Coming to My Senses: A Whiff of “Fragrantica”

(Title image: Photo by Andres Molina on Unsplash)

This is one of those “just because” posts…

One of my favorite meditations is sinking into the sensations around me, whether it’s a body scan, opening up to the sounds around me or getting lost in a beautiful scene.

But I am particularly intrigued by scents. Much like fine wine or dark chocolate, fragrances can be very complex and multi-layered, evoking a range of emotions. While my meditations generally don’t allow for experiencing many scents (unless I’m specifically in an environment conducive to it), I find that I’ve very affected by the ones that I encounter during my day, particularly when they strike a chord with me.

I know what I like when I smell it…but I’m not great at being able to pick apart exactly what it is that I’m enjoying so much and naming it. So I’m delving into this more deeply and paying closer attention.

I got a tip from a fragrance counter attendant to visit a website called Fragrantica to search for notes that I enjoy in the hopes of finding perfumes that speak to my senses.

I love this website! It has a free, massive library of fragrances and fragrance elements. Searching for a note (a single, individual smell)—using the citrus fruit bergamot as an example (see images below)—brings to you a page with a listing of known perfumes that contain it. When you select a perfume, you get a listing of the different accords (blends of different fragrance notes) of which it is comprised and can search for suggestions for other fragrances that contain similar scents, in addition to user reviews.

I have also been captivated by the vocabulary of perfumery. Words like sillage, drydown and heart notes to describe elements of a perfume, and unusual notes like petrichor (the aroma of the earth when it rains) and dew drop (which I imagine smelling like an early morning garden) and black diamond (maybe “minerally”? Your guess is as good as mine). These terms describe unique qualities and raw materials, and I love that there’s a language for it.

Some fragrances connect me with emotional states. There’s nothing like getting hit with a scent from the past and being transported back to a different time.

Additionally, some perfume bottles are works of art on their own, intricate and beautiful…and, yes, perhaps exorbitantly priced. Arguably, a museum-worthy piece if not out of reach for most of us.

Fragrantica is such a unique website. If you enjoy scents, take a look at it. It has already set me on a scent-discovery journey, it might do the same for you.

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As a reminder, these are simply things that I enjoy. No affiliate links or paid advertisements. After swearing off jumping into another stressful certification this year, I’m taking time to explore the pleasures in my life.