Wednesday, July 10, 2024

I’ve been chatting about fragrances with a young coworker, Sally, an expert in the Makeup Department. She also knows much about the co-evolution of fragrances and social changes. She made me aware of how the history of perfumery is intertwined with cultural shifts, technological advancements, and changing perceptions of gender, identity, and lifestyle.

We started with how, after many years away from Chanel #5, I still prefer its scent. Sally, who also likes it, explained that Chanel’s popularity dates from the early and mid-20th Century. That fragrance was pleasant and also reflected women’s wishes at the time to be associated with a pleasant and lasting scent, but subtle and lasting, and not overpowering. Chanel fit the bill.

She spoke of newer trending fragrances, like Christian Dior Poison, Yves Saint Laurent Opium, and Calvin Klein Obsession, explaining their evolution and popularity. She said that during the 1980s and 1990s, women gravitated towards stronger, bolder scents. The trend reflected that era’s evolving social landscape—pointedly, women’s growing financial independence and empowerment.

According to Sally, today’s young women’s fragrance preferences reflect their individuality and this generation’s varied lifestyles. Sally has observed that modern young women prefer stronger scents, and very often floral ones. They also prefer unique and unexpected combinations, like those trending toward unisex wearables.

That brief tour with Sally opened my eyes to social elements I’ve not considered much. Perfumes never were big elements in my personal world. However, after months of working in a large department store and having recently joined its Jewelry Department, I need to understand better why people generally tend to wish for, seek, and purchase “noncritical and impulse” items.

Dear Friends: I’m exploring a newfound fascination with the world of fragrance. Diana