“Dream Angels,” according to Victoria’s propaganda, is America’s No. 1 fragrance, which makes sense in an obese nation with no self-control: it smells like an alcoholic Twinkie.
— From Chug-a-Lugging Aphrodisiacs, a “Critical Shopper” article on Victoria's Secret.
Several years ago, Ms. Ware was engaged to a gentleman who did not like Trish McEvoy 9, the fruity vanilla blend she had been wearing for seven years.
“He thought I smelled like a traveling carnival, the kind where they sell corn dogs, because I guess the smell was reminiscent of cotton candy,” Ms. Ware, 28, said. “This was the demise of Trish No. 9.”
It was a bad omen.
— From The Sweet Smell of … Nothing, an article about the “small but growing cohort of American women” who don't wear fragrance. Thanks to Pia for the link!
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The NYT article was mostly about people who were rebelling against over-strong scents like Angel. But honestly–I'm completely serious–how can you not wear fragrance? It's like not wearing clothing. Even if you're allergic to most things, even if you just put on a dab of cheap rose oil from the local farmer's market or whatever, how can you not want to do that? It completes you. It makes you more of who you are.
I'll never understand it. I can sort of get how people aren't obsessed with fragrances as I am: it's the same way that I just don't care a lick about shoes. But I still WEAR them.
Well, you know, I've gotten entirely out of the habit of wearing perfume “out” — it has turned into a kind of private hobby for me, and I don't think I approach perfume the way I used to, as a sort of fashion/beauty accessory. And, I do find that I notice aggressive sillage on others more than I used to. Also thought Tania's point about the scent of your $5 hair product was right on target. So it doesn't strike me as totally out of the question to not wear perfume?
And my shoes probably don't even qualify as “shoes” to a fashionista, LOL!!
Doesn't seem even vaguely possible that VS Dream Angels is the no. 1 selling perfume in the US. And if it's true, I'd rather not know!
I don't smell perfume in public as much as I used to either.
I found this article so interesting–thanks for posting it. I had gotten away from fragrance for years, in large part due to being bothered by heavily perfumed people sitting next to me on planes, at shows, etc–sometimes I would end up with migraines, and I didn't want to be the person doing that to others.
Now I find myself more apt to wear fragrance when I am at home. Part of my issue is I don't think I have a great sense of smell–I just can't judge how much is too much…And who knows what will bother someone–I proudly shared my new Encens Mystic with a coworker, and she recoiled in horror and said “Ew! It smells like a dusty pew!”
It's so intesting what focuses we get in our lives–Zappos is now running a discussion of instantly judging people based on their shoes…
LOL — see, those people on Zappos would be HORRIFIED at my shoes. And my “handbag”, if you can call it that, and probably the rest of my outfit as well. I've mostly lost all interest in fashion, except that I like to look at the pretty pictures on the fashion blogs.
And you sound like me, mostly wearing fragrance as a private pleasure.
Oh lordy, that quote from Alexander Pope in 1738 is not only timeless, it's priceless!!
Borrowing from the state of New Hampshire, my motto is now: “Live fragrant, or die!”
Hugs!
The Victoria's Secret article is one of the best things I've read all year. It's nice to be reminded that “sexy” isn't determined by corporations.
I enjoyed the second article as well and actually see it as an extension of the first. Maybe people are just tired of having every aspect of themselves dictated by some company run by strangers. Still, I DO feel sorry for the poor woman who gets Jean Nate from her husband every year!
They were a nice fit, the 2 articles. But yes, totally agree on the Jean Nate! Must she be sentenced to Jean Nate for life? Surely they could find something else they agreed on.
Although I don't care for folks that douse themselves in fragrance, I can't imagine not wearing fragrance on a daily basis. I think it's important to use a light hand in applying, though…
It's intesting to note that when I moved from Florida to the Pacific North-West, a friend took me aside and mentioned that “people don't wear fragrance out here”. I was a little taken aback, to say the least.
I work at a state agency now, and they specifically state a “no fragrance” policy. VERY difficult for me to swallow. I spent months thinking about how I could break the rules and wear some kind of scent, even if it's a home made version like lemon oil with a touch of patchouli.
Someone call cafe press – I want a “Live fragrant, or die” sticker right now!!
LOL!
That is what Angela says — people don't wear fragrance where she lives. She wrote an article about it: http://tinyurl.com/yst6nt
I am of mixed mind about workplace fragrance rules. On the one hand, how annoying! As I said above, I mostly wear scent at home, but then, I'm mostly at home — I don't work outside the house these days. On the other hand, I can remember sitting in meetings being suffocated by someone else's overeager application of something horrid.
Wow–even though I am bothered by heavy fragrance wearers, the no-fragrance-at-work policy sounds draconian even to me. What a thing to have to enforce–how do they tell if someone is wearing cologne or scented moisturizer?
This makes me think of a story my sister-in-law told of a talk she attended in Europe–I forget the topic–but it was explained to the audience that Americans are a very fearful people, and that is why there is legislation for everything. Can you imagine a no-fragrance rule in Paris?
I hate the movement for no fragrances in public space and I am very sensitive to fragrances. I wear fragrance almost every day (except when I'm sick or am having a bad allergy day), and I would guess, that unless I've been dancing up a storm, or tossed my hair particularly vigorously, that no one has ever smelled me past a foot and a half away.
Thanks for forwarding Angela's article. Her piece echos the overall sentiment regarding fragrance out here on the left coast. I'm one of the few folks to wear fragrance at work, and definately the only one in the office who wears makeup on a regular basis.
Going out in public with no perfume on at all feels too strange for me. I always wear it, but rarely a strong scent for everyday. I do wear a special or more intense perfume for days like this. Valentine's day always inspires a romantic choice. I can believe that V.S. has a number 1 perfume…They get quite alot of business from 18-25 year olds.
True, but then, I couldn't have imagined no-smoking rules in Paris either, and here they are!
I don't like rules, but understand where they come from. I love perfume, but have had to move my seat in a movie theater after someone sat down (2 rows away!!) doused in something awful and I literally couldn't concentrate on the film it was so diffusive.
I'm just the opposite — when I go out now with perfume on, I feel strange!
I so agree! I briefly lived in Paris, and when I first heard of the no-smoking rules, I just could not believe they would be accepted! Still can't believe it–so I guess maybe anything can happen…
I often don't wear fragrance — and I love fragrance and have an obscenely large collection. I have migraines, and I'd estimate that I have at least a low-grade one probably about half the days of the month. If I have a headache in the morning, I will not apply fragrance in the morning, because I have learned through experience that it just makes me feel worse. I'm sensitive to everything when I have a migraine — light, sound, and scent. Why wear fragrance when I won't enjoy it?
I realize that that's a very specific case, but I just wanted to interject — because even when I have a terrible headache, I am still clothed
. So there are certainly circumstances in which not wearing fragrance makes perfect sense even to people who passionately love fragrance.
Thanks for chiming in
it's sad but true—I used to work for the the corp. office. Dream Angels IS the number one fragrance in the US in terms of sales/units… some crazy figure, sad but true. The VS Garden fragrances are equally as cloying and sickly-sweet and cheap formulas. Even though BBW is a sister company, the formulas are of better quality than VS Garden.
LOL — I said I'd rather not know!