Translate – “Déjà Vu” – The Scent of a Forgotten Memory “Somewhere, you’ve been here before. Someplace, you’ve felt this before. Someone, you’ve known before.” Have you ever walked into a room and felt like you had been there before, even though you know you haven’t? Or heard a song that you swear you’ve heard in another life? Maybe it’s the way the afternoon light filters through the trees, or the scent of rain on warm pavement—something so familiar yet impossible to place. That fleeting, mysterious feeling is Déjà Vu. Now, imagine capturing that feeling in a bottle. A fragrance that doesn’t just smell beautiful—it feels like a memory, slipping through your fingers like sand.
Different Types of Déjà Vu & Their Emotional Feelings
Déjà Vu is not just a single experience—it comes in different forms, each with its own emotional depth and mystery. Here are various types of déjà vu experiences, along with examples and how they relate to emotions and scents.
1. Déjà Visité – “I’ve Been Here Before”
Feeling: Familiarity with a place you’ve never visited.
Example:
You travel to a foreign country for the first time. As you walk through an old cobblestone street, every turn, every building feels strangely familiar. You know you’ve never been here, but it’s as if your soul remembers.
Scent Translation:
- Earthy Vetiver & Moss – The scent of old stone and forgotten pathways.
- Petrichor (Rain on Dry Earth) – The smell of distant memories resurfacing.
- Cedarwood & Smoked Leather – A historic warmth, like an ancient city whispering its past.
2. Déjà Senti – “I’ve Felt This Before”
Feeling: A strong emotional reaction to a moment, as if you’ve already experienced the same feeling before.
Example:
You sit by a window, watching the sunset, and suddenly, an intense wave of nostalgia washes over you. It feels like you’ve felt this exact emotion before, but you can’t recall when or where.
Scent Translation:
- Vanilla & Tonka Bean – A comforting warmth, like a childhood memory of home.
- Sandalwood & Amber – A golden glow, lingering like an old emotion.
- Soft Musk & Skin Notes – The scent of a lost embrace, familiar yet fading.
3. Déjà Entendu – “I’ve Heard This Before”
Feeling: A song, phrase, or voice sounds eerily familiar, but you know you’ve never heard it before.
Example:
A song plays on the radio, and instantly, you feel like you know it. The melody, the lyrics—everything feels like it’s from another lifetime, yet you can’t remember when you heard it.
Scent Translation:
- Jasmine & Heliotrope – Light and airy, like a tune drifting through the wind.
- Powdery Iris & White Musk – A dreamlike softness, like echoes of a song fading away.
4. Déjà Rêvé – “I’ve Dreamt This Before”
Feeling: You experience something in real life that you swear you saw in a dream before.
Example:
You’re having a conversation with a friend, and suddenly, you realize you’ve dreamt of this exact moment before—the words, the setting, everything is identical to your dream.
Scent Translation:
- Lavender & Clary Sage – A dreamy, ethereal fragrance, like the haze of a forgotten dream.
- Ozonic & Aquatic Notes – A surreal freshness, like stepping into a world you’ve already seen in your sleep.
5. Presque Vu – “Tip of the Tongue”
Feeling: You’re on the edge of remembering something important, but it just won’t come to you.
Example:
You’re trying to recall the name of a person or a place, and you feel like it’s right there, just out of reach. It lingers in your mind, teasing you, but remains elusive.
Scent Translation:
- Aldehydes & Citrus Zest – A sharp yet fleeting note, like something slipping away before you can grasp it.
- Iris & Cashmere Wood – A velvety, elusive scent, like a thought that fades the moment you try to hold onto it.
6. Jamais Vu – “This Feels Unfamiliar” (Opposite of Déjà Vu)
Feeling: A familiar situation suddenly feels strange, as if you are experiencing it for the first time.
Example:
You look at your best friend, your home, or even your own name, and for a brief moment, it all feels foreign, like you’ve never seen it before.
Scent Translation:
- Metallic & Mineral Notes – A cold, unfamiliar sharpness.
- Pepper & Incense – A spicy yet distant scent, like trying to recognize something that doesn’t feel like yours.
7. L’esprit de l’escalier – “I Should Have Said That” (Delayed Realization)
Feeling: You think of the perfect response to a situation, but only after it’s too late.
Example:
Hours after an argument, you suddenly realize the perfect comeback you should have said. The moment is gone, but you replay it in your mind over and over.
Scent Translation:
- Burnt Sugar & Smoked Wood – A bittersweet regret, like something lost in time.
- Dark Cocoa & Vetiver – Deep and lingering, like an afterthought that won’t fade.
8. Nostalgic Déjà Vu – “This Reminds Me of the Past”
Feeling: A scent, sight, or moment suddenly brings back a deep, unexpected memory from childhood or long ago.
Example:
You smell a perfume on a passing stranger, and in an instant, you are transported back to your grandmother’s house, remembering the warmth of her hugs and the fabric of her dress.
Scent Translation:
- Old Books & Tea Leaves – The scent of lost afternoons in a forgotten library.
- Rose & Violet – The faded elegance of a vintage perfume.
- Warm Milk & Honey – The cozy embrace of childhood.
“Déjà Vu is not just a fragrance—it is a feeling. A whisper from the past. A touch from the future. A love letter written in scent.” Somewhere, someplace, someone… it will remind you of something. Even if you don’t know what.
Final Thought: A Perfume That Feels Like Déjà Vu
If a fragrance could capture all these feelings—mystery, nostalgia, lost memories, and unexplainable familiarity—it would be a scent unlike any other.
“A fragrance that is both known and unknown. A memory slipping through your fingers. A dream you have already dreamt.”
Would you wear a scent like this? Or is there a particular type of déjà vu that speaks to you the most?
