A Wren Says

I have had some moments in my life that were truly exhilarating . The concert, the great outdoors, that big event. All of them were fantastic experiences, And yet. I didn’t feel alive. I could feel myself trying to take in those experiences like I “should.” I was performing, like a poser attempting to have others validate that I was in fact having fun (or any number of assessments). But in the more mundane moments, where I could simply be myself, connecting the dots to see a greater vision for my life, there I felt giddy with energy and purpose.

Stay with me. I’ll get to fragrances now.

In my reviews, I often add a bit about whether anyone noticed, complimented the scent, or in some way let me know that they could in fact smell me. For many in the fragrance world, the value of a fragrance hinges on whether other people notice the fragrance. “Why spend $300 on a fragrance if no one can smell me?,” But I think we could think about it differently.

The best message isn’t the loudest. It’s the one that is clear, easily understood, and connects on a deeper level. I would argue fragrance is the same. There is a space for loud fragrances and for people who wear fragrance to be noticed, as a sort of social currency. And there is space for the subtle.

Perhaps a good fragrance is noticed by no one but you. Well, except for those who can’t put a finger on why you happen to smell nice. Sometimes it remains close to skin, smells subtle, but is there softly scenting your day. That gentle moment is where the value lies. A fragrance’s value isn’t necessarily in how other’s perceive it. It’s there in what you think of it and how you feel in in the moment as you wear it.

What is your favorite subtle fragrance?

What’s a moment in your life that made you feel truly alive?

View all responses