I Was a Perfume Novice, But This Is My New Favorite Scent, Hands Down

In case you haven't been following, I've started moonlighting as a beauty writer in addition to my day job as the managing editor of Who What Wear's sister site, THE/THIRTY. As someone who was always interested in beauty and skincare but never really covered it in my 10-year journalism career, it's been an eye-opening experience. I've learned so much, including what exactly is hyaluronic acid, everything I've ever wanted to know about sunscreen, and the best way to exfoliate my skin. My brain has gotten heavier (in the best way possible) with knowledge, and my skin has never looked better.

One of the beauty topics I've enjoyed learning more about has been fragrances. I never really gave much thought to it mostly because I don't have a great sense of smell due to an accident a few years ago. (That's a story for another time.) So I didn't know that there is so much to perfumes and scents from all the layers of notes to chemistry to fragrance families. I recently talked to some perfumers about how to purchase a fragrance online, and it was one of the most interesting subjects to write about and consider, especially since most of our shopping is being done online at the moment.

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(Image credit: @alicezielasko)

Writing about the topic has really made me rethink my perfume choices. I always stood firmly in the florals camp, but now I'm looking to new horizons—mainly the musky scents of the world. I always thought the woodsy, earthy, grounding scent was a little too heavy and not really the vibe I was trying to give off. I've always gravitated toward light, natural, fresh, and sweet-but-not-too-sweet scents.

While I still love those notes, I'm ready to get a little more mysterious and serious with my fragrances. Maybe it's because I'm getting older and am solidly in my 30s now, or maybe it's wanting to shake things up when we're finally able to get out there and see our friends and family safely again. Whatever it is, I'm ready for a rebranding of sorts when it comes to my perfumes. And I think musky scents are a great place to start because they still have a natural vibe but with a little bit more sophistication and intrigue.

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(Image credit: @eggcanvas)

In my quest to find a musky perfume to call my signature scent, I've made a wish list. Take a look at what I'm eyeing below. Maybe you'll be inspired to try them, too.

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(Image credit: @amy_lawrenson)

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(Image credit: @aysha.sow)

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(Image credit: @thevicstyles)

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(Image credit: @thatschic)

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(Image credit: @bettinalooney)
Managing Editor

Sarah is lifestyle writer and editor with over 10 years of experience covering health and wellness, interior design, food, beauty, and tech. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she attended New York University and lived in New York for 12 years before returning to L.A. in 2019. In addition to her work on THE/THIRTY and Who What Wear, she held editor roles at Apartment Therapy, Real Simple, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, and The Bump (sister site of The Knot). She has a passion for health and wellness, but she especially loves writing about mental health. Her self-care routine consists of five things: a good workout, “me” time on the regular, an intriguing book/podcast/playlist to unwind after a long day, naps, and decorating her home.