimistic. But I am willing to believe in that sentence.
For me, my fragrance remedy is usually vanilla/gourmand based. However, in the summer months I find violets and tea soothing such as Dans te Bras, Opus III, Osmanthus Yunnan and Osmanthus Interdite. In the cooler months Un Bois Vanille, Teint de Neige, Micallef’s Vanilla Oud. This year I am looking forward to wearing Sweet Milk, By Kilian Love and Sweet Redemption, Tonkamande and other PG perfumes. For me perfume is medicine and it puts a smile on my face when I wear it. I am looking forward to hearing what your remedies are.
A good gourmand never disappoints, doesn’t it? I love your remedies, Sandra!
I believe in aromatherapy and use a mixture of essential oils in roll-on form, when having headaches – the scent is rather strange (herbaceous), but oddly enough it usually helps.
I’m not sure if a parfume could heal – but hey, if I feel a scent works uplifting, that’s a kind of remedy already, isn’t it. My “uplifters” are the light, the fizzy, the sparkling ones : J.Malone’s Nectarine Blossom, or Nez a Nez’ Fig scent.
On the other hand, L’Artisan’s Dzongkha is my calmative.
Perfume probably can’t heal, but it can surely help. As you say, when it lifts you up, it is a remedy already. 🙂
I hope you don’t ask because of your wrist. How are you, Birgit?
And yes, I do utilize the aromatherapeutic properties.
For instance OJ Ta’if makes wonders – I find it lifting and soothing. By the way, today I’m wearing Tolu parfum – and it’s heavenly. Maybe it could cure some aches, too 🙂
No, I have written that post before, but it sure comes in handy now. 😉 I’m better, thank you, Isabelle.
Tai’if and Tolu, ah, they are beautiful… the sure influence the mood, which makes everything at least a bit better.
Years ago I used to wear Aromatics Elixir quite often and I remember the text: “Believed to have specific effects on mind and spirit, this blend performs the role of perfume but goes far beyond.”
Very interesting. Thank you for that information. Unfortunately AE also goes far beyond my personal space, its sillage is just too much for me.
I agree with you! That’s why I remember the way I used it: spray it lightly and only swing once my wrist through the mist. That was enough 😉
That sounds like a great way of applying AE. 😉
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SO enjoyed reading everyone’s comments and concur with bits of all them. I use the aromatherapeutic/mood-altering powers of perfume ALL THE TIME! It definitely depends on the emotional “ache or pain”. For strength at work it’s usually Cuir de Russie, for comfort PG’s Aomassai, for ugly days Une Rose, for general calming CdG Kyoto. I could go on…
If I’m feeling mediative in the evenings I like to burn essential oils and my favourite combination is usually Rosewood (not environmentally friently to buy but I have an old bottle), Blood Orange and Patchouli (often prefer it in oil to perfume). Like Caro, I wouldn’t wear perfume when ill either. Intrigued to read your post later!
Great perfumes, Tara. And I have to thank you for CDG Kyoto, my number one calming agent. 🙂
Tara, I also use CdR for strength at work!
Hi, to calm my nerves or just enjoy a good night sleep, I spray Encens et Lavande (Serge Lutens) on my pillow. It’s cold and slightly aloof in a good, calming way. I also wore E&L to a trip to Goreme (Cappedocia, Turkey) this Summer. It really suits the landscape and the strangeness of this wonderful area. I recently purchased an very strong scented oil at the market of Gombe, a lovely Turkish town in the mountains, near the South coast of Turkey. It reminds of Ada cayi or Island tea, a herb you can get everywhere in Turkey. There is also a strong hint of mint and bergamot in it as well. The old salesman insisted that you can also swallow a few drops whenever you feel not very well. Doktor yok! (No doctor needed anymore) was his claim. Will put it to the test and let you know!
That sounds very interesting, Sandra. Let us know whether it is helpful! Doktor yok sounds perfect to me! 😉
I think that Portrait of a Lady might be exactly what I need for the coming months to remind me of the beauty that is present in life when I lose sight of it. I find it breathtakingly beautiful. So that would make PoL a remedy for the spirit, I guess.
Miller Harris Fleur de Bois works as a calm-me-down. It’s simple elegance soothes me and works against over-complicatedness. I think I’ll love it forever. Penhaligon’s Castile is not bad in this category either.
I could do with a sunshine fragrance bomb, so Penhaligon’s orange blossom is on my list. In the meantime L’Occitane en Provence Mimosa de l’Esterel and Clarins Eau Ensoleillante are the local work horses in that department. Brightness in a bottle is also Lalique Flora Bella. And Ormonde Jayne Tiare.
When I need a bit of girly-girl lightness of sprit, some carefree lift it’s – no surprise – Miss Dior Cherie worn in unscented body lotion. The best way to wear it in my opinion.
I don’t think that I’m fully equipped in the soothe-me-in-the-midst-of-winter departement, but there’s still time. I have Prada Amber on the list of candiates. It might not prove enough. Is there an amber out there that is more amber than Prada Amber, but without a spice rack to go along?
When I need some grown up womanly professional presence about me it’s everyone’s pick, Chanel no. 19 – it just works.
The amber first (rule: amber must always come first! 😉 ):
The softest amber that is still ambery and generally wonderful on my list right now is Mona di Orio Ambre. I realize that this is not exactly an easy to get perfume, but it is so beautiful, and not in the spicy vein of Serge Lutens et al. Another really beautiful one is Armani Privé Ambre Orient, classic amber, not too strong, and very smooth.
Your remedies sound very good as well, Marie. Portrait of a Lady is beautiful, sadly I always get a headache when I wear it, there is something that does not agree with me in there.
And Chanel 19 – it just works, absolutely.
I’m taking notes – amber notes 🙂
Sooooooft and smoooooth is just what I want in an amber fragrance so I appreciate the suggestions.
I just found my sample of Parfum d’Empire Ambre Russe and sprayed it on. A bit too sweet, perhaps, but not unpleasant so far – which means 5 minutes into it.
I generally find the Parfum d’Empire line underwhelming with Equistrius as an exeception so far. Perhaps I expected too much.
And on Portrait of a Lady: It is definitely one of the most concentrated fragrances I’ve ever smelled – it’s dense – perhaps too dense for me to wear on a regular basis, but in small amounts it’s delightful. I’ve placed an empty sample vial with my linen and it gives off the softest whiff of scent when I open the drawer – nice 🙂
Actually, I find myself wishing that they would release a Portrait of a Lady L’eau or something like that – shame on me 😉
Lol, I think Hell will freeze over before Malle does something like that. 😀
But maybe you can try OJ Ta’if or PdE Eau Suave (the latter I know you have), they are lighter versions of the same general theme.
Oh too bad Parfum d’Empire is not to your liking. But maybe a second round gives slightly different results? I always find that initial judgments seldom hold.
I won’t hold my breath, either, for the PoL L’eau version :-;
It wasn’t so much that I didn’t like them per se, I just thought that the staying power was close to zero (particularly Eau de Gloire – which is quite ironic) and that they were a bit “common” for lack of a better word. Nothing special. Shrug. I probably expected unrealistic things because it is a niche-y line – thought that there would be a wow factor compared to my mainstream babies, but no.
I will definitely try all of them again – first impressions aren’t necessarily reliable.
Ambre Russe has been a very pleasant companion this afternoon for starters – I’m not wow’ed, but it’s nice, and it doesn’t seem to want to take over the entire show which is often the feeling I get with orientals. So off to a good second round.
For the days when all life has conspired to drag me d-o-w-n…Aftelier Candide (totally!), Atelier Trefle Pur and my recent happy discovery, Aroma M’s Geisha Blue, Andy Tauer’s Incense Extréme
For when I want the comfort of virtual cashmere: Ormonde Jayne Tolu, Neil Morris Rumi
To be cool calm and collected: Chanel no. 19 (yes, it just works!), DSH Vert pour Madame (ditto) and the felicitous layering combo of Guerlain Iris Gananche and Odin NY – 04 Petrana (Iris to the nth power, which is how it makes me feel!)
For a different kind of powerful: Amouage Memoir, either one, I love them both! Epic and Ubar. Something about Amouage makes you believe you’re invincible! Or that you should be! 😀
For the calm that only lavender can bring…: Serge Lutens Encens et Lavande, Gris Clair
For instant happy: Serge Lutens Fleurs d’Oranger, Caron Bellodgia (my son’s all-time favorite), Atelier Grand Neroli
For the days I need to be Wonder Woman (and this was a HUGE surprise!): Piguet Bandit. Really, it comes with power bracelets attached, I swear!
For grounding: Aftelier Cepes and Tuberose. The fragrant lightning rod. I think it lengthens my fuse by a few feet, so there’s always a little somewhere on me…! 😉
These are the standbys…at least this year!
Great stand-by’s, Tarleisio! I don’t know why you are surprised that you clicked with Bandit. I totally see you in that perfume (and I’m glad I’m your friend, since you must be fierce in it!). You and Bandit will get what you want (an agent to start with!). 🙂
Working on it, B, I’m working on it!
I’ve used Menthe Moderne by DSH to wake me up and calm my nerves during a frazzled morning.
Aftelier’s Wildflowers takes me to a childhood place, laying in a field of grass, staring at the little flowers that grow along the fence or even in the middle of the lawn – especially these tiny little orange flowers. It’s soothing. She has several others than accomplish the same thing for me.
Aftelier’s Boronia takes me to a tropical land, with lots of sun, temperatures in the low 80’s. It cheers me up. I wish I afford more than a few samples.
Ajne’s Espoir reminds me of pretty orange trees, filled with blossoms, sitting next to other fragrant flowers. It’s a happy scent. Ajne’s Fleur Blanche reminds me of a trip to California’s central coast. I see a tiny cottage with jasmine winding around the front porch. The tame woodsy drydown reminds me of walking on the beach, collecting driftwood, and enjoying the breeze.
Ahhhhhhhhhh….I need a vacation now! I’ll have to settle for a virtual one today, thanks to the wonderful scents I have (even if they are just samples).
Hi CC, your “escape” perfumes sound wonderful, such lovely options. You inspired me to go looking for my Aftelier Wildflowers and a fragrant meadow in my mind… 🙂