A Wren Says

I woke up today, wanting to feel powerful. Things in my life have not gone as a I had planned or imagined, so it is up to me to make a choice. Who do I want to be? I want to exude ease and strength. Confidence and power.

I put on my Frankie Shop Tee, with the undeniable power shoulders, and my favorite Lucky Jeans, the ones that always make me feel great. I decided to finally wear jewelry, accessorizing with a collar necklace and simple gold stud earrings. Then I thought, “But what do I want to smell like?” The obvious choice was Tom Ford’s Black Orchid.

I have to admit, I was afraid that my scent would be overpowering, offensive to those strangers who may have walked too close to me as I ran my errands for the day. I personally have found the fragrance challenging to wear. What else smells like that? It’s not delicate or simply sweet. However, in typing that, I question why I felt or should have felt that way. Should I fear that others might see me as too powerful? Should I shrink back, even the size of my scent cloud, just so others might be more comfortable with my presence? I want to say no. Let the Black truffle and patchouli continue to waft in the air and announce that I am here.

As the day wore on, I became more comfortable with my scent. Not sweet flowers, not bland vanilla. But it was a scent that demanded I take note that I myself am present in the space and will take up all the space that I need.

I will say then, that this is not a scent for you if you wish to go unnoticed and shrink into the background. It will put you front and center. My choice to wear it was spurred by my desire to be comfortable with that idea that I might, just like this fragrance, be polarizing. That I might continue to be myself, being loudly present whether you like me or not.

Be prepared to be boldly noticed: Dark and alluring or brash and unapproachable. Black Orchid is one of those fragrances that I associate with women, dare I say just people, who know what they want and pursue it without fear. That was what I wanted for today. That was who I wanted to be.