Perfume is more than just a way to smell good. It’s also a form of self-expression, self-care, and self-pleasure. And, in recent years, that latter one is becoming all the more important.
As self-expression and individuality become more celebrated, we’re seeing more and more people choosing fragrances that make them feel good, rather than choosing their scents based purely on what’s popular or trending at the time.
This is what experts call the self-pleasure fragrance movement – it’s all about wearing whatever smells good to you. It’s also about wearing scents that promote a calming and relaxing sensation, such as tea fragrances.
What is the self-pleasure fragrance movement?
The self-pleasure fragrance movement is simply wearing whatever scent you love that smells great to you. It is a trend that reflects the social and emotional changes that we’ve all gone through in the past few years.
Nicola Pozzani, creative director of The Merchant of Venice, told The Zoe Report: “We see in fragrance what we have seen in fashion in the last few years, with shapes and color palettes that lean more towards comfort and a close contact to nature and being natural.”
This is something that’s stepped up a notch in recent years due to the mental toll and disruption of daily life caused by the pandemic. We’re done with struggles and appealing to the masses. Instead, we’re searching for a simpler and carefree lifestyle that prioritizes things that make us happy.
We all know that fragrance is heavily influenced by mood and emotion and spritzing your favorite perfume can offer both intimacy and comfort during times when you need a little of either or both.
Audrey Semeraro, founder of fragrance house Edeniste, added that “positive memories activate the reward pathway in the brain, which is essentially a release of chemicals that make us feel good. This makes us want to carry out the act again — in this case, remembering happy memories.”
So the self-pleasure fragrance moment is all about comforting yourself through scent rather than wearing perfume to attract others. If it smells good to you, wear it. If you’re buying a scent just because you know it’s a popular one, use this as an opportunity to figure out a signature scent that really speaks to you instead.
What are some examples of self-pleasure fragrances?
As you might have guessed by now, self-pleasure fragrances aren’t limited to a specific category or genre. These can be anything from floral to woody, spicy to sweet, oriental to fresh. The key is to find a scent that resonates with you personally: one that makes you happy, relaxed or energized.
But some notes are more popular than others when it comes to self-pleasure fragrances. One of the most popular notes is vanilla, reinvented by perfumers in 2023 to highlight its enticing and sensual side. If that sounds appealing, some of the best vanilla perfumes include Demeter Hawaiian Vanilla by Demeter, Montale Sweet Vanilla by Montale, and White Tea Vanilla Orchid by Elizabeth Arden.
Another note that’s often associated with self-pleasure fragrances is musk, which can create a cozy and skin-like effect. Musk can also enhance other notes and add a personal touch to your fragrance. Comforting, skin-scents that focus around musk include Musk Al Safwa by Rihanah, Alyssa Ashley Musk by Alyssa Ashley, and Skin Musk by Parfums De Coeur.
Looking for something a little more calming? Woody scents make for popular self-pleasure fragrances, especially those focused around sandalwood or cedarwood, which can offer a soothing and grounding finish to your look. Santal 33 by Le Labo is a cult-favorite woody fragrance with cardamom, iris, and leather that rose to popularity after celebrities like Justin Beiber highlighted it as a favorite.
The best way to choose your new signature scent – and to ensure you’re choosing it for you rather than someone else – is to sample a few different perfumes and see which you enjoy the most. Luckily, we’ve got a huge range of discounted scents from all of your (soon-to-be) favorite brands here at Perfume.com. You can also take a perfume quiz to find your next signature scent.
Georgie Darling is a freelance lifestyle and travel writer from London, England. Her work has been published in ELLE, Yahoo, Red, Grazia, and Tripadvisor, amongst others. When she’s not writing, Georgie spends most of her time travelling to new countries and scuba diving. She’s been an avid fragrance lover since a young age and considers Alaïa by Alaïa Paris to be her signature scent.
