By Adriana Ermter
Over the years, we’ve made and bought our mom decades-worth of Mother’s Day gifts. There was the painted, glittery macaroni and pipe cleaner necklace we proudly presented her with when we were four. An era of paper-wrapped and ribbon-tied calendars, tea towels and lipsticks followed. Once, in junior high school, we gifted her with a lumpy misshapen wooden candle holder we’d crafted in shop class. And let’s not forget the cheeky coffee mug with the words: “Mom’s Liquid Patience” scrawled across it that we handed our tea-tolling mother when we were 15. Now, we know better, and we buy her perfume for Mother’s Day.
Perfume feels more personal and meaningful than another pair of fuzzy slippers or cozy socks. It has the power to resonate with her spirit and to match her personality. It can evoke heartfelt emotions and conjure forgotten memories and, even, help create new experiences with just one spritz. Best of all, we can always find a new, perfect fragrance to gift her with.
While each elixir is unique, imagined and then, mix-mastered by an expert nose to create its one-of-a-kind scent, perfumery follows a distinct set of rules. Fragrance is created according to seven core categories, each one identified by its dominant scent notes. Those like the “citrus” “floral,” “fruity” and “woody” ones are straightforward in their descriptors and easy to identify. Other categories are more abstract and require a little explanation. They include the “fougères,” which smell herbaceous. The “orientals,” which are sexy, animalic and spicy. “Gourmands” are sweet and include food-oriented notes like vanilla, cotton candy and toffee. “Chypres” are a juxtaposition of warm and cool with bright and powdery elements, and the “aquatics” are fresh and clean.
Our traditional mom tends to lean towards softer scents, so in the past we have typically chosen delicate smelling options from the “floral” and “chypre” categories, like Chanel’s subtle floral musk Les Exclusifs de Chanel 28 La Pausa. Still, there was the time when mom was going through her power-phase, carpooling us to a zillion activities, whipping up batches of homemade cookies for the school bake sale, planting geraniums in the backyard and dressing up for black tie evenings spent with our dad, so we decided to mix things up. That Mother’s Day, we surprised her with Shiseido’s warm and woody amber parfum Feminité du Bois and she wore it for years. Matching mom’s core likes, personality and current frame of mind to a specific scent category is our longstanding, perfume shopping M.O. Because it works.
Citrus and fruity fragrances made from notes inclusive of oranges, lemons and grapefruits, and cherries, pineapples and apples respectively, are active and lively smelling and great at lifting spirits and infusing or matching an energetic personality. Delicate and romantic rosy florals are low-key, thoughtful and timeless, while heady bouquets comprised of tuberose, jasmine and gardenia blooms feel appropriate for big personalities, vacations and warm summer nights. Earthy, woody eaus with their infusion of sandalwood, cedar, oak and patchouli notes best match a sophisticated and mature vibe. Spicy, bold and sensual oriental fragrances compliment charismatic grand dames, and fresh and clean-scented aquatic eaus resonate tranquility for calm and sensible women.
While the offerings on department and drugstore shelves are perennially rows deep, we’ve sifted through this season’s new scents, selecting our 10 favourites for our mom and yours.
Cacharel Amor Amor EDT
(From $80 for 50 ml and $100 for 100 ml, available at Hudson’s Bay)
Fragrance type and scent: A fruity floral eau de toilette that feels sparkling and fresh with its blend of tart and juicy fruits, heady blooms and warm finish. An easy to wear daytime scent that works well with any engagement or adventure, even if it is planting seeds in the garden.
Key notes: Citrus, black currant, apricot, jasmine, vanilla, musk and sandalwood.
Best suited for moms: Who are youthful, active, busy and, seemingly, never sit down…and don’t want to. While her aesthetic may be simple with no-fuss hair and a uniform of wide-leg jeans, a fitted cardigan and pair of Keds, this mom is anything but; she knows the drill and keeps everyone on their toes.
Carolina Herrera Good Girl Blush Elixir EDP
($178 for 50 ml and $212 for 80 ml, available at Shoppers Drug Mart)
Fragrance type and scent: An intense woody, floral chypre that smells both sensual and sweet. This is a glamourous elixir, that starts off with a sparkle and ends in sultry warmth and is ideal for nights at the opera, an intimate dinner with friends or a venerable charitable gala. Its overall effect is luminous and bright with an alluring and seductive undertone.
Key notes: Rose, vanilla and smoky patchouli.
Best suited for moms: This is not a one-size fits all perfume. It is mysterious and multifaceted, and like the bottle alludes, perfect for moms who enjoy slipping on their favourite pair of stilettos for an adventurous night out.
Guerlain L’Art Et La Matière Néroli Plein Sud EDP
($485 for 100 ml and $715 for 200 ml, available at Holt Renfrew)
Fragrance type and scent: A woody oriental. Inspired by the exotic colours, ambience and fragrances of Morocco, this bold and very present scent is equal parts intense and spicy, sophisticated and vibrant, and woody and zesty.
Key notes: Ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, neroli, Tunisian orange blossom, vetiver and sandalwood.
Best suited for moms: Who live large and like to make an entrance. An experienced globe trotter, they are well-heeled and gravitate towards lush and textured clothing in deep rich hues, complemented with gold jewellery. They speak their mind and never hold back.
Henry Rose Flora Carnivora EDP
($165 for 50 ml, available at www.sephora.com)
Fragrance type and scent: A true-blue floral fragrance that smells as fresh and intoxicating as a big bouquet of heady blooms. The overall effect is opulent and bright, pretty and carnal, powerful and mesmerizing.
Key notes: Tunisian orange flower absolute, neroli blanc, jasmine sambac absolute, tuberose, cedarwood, Haitian vetiver, musk and amber.
Best suited for moms: Who are ultra-feminine, enjoy the finer things in life and always have a vase filled with fresh flowers on the kitchen table.
MCM Crush EDP
($110USD for 75 ml, available online at www.nordstrom.com)
Fragrance type and scent: This fruity floral eau de parfum is invigorating and fresh. Its scent is reminiscent of walks through well-treed flower gardens after a light rainfall in the spring. It feels hopeful and happy, like anything is possible.
Key notes: Frozen pear, pink pepper, black currant, apricot nectar, magnolia, rose de Mai absolute, white peony, upcycled cedarwood, ambrette and cashmere wood.
Best suited for moms: Who see the good in everyone, light up a room with their positivity and can make every day normal feel whimsical, beautiful and limitless. Not to be mistaken for Pollyanna, these moms are grounded in reality and boundless with energy.
Paco Rabanne Fame Parfum
(From $146 for 50 ml and $188 for 80 ml, available at Sephora and Shoppers Drug Mart)
Fragrance type and scent: A chypre, woody floral scent that smells creamy and smooth, yet pops with hints of flowers and layers of musk. All-day wearable, its intensity provides a sense of chic modernity with age-old sophistication.
Key notes: Ethically sourced and natural, creamy incense, jasmine and mineral musk.
Best suited for moms: With star power. This parfum pairs perfectly with moms who live life to the fullest, rarely say “no,” and feel empowered in every situation. This scent is as unforgettable as the woman who spritzes it on.
The 7 Virtues Amber Vanilla EDP
($119 for 50 ml, available at Sephora and online at www.the7virtues.com)
Fragrance type and scent: A floral gourmand. This warm and sweet parfum wafts comfort and freshness, that feels just like pulling on an oversized soft pink cardigan before stepping outside to sit on the back patio with a cup of tea in the morning.
Key notes: Pink pepper, pink carnation, muguet, skin musks, Iso E, ambroxan and vanilla.
Best suited for moms: Who exude compassion, inspire gratitude and speak self-love. Genuine and authentic, they are soulful huggers and whisperers. They have a kind word for everyone, approach life with tenderness and remain calm always in all ways.
Valentino Donna Born in Roma Green Stravaganza EDP
($111 for 30 ml, $176 for 50 ml and $215 for 100 ml, available at Sephora)
Fragrance type and scent: This floral amber eau de parfum is luxurious and opulent. Between the Italian couture house’s six decades of history, the liquid’s vibrant green hue and the glass bottle’s edgy pyramidal structure inspired by Roman architecture, this smoky-sweet and warm scent is as expressive as it is bewitching.
Key notes: Lapsang Souchong smoky tea leaves, jasmine absolute and vanilla extract.
Best suited for moms: With extravagant style, a love of travel and a fearless spirit. They have Microsoft’s Translator app on their smart phone and a pre-packed carry-on bag in their closet.
Viktor&Rolf Flowerbomb Tiger Lily EDP
($170 for 50 ml and $225 for 100 ml, available at Hudson’s Bay)
Fragrance type and scent: A fresh floral. This sun-drenched scent exudes a tropical summer vibrancy that is warm and enchanting. Lush and exotic, it smells like a bouquet of flowers that have been submerged in a rich pool of coconut milk and honey.
Key notes: Coconut milk, tiger lily and mango.
Best suited for moms: Who are stylish, social and have a happy and confident disposition. And they like flowers, lots and lots of flowers, because this eau de parfum is replete with blooms that are as radiant as they are inviting.
Yves Rocher L’Evidence EDP
($54.95 for 50 ml, available in Yves Rocher stores and online at www.yvesrocher.ca)
Fragrance type and scent: A floral chypre that smells like luminous flowers, fresh fruit and earthy spice. The overall effect is bright with velvety soft undertones for an intimate feel.
Key notes: Magnolia, upcycled peach and patchouli.
Best suited for moms: Who are balanced. They bake oatmeal cookies while dad does the laundry. They work a high-powered job and hand out orange slices and juice boxes at soccer games. Their family’s priorities are level with their own sense of self-worth.
Looking for a new signature scent? Finding a fragrance that suits your particular tastes can be overwhelming, that’s why every month 29Secrets’ team of beauty editors review and recommend a new fragrance with our Fragrance Of The Month feature!
