Today we, the Mood Scent 4 blogging project, are sharing our picks for perfumes that we feel are suitable for any occasion.
I think of perfumes that you can wear anytime, anywhere, as those that are not too overbearing and which you feel at ease in. The second category will vary from person to person. Some people will feel at home in easy-going florals while others will reach for something woody as their go-to.
I have a few all-rounders and it’s no surprise to me that two of them are chypres. This is a genre I’ve long loved and always felt can take me anywhere.
These four perfumes are the olfactory equivalent of the versatile white shirt – but with added character.
Diorella, Dior
Sicilian lemon, peach, basil, Italian bergamot, melon, greens, honeysuckle, jasmine, violet, rosebud, carnation, cyclamen, oakmoss, vanilla, clove, sandalwood, vetiver, musk, patchouli
This carefree fruity chypre with gentle florals is truly a ‘take me anywhere’ scent. The green accents keep it fresh while the mossy base elevates it to the level of chic. The white vernal flowers lend it some prettiness and the ripe fruit prevents it from feeling too formal. It’s a significant step up form a cologne-style fragrance like its older brother, Eau Sauvage, but it’s not as dressed-up as its older sister La Parfum de Therese.
Seville a L’Aube, L’Artisan Perfumeur
Lavender, pink pepper, lemon tree leaves, orange blossom, jasmine, magnolia, beeswax, incense, Benzoin Siam, Luiseiri lavender
This orange blossom scent has a zesty opening, caramelised lavender and a resinous breath of incense that makes it intriguing yet relaxed. The syprupy aroma of orange blossom is counter-balanced beautifully by the other accords and means it has enough depth to wear outside of summer. Its radiance and style means it can be to spritzed for smarter events while being languid enough to also sport on casual occasions.
Vol de Nuit EdT, Guerlain
Bergamot, galbanum, petitgrain, jasmine, daffodil, spices, sandalwood, orris, vanilla, amber, oakmoss, benzoin, musk, ambergris, castoreum
The large gold Habit de Fete canister I have of Vol de Nuit contains a perfume that feels like me. I can wear the EdT at any time and it always feels right, with the added bonus that it soothes my soul. Its inherent chypre classiness means it can take me anywhere – including the office – but it also works on the weekends because it simply feels like a second skin. I know it so intimately now that I find it hard to break down. There’s still nothing like it.
La Fille de Berlin, Serge Lutens
Rose, violet, pink and black pepper, musk
I love Rose de Nuit for an evening out and Tobacco Rose by Papillon Perfumes for the whole rose-bed, but my ‘all occasions’ rose is La Fille de Berlin. Though it has presence, it also has a transparency that makes it unobtrusive. The soft puff of violet-scented powder makes it feminine and the musky amber drydown gives it substance. I can wear it through the summer as well as the cooler seasons. It’s one of those perfumes that never fails me.
I can’t wait to jump over to Megan in Sainte Maxime and I Scent You a Day to see their choices. Make sure you do too and share your own ‘white shirt’ perfumes in the comments.
A Bottled Rose 
I started reading this post, then stopped before moving on your choices to get a list of my own. I interpreted “every occasion” as “dress up/dress down perfume for any season” (but I probably wouldn’t take them to a tropical vacation or a forest walk).
Several years ago I named Jul et Mad’s Amour de Palazzo as perfume for any occasion (I don’t think you read this post – so here’s a link, if you’re curious). I also chose four more perfumes for my list:
– Chanel No 19 EdT or extrait
– Original Miss Dior EdT or parfum
– Guerlain Chamade parfum
– Tom Ford Fleur de Chine
All of these perfumes I’d be comfortable wearing to the office, after-work drinks with friends or a black tie party.
I like and wear all perfumes from your list though none of them would for me fit the category being discussed.
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Ooh I love your choices, Undina. It’s only my guilt at owning so much perfume already that has stopped me buying No.19. I also “need” a bottle of Chamade – and more Miss Dior 🙂
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Hi Tara, I love perfumes that I can wear on any occassion. Your choices are all wonderful. My own ‘white shirt’ perfumes are NVC Ashoka, Chanel Bois d’ Iles and Chanel No. 19. Have a great week. Sandra xo
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Classy choices from you, as ever, Sandra.
Ashoka is a great pick.
Another vote for No.19! I’m going to have grab a bottle for spring.
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Great theme! I recently bought my first fb of Vol de Nuit and it is so easy to wear – I’m now wondering why it took me so long. I think my own ‘go anywhere’ list would also include Shalimar Initial, L’Artisan Tea for Two, SL Un Bois Vanille, Atelier Cedrat Enivrant and No.5
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Bee, congratulations on your fb of Vol de Nuit. Nothing compares to it. Shalimar Initial is a great choice if the original feels too dressy for everyday (if does for me).
No.5 – of course!
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Hi Tara. Love your choices by the way and feel bad that I haven’t really properly tried Vol de Nuit (shock, horror). From your description it sounds magnificent. Seville and Fille de Berlin are two of my go to’s as well. Have a great week. ✨
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We all have classics that we haven’t got around to trying for one reason or another, Megan, but please do give VdN a go. It’s a very special perfume.
Wishing you a fab week too!
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I agree with Undina that I wouldn’t choose your picks as my own ‘all-occasion’ scents, as with the exception of Fille de Berlin, which I really must resniff, they strike me as quite singular / distinctive perfumes that I would have to be in the mood for rather than considering them a go-to. I think as a rule you have ‘darker’ and more grown up taste in perfume than me. But that is exactly what you say in your opening, namely that everyone has quite different leanings and there is no such thing as a ‘one size fits everyone’s all-occasions scent’!
I did think of Bois des Iles independently (honest!) as one example of an all-occasions scent, and I would personally wear HOCB Immortal Beloved pretty much anywhere, anytime. And Prada L’Eau Ambree if it was still around. And Mona Di Orio Tubereuse and Amouage Honour Woman. Beyond those truly off the cuff thoughts I think I probably make more of a distinction between day and night scents, though the question has got me thinking now…;) And if I can come up with some others, it could really help with my travel packing!
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Ha! Yes, I can see that a perfume that could take you from day to night would be very handy for your travels.
I guess my choices are rather distinctive but they are all perfumes I feel at home in and don’t find too dressy or too casual. A personal thing, as you say.
I can see Tubereuse and L’Eau Ambree working well in this category. I always think of Amouage perfumes as quite loud but maybe Honour Woman is quieter than most.
I definitely don’t see my taste as darker or more grown-up than yours, so that’s interesting. I tend to envy those that can wear those heavy skanky/smoky/leathery fragrances.
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Great choices, Tara! One of my favourite all-rounders is Cartier Declaration.
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Thanks, R! A good all-rounder is a must.
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I don’t own a white shirt, or even a white t-shirt. Is that weird? Their perfume equivalents, sure: Heeley’s Chrypre 21 is one of those easy, can-do-no-wrong scents for me; Miss Dior can do no wrong as far as I’m concerned, as long as she’s the real old school one; something vetivery–either Sycomore or the Guerlain; and probably L’orpheline, which wears incredibly easily on me.
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Crikey, definitely not weird. I don’t own either of those. Just don’t think they suit me.
Miss Dior is always right though. The older stuff is everything. I totally agree about L’Orpheline too. One of the few Lutens that can take you anywhere and won’t be overwhelming.
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