FROM FIRST DATE TO THE SHEETS: YOUR VALENTINE'S DAY PERFUME GUIDE

The right perfume doesn’t just complete an outfit, it changes the mood. It sets the tone, shifts the energy, and quietly tells a story before you ever say a word. This Valentine's Day, whatever the plan, this is your guide to choosing a scent that fits the moment and makes you impossible to forget.

Will you be my Valentine?

First Date: Soft. Magnetic. Unforgettable.

If you're going on a first date you want to make sure you leave a lasting impression. You may not sit as close to one another as you would when you become totally comfortable, so your perfume needs to be able to travel cross to their nostrils. Musk is a must for that carnal feel you want your date to experience in order to guarantee a second date, but you need it to be somewhat safe and not too challenging of a scent as musk can sometimes be. Rosendo Mateu Nº 5 and its blend of amber, musk and florals, is the perfect perfume for this occasion.

Seductress: Close. Addictive. Obsessive.

It's not your first date, but you're still in the beginning stages of your relationship and want to make sure your date becomes obsessed with you. You may get a little close so you don't need the perfume to project as much, but you also need it to create a scent bubble. If you read this post, then you know that, given my field interviews 😂, there's only one suggestion and it's Jean Paul Gaultier's Sandal by Night!

Igniting the Flames: Intimate. Intoxicating. Enduring.

If you've been in a relationship for a while, Valentine's Day is a day that reaffirms your commitment to each other. To make sure you keep the fire burning, your scent should envelope your significant other with sexiness, so they remember why they are hooked on you in the first place. My favourite note for this is hedione which widely considered to be an addictive aphrodisiac. One of my favourite perfume houses is Initio Parfums Privés, and they have a whole line called the Carnal Blends that is dedicated to this note and the one I'd use for this day is Psychedelic Love, a beautiful floral, sandalwood and vanilla scent.

Intimate Night: Sweet. Edible. Sinful.

If you know that you'll be skipping dinner and going straight to celebrating between the sheets 😈, then you need to smell sweet and edible. Notes like vanilla, honey and orange blossom are ideal, and Kilian's Love Don't Be Shy takes that up a notch with the addition of marshmellow. I take no responsibility if you, like Funmi Monet says, get folded like a pretzel!

Whatever it is you're doing this Valentine's Day, whether it’s a first spark, a familiar flame, or something deliciously unplanned, choose a scent that says what words don’t. Spray with intent. Let them remember you.

Sillage...