I remember the moment I first fell in love with perfume. For my 13th birthday, my uncle gave me a bottle of Lancôme Miracle. It was a rare hit among his famously quirky gifts—think stiletto heels when I was eight or a pre-worn Gucci watch knock-off he swore was brand new. But this time, he got it right. I adored the scent, and it marked the beginning of a lifelong love affair with fragrance.
Around that time, my friends and I would spend our weekends at the local shopping centre, sipping slush puppies, catching the latest films, and scheming ways to score free perfume samples from Debenhams and The Perfume Shop. With pocket money in hand, I started curating my own collection: Britney Spears’ Curious, Ghost Cherish, Lancôme Hypnôse, Ralph by Ralph Lauren and Dior Addict 2 were among my early treasures. Each bottle felt like a little luxury, a way to express myself in a world I was only just starting to explore.
A Fragrance Lover’s Loss
I was the first person I knew personally to catch COVID. It was March 2020, and I fell ill the very day the country went into full nationwide lockdown. A few days later, I lost my sense of taste and smell. At first, I didn’t think much of it—whenever I’d had a bad cold or the flu, this would happen, and it always came back. But this time, it didn’t.
For months, I couldn’t taste or smell a single thing. I remember in July, four months after contracting COVID, I tried downing a tequila shot—it tasted exactly same as water.
By September 2020, my sense of taste began to return, and I felt relieved, assuming my sense of smell would naturally follow. But by the time I moved out of my family home and a whole year later, in September 2021, it still hadn’t come back.
Not being able to smell wasn’t just inconvenient—it was dangerous. I’ll never forget almost setting my house on fire after accidentally knocking the knob on the hob and melting a silicone pan. I only realized something was wrong when I looked up to see the house filled with smoke and ash floating through the air. Most people would have been alerted by the smell of something burning, but I didn’t detect a thing.
Beyond the safety concerns, I was mourning the little joys I’d lost—the scent of freshly cut grass, sun cream on a sunny holiday, and, most of all, perfume. Losing my sense of smell felt like losing a part of myself. Fragrance had always been a source of comfort and self-expression, and its absence left an empty void.
As someone who has always adored fragrance, from my time working at Dolce & Gabbana in Harrods to completing a perfume course with the Fragrance Foundation, scent was more than just a pleasure—it was part of my identity. When my sense of taste returned after six months, I had hope, but my sense of smell remained elusive. For over three years, it felt like I was living in a muted world, unable to connect to the scents that had always brought me joy.
Then came Lancôme La Vie Est Belle.
The First Scent I Could Smell Again
La Vie Est Belle was a revelation. It was one of the first perfumes I could smell, its warm, sweet vanilla base cutting through the fog of anosmia. It wasn’t just a fragrance but a connection back to the vibrant world of scent I had missed so deeply.
Vanilla, I learned during my perfume course, has a special magic. It’s believed to be one of the first scents a newborn baby can detect, and it can even make them smile. Perhaps that’s why it was the first note that returned to me. Following vanilla, citrus scents began to emerge, slowly pulling me further into the world of fragrance once more.
The Power of a Signature Scent
For the past couple years, La Vie Est Belle has been my go-to perfume. It’s become a symbol of consistency in my life, grounding me through the chaos of travel and the unpredictability of my sensory recovery. Its blend of praline, patchouli, and vanilla creates a comforting yet sophisticated warmth that I can wear anywhere in the world for any occasion.
Perfume is deeply personal, and for me, it’s a way to feel like myself no matter where I am or what I’m going through. In a world where so much has changed, having a signature scent is a small but meaningful way to hold on to something constant.
Relearning to Smell
Even now, almost five years later, my sense of smell isn’t fully back. There are fragrances I still can’t detect and notes that remain muted. Interestingly, my scent palette has also changed—scents I know I loved before like soapy smells and Oud I no longer like—but I’ve learned to adapt. My relationship with perfume has changed and I gravitate toward stronger, sweeter and distinguishable scents like La Vie Est Belle, which cut through the gaps in my perception (or should I say smellception?).
This journey has taught me that rediscovery is a process. Each new note I can detect feels like a small victory, a step closer to the sensory world I once knew.
Tips for Rediscovering Fragrance After Losing Your Sense of Smell
If you’re navigating your own sensory recovery, here are some tips:
- Start with Bold Scents – Opt for perfumes with strong base notes like vanilla, patchouli, or musk, which are often easier to detect.
- Take It Slow – Reintroduce fragrances gradually, focusing on one scent at a time to avoid overwhelming your senses.
- Experiment with Citrus – Citrus notes are often among the first to return for many people, making them a great starting point.
- Be Patient – Recovery takes time, and progress may come in small, unexpected ways. Celebrate every little win.
The Beauty of Rediscovery
Losing my sense of smell was one of the more challenging experiences I’ve faced, but it also deepened my appreciation for the power of scent. Lancôme La Vie Est Belle wasn’t just a perfume—it was a beacon of hope and a reminder of the beauty I could still experience.
In a world that often feels chaotic, fragrance is my constant, grounding me and reminding me of who I am. Whether you’ve lost your sense of smell or are simply searching for a signature scent, I hope you find your own La Vie Est Belle—a fragrance that feels like coming home.
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