“How do I Feel Today?” When Words Are Not Enough, Fragrance Speaks

Written by Domenico Arcella

Amidst notes and emotions, let’s discover how a scent can express what we cannot say, guiding us through the moments when we seek ourselves.

Photo credit: Kristina Kybartaite-Damule

"How do I feel today?"

It’s one of those questions that seems easy to answer, until you try to find the right words. One of those questions I ask myself every morning, as I sip my 6:15 coffee, trying to gather the strength to face another day.

Sometimes words simply won’t come. They linger, elusive or just off the mark. So I keep thinking, over and over—while I brush my teeth, while I get dressed—just moving on by inertia until the answer arrives on its own, at the very last moment.

"Which fragrance do I wear today?"

Sometimes it’s quick, on the go: a little spray behind the ears, one on the neck, a touch on the wrists—and off I go. Ready to start a new day, leaving my trail behind. Other times, it’s a true introspective moment, when I have a deep conversation with myself. I choose a fragrance because I need a comforting hug, or another because I want to make my mark in a meeting. If it’s sunny, I reach for something fresh and fruity; if it rains, I crave something woody, warm, and enveloping.

And there it is, clear as day: the answer I needed doesn’t come with words, but with the fragrance itself.

We are so accustomed to thinking that the way we dress reflects our mood and emotional state: bright colors when we’re full of energy, soft lines when we seek comfort, black when we want to protect ourselves or assert control. But there’s another layer—subtle, almost invisible, yet incredibly powerful—that communicates even before a glance: what we choose to wear on our skin.

Perfume is never neutral. It’s a powerful declaration, even when we don’t notice it.

I only realized it when talking to a colleague during an informal chat: we were both wearing the same perfume: Purpose by Amouage.

A strong perfume opening with a vibrant blend of spicy and citrus notes like bergamot, pink pepper, and pimento berry and combined with the resinous depth of frankincense, making a strong first impression that sharpens as it settles.In the heart, the delicate rose and creamy sandalwood soften the composition, while sand vetiver and papyrus introduce an earthy, smoky character, layering in complexity. The fragrance concludes with a bold combination of saffron, suede, Mystikal, and Akigalawood, enriching its elegant and slightly mysterious persona with a seductive edge that remains long after the initial wear.

It’s elegant, complex, and almost austere. A fragrance that captures the essence of modern sophistication with a hint of mystery.​ For me has always been a loyal ally on those days when I want to be noticed, to leave a mark, to occupy space. It’s the fragrance of moments when I walk into a room and want my presence to stay, even after I’ve gone.

For her, however, that fragrance is something entirely different. It’s a refuge. It’s home. She wears it when she feels tired, stressed, or anxious. When she needs to contain herself, not expand. When she seeks a safe space, not to conquer one.

Same fragrance, yet two completely different worlds.

It is in this very gap that something deeply human resides: the bond between scent and emotion is intimate, layered, and unique.

The same exact note can be a source of strength for some and sorrow for others. There are no set rules, only a personal truth, built over time.

Nevertheless, some trends do emerge. Citrusy and fresh notes are often synonymous with lightness, a need for clarity, and a desire for movement. Warm, spicy, and ambery fragrances, on the other hand, become a hug, a shell, a way to slow down. Flowers, however, speak in different languages: some are luminous and outgoing, while others are more intimate, barely whispered.

Wearing a perfume, then, is a gesture much like choosing what to say—or not say—to the world.

This awareness took shape concretely during an olfactory experience I organized with my company. I wanted to participate myself, to see if the fragrance linked to my emotional state and profile truly reflected what I perceived, or if it could reveal something new.

The starting point was the same: “How do you feel?”. And then, not a long answer, not an explanation—just one word. One specific word.

A journey through head, heart, and base notes began with that word. We were smelling, choosing, and discarding, following our instincts more than logic itself. And in the end, almost without realizing, a profile emerged. It was like when you talk about zodiac signs: Aquarius is the independent idealist, Gemini the curious, fickle one... and so on!

Mine was “Nocturnal Seductive.” A magnetic person, effortlessly able to draw others in, effortlessly moving between presence and mystery.

The related fragrance: Italica by Casamorati.

Photo credit: @kristinakii.scents / Instagram

And yet, once again, the word I chose to describe my emotional state was something very different. I chose "confused," because that’s exactly how I felt at the time—completely overwhelmed by confusion.

And just like that, something shifted within me.​

The fragrance I matched didn’t just represent who I was in that moment; it also reflected who I was trying to be. Or maybe, who I was beneath all the noise. Not a static image, but a tension, a direction.

Italica is a warm, enveloping, and rewarding fragrance. It opens with almond as the star, paired with milky notes and softened by saffron. Its heart is sweet and structured, blending vanilla, bourbon, and caramel, and finally rests on a creamy, soft base of sandalwood and white musk.

This is my safe place. The fragrance I wear when I need a hug, when I want to remember who I am and what I want to say. And maybe I really needed it: to just stop, relax, and breathe. To put my thoughts and ideas in order. It was time to finally rediscover that “nocturnal seductive.”

Perhaps this is the point: perfumes don’t just reflect what we feel—they also reveal our needs. Or maybe the truth is, we don’t always need to name what we feel, but we can certainly recognize it.

Sometimes it is all about the trail.

The next time you ask yourself, “How do I feel today?”, don’t rush your answer. Stop, relax, and take your time. Open a drawer, choose a perfume, and smell it.

And then, just listen to yourself.