11 Fragrances To Cure Your Winter Blues

Perfume is like music for the nose. Fragrant notes titillate the senses and fuel our spirits. Certain smells can trigger memories, emotions, evoke feelings, and even change our moods.

Have you ever been walking down the street when you smell something that sucks you back in time to a happy memory? For me, the smell of a lush lilac bush takes me back to when I was a child, running around the neighborhood with my sister. My heart races and I cannot help but smile.

If you have experienced something like this, you know that certain smells can cause a chemical change within the body.

Let's be honest, winter is upon us, and the winter blues are very much real. With winter tumbling towards us and days growing darker and shorter, I am desperately clinging to the small things that bring me joy. One thing that always lifts me up is a whiff of my favorite perfume. Aromatherapy can do wonders for your mental health and mood.

With that being said, here are some lovely scents that always make me smell good and feel good.

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ARMANI BEAUTY - Acqua di Gioia ($61)

Acqua di Gioia translates to 'water of joy', and that is exactly what this is. This crisp, clean, fresh scent is my everyday go-to but also makes for a perfect date night perfume. It is dreamy, peaceful, alluring, vibrant, and youthful, without being overpowering or heavy.

They say, "Inspired by Italy’s Mediterranean coast, this Giorgio Armani perfume for women is a singular blend of serenity and exhilaration. Opening up with the clean, fresh perfume of citrus, the eau de parfum reveals a heart of intoxicating jasmine fragrance and lingers with a scent of warm cedarwood."

SCENT FAMILY: Fresh Aquatics

NOTES: Jasmine, Gardenia & Warm Woods

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DOLCE & GABBANA - Light Blue Eau de Toilette ($60)

If you bottled the sky, it would be Dolce & Gabbana's Light Blue. When you are missing the warm summer air on a cold winter day, this light, joyful scent will take you back to sunbathing by the pool. This scent feels like drinking a crisp white wine on a cliffside balcony, with an ocean view.

They say, "This colorful, fresh, floral-fruity Eau de Toilette reflects the sensuality of the Mediterranean lifestyle. Sicilian cedar combines with the freshness of the green apple and the floral allure and spontaneity of the bluebell, the top note captures the essence of a sunny South Italian summer."

SCENT FAMILY: Fresh Citrus & Fruits

NOTES: Citrus, Apple & Bamboo

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JULIETTE HAS A GUN - Not A Perfume ($100)

There is just something special and comforting about Not a Perfume. You know when people say actors just have "it"? This perfume just had it. Fresh, seductive, sophisticated, yet playful, warm and alluring, yet clean and simple - this scent has it all. This fragrance feels like being wrapped in a warm, soft cashmere sweater or like a really good first kiss with someone who gives you butterflies.

They say, "This minimalist, fresh, and clean fragrance is hypoallergenic and ideal for those who don’t normally wear perfume. It is composed of a single note, called cetalox, which is usually used in perfumery as a base note. Here it plays the lead role for a fragrance that will easily satisfy the most difficult tastes, and particularly those preferring discretion over complexity."

SCENT FAMILY: Warm Woods

NOTES: Cetalox (Synthetic Ambergris)

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LE LABO - AnOther 13 Eau de Parfum ($196)

Okay, truth time. One day, when I was working as a stylist at a boutique, a woman walked by me and I caught a whiff of her perfume. My senses lit on fire. Like word vomit, I spat out, "You smell incredible. What is that?" THIS is THAT. It is one of the most gorgeous scents I have ever had the pleasure of smelling. This clean, mesmerizing scent feels like the tension before a kiss. That feeling of excitement, curiosity, and wonder that you want to cling to as badly as you want it to end.

They say, "A hypnotizing and unique scent. It's composed of ambroxan, a synthetic animal musk, making AnOther 13 an addictive dirty potion blended with 12 other ingredients such as jasmine, moss and ambrette seed absolute, which gives it spike and shine."

SCENT FAMILY: Fresh & Woody

NOTES: Ambroxan, Jasmine Petals, Musk, Moss, & Woody Ambery Notes

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LUSH - SUN ($30)

Sunshine in a bottle, just as the name states. This vibrant, sweet citrus scent wakes you up and makes you feel alive. Uplifting, inspiring, fun and fresh this perfume will make your neurons fire like a Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza. This fragrance feels like your favorite sundress swaying in the breeze. Oh, and did somebody say mimosas? Yes, please.

They say, "Put sunshine into those gray winter days with a sweet orange and mimosa burst over sandalwood. This scent is bright and full of life to put a smile on your face and a spring in your step. Just the thing you need for those moments when you need to lift your spirits."

SCENT FAMILY: Citrus

NOTES: Brazilian Orange Oil, Sandalwood & Mimosa Absolute

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NEMAT - Amber Fragrance Oil ($18)

This unique, transformative fragrance oil is warm and inviting like a big hug for the soul. Simple, familiar and comforting this fragrance feels like watching your favorite movie with your best friend.

They say, "The Amber Fragrance Oil from Nemat has a subtle yet long-lasting scent - one drop goes a long way. This fragrance blends with your body chemistry to create your own unique scent. This is Nemat's signature "skin-scent" with fresh, inspiring, soft and clean notes."

SCENT FAMILY: Warm & Woody

NOTES: Amber

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FRESH - Brown Sugar ($50)

This energetic, whimsical, caramelized fragrance makes me feel like a kid again. This exhilarating, spellbinding fragrance feels like walking into a candy shop for the first time ever and not knowing what to choose. Like all your cravings in a bottle, the smell of sugar taunts you and makes your mouth water.

They say, "Sparkling citruses of Sicilian lemon, tangerine, and açaí berry are sprinkled with sheer caramel and sugared magnolia for an invigorating fragrance."

"With this invigorating fragrance, I wanted to capture the emotional experience of sugar, what it stands for in our hearts." — Lev Glazman, Fresh Co-founder

SCENT FAMILY: Sweet Gourmand & Citrusy

NOTES: Sicilian Lemon, Tangerine, Açaí Berries, Sugared Magnolia, Honeysuckle, Peach Nectar Caramel, Warm Amber & Cypress.

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CHANEL - CHANCE EAU FRAÎCHE Eau de Toilette ($115)

This fresh, vibrant scent creates an environment that nurtures happiness and fantasy. Inhaling this gorgeous aroma make you feel like your wildest dreams are possible. This refreshing, vivacious fragrance feels like lucid dreaming or flying in your dreams. The wind in your hair and the world at your fingertips.

They say, "A whirlwind of energy and vitality intertwines the zesty freshness of Citron with the softness of Jasmine and the vibrant presence of Teak Wood."

SCENT FAMILY: Fresh Citrus & Fruits

NOTES: Citron, Jasmine & Teakwood

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CRABTREE & EVELYN - Raw Instinct Scent ($68)

This scent uplifts the spirit while bringing you down to earth and planting your feet firmly on the ground. Smoky, woody undertones and fresh citrus collide and mingle, creating a unique and alluring concoction. This fragrance feels like hiking on a warm day, with a cool breeze or enjoying a beach bonfire with your best friends. Connected to the earth and each other, completely at peace.

They say, "Unforgettable. Unique. Uplifting. Our Raw Instinct scent is a refreshingly distinct fragrance."

SCENT FAMILY: Fresh Citrus, Earthy Florals & Smoky Woods.

NOTES: Pomelo, Kumquat, Pine, Eucalyptus, Apple Blossom, Jasmine, Vetiver Smoke, Papyrus & Guaiac Woods

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MAISON FRANCIS KURKDJIAN - Aqua Vitae Eau de Toilette ($225)

This scent is so complex. Warm, fresh, citrusy, and sweet this perfume dances in your nose. This fragrance feels like the early stages of falling in love. Like two eager hands inching towards each other, begging to touch. Dilated pupils and racing hearts. Vibrant, fresh, romantic, and unbelievably tempting.

They say,"The delicious whisper of Aqua Vitae triggers an irresistible craving for tender kisses on the neck. This eau de toilette awakens the senses, tickled by lemon from Calabria, mandarin from Sicily, hedione, vanilla absolute, tonka bean and guaiac wood."

SCENT FAMILY: Fresh

NOTES: Calabrian Lemon, Sicilian Mandarin, Hedione, Guaiac Wood, Vanilla Infusion & Tonka Beans

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PHILOSOPHY - Fresh Cream ($45)

Imagine walking past an ice cream shop on a hot summer day. The door is open and the scent of vanilla and waffle cones swirls towards you. Fresh, creamy, and whimsical, this perfume is a gorgeous reminder that winter only means spring is right around the corner. This indulgent fragrance feels like enjoying a slice of pie à la mode and the sugar rush that follows.

They say, "This sweet, delicious fragrance was created to delight your senses and bring you pure joy. Fresh Cream spray fragrance leaves skin with a delicately sweet scent, guaranteed to draw others closer, yet never overwhelm. It can be worn alone or layered with other fresh cream products for a head-to-toe fresh cream scent."

SCENT FAMILY: Warm, Spicy & Sweet Gourmands

NOTES: Heliotrope, Vanilla, Whipped Cream & Macadamia Nut

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What are your favorite fragrances? I would love to hear from you. Tweet me @BiancaAnneShaw

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