What Synthetic Smells Do You Still Love? (And Which Ones Make You Want to Die?)
Two weeks ago, upon landing at LAX with a couple of friends, I got a text message from Alexandra warning me about something of critical importance to people like us.
The hotel we’d be staying at, the text message read, was scent branded. Her sister had already checked in and the word was out: It totally reeked in the lobby, but not to worry—the rooms weren’t scented.
How bad could it be? I thought. Turns out, really, really bad. The lobby, the hallways on every floor and even the bath products (which I would never use anyway, unless… well, we’ll get to that). The fragrance is probably best described as spicy, toxic coconut. And it was intense—even to people less fussy about such things.
(If you don’t know what scent branding is, you should read this old post. And if you don’t know why we care about such things, you should read this old post about how toxic perfume can be.)
On our second day there, we were chatting up the concierge and I asked him if he liked it. He looked a little sheepish and said “People either love it or hate it,” and left it at that. It got me thinking about two things. First, how lucky I am to work in a field where inhaling chemicals all day is not an occupational hazard. Second, how powerful scent is in affecting, informing and remembering different experiences.
Example: Yesterday someone popped by my office at work smelling terrific. She was wearing a Chanel perfume I used to spritz myself with daily—it’s one of these classic fragrances that’s a little different on everyone, but always smells fantastic. I was struck by how much I liked it, because in my quest to clean out all my products, and forgo perfume altogether, I tend to react pretty badly to synthetic fragrances of all kinds. Like the toxic coconut at that hotel, for example, or the too-close-to-me dude on the train who bathes in Axe.
Smell, we’re told, is our most powerful sense for memory triggers, which is probably why my coworker smelled so good to me, and why it made me really like having her in my office (well that and her lovely disposition, obvs). Because I wore that perfume when I was falling in love years ago, and it reminds me of a really happy time. There are a few smells I still love: Old Spice deodorant on dudes; Tide; my mom’s Hanae Mori perfume, which Alexandra and I also used to wear; J+J baby lotion. What do they all have in common? Very fond memories!
So back to the hotel. On day three I was no longer sharing a room with my friend Anna, who, unlike me, didn’t forget her shampoo and conditioner at home. Day one I used her stash. Day two I didn’t wash my hair. And day three I was out of luck. Needing a wash for a big event that night—oh you know, just ALEXANDRA’S WEDDING—I was left with no choice but to use the hotel’s “signature” stash. Holy crap was that a bad idea. I spent all day complaining about how terrible it smelled; I got a headache; I tried to spray my hair with other things to mask the smell, to no avail. Alexandra’s sister even offered me her shower and her stuff and I declined, against my better judgment. The result? I was really, really mad at the hotel!
But here’s the thing. I loved that hotel. The rooms were massive, the staff was charming and attractive, the outside couch area was an urban oasis and the brussell sprouts at the restaurant were bananas. When I think about being there, I think about happy times. And yet I am fairly certain that if I had to smell that coconut concoction again, it would completely—and negatively—affect my memory of the place.
So we want to know—if you’re already all cleaned up with your cosmetics or even if you aren’t: What synthetic smells do you still love? And are they attached to fond memories?
I LOVE- “Love Love” by Moschino!!! My FAV perfume ever, I used to spritz it on to “help” me sleep… my goodness!! It is citrusy and beautiful. Also, many men’s colognes are enticing… argh. … and… I hate & I mean HATE fake vanilla smell. It has always made me sick, since i was a kid (my sister loves it). And now i know why! Also, I greatly dislike most perfumes- they make me sick and only remind me of grandmas and tummy aches =P Flowers, musk, and the smell of polyester and hair scarves? No thanks.
I’ve never been down with perfumes or colognes except that one Chanel scent as well. However, two men I know wear Comme des Garcon for Monocle: Hinoki Scent One. I couldn’t stop thinking of that scent, months after seeing them….so after much debate, I picked up two bottles yesterday. It’s so toxic, but so good! My only not-natural product :( even though it smells like delicious cedar.
“First, how lucky I am to work in a field where inhaling chemicals all day is not an occupational hazard.”
I wonder if, twenty years down the road, we look at “scent branding” like we do with smoking in pubs and other places. As an employee, I would not want to have my health experimented on like that.
To answer you question, I don’t like *any* synthetic smells. There are a quite of few “natural” smells I don’t like either (way too strong – like essential oils). I’m living with my mother in law at the moment. I love her dearly. But, she uses Bounce fabric softener sheets and I feel like puking every time laundry is done.
I’ve decided to finish off my bottle of Coco Chanel Mademoiselle but I no longer spray it on my skin. I spray it on my sweaters and coats right before I leave. I haven’t decided on a replacement for when it’s gone. I was reading some labels at our tiny local version of Whole Foods and “Fragrance” was still all over the labels. Some added “(made with essential oils) but that does necessarily mean that only pure oils are used… right?
Still love: almost anything almond-scented.
Found that I hate: HAND SANITIZER. especially the “fancy” scented ones. Hand soap strikes me pretty hard too, but the hand sanitizers will spur an immediate headache – worse than old-lady perfume!
I still love the scent of old spice on a man. Which doesn’t make it easy for me to suggest my husband wear a more nontoxic brand. Most fake fragrances make me sick and give me a headache, have for the past 20 years.
Last week I was looking for liquid hand soap for our bathroom in Whole Foods, I saw one that looked nice. I screwed open the top to make sure it smelled ok, and checked the ingredients list where I saw lots of essential oils and good green ingredients, but low down on the list was “fragrance”. Argh. I didn’t have time to be picky so I figured it couldn’t be too bad since I had smelled it. Got it home and gave it a try and BLEH! Once water hit the soap it bloomed into this huge stinky perfume scent that clung to my hands even after I washed them in other soap. I had to rinse them with vinegar and wash them again to get it to go away. Moral of story? Stay away from “fragrance” soaps, it can smell different when it hits water. And Whole Foods doesn’t necessarily have all nice eco friendly stuff.
AH, I *just* had a similar experience. I had a client putting on an event at a new hotel in City Center in Las Vegas, which put me there for four days. I was so excited to stay in this hotel, but the second my staff and I opened the front door, an overwhelming wave of vanilla came protruding up my nose. It absolutely ruined my trip and there was no escaping it. By the second day, my eyes were a deep crimson shade of red that wouldn’t go away no matter how many eye drops I employed and, by the third day, I had a bloody nose. Perhaps my body is more sensitive to these types of things, but I couldn’t help feeling an overwhelming sense of anger to the company for subjecting their employees – not to mention their paying customers – to this every day. My best friend is an interior designer and I understand the concept of scent branding, but the fact of the matter is that people’s preferences to scents are all very different. Even if it weren’t for the health aspect, I simply did not enjoy the smell. Needless to say, I’ll not be staying there ever again!
On a lighter note, I still love the smell of Miss Dior Cherie and Chanel Chance. I use them sparingly, though, on special occasions and try not to ever spray them on my skin, but on my clothes instead. I wore them both when I first started my career and I think they remind me of more carefree times :)
Fabric softener. I love smelling it on my clothes and when I do my laundry without it, I feel like it’s just not quite clean. I especially love the brand my mother uses and whenever I smell it I think of home and how she always takes care of me.
I can’t help but love the smell of SoftSoap’s Pomegranate and Mango Liquid Hand Soap. I don’t buy it but really enjoy it when I go to a friend’s house and use it.
Danielle, I just had the same experience at another Las Vegas hotel. I just assumed it was the dry weather and the air pumped in. It never occured to me that it was the scented air. Wow.
Oh, and I detest the smell of fake bananas and coconut. Not even close to the real ones.
I love perfume (mostly high-end niche stuff) & have no intention of giving it up. I do, however, loathe the smell of fabric softener, dryer sheets & scented laundry soap.
Ever since I purged my stuff of as many toxins as possible, I have noticed my sense of smell has become extremly sensitive. I can not stand the smell of the laundry detergent or dryer sheets my mother uses on the family laundry (I’ve been doing my own for years), I can no longer stand Axe on ANYONE. Most toxic perfumes and any icky hand/body lotions give me a headache (and I deal with the public on a daily basis). I used to wear “Amor Amor” until I figured out the reason I liked it was for the vanilla note in it. As soon as I figured that out, I ditched the perfume and made my own from vanillia extract, a little vodka and water. Viola! Perfume I love. I can not go into stores like Bath and Body Works b/c the stench bowls me over. The worst though, is when I have to deal with a female customer who smells as if they have literally bathed in their perfume- I’ve come close to getting sick a few times right in front of them.
I can’t help myself. I love all the fake smells related with babies.
I am SO touchy about smells.
The smell of cigarette smoke makes me want to vomit. I smoked for 15 years and have been smoke free for 5 years this coming March. Since I quit, it makes me physically ill.
I can’t stand any synthetic smells. Instant headache.
I traded out perfumes for a homemade body spray that I make with witch hazel and a few drops of ylang ylang essential oil. It can go on my skin, clothes, hair, face… no worries. Love it.
When I go into a public restroom that reeks of chemical cleaners, I want to DIE!
If I were you, I’d email the hotel and tell them how you feel about their scent.
Synthetics never smell good. Ever. I prefer to buy the highest quality Middle-Eastern perfume oils. Good for your soul and good for everyone around you, too.