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Fragrance can act as a power suit when stakes feel high. Like the perfectly tailored ensemble, the right scent can shift your posture, steady your breathing, and help you summon the poise you need to face any situation. If you think this comparison sounds flimsy, consider this: A study cited a survey that found 65% of its participants felt confident when wearing fragrance. Additional research into the mind-smell connection found that scent-wearers fidgeted less.
Your individual power scent is deeply personal. For some, it's a razor-sharp citrus that helps hone their skills during a presentation, while others take an understated approach with a woody musk that feels like a comforting embrace. No single note can define this kind of emotional armor, but we asked 10 masters of their craft which fragrances they reach for when they want to feel (and smell) unstoppable.
Simone Biles, Olympic gymnast
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Simone Biles is best known for medaling 30 times at the Olympics (23 of those medals are gold, by the way). Despite her stoic appearance on the mat, the Ohio native still feels the pressure of competing. Spritzing on perfume is one way she grounds herself. “It helps me feel calm, present, and confident,” she says.
Biles adds that she’s gone through “an insane number of bottles” of Burberry Goddess Eau de Parfum, a warm and spicy gourmand featuring three kinds of vanilla. “It makes me feel powerful, unique, and beautiful,” she says, noting that whenever she wears it, “good things happen.”
Shirley Chen, actor
Ty Chen
Shirley Chen doesn’t wear perfume every day, but when she does, it’s for an extra boost of energy. The actor, who stars in Netflix’s upcoming series The Body, says Boy Smells LES adds excitement to her day: “It makes me feel fun, flirty, and light, like I have a cheeky little secret up my sleeve.”
Jasmine Tookes, model and co-founder of Brunel
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Jasmine Tookes reaches for a very specific scent combo on days when she wants to have a more commanding presence, whether she’s walking down a runway or heading out for a fun night with friends. After showering, she slathers her skin in her body-care brand’s Renewal Oil, which smells like lavender; she then layers Byredo Bal d’Afrique Eau de Parfum, a rich, woody-floral, on top. Says Tookes, “It’s the sexiest combo.”
Tabitha Brown, actor, author, and founder of Donna’s Recipe
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Tabitha Brown is the internet’s favorite auntie and jack of all trades: vegan chef, author, actor, hair-care and fragrance brand founder, and an Allure Best of Beauty Award winner (thanks to her decadent Sweet Potato Pie Hair Cream). Brown says that smelling like her husband makes her feel most confident as she takes on her many endeavors. She sprays on her brand’s suede-and-musk scent, His Business. Adds Brown, “It makes me feel sexy, unique, and powerful.”
Sandrine Charles, founder of Sandrine Charles Consulting and cofounder of Black in Fashion Council
BFA
Sandrine Charles’s resumé alone commands respect, but she always strives to also make a lasting impression when conducting business in person. She arrives at meetings in a crisp suit and a mist of Chanel No. 5 Eau de Parfum (an aldehydic floral), which she appreciates for how unapologetically feminine it is. “I love being a girly girl,” Charles says. “For meetings, I wear it alone or occasionally mix it with Chloé Eau de Parfum. It makes me feel divine.”
Dianna Cohen, founder of Crown Affair
Julian Cousins
One of the first things you’ll notice when using Dianna Cohen’s hair-care line Crown Affair is its subtly herbaceous scent, and that’s intentional. “Scent can transform a daily ritual into something evocative and meaningful,” she says.
When Cohen combines her hair products with D.S. & Durga I Don’t Know What Eau de Parfum (which has notes of bergamot and vetiver), she feels ready to face whatever life throws at her, whether it’s her wedding or a work event. “There’s a quiet confidence to it,” she says. “It makes me feel comfortable in my own skin, like the best version of me.”
Sabrina Elba, S’Able Labs cofounder
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Sabrina Elba glows when she enters a room, whether attending a fashion show or a press event for her skin-care brand, S’Able Labs. On her most demanding days, she wears Maison Crivelli Hibiscus Mahajad Extrait de Parfum for a boost. Says Elba, the blend of hibiscus, leather, and vanilla makes her “feel powerful, yet sensual.” She layers it with Calvin Klein Eternity, a fresh woody-floral that balances the heady extrait.
Dara Levy, founder of Dermaflash
Courtesy of Dermaflash
Dara Levy’s passions aren’t limited to removing peach fuzz and dead skin from complexions. The skin-care device brand founder is also always “on the hunt for the perfect fragrance.” Despite having a luxury-fragrance wardrobe, she always returns to The Body Shop White Musk fragrance mist: “I’ve been wearing it since I was in my 20s,” she says.
Levy feels commanding when she’s at her most peaceful, which is another reason she reaches for this skin scent. “It makes me feel serene,” she adds.
Zanna Roberts Rassi, style correspondent for E! and cofounder of Milk Makeup
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Before Zanna Roberts Rassi hits the red carpet, she reaches for Lovely and a Little Twisted, an eau de parfum by Lore. “It’s what I wear when I want to feel in control but also ready to have a little fun,” she says. The sweet, floral fragrance is anchored by an amber accord. “It’s an instant conversation starter,” she adds. “Stars have stopped me on the red carpet mid-flow to ask what my scent is.”
Tata Harper, founder of Tata Harper Skincare
Courtesy of Tata Harper
Scent memories are huge motivators. For Tata Harper, this is especially true: She says that Ambra di Venezia Eau de Parfum—which features notes of jasmine, sandalwood, and juicy fruits—transports her back to moments spent with her inimitable grandmother in Barranquilla, Colombia, where she grew up. “Her presence was always so captivating,” Harper recalls. The notes of mandarin orange, mango, and lime undoubtedly remind Harper of home—providing a sense of comfort that gives her vigor to take on the day.
