Fragrance’s place in our hearts has never had anything to do with simply being one more sensory experience because it is that and more, very much an iconic symbol of allure, identity, and storytelling. We’ve heard about perfume and fragrance essential oils being mentioned in popular cultural TV shows and movies to give depth to characters and their stories. Most importantly, these references are so much more than mere scent mentions — they’re moods, they’re emotions, and they are essential to defining the life of a scene. I cannot help but marvel at how carefully curated these scent references can be, as a person obsessed with fragrance and how it’s mentioned in the media.
Perfume in Popular Culture:
Sometimes the smell of a fragrance is well placed in a romantic scene or the unforgettable signature of a character that is the only thing that remains in the viewer’s mind after the credits roll. Think of the powerful impact of fragrance across the big screen — even a simple spritz of essential oil has the power to up our storytelling game. A smell can be an illustration of a personality or a symbol for a major theme.
One example of this is ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ where we meet the world of high fashion through the legendary Miranda Priestly when her trainee is introduced to the world through Anne Hathaway’s character, Andy. The perfume choices in that film, including a lovely perfume (an elegant perfume, symbolic of, Andy’s immersion in the sophisticated, exclusive world of fashion), are symbolic of the transformation that Andy goes through. The hallway, these subtle but powerful fragrance references that propel the viewer into almost knowing what it smells like.
Scent References in Popular TV Shows:
Fragrance is also used by TV shows to develop characters. Check out Take, Mad Men, for example, where Don Draper s’ knowledge of cologne is a bit of who he is. It also serves to support the romantic, yet complex personality that the scent has taken on for his romantic, as well as his business dealings. The use of fragrance in such a narrative way is such that, when used like this, it’s very much more than the background to the action, it’s almost like another character in the story itself, playing a role in the plot that can’t be done with words alone.
There is also a TV and film love for playing with fragrances as a getaway from reality, a way for characters to live a quieter life, slipping themselves into someone else’s side. For example, in Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw’s obsession with luxury fragrances represented her casement of a glamorous, often unachievable lifestyle. Fragrances in the show are in some respects an extension of her personality, an exaggeration of how she is creative and free-spirited.
The Role of Essential Oils in Film and TV:
Essential oils are a symbol of elegance, simplicity, and purity in the film and TV world. These are repeated often in scenes when you have a character feeling a connection to nature, wellness, or spirituality. In The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, the fragrance of sandalwood or cedarwood essential oils represents the character transforming internally from his mundane world to get exposed to seek the extraordinary.
Just as essential oils are mentioned in the scene of relaxation and healing, such as lavender, eucalyptus, or chamomile, there is a visual cue to the audience that a character is looking for solace or clarity. Essential oils are portrayed in popular culture letting us know just how ingrained fragrances are in human rituals and routines, be it as a beauty treatment or a restorative bit of chic during times of stress.
Fragrance in Media:
Fragrance is often used by media and entertainment to engage deep emotions from its viewers. Fragrance references will take us right back, back to a time or place; back to nostalgia, romance, or something else behind the curtains. One of the most powerful elements of using fragrance as a reference on TV and film is that it can create an emotional connection with the audience. One thing that is always familiar, whether it’s a floral note or a rich woody scent, is that it can, and will bring back personal memories and emotions that we can sympathize with characters on a more personal level.
For instance, Perfume: The Role of Scent in The Story of a Murderer, however, is much more detailed, and the influence of the role of scent is much more complex. Fragrance is not only the reason we care about the plot of this film but also a way to measure the psychology of the characters. Like the protagonist’s obsession with making the perfect fragrance, his obsession with making sense of his life is the cause. This shows us how completely ingrained scent is in our perception of human identity.
Essential Oils and Their Role in Creating the Perfect Fragrance
Often, TV and film essential oils like sandalwood, frankincense, and patchouli are infused into productions, not only because there are woods with a rich and evocative scent, but because they also carry certain meanings. For example, Frankincense is synonymous with spirituality and deep contemplation, and patchouli with earthy and ground. These essential oils allow filmmakers and showrunners to make their characters and scenes a sensorial experience that improves the stories.
Essential oils are my go-to for personalizing scents in your life because when it’s all said and done there’s a variety to choose from. One example is that if you’re attempting to evoke that same grounded, serene feeling of a good-crafted film scene, lavender essential oil could calm you or eucalyptus essential oil may invigorate you. Not only do these oils have therapeutic quality, but they help revive the magnificent sensory experience that is often only a passion depicted on film and TV.
Conclusion:
We’ve seen, too, how TV and film use fragrances, be they essential or high-end perfume to offer emotional depth to a story. They represent personal transformation love nostalgia or even danger or mystery. As in the characters they carry with them, scents can impact the audience.
If you’re interested at all in the weaving of scent into the story, then you owe it to yourself to approach it the same way. If you wish to curate your special scent, consider using the essential oils from HBNO to associate your favorite story with your favorite scents. With the grounding warmth of cedarwood to fresh energy of citrus oil, HBNO is the brand of choice for essential oils that can transport you like you’ve seen in popular media.
The fragrance has the power ultimately to tell stories that words cannot, and with the right oils, you can begin telling your own.
