Bride's Perfume Makes, Keeps Memories

Monday, June 04, 2007
By Susan Guybnnn, The Frederick News-Post



Charleen Jones, holding a bottle of Chantilly perfume, and her husband, David, are photographed in January at their home in Frederick, Md. The two were married 40 years ago. She wore Chantilly to her wedding and today the fragrance still reminds her of that day.


FREDERICK, Md. -- Every time Charleen Jones splashes on Chantilly perfume it sparks a beautiful memory.

"I love Chantilly and I wore it for my wedding and honeymoon," said Jones, who lives in Boonsboro. "Whenever I wear Chantilly, I still am carried back" to her wedding day.

Choosing a fragrance that would create lasting memories was a tip Jones read in a bridal magazine before she and her husband, David, wed 40 years ago.

"(Chantilly) was a favorite of mine. It just makes me feel good," said Jones. Created in 1941 by Dana, the fragrance is marketed as a feminine fragrance for evening.

For many brides, choosing a fragrance for her wedding day is an afterthought -- after the gown is ordered, after the flowers are selected and after the reception is planned. These create visual memories.

But, according to the Sense of Smell Institute, a division of The Fragrance Foundation, visual recall fades to about 50 percent after only three months while smell recall remains sharp -- with a 65 percent accuracy -- after a year.

"You plan ahead with your hairstyle and gown, and you also need to think about your fragrance. It's going to take a while to find the fragrance to fit your personality," said Donald Toms, Clinique counter manager at Bon Ton in the Frederick Towne Mall.

But the sea of fragrances is deep and wide, so how does a woman find the scent?

"People buy fragrance to give them a joyous memory or experience," said Toms. "We relate fragrances to a pleasant memory."

Toms suggests starting at the fragrance counter of a department store where a fragrance associate can provide samples and help you find your signature scent -- one that will complement and not overpower you or the wedding flowers.

"For brides, or anyone, when testing a fragrance, never do it on your wrist next to a watch," advises Toms. "The metals can actually change the fragrance, as can leather. It breaks down the structure of the fragrance."

You can't judge a fragrance by sniffing from the bottle. Also, don't spritz and rub or sniff. "That's the biggest no-no," said Toms. "You're not getting the full effect of the fragrance. It kind of overloads the nose. Rubbing breaks down and disrupts the process."

Fragrances, he explained, have a top, middle and base note. "The first effect is the top, which fades into the middle and into the base note, the one that will last," said Toms. It takes time to reach the last note, as your body heat and oils will affect how it develops.

And because each woman's body chemistry will wear a fragrance differently, don't assume that because a fragrance works for a friend that it will be right for you. "A fragrance never smells the same on any two people," said Toms.

If you want to experiment, start at least a month before the wedding. "Wear it to different kinds of activities," Toms said. "Wear it if you're just going out to the market and see what kind of response you get. If someone walks up and asks what you're wearing, that's good."

The knot, a wedding Web site, suggests layering your signature fragrance by using different products with the same scent. Start with a body wash, followed by a scented moisturizer and end with the perfume. Apply fragrance on your pulse points, such as wrists or behind your ears. Fragrance rises, so apply it to the bend of your elbows and your ankles, too. But don't spritz on your clothes because perfumed products can damage or stain fabrics, particularly the fine silks and satins of wedding gowns.

Let your bridesmaids and your groom in on your fragrance choice and encourage them to wear complementary scents, says The Fragrance Foundation. Their scent should be in the same fragrance family as yours -- such as oriental, spicy, floral, floral blend, modern or citrus. No fragrance will last all day, so plan to refresh about every three to four hours.

And your natural hair color can be key in finding a fragrance, according to the foundation. Blondes, who typically have fair, dry skin, will be happiest with long-lasting multi-floral fragrances. Subtle scents will evaporate too quickly. Brunettes, with medium to dark skin, which has more oils, often find success with dramatic orientals. The fair and delicate skin of redheads may be incompatible with green notes. Green scents smell of green leaves and fresh cut grass and include fragrances such as Chanel No. 19 by Chanel, Gio by Giorgio Armani and Safari by Ralph Lauren.

(Distributed by the Associated Press)