Why I Buy Myself A New Fragrance For My Birthday Every Year

One thing I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older is that fragrance can conjure memories like nothing else. You can catch a whiff of a certain perfume—or even a certain note: jasmine, gardenia, citrus—and be instantly transported back to another time, such as watching your mother or grandmother spritz on her signature scent at her vanity, or reminded of a certain person, the way that I’ll pass someone in the street that smells just like my best friend from college.

Other times, you’re reminded of yourself, such as when I come across the aroma of Marc Jacobs Daisy, my perfume of choice in high school, or Prada Luna Rossa, which I wore on my wedding day. 

Sure, a good fragrance can make you feel put-together or confident, but the reason we have such strong associations with perfume is because it reconnects us with special people and special moments in our lives. Which is precisely why I began buying myself a new scent each year for my birthday: to be able to whisk myself back into fond memories and distant life eras with just a spritz. 

Why Switch To A New Perfume Every Year

While I’ve always been a fan and believer of having a signature scent—I practically smell Chanel No. 5 whenever I think of my grandmother after all, which always seemed like a sort of magic in itself—and I’ve had times when I’ve been loyal to just one scent for years, my perspective changed once I decided to switch things up and buy myself a new scent for my birthday. 

Finding a new fragrance every single year might seem daunting, considering, like many others, I’m quite picky and some perfumes give me headaches. But there’s also something excited about assuming a subtle identity change each year. You can pick a scent that reflects your goals for the year, such as a warm sandalwood to feel bold, a delicate rose to feel at peace, or a bright citrus to feel energized. You can simply choose a scent wildly different from the past year, ensuring you certainly won’t get the two confused later on. 

One thing that I can promise is that after a few years, you’ll think back on certain memories—trips, moves, life changes—and you’ll smell a faint, very particular fragrance in your mind, not to be mistaken for any other. You can even revisit your favorites later, whenever you want to waft down memory lane.

Not only does it make the perfect splurge on yourself for your birthday, it begins a tradition that you hold dear just with yourself, like a secret only you and select few will know. “You’re never fully dressed without perfume” takes on a whole new meaning when you’re creating a connection between perfumes and life moments that will always help you remember later on.

Find Your Next Fragrance

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