Sweet, Seductive or Sultry | Picking Memorable Perfumes for Special Occasions

Words by: Parfum Muse    |    Estimated reading time: 5mins

 

 

If you've been invited to a dinner with friends, a wedding, a date night or a social gathering, you'll likely make a little more effort than for a regular work day; perhaps wearing a favourite or new outfit, choosing a pair of elegant earrings or cufflinks and deciding what shoes to wear in advance.

Just as we use clothes, make-up, jewellery, watches, and hairstyles to feel refined, confident, and excited for a special occasion, it's also a great idea to wear a different scent than your usual go-to as a pick-me-up that feels like the finishing touch.

Perfumes and scents can also impact our mood. A gorgeous evening scent works perfectly for a date night, a lighter fragrance can help us feel energised for brunch with friends, or a graceful, cultured scent ensures you’ll stand out at a dinner party in all the right ways.

The Parfum Muse team has collated our top picks for a variety of occasions to help you choose the ideal perfume to complement your outfit and aesthetic.

Scents for After-Work Drinks

Whether you’re new to a workplace and keen to make new friends or have been invited to a local bar for a casual drink, there's a delicate line between retaining a sense of professionalism while allowing yourself to relax and let your personality shine—especially if you’re in a group or attending with a senior colleague.

Opting for a scent with a distinctive profile that differs from your normal daytime cologne or perfume helps with that transition from work to off-duty, and a deeper amber or ambergris scent is a great option.

Another option, if you’d like to play it safe, is to go for a classic aromatic fragrance with a woodier base note for the evening, such as patchouli or vetiver. These scents are noticeable and attractive without being overpowering.

Perseus Eau de Parfum by Parfums de Marly is a great citrusy men’s fragrance with top notes of bergamot, grapefruit, and blackcurrant bud, underpinned by an ambergris accord and vetiver. We'd also highlight the sweetly woody Wood Whisper Absolute Perfume Oil by Ojar—it's a unisex fragrance with ambergris, vanilla, and amber, with lighter notes of rose and violet.

Picking a Date Night Perfume 

Perfumes may not be as important as conversation, charisma, and chemistry with a date—even if you’re heading out for a well-deserved date night with your spouse or significant other. However, intoxicating fragrances can make a fantastic impression, with our olfactory senses often picking up on even gentle notes.

For a date night with somebody new, a great tip is to look for a fragrance a little outside the norm – try looking for a unique fragrance profile highlighting accents like bamboo, coconut or pomegranate.

Sunset Hour Perfume Concentrate by Goldfield & Banks is a captivating fragrance with exotic fruits, citrus, and spices, a luxurious touch of caramel, cashmere wood, and a slightly tart mango.

Chopard’s Miel D’Arabie Eau de Parfum also fits the bill, with earthy patchouli blended with tea, pink pepper and pomegranate for an alluring scent. 

 

Depending on where you're going for your date, it's also wise to use your scent sparingly. However, that's less of a consideration if it's at a busy club or bar or an active date such as bowling. 

Otherwise, a spritz of perfume around your collarbone will ensure your fragrance is distinct over a dinner table but won’t detract from your food or drinks.

Choosing a Scent to Wear to a Wedding 

If you’ve been invited to a wedding, the perfect scent should complement your chosen outfit and style, whether you're going to a formal, large, lavish ceremony, a rustic wedding in a country barn, or an intimate celebration with your nearest and dearest.

Part of your decision may depend on the duration of the wedding since a very light, summery scent will often begin to fade if you're attending a ceremony earlier in the day, followed by a meal and evening drinks and dancing.

Our suggestion is to think about a fragrance with hints of neroli, which is extracted from bitter orange trees, a sophisticated citrus perfume, or a floral jasmine scent that feels romantic, sumptuous, and light-hearted—ideal for a day that's all about love.

You might wish to try the fresh, masculine Greenley Eau de Parfum, with a crisp profile owing to green apple, cedarwood and mandarin, or Q by Dolce & Gabbana Eau de Parfum, a truly romance-inspired scent with cherry, jasmine petals, red orange and Sicilian lemon.

Fragrances for Summer Garden Parties and Barbecues

Few occasions feel as quintessentially British as a summer evening garden party or BBQ—regardless of if the weather is on your side. The trick with an outdoor social gathering is to choose a scent that is noticeable enough to stay put but not too heavy or heady, better suited to a club or late-night indoor event. 

A floral perfume with a contemporary twist works well, blending notes that are reminiscent of sun-soaked afternoons. Accents like jasmine, tuberose, and wildflowers evoke a feeling of lush, green meadows but are easily wearable.

Some of our favourite scents for summery celebrations include:

Bouquet de Hongrie Eau de Parfum from BDK Parfums: A fresh, pretty fragrance with pear, strawberry, blackcurrant, jasmine and Rose of Turkey.

Le Parfum Lumiere Eau de Parfum by Elie Saab is a more decadent Mediterranean summer scent with white flowers, amber woods, and Madagascan ylang-ylang.

Champs De Provence Eau de Parfum from Eight & Bob embraces the scents of the French countryside with wildflower, fruit trees, rose, pear and bergamot.

 

We hope these ideas have inspired you to try something a little less ordinary for your next social event and give you plenty of suggestions for coordinating your fragrance with all the forthcoming dates on your calendar!