logo
POVINDEPENDENCEWELLNESSLIFESTYLESHOPEVENTS
Subscribe
Anastasia Tjendri-Liew is Woman of the Year 2025! Click here to check out all the highlights from our Women of The Year gala dinner.
STYLE

Fragrances that help you fake confidence until you feel it

From interviews to first dates, these scents are your invisible confidence boost

By Balvinder Sandhu - 

Credit: Getty Images
Share this article

Picture getting dressed for a social or professional occasion. You wear a carefully-chosen outfit, put on makeup and slip into a pair of shoes. You’re ready to go but, wait – what about perfume? It’s often our last step before we leave the house, for that extra boost to face the world. 

And it’s not just about ensuring we smell better when we meet people. Perfume is also able to elicit a range of emotions from the wearer and a boost in confidence is one of them.

“Perfume has the power to instantly lift our mood and enhance our sense of self,” says Astrie Sunindar-Ratner from A – The Etiquette Consultancy. “A familiar scent can evoke beautiful memories and emotions, helping us feel more grounded and confident.

“A pleasant fragrance becomes part of our personal presence; it speaks before we do, leaving a soft, lasting impression,” she adds.

 “In professional environments, it adds a layer of polish, reflecting confidence and care in how we present ourselves.”
Astrie Sunindar-Ratner, A – The Etiquette Consultancy

David Benedek, founder of BDK Parfums, notes that, just as a silhouette is perfected by a garment, a perfume elevates one’s presence. It is the ultimate signature, the mark that defines an identity.

“When a fragrance truly resonates, it becomes almost like a second skin,” he says. “It has the power to boost confidence instantly. In this sense, perfume becomes an invisible yet powerful armour. It’s a protection that allows the wearer to feel free, radiant and deeply aligned with themselves.”

This doesn’t just apply to certain types of scents, Benedek says. Every type of scent resonates differently, depending on the individual. 

“Fragrance is deeply subjective and what feels powerful and transformative to one person may not evoke the same emotions in another,” he reveals. 

He mentions how his brand’s goal is for each fragrance to connect so deeply with the wearer that it becomes part of their identity. 

“Each olfactory experience is conceived as a catalyst for unexpected emotions, shaking the soul, awakening sensitivity and magnifying one’s essence,” he explains. 

Here are six fragrances to try, for that extra dose of confidence. 

Million Gold for Her Parfum by Rabanne, $263

Credit: Paco Rabanne
1/6

Embrace a rich and warm sandalwood scent mixed with an ultra-feminine floral accord. It’s bold, it’s sensual and it’s a celebration of self-expression. Made for independent, empowered women such as the brand’s ambassador, Gigi Hadid, the perfume is a variation of the brand’s intoxicating Eau de Parfum, Million Gold for Her. The scent is drawn from flowers gathered at the peak of the harvest period, giving it an intensity you won’t be able to resist. You’ll get hints of mandarin, jasmine and solar ylang ylang, as well as white sandalwood.

Shop now

Absolus Allegoria Florabloom by Guerlain, $352

Credit: Guerlain
2/6

This scent is for the woman who is magical and captivating. Inspired by the rare desert superbloom under moonlight, you’ll get a sensual mix of tuberose, ylang ylang and frankincense. The magnetic fragrance draws attention, while maintaining a hypnotic element of mystery. There’s also a velvety mango accord, while sandalwood and patchouli add a dark, enchanting element. 

Shop now

Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian, $461

Credit: Maison Francis Kurkdjian
3/6

This fragrance was first unveiled in 2014 to celebrate Baccarat’s 250th anniversary and is now available as an eau de parfum. It’s instantly recognisable as you walk into a room and invites an addictive following, containing breezy jasmine facets, woody tones and hints of saffron that conveys the poetic alchemy of crystal-making.

Shop now

BDK Parfums Impadia, $328

Credit: BDK Parfums
4/6

If you’ve experienced the Parisian sky in its symphony of colours from sunrise to sunset, you’ll understand the energy and freedom that it elicits. Impadia is that feeling in a bottle, containing a mix of floral, fruity and woody notes. Rose is at the heart of this scent, thanks to Bulgarian rose oil and Turkish rose absolute. Vanilla, sandalwood and musk give it a sensual touch. 

Shop now

Sì Passione Red Musk by Armani, $250

Credit: Armani Beauty
5/6

This deliciously musky scent has a vibrant red hue that bursts with energy. While the musk awakens the senses, the red energy of strawberry extract and elegant rose provides radiance. It’s passionate and sets off a whole range of vibrant emotions. For the passionate woman who follows her heart, this fruity floral-ambery fragrance exudes passion and heart. 

Shop now

Barénia Eau de Parfum Intense by Hermès, $330

Credit: Hermès
6/6


Powerful, mysterious and sensual, this describes both the fragrance and the woman who wears it.  A variation of Barénia Eau de Parfum, this intense version features a denser patchouli, a subtle oakwood, as well as leathery notes created with butterfly lily and miracle berry. It’s a more powerful and captivating scent, created with a roasting process that accentuates its warm, rum-like notes. 

Shop now

Tags

HW65perfumeHW65
Share this article