What's going on?
As your cycle comes to an end, progesterone and oestrogen drop when your body realizes it hasn't conceived. Your period is starting to loom.
How are you likely to feel?
Most people find the week before their period is worse than the main event when it comes to mood. You will feel more irritable at this point and therefore more sensitive to scent.
Which scents should you try?
Again, as ovulation has passed, your nose is no longer on high alert. However, fluctuating hormones can mean you're more easily annoyed, and scents that wouldn't normally bug you are now all-consuming. We know that fragrance is intrinsically linked to mood, so stock up on relaxing and calming scents to balance your mind. "You can't beat lavender for helping to reduce anxiety, along with chamomile and rose," Ruth Mastenbroek suggests. "Combined with woody notes and a touch of musk, a fragrance can help you to see the world in a better light." Maybe the way your partner chews their food isn't so infuriating after all.
If you want to slightly veer away from traditional pillow-spray-like scents, you could try a more herbal route. "I turn to herbaceous, woody, and green notes when stressed," Nic Mastenbroek says. "I think it's the fact that it helps to conjure the smells of nature that relaxes me. Think rosemary, thyme, basil, eucalyptus, cedarwood, and sandalwood. These notes combined have a spa-like feeling to them, which will help combat stress."
The Beauty Pie Une Balade en Forêt Eau de Parfum ($39) is the fragrance equivalent of a walk in the woods. This eau de parfum is comforting, relaxing, and zingy all at once. Base notes of cedarwood, woody amber, and moss are topped with cashmere, fir, and bergamot.
If you're finding all scents overwhelming, the Altra Skin Eau de Parfum ($202) is a good compromise. It's a blend of plant-based white musks and botanical base notes to enhance the natural scent of your skin. You can layer with other perfumes to enhance their scent when the idea of them feels more palatable.
