Childhood smells

I don’t remember much about my childhood, let alone the smells. Allure’s editorial assistant, however, does…

Some people say that perfume should smell like seduction; others, like confidence. But according to Nicole Richie, it should remind us of childhood. Not that she means Crayolas and Jolly Ranchers. The inspirations for her first fragrance were memories of her mother’s ‘exotic’ lotions and ‘sensual cashmere’. (Sounds like some very sophisticated formative years to me.)

I love this Proustian approach to scent, and recently I’ve noticed that many of my favorite perfumes have notes that I remember from growing up. Serge Lutens Fleurs D’Oranger reminds me of my hometown, surrounded by Florida orange blossoms. L’Eau de Chloé conjures summers spent by the pool drinking lemonade. Chanel No. 22 brings to mind the patch of overgrown jasmine in my parents’ front yard. The connection makes these creations not only beautiful, but also personal – like Prousts madeleine.

What about you? If your childhood were a perfume, what would it be?

Written by Alexandra Owens, this article originally appeared in Allure.

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