There's A Good Reason To Splurge On Your Favorite Perfume And Wear It Every Day

According to the Fragrance Conservatory, the power of smell is so mighty in the human brain that bad scents, or malodors, can affect various economic, psychological, cognitive, and social situations. On the flip side, good scents can have the same effect. Have you ever passed by a bakery or restaurant and the smell in the air instantly made you hungry? Or perhaps you walked past a flower field and immediately smiled at the scent of fresh flowers. That is the power fragrances have on people.

Perfume is an easy way to harness the power of good fragrances. And while you may not think that choosing the perfect perfume is a big deal — besides being a pleasant way to finish off a look — wearing your favorite scent daily can positively affect your state of mind and wellbeing — a fact that is often overlooked and misunderstood. According to Air-Scent, several studies have shown scent is more connected to your brain than you may know. It revealed different scents send signals directly to your limbic system, the part of the brain that is in charge of memory and emotion. Therefore, a fragrance is more than just a luxurious accessory to add to your outfit. It also acts as an opportunity to practice self-care throughout your day.

Theresa Molner, executive of the Sense of Smell Institute, tells Psychology Today, "Scents can have positive effects on mood, stress reduction, sleep enhancement, self-confidence, and physical and cognitive performance." Because of the connection established between scent and the limbic system, whenever a scent is attached to a core memory or something of significance, that scent becomes a permanent reminder of the emotion you felt about said memory. 

The relationship between scents, like your favorite perfume, and emotions is so strong because that is how the human brain is designed from the time we are in the womb. Dawn Goldworm, the co-founder of 12.29, an "olfactive branding company," tells The Harvard Gazette that our sense of smell is the only fully developed sense we have as fetuses and is our most developed sense until the age of 10. That powerful connection between smell, memories, and emotions is the tool we use to determine what we consider good smells and bad smells throughout the rest of our lives. 

According to Creed Fragrances, a good way to make sure you are choosing the best scent for you — which will likely become your favorite signature perfume — is to first decide what feelings you want to evoke. Citrus-based fragrances energize and awaken the mind because they remind us of summer and vacation time; a perfect mood booster for a lazy day. A perfume with marine scents can help calm and balance you because the fresh smell of the ocean helps reset your mind after a stressful day. Wood scents mimic nature, helping to ground your mind and invoke feelings of strength. And finally, floral aromas are a balance between feeling stress-free and feeling energized.

When deciding if you should splurge on your next perfume, consider how long it will last. Perfume maker Tatiana Estevez tells GoodtoKnow that more expensive perfumes typically have more layers, or "notes," to them, making them last longer. "The top notes you smell immediately and last about half an hour, the mid notes develop after half an hour for 2-4 hours after that. Then come the base notes which is what is left on your skin at the end of the day." Cheaper perfumes will typically only have top notes. They also tend to smell sweeter than higher-priced perfumes because their brands try to target younger audiences.

Unless you're in a pinch, a higher-quality perfume is well worth your money. The longer it lasts, the more opportunities you'll have to connect its scent with positive memories and emotions.