Adventisers want us to believe that a fragrance alone can change our lives by selling us the illusion of youth, glamour, excitement, romance and luxury, all from a few ounces of aromatic oils mixed with ethyl alcohol. Perfumes have alluring names like Tabu, Obsession, Escape, Passion, Poison (some are more inviting than others), Eternity, Safari, Beautiful, Happy, White Satin, Joy, Youth Dew, and don’d forget, we can be like Elizabeth Taylor wearing White Diamonds. There is no market for perfumes named High School Wallflower, Exhausted Housewife, or PMS Blues.
Don’t we all hope that by spritzing here and dabbing there, our beloved will be attracted to us like ants to a picnic? Studies show that most men prefer the smell of pumpkin pie to perfume. If they put this research into a product, soon we’ll all be wearing Fragrance d’Thanksgiving and eau d’Barbecue Chicken. (My mama always said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.)
Spiritually, the ingredients for our “signature” scent include love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Then these are mixed together and worn with consistency, they will produce a sweet and pleasing aroma to everyone around us, and more importantly, to the Lord.
2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.