It can be any smell really; the sweet scent of roses that remind you of your Gran’s garden or a whiff of freshly brewed coffee in the morning. Or just think about how you feel when you smell the scent of your first love, a loved one that means a lot to you, or something that reminds you of childhood. All of us can name a few smells that give us an instant pick-me-up. Exactly which scents make us feel good is a highly personal thing – no smell is inherently uplifting, it’s rather the feelings we have when we first ‘met’ a particularly happy fragrance.
Research, though, argues that female fragrances classified as floral-woody help lower depression and tension, while floral-citrus scents help decrease anger. Peppermint and orange also help make you feel better – and orange may actually help calm your nerves as citrus is known for its uplifting abilities. Vanilla is one of the oldest and most well-known smells of all that boost your mood – it helps fight depression, fatigue, low hormone function, and even anxiety. And of course, we have to mention the hugely comforting properties of rose – this fragrance helps soothe and make the world seem a little more tranquil.
As Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez, scent experts and authors of Perfumes, The Guide say: ‘As with the tawdriest pop melody, there is a base pleasure in perfume, in just about any perfume, even the cheapest and the most starved of ideas, that is better than no perfume at all. It decorates the day. It makes you feel as if the colours of the air have changed.
Here are a few new fragrances on the shelf to spray on when you’re feeling like your day needs to be brightened up.
With overtones of revitalising citrus:
Lacoste Pour Femme EDP Légère, R725 for 30ml, R1 010 for 50ml and R1 330 for 125ml
Jimmy Choo L’Eau EDT, R895 for 60ml and R1 195 for 90ml
With overtones of comforting vanilla:
YSL Black Opium Wild Limited Edition EDP, R905 for 50ml
Boss The Scent Intense For Her EDP, R1 010 for 30ml
With overtones of comforting and nurturing rose:
Giorgio Armani Sky di Gioia, R1 185 for 50ml
Juicy Couture Royal Rose EDP, R1 895 for 100ml
What smells or scents boost your mood? Tell us below.
13 comments
Nickay Heyman
Guys Please allow me to brag about the Jimmy Choo. Great perfume that smells very nice and last all day. The bottle is also user friendly and very nice in design. Knowing us woman like fancy things this is definitely one to try.
MizzLee
Black Opium is amazing, soft, sophisticated yet young. I absolutely love it as an every day fragrance.
Zwanga Avhatendi Mahwasane
I love Vanilla fragrance
Jasmin Naidu
Juicy Couture Royal Rose smells absolutely lovely.
Cookie Nandlall
Black Opium any Day and Giorgio Armani for that special moments
WAFIQA ABBAS
I really love the smell of vanilla.
Chandni Jivan
I love Black Opium
F Golding
I JUST LOVE THE SMELL OF THE NEW LACOSTE. DEFINITELY MAKES ME FEEL READY FOR SUMMER AND THE WARM DAYS IT BRING. I JUST LOVE THIS SCENT EVEN THOUGH IT HAS A FAMILIAR SMELL. IT REMINDS ME A LOT OF LIGHT BLUE .
TARRYN PETERS
Jimmy Choo L’Eau EDT is a definite mood booster! Long lasting scent that keeps the compliments coming through the whole day
Sharleen Naidoo
I love when I’m busy at work and I get this wifff of the perfume I’m wearing and it just brings a smile to my face.