Having a favorite perfume, the one and only, is becoming extinct. Using a perfume just to smell good is also a thing of the past. The idea that in Spain we prefer fresh scents is following the same path of disappearance... The emergence in the use, enjoyment, and acquisition of fragrances by the younger generations, who have turned it into a topic of conversation on social media, is rapidly changing the landscape and making "perfumery today a mirror of our society where perfumes have evolved to be something more: a tool for personal expression and emotional connection, to tell a story, evoke emotions, and fit into a lifestyle," as mentioned by Rebeca Cernadas, Senior Fragrance Development Manager & Global Lead of Creative Initiatives at Eurofragance.
In fact, as confirmed by trend experts at Coty, for younger consumers, a perfume is an extension of their personality, like a piece of clothing or a look. It allows them to express their identity, share an emotional state, confirm their style. In fact, according to the perfume giant, we have moved from a signature scent (a personal scent for each individual, the chosen one) to a fragrance wardrobe.
It makes sense, then, that choosing just one perfume is difficult, and when choosing it/them, it should consider that moment, as emphasized by experts from the Academy of Perfume, to play with different perfumes, just like playing with clothes (aren't we ultimately talking about an olfactory wardrobe?: "There are moments of seriousness and moments of playfulness, moments of action and moments of tranquility, moments of seduction, moments of feeling empowered...". And there are moments to go for dinner (or lunch) at a restaurant where choosing the right fragrance becomes crucial, even more so than finding the right look.
Perfumes and food: why it's important to pair them well
Are we exaggerating if we think that we should study which perfume to wear when going out for a meal, just like we choose jeans or a little black dress based on the formality of the plan? Miguel Bartolomé, Marketing & Communication Manager at Isolée, answers without hesitation: "Absolutely. Just as you adjust your looks to the context, the same goes for perfume. It's a form of social intelligence. It's not the same to go to work, travel for hours, or have a nighttime date. Your mode is completely different. Just as we modulate our tone of voice or our appearance, we should also do the same with our fragrance. Choosing a perfume and dosage without considering the plan is like dressing without checking the weather: it might work, but you have an 80% chance of making a mistake."
When we talk about plans that involve eating, we must not forget a fundamental issue, that "both the palate and the sense of smell are at play when it comes to food, so the choice of perfume is crucial since 50% of what we taste is the aroma of the food (that's why we can't taste properly when our nose is blocked)," emphasizes Daniel Figuero, perfume expert and author of Contraperfume (Superflua). Therefore, "an overly intense fragrance can interfere with the tasting," he states.
Tips for choosing the right perfume for a dinner
Precisely, heavy gourmand perfumes are the first ones that Daniel Figuero would rule out when going to dinner at a restaurant. "I would recommend fragrances that stay close to the skin and avoid anything edible: intense fruity scents, sweet vanilla perfumes, sugary fragrances...," he points out. For the expert, the idea is to complement, not compete, "the food should always be the star... along with the conversation."
Miguel Bartolomé emphasizes this, "in a restaurant, the perfume should not compete with the dish, and even though I advocate for each person to use the fragrance they feel most identified with, we should also respect others' olfactory space: if your perfume is overpowering, something went wrong."
Belén Navarro, Fragrance Developer Manager at Perfumes y Diseño, prefers not to generalize and analyze according to the specific gastronomic plan, because "it all depends a lot on the type of restaurant and the intention."
If you are going to a gastronomic restaurant or a Michelin-starred establishment, for example, where the main goal of the plan is to enjoy a complete sensory experience, for the expert, the ideal is to choose very discreet, almost imperceptible perfumes, that do not interfere with the menu's aromas or even not wear perfume as both senses are closely connected. "In these cases, second skin style fragrances work best: clean notes, soft citruses, tea or transparent flowers applied in moderation," she advises.
On the other hand, for informal restaurants, terraces, or more social plans where the main goal, rather than enjoying the food, is to enjoy the company, "you can allow a perfume with a bit more presence," Navarro explains.
Tell me your plan... and I'll tell you how to perfume yourself
Aside from dinners, restaurants, and delicious dishes, Belén Navarro, a firm believer that "it's important to adapt the perfume according to the situation in which it will be used, taking into account its olfactory profile, its notes, its intensity, its concentration, and the amount used," elaborates a mini-guide of plans and their suitable perfumes:
For a romantic date: a perfume with a blend of sensual, addictive, warm, and enveloping notes, capable of creating a more intimate and seductive aura.
For a day at the office or at home: more delicate perfumes with musky, fresh, citrusy, clean, or light floral notes, among others, that provide a sense of well-being and closeness without being overpowering.
For sports or an outing: fragrances with a more energizing quality, featuring fresh and dynamic notes that bring vitality.
For a special event: we can indulge in more sophisticated and deep perfumes, with amber, liqueur-like, woody, or opulent floral notes that convey presence, elegance, and a sense of empowerment and self-confidence.
For sleeping: subtle and delicate perfumes with clean, aldehydic facets, notes of lavender, musk, or powdery notes that evoke the sensation of freshly laundered sheets, calm, and home.
For an outing in the great outdoors: fragrances with aromatic, herbaceous, green, or earthy notes that reinforce that connection with the natural environment and amplify the feeling of the great outdoors.