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Yay or nay: Changing your scent with the seasons

07 November 2019 | By Helen Clemson

Do you stick to the same perfume year-round or switch it up with the changing seasons? Find out what experts think about swapping out scents – and what it can do for your mood.

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Considering South Africans are spending a lot on perfume and cologne (just three years ago the figure was at a cool R11.5 billion to be exact), it’s no surprise that we like a variety of fragrances to wear come any occasion. And what about the seasons? Are our spending habits indicative of basing a scent wardrobe around spring, summer, autumn and winter? That thinking – spritzing on a spicier, warmer scent laced with oriental notes in winter for instance – is perhaps a little passé, says fragrance writer and expert Tania Sanchez, who co-authored Perfumes: The Guide with fellow scent sleuth, Luca Turin. 

Tania’s reasoning is this: “When you love something, buy it.” Fragrance, being an art form after all, is a very personal and subjective thing. She also urges readers not to feel duty-bound to stop wearing fruity-florals in mid-winter for example. 

A fragrant high

However, “if seasons are your excuse for buying lots of fragrances, in the belief that you need a year-round wardrobe, don’t let us stop you,” she says. There is a camp of fragrance aficionados that’ll tell you fragrance is all about a mood boost – and they’re not wrong. “Research has shown that certain scents can change your mindset and promote specific behaviour," says Pamela Dalton, PhD when interviewed for health.com.

Try it for yourself

Feeling sluggish and depressed in the middle of winter? Layer on a jasmine-infused fragrance for an instant pick-me-pick. Jasmine has been shown to boost your productivity and focus, and speed your reaction time, says Dr Alan Hirsch, the neurological director of Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago. 

Find delicious notes of jasmine in Lancome Tresor EDP which contains Alexandrian jasmine absolute in the blend. And if this particular season has left you a couple of kilos heavier come spring, Dr Hirsh sings the praises of a spice-floral mix scent for leaving you feeling slimmer in seconds! Try Roberto Cavalli EDP to see if this tip really does the trick. 

And finally, our suggestion for this season’s current heatwave – and especially when that aircon isn’t working thanks to load-shedding – is Ralph Lauren Polo EDP Intense as it’s injected with a soothing dose of lavender, perfect for counteracting stress and anxiety.


IMAGE CREDIT: shutterstock.com
 

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