How Perfume Revived My Identity as a New Mom
When I first started dating my husband, I wore the same perfume every time we went out. It was light, floral, a little flirty (it was this one) — and it became our scent. Every hug, every late-night dinner, every moment of falling in love was wrapped up in that fragrance.
Fast forward a few years… I had our first baby and found myself in the newborn trenches. My “signature scent” became a mix of dry shampoo, baby spit-up, and cold coffee. Perfume? Please. I was just trying to remember if I had brushed my teeth.
One day, while cleaning out a drawer, I found that old bottle. It had just a tiny spritz left, so I used it — more as a joke to myself than anything else. When my husband walked in, he immediately stopped, smiled, and said, “You smell like the girl I fell in love with.” Cue the waterworks. In that second, I felt like me again. Not just “mom.”
That’s the thing about perfume: it’s not just about smelling nice. Scent connects us — to people, to memories, to the version of ourselves we sometimes lose track of in the chaos.
Now I learned my lesson. Perfume isn’t just for date nights or fancy events. It’s a part of my self-care. Just like brushing my teeth, I put on perfume every day — even if I’m in button-down PJs and living on lactation cookies. Because nothing makes the newborn trenches feel more elevated than catching a whiff of yourself and thinking, “Okay, she’s still in there.”
So yes, I still use dry shampoo. Yes, I live in my nursing chair. But I also wear perfume. Because it’s the easiest way to feel a little more human, a little more confident, and a lot more connected — both to myself and to the people I love.
Perfumes I Recommend for New Moms (All Husband-Approved!)
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A romantic floral like Chance by Chanel (for those “you smell like the girl I fell in love with” moments).
A fresh citrus like Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue (for the mornings when coffee isn’t enough).
A cozy vanilla like Lancôme La Vie Vanille Nude (for comfort days when you just need a hug in a bottle).
Sol de Janeiro, Cheirosa 62. Warm pistachio, caramel, and vanilla. Playful and addictive (my husband says it smells just like our vacations in Brazil).
Perfume is more than a fragrance. It’s connection, confidence, and self-care — all in one spritz.
The Curator Mom 
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