I Have a Degree in English—These Eight Fragrances Remind Me of My Favorite Reads

fragrance-as-literature-311244-1702930157840-main

(Image credit: @emmanuellek_)

Before becoming a beauty editor, my background was in English literature (more specifically, novels and essays produced by women through the 19th and 20th centuries). Spending so much time in the company of books provided endless inspiration and intrigue in my daily life, transporting me to places and introducing me to people I never knew I needed before cracking open a cover. Between essays, presentations, and tests, I spent every possible moment in college reading to my heart's delight. Trust me—I have the horrible eyesight of a classic bibliophile to prove it.

Whenever I get the opportunity, I love drawing connections between some of my favorite literary works and the scents I wear on rotation. Keep reading for a look into my world with eight gorgeous scents to spark your imagination and five must-have home fragrances to help set the ambience before you dive into those pages.

1. Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (1813)

"You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged; but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever." — Fitzwilliam Darcy, Pride and Prejudice

2. Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina (1878)

"I've always loved you, and when you love someone, you love the whole person, just as he or she is, and not as you would like them to be.” — Anna Karenina, Anna Karenina

3. Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own (1929)

"Have you any notion how many books are written about women in the course of one year? Have you any notion how many are written by men? Are you aware that you are, perhaps, the most discussed animal in the universe?” — Virginia Woolf

4. Toni Morrison's Beloved (1987)

"The future was sunset; the past was something to leave behind. And if it didn’t stay behind, well, you might have to stomp it out." — Toni Morrison

5. F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Beautiful and Damned (1922)

"A woman should be able to kiss a man beautifully and romantically without any desire to be either his wife or his mistress.” — Gloria Gilbert, The Beautiful and Damned

6. Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre (1847)

"All my heart is yours; sir: it belongs to you; and with you it would remain, were fate to exile me from your presence forever." — Jane Eyre, Jane Eyre

7. E.M. Forster's A Room With a View (1908)

"A rebel she was, but not of the kind he understooda rebel who desired, not a wider dwelling-room, but equality beside the man she loved. For Italy was offering her the most priceless of all possessionsher own soul.” — E.M. Forster

8. Ian McEwan's Atonement (2001)

"Dearest Cecilia, You’d be forgiven for thinking me mad, the way I acted this afternoon. The truth is I feel rather light headed and foolish in your presence, Cee, and I don’t think I can blame the heat."— Robbie Turner, Atonement

More Scents to Set the Ambience

Maya Thomas
Assistant Beauty Editor
Maya Thomas isBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing 's assistant beauty editor based just outside of Seattle, Washington. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University with the goal of one day pursuing a career in fashion. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer while also building a following on her lifestyle blog, Itsmayalala.com. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.