The seed for Fragraphilia was planted during the holidays of 2018 when Jane and I were developing a post of our favorite fragrances for Sea of Shoes. We spent a lot of time working up to it by sharing our experiences with certain fragrances, how we discovered them for ourselves, and why they became so important to us. We also realized through those discussions how much of a role fragrance played in our relationship over the years.
From even the earliest days of dating, we spent almost as much time talking about fragrances as we did films, music, cocktails, and food. We always found ourselves sampling perfumes while shopping or traveling and they became a regular gift between the two of us. When we finally moved in together, our collections became communal and we’ve shared each and every one since. There is not a day that goes by that we don’t comment on each other’s choice while getting ready in the morning.
Despite our increasingly evolving passion, we often realize we are hardly experts. We’ve never considered ourselves connoisseurs or completists. Our interest lies far more in the experiential and emotional aspects of how certain perfumes we encounter make us feel, the memories they recall, or the imagery invoked rather than the scientific breakdowns of chemical compounds and how they are supposed to smell like this or that. We’ve never intended on possessing a larger than life collection filling our shelves like books.
When the post went live last December, we started receiving messages and recommendations from readers from all over the world who seemed to be speaking the same language. They were sending their favorites, their experiences, and more than a few fragrances that are now special to us as well. It was the language of enthusiasts and it became the inspiration of this site. I wanted a place where we could share the fragrances we love the most whether they are perfumes, soaps, candles, or anything else, and the stories of how they fit into our lives.