Story of a scent

i’ve always been drawn to the smell of roses. As a child, I would pick fresh petals and crush them into water to make my own ‘perfume’. I’m not quite sure if that’s how it’s supposed to work but I’d lash that homemade potion on like I was a boss. I even considered selling it. Now, as an adult, rose is still my jam! I use it whenever I can in whatever form; moisturisers, facial sprays, oils, dried petals for cooking. The scent, the flavour – it’s all so familiar and comforting.

When my husband and I got married in a little forest during the summer, I wanted to pick a special scent; it is so closely linked to memory and we wanted a smell that would not only remind us of our special day, but also our close friends. I wore the Jo Malone Red Roses fragrance and we cleverly placed diffusers and burned candles of the same scent, so it was subtle but recognisable. I think maybe subconsciously I chose rose because it reminds me of being a kid and getting married at that time was the most ‘grownup’ thing I’d done. Maybe if it smelt like I was 10 again, I could chill out!

I still wear the scent to this day. Sure, it’s more seasonal, but if I need a little lift I’ll whack it on and I’m instantly transported back to the beautiful, sunny afternoon under a canopy of trees when I married my husband and shared the most magical day with my family and friends. From £45, jomalone.co.uk