- Apr 1, 2019
- 5,594
- 3,779
As we draw closer to summer, the wedding season approaches. I'm sure I am not the only one who has had a glut of weddings to attend in the last 12 months and more coming up, in no small part due to covid lockdowns and the subsequent postponements.
One thing that strikes me as a seemingly underdiscussed topic is that of the wedding fragrance.
For the most part, weddings are a summer affair, and one of the most formal occasions that people still engage in as weekly church attendance declines and informality in general has become the norm. But not all weddings are formal, and not all take place in the summer.
This got me thinking: how do you scent yourself for a wedding? Is it simply the case of finding something traditional and formal, something befitting the dress and location of a wedding? Perhaps something old-fashioned, even, from one of the old European houses like Chanel or Guerlain, or those that lean in to the retro kitsch like Penhaligon's, Floris, and Acqua di Parma? If not, and as fragrance enthusiasts I think we are unlikely to simply follow the suggested path, then what goes in to selecting a wedding fragrance?
Vera Wang released two fragrances, for him and her, about 20 years ago with the idea that they were ideally suited for a wedding. It's a great commercial move for a dress designer, obviously, and personally I am quite fond of Vera Wang for Men (although I know not everyone is, to my surprise). It should be said that VW for Men was a fairly muted but accessible scent: something totally in keeping with the ambery trend of the 2000's, not a million miles away from D&G's The One or the 2007 release of Tom Ford for Men. As such, it seems to have be reclassified in to the "work appropriate" genre in online discussions - which makes sense to me, although I can also see how, back in the early 2000's and long before the influencer-driven collector mindset ever took hold, there is something about it that suits a special occasion for men not accustomed to formality or fragrance.
So I suppose I'd like to open up the discussion to see what other people have to say. I have my own ideas about what makes a good wedding fragrance - and what makes a bad one - but I'll hold back on offering those just yet.
Instead, I'd like to offer a few points of consideration:
- Firstly, what have you chosen to wear to weddings, if anything, so far in your life? Is it a good idea to wear a fragrance to a wedding, or do you think it is better to go without?
- Is there a difference between being a guest at a wedding and it being your own wedding. How does this differ (aside from the obvious)? Does this influence what you'd choose to wear; and related, does being a close family member have any relevance?
- What types of fragrance are suitable: always fresh, clean, and light? Virginal white florals for women, clean citruses or light aromatics for men? Or can you wear something heavier, spicier, more balsamic?
- What is best avoided in a wedding fragrance, again other than the obvious e.g. overapplication? Do you have any bad experiences, perhaps of an oversprayer or someone wearing a sporty aquatic out of place?
- How much does location and formality play a part? Not all weddings take place in a church; not all weddings are religious. There's an increase in pop culture and ironic weddings that are more focused on the party side of things. Different traditions, or the absence of, invite different aesthetic decisions.
- Is it a wedding fragrance, or fragrances? Or in other words, is it acceptable or advisable to opt for one fragrance for the reception and another for the ceremony?
- For those who have enjoyed long marriages, what did you wear, if anything, at your own wedding? Would you choose to wear the same again now, in the present day?
- Is a wedding fragrance just a wedding fragrance? Is it something to wear periodically, like on anniversaries; or never again; or do you treat it as something mundane and no different to any other fragrance in a collection?
- Is there room for a designated wedding fragrance in a collection, something you bring out specifically for attending weddings?
- How did choosing a fragrance work for you as a bride or groom? Did you shop for fragrances together; did you look something that would complement the other person's choice? Did anyone else have an influence on the decision, or did you take in to account other parts of the wedding e.g. floral displays?
Thanks and looking forward to what people have to say. 👰🤵⛪🎊
One thing that strikes me as a seemingly underdiscussed topic is that of the wedding fragrance.
For the most part, weddings are a summer affair, and one of the most formal occasions that people still engage in as weekly church attendance declines and informality in general has become the norm. But not all weddings are formal, and not all take place in the summer.
This got me thinking: how do you scent yourself for a wedding? Is it simply the case of finding something traditional and formal, something befitting the dress and location of a wedding? Perhaps something old-fashioned, even, from one of the old European houses like Chanel or Guerlain, or those that lean in to the retro kitsch like Penhaligon's, Floris, and Acqua di Parma? If not, and as fragrance enthusiasts I think we are unlikely to simply follow the suggested path, then what goes in to selecting a wedding fragrance?
So I suppose I'd like to open up the discussion to see what other people have to say. I have my own ideas about what makes a good wedding fragrance - and what makes a bad one - but I'll hold back on offering those just yet.
Instead, I'd like to offer a few points of consideration:
- Firstly, what have you chosen to wear to weddings, if anything, so far in your life? Is it a good idea to wear a fragrance to a wedding, or do you think it is better to go without?
- Is there a difference between being a guest at a wedding and it being your own wedding. How does this differ (aside from the obvious)? Does this influence what you'd choose to wear; and related, does being a close family member have any relevance?
- What types of fragrance are suitable: always fresh, clean, and light? Virginal white florals for women, clean citruses or light aromatics for men? Or can you wear something heavier, spicier, more balsamic?
- What is best avoided in a wedding fragrance, again other than the obvious e.g. overapplication? Do you have any bad experiences, perhaps of an oversprayer or someone wearing a sporty aquatic out of place?
- How much does location and formality play a part? Not all weddings take place in a church; not all weddings are religious. There's an increase in pop culture and ironic weddings that are more focused on the party side of things. Different traditions, or the absence of, invite different aesthetic decisions.
- Is it a wedding fragrance, or fragrances? Or in other words, is it acceptable or advisable to opt for one fragrance for the reception and another for the ceremony?
- For those who have enjoyed long marriages, what did you wear, if anything, at your own wedding? Would you choose to wear the same again now, in the present day?
- Is a wedding fragrance just a wedding fragrance? Is it something to wear periodically, like on anniversaries; or never again; or do you treat it as something mundane and no different to any other fragrance in a collection?
- Is there room for a designated wedding fragrance in a collection, something you bring out specifically for attending weddings?
- How did choosing a fragrance work for you as a bride or groom? Did you shop for fragrances together; did you look something that would complement the other person's choice? Did anyone else have an influence on the decision, or did you take in to account other parts of the wedding e.g. floral displays?
Thanks and looking forward to what people have to say. 👰🤵⛪🎊
