Sensualism & Botanical Scent

Touch me touch the palm of your hand to my body as I pass,
Be not afraid of my body.

- Walt Whitman, As Adam Early in the Morning

Sensualism, as the main subject and the key note in perfumes, has long been used to connect the carnal and the mental. Associations drawn between ingredients and the theme of a scent have established one of the most long standing use of perfume - seduction. But as botanical perfumes have softer, less pronounced, close to skin, and most importantly, ephemeral structures, they tend to be considered not sultry but more sensuous, in a more aesthetic way.

What are the materials which can truly be related to sensualism? Floral aromas such as jasmine and rose, animalistic accords, usually created to imitate animal derived aromatic ingredients (in our case of vegan perfumes), gourmand ingredients, alcohol derived or related such as cognac, rum, etc. But no doubt flowers have long been considered sensual, voluptuous, sophisticated yet simple and humble at the same time (as seen in art, Georgia O’Keeffe’s flowers recall female sex organs but transform into abstract florals; Mapplethorpe hoped his flower pictures would make people see his overtly sexual photos in a different light).

But the intriguing ‘foreplay’ of materials is not as important as the depth of the perfume. Lighter perfumes (Gloire de Dijon) are inviting and alluring, heavier ones (Priesse) have no prelude and make you delve into the intricacy and complexity. But there is always a hint or an inkling of the primary focus of the scent: it is either self-love (as in Gloire de Dijon whose goal is to help awaken femininity and/or spend more time on self-care) or the perpetual desire for love in all its forms, that is to think of the scent as the link between, perhaps, the past and the present, as in Priesse, which expands from Sappho poetry traditions to the present day eroticism, but staying in the frame of aestheticism.

Why do we blend scent, eroticism, nature and art? Probably, the answer lies in our love for the hidden, the undiscovered, allusions and associations close to reality but found in nature. All translated in the language, more often poetic one. Or it is our love for the beautiful and abstract, rather than straightforwardness of the explicit. Since the sexual revolution many forms of art have liberated themselves and people are not afraid of self-expression anymore. But this leaves no room for imagination, something we really must use if we need to understand art in its classic form.

Think of sensualism as a way to cover what we see and experience every day with the help of scent or any other art. Think of the players and layers of senses involved in it, abstract and physical: thrill, skin, body, touch, scent, anticipation… but does everything need to end in the same way? Perfume is only a medium which helps you understand your body and skin chemistry and, first of all, yourself better. Let it speak for the subjects and taboos (in some countries) which are yet to be on the agenda of sexual liberation movements: a woman, as a subject, not an object; natural scent and body shapes as part of our human diversity, not deficiency; natural cycles of women and natural ageing cycles of humans in general. By using tools, such as perfume and in particular, natural perfume, you emphasise for yourself the acceptance of the process involved in it and the inspiration behind it: from the soft aesthetics of fragile human relations, both physical and emotional, to the intangible notes which give only a slight hint but have a strong statement and ethos behind.

Rather than covering skin with synthetic fragrances which last for days, apply natural perfumes which offer a different perspective when your skin is involved in the creation of your signature scent since it becomes part of the whole chemistry. To use botanical perfume to accentuate your individuality, go for a subtle touch on your favourite application points/areas. To emphasise your own body use different scents on different body parts which will create a unique plume around you. For a sensuous scent, a ‘less is more’ approach is the best method, even if your personality sounds stronger, you always want to make people move closer to you to smell the scent rather than the opposite.

Any note, perfume or a combination of a few can be considered sensual as long as they evoke a response in your personality and mind. The standards we are used to having are not the frames and boundaries. It is only because we, as a society, have a communal memory which helps us draw certain associations. If you use them, it is normal, but if you wish to explore botany and scent as a way to know your own body or use it to connect with your partner, you can certainly do that. For sensualism is not in the way we dress or look, not in the way we smell or think. Sensualism is a unique combination of traits, atypical, non-standard, unconventional. Remember to make difference between ‘sensual’ and ‘sensuous’, although it is still unclear which one would make a more neutral approach, related to senses rather than to physical and sexual terms. They can be used depending on the context.

Sensualism is the self-confidence (at any age) we often lack, feeling comfortable in our own body, forms, skin, etc. There is nothing wrong in using additional tools or practices to help yourself elevate your own image. In the end the word ‘sensualism’ speaks for itself, when we experience something which affects our senses, our body and mind reply in a positive way. To feel more connected to your own self in a physical sense, use the following slow practices: meditation, yoga, pilates, dance, walks, journalling, also, get enough sleep and rest during the day if possible, etc. It is important not only to think of physical activities but also about the way you plan and experience them, what comes as a result and how well you do get related to your own mental and physical image. Body awareness comes from mental one. Use scent as a tool, as a medium either during your physical activities or simply to start a conversation with yourself: which scent feels right at the moment, how it makes you feel, which part of your body responses the best, etc. Scent, as part of your physical and emotional relations with your partner, can become the connection we lack very often. It can also help create the sense of memory. Scent can be experienced, taught, studied, reflected on, etc. and all this comes through your body and mind, responsible for the elusive sensualism…