Back in 2007, I went into an Aveda store and started smelling everything – and you know how amazing their products smell. And a sales associate thought I might like to create my own perfume since I liked the vibe of their scents and so I went on the Aveda Sensory Journey. The journey is really simple and it’s made to help you find your favourite scent without you using any of your usual biases towards scents or scent families. Here’s my perfume from back then. It’s pretty strong with one spray being more than enough. And it’s something that I can still smell on myself when the day’s done and that’s pretty rare. I also like that the notes of the scent are maintained from beginning to end. This doesn’t warm up on me and stays nice and fresh, which is something that I like in a perfume.
The Sensory Journey starts with a questionnaire asking you what your skin type is and what your other tendencies are (ex. are you hot a lot, does your skin burn easily, do you follow routines, etc.).
So, you fill out their questionnaire, and then they figure out what “nature” you are. Then they ask you to sit in a chair, close your eyes, and smell a few different scents. To each one, you say “yes”, “no”, or “not today”.
That is the part that can be slightly confusing, because most of Aveda’s scents smell really good. Good to the point that you could keep smelling them and not get tired because they’re so organic and fresh smelling. It really was difficult for me to pick one I liked the best, and there were only a couple that I didn’t really like – and even for those I was unsure.
At the end, I went for the scent that I had smelled first: Water #6 which is also the scent of their Shampure shampoo. I love it. The notes are ylang ylang and coriander among other things and I was suprised that I didn’t go for the one that was sandalwood and jasmine since that is what I’m usually drawn to in a perfume.
Overall I think the survey is not needed and if you were going through this journey, I suggest that you just sit there and smell everything they have with your eyes closed. Find the one you like.
