Capsule Closet 2.0 – The Perfume Edition

If you’ve ever stood in front of an overflowing cupboard and sighed,
“I’ve got nothing to wear,” you’ll understand the genius of the capsule wardrobe, a streamlined collection of pieces that always work. Now, luxury beauty is borrowing the same concept, except instead of clothes, we’re curating perfumes. It is an insider hack that’s making signature scents feel a little, well, dated. In India, we’re already pros at dressing for the occasion. A crisp cotton shirt for office, sequins for sangeet, and a breezy co-ord for brunch. But perfume? Too often, we rely on a single bottle to do all the heavy lifting. The truth is, scent deserves the same edit as your wardrobe. One fragrance can’t possibly carry you from a Monday meeting to a Saturday night party.

I used to be guilty of scent monogamy myself. One trusty perfume for everything, interviews, a night out with friends, even weddings. Then I discovered the joy of a fragrance capsule, four or five well-chosen bottles that cover every mood, every moment, without clutter or confusion.

Building Your Scent Capsule

The Day Staple: Light and polished, think of it as your white shirt in liquid form. Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt nails it. Fresh, airy, and endlessly wearable.

The After-Dark Star: For evenings when you want to turn heads. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 is sultry but sophisticated, like silk draped just right.

The Festive Favourite: India doesn’t do subtle when it comes to weddings or Diwali. I reach for Tom Ford Black Orchid, bold, luxurious, and dramatic, a fragrance that’ll have people do a double-take.

The Comfort Pick: For Sundays at home with chai and Netflix, I swear by Diptyque Philosykos. Creamy fig, soft woods, basically a hug in a bottle.

Why Less is More

No more decision fatigue, no half-empty bottles gathering dust. Just a tight little edit that reflects who you are, while still letting you switch gears depending on mood or moment.

So here’s what I’ve learnt over time. Chasing that one signature scent only limits the fun. Our life is far too busy, colourful and unpredictable to be squeezed into a single bottle. We deserve a whole wardrobe of perfumes that can keep up with our shifting moods and moments. With a little thoughtful curation and a sprinkle of luxury, your dresser suddenly feels as stylish and expressive as your closet. It becomes less about owning dozens of bottles and more about savouring the right ones. Honestly, it feels liberating, like editing your life down to the things that truly bring joy. And once you start, you’ll never look at fragrance the same way again.