Perfume Packing

After a nine day trip to gorgeous Spain (post on Barcelona's Museo de Parfum in progress!), I find myself particularly feisty on the subject of the diabolical TSA liquids bag. How many worthy fragrances have you forced me to choose between, my cruel nemesis? How many shampoo bottles have you gleefully confiscated? How am I supposed to fit my eczema cream in there? What do you have against eczema, TSA?

It's hard enough to choose which of your favorite fragrances to pack even without the looming threat of TSA confiscation. There are countless schools of thought: by season, by climate, by mood. My vote is for occasion-based packing. One easy, breezy fragrance, one sexier fragrance for going out, and one formal fragrance, in case you need to be knighted or something. (You'll thank me later, sire.) Here are a few suggestions for your one-quart Ziploc this summer:

The Casual Fragrance: Frederic Malle Eau de Magnolia was the first bottle I reached for when the temperature hit 80. That zingy lemon top note seems to cut through any humidity. Atelier Cologne Cedrat Envirant is a refreshing glass of sparkling water garnished with a slice of lime. 

The Sexy Fragrance: You can tell from the faded letters that my trusty Narcisco Rodriguez For Her Eau de Toilette gets thrown in a lot of going-out clutches. That distinctive, dark musk just screams "late nights" to me. My backup is Maison Francis Kurkdjian Cologne Pour Le Soir, a sweet, warm veil of resins and incense. Mr. Kurkdjian also happens to be the perfumer behind NR For Her. What can I say? The man knows his sexy!

The Formal Fragrance: L'Artisan Parfumeur Poivre Piquant is the most special perfume in my collection. The bottle is autographed by its perfumer, Bertrand Duchaufour himself. (It's actually signed "To Jessica", the angel who gave me her bottle as an outrageously perfect gift. I may have to change my name.) And it's hard to imagine an occasion too fancy for Chanel No. 22, with its elegant, old-world aldehydes. 

While we're poking around in my TSA-approved bag...

The same principle governs the rest of your toiletry packing. One natural, neutral color (Fresh Rosé Lip Treatment); one dramatic, sexier color (Tom Ford Crimson Noir); and one polished, meet-the-pope color (Lipstick Queen Pinky Nude).

Please note that I opt to save space (more room for that oh-so-glamorous eczema cream!) by buying toothpaste after getting through security. I promise that I brush my teeth.

Look how close it comes to actually zipping!

Oh, perfume packing hack: solid perfumes! They haven't quite hit the mainstream yet, because sticking your fingers into fragranced wax is kind of gross, but they're a dream come true for overstuffed toiletry bags. Diptyque's solid fragrance compacts are gorgeous, sculpted luxuries, and Lush has a truly impressive collection of creative fragrances at crazy reasonable prices. 

What's your perfume packing process? What fragrances are you bringing on vacation this summer?

Disclaimers: This post does not contain affiliate links. My precious Poivre Piquant was a gift from a wonderful friend who is not affiliated with any fragrance brand; all other products featured in this post are my own purchases, to my wallet's dismay.