An array of scents by Yosh

Scents—The Perfect Match For Mom

On Mother’s Day, parfum trumps flowers, candy, even a mani-pedi for its mood-lifting capabilities. To truly delight and impress your mother this year, capture and bottle her essence in a sleek glass vessel, and present it to her alongside the dessert course at Boulevard. Master perfumer Yosh Han shares her suggestions for creating a bespoke blend, based on a few classic urban-mom archetypes.

The Eternally Youthful Hipster

If it weren’t for the four-inch stilettos that slow her down, you may not be able to keep pace with the self-professed mom about town. “She’s your best friend—the one who takes you to get Botox on your thirtieth birthday,” Yosh says. “She can be a little bit racy, like a tigress, and you feel totally comfortable sharing intimate personal details with each other.”

This is a woman who sees life as a perpetual soirée, so Yosh suggests striking a tropical mood with citrus or juicy fruit notes reminiscent of an island vacation: watermelon, pear, pomegranate, apple, passion fruit, mango, or melon. If she’s single, increase her potential for passion with warmth and spice, such as with vanilla and cinnamon.

The Traditionalist

A product of charm school, her days might revolve around a leisurely lunch with the ladies, a whirl through the shoe salon at Neiman’s, and then it’s back to the pied-à-terre to set a perfect dinner table. Her manners, mores, and pearls hark back to a bygone era, and since her aura wafts of conservatism, her scent should too. “It’s easy to envy the traditional mom’s femininity,” notes Yosh, “and she’s usually the perfect wife.”

She’s also a great listener: some of your best conversations might transpire while lounging in embroidered silk eye masks and nibbling Tennessee teacakes, or one of her other dangerously addictive homemade confections. Capture her essence with white flower (think tuberose, jasmine, gardenia) or fresh scents inspired by the Deep South, such as magnolia and sweet tea.

The Noir Nurturer

Mom noir delights in alone time, preferring to curl up with black-and-white movies that are dense with subtitles, even though she’s fluent in five languages. She’s of an artistic mind—a ceramicist, a novelist, a designer—and is prone to becoming restless with creativity. Others describe her as intense, moody, mysterious, even elusive, save for her occasional cameo in the society pages. When selecting a scent, think incense.

“Noir mom would appreciate the scent of a wild orchid out of the Amazon or something equally exotic,” suggests Yosh. “Her fragrance has got to be just as interesting as she is.”

The Perpetual Worrier

Worried mom is a study in selflessness and will always be hopelessly devoted to her children (you secretly refer to her as the Human Seatbelt because of the arm that goes flying across your chest at lightning speed whenever she’s forced to hit the brakes on the Bentley). She would willingly give up a lifetime of couture, the private jet, even your family’s beach house in Bali for your health and happiness. Her mantra has always been safety first, and her bespoke scent should follow suit.

Although her mothering instincts are highly evolved, think simple. Han suggests something floral or soothing like lavender or chamomile. It will relieve some of her worry when you’re traveling abroad and haven’t called her to check in.

The Meddling Matchmaker

She’s nosy, but endearingly so. Meddling mom has high hopes that you will one day marry royalty and live in a castle—even though you’re happily single, thank you very much. She’s been known to plan social gatherings with no other intention than to introduce you to the billionaire or billionairess next door.

“This is the mom that just wants you to be happy, no matter how many times you express that you already are,” Yosh says. “Hers is a sticky fragrance that lingers in a room long after she’s left. I’d opt for notes of lilac, peach blossom, or passion fruit.”

Err on the side of scents that are light and clean (these will allow her to spritz liberally without seeming offensive), perhaps a floral mint, or something chocolate-y that will make you delight in her presence for prolonged periods.

The Earthy Existentialist

Uninhibited and tempestuous, this is a mom with a taste for the exotic, which typically translates as cardamom, clove, or anise.

“In the Bay Area there exists a certain kind of Bohemian spirit, native to Mill Valley or Berkeley, that we could call the sophisticated liberal,” Yosh says.

Her insouciant nature—independent, unconventional, and unbound by the opinions of others—calls to mind arbiters of the French New Wave (think Jane Birkin). When you were growing up, an impromptu family trip could mean a visit to MOMA, or to a third-world country where you were encouraged to contemplate the true meaning of privilege. “[Existentialist mom] might gravitate toward invigorating green notes such as dill, fennel, or mint—something out of the ordinary that arouses intrigue,” Yosh says. “Maybe even basil or ginger, but never, ever give this woman something mainstream.”

Consult with Yosh Han, as well as other scent professionals, who will be featured at the Fragrance Extravaganza hosted by Barneys, May 9, 1-6 PM; the parfum professionals will be there to help women select fragrances to complement their moods and personalities. RSVP to: edunwood@barneys.com.

 San Francisco-born freelance writer Stephanie Simons has contributed to several regional and national publications.