Hitting all the right "notes"

Vol. 47 | Music that Make Scents

Author

Valerie S.
August 27, 2025

What’s up musers,

Lately, I’ve been soaking up new information and energies at work, so my brain’s been constantly thinking and problem-solving. Oddly enough, it’s made me more motivated to carve out time for my creative pursuits. It’s like a kind of Brownian motion happening in my life, where all this mental activity is creating new ideas left and right.

If you’re anything like me who’s always flitting from one vibe to another, you’ll understand the real struggle of wanting to do something but lacking the motivation because your mind keeps wandering. And you know you can’t force yourself to do it either, because then it just feels dreadful and meaningless. So, this period feel like a motivation rain after an inertia drought.

Just like the random, erratic motion I’ve been experiencing, the more energies collide around me, the more I feel the need to channel that into something. So here I am, writing all I can in the next few weeks, before work and life start to take over again.

On that note (pun intended), this week’s music picks are all about blending fragrance with sound, ultimately emanating scents that linger through melodic hooks. I’ve grouped this week’s songs into the four main scent families, and if you’re wondering how to experience these musical “spritzes” on a deeper level, each track is paired with the scent I imagine it will smell like when I listen to it.

It’s a little abstract to think of as a concept, but well, it’s fun to experiment with ideas now that they’re coming to me like hotcakes. And like the best eau de parfums, these bops sure to last.

What do you think of an aromatherapy-themed newsletter next? Let me know if that catches your vibe ✨

Scent-cerely yours,

Val ♫

(P.S If you are reading this in your email, please click “Read Online” at the top-right corner next to the date for a better reading experience!)

Calling for New Vibes! 🎶

In celebration of Music Musings’ 50th issue (coming soon!), I’m turning the spotlight to you. I always believe that community is the best way to explore music, and now I invite you to share your music recommendations for everyone to discover. It can be a favorite track, an underrated gem, a new bop on repeat, a melody that takes you back to that certain moment in time, or something that changed your world.

Who knows? Your song might be the spark that inspires someone else, or it could be the tune that changes how we listen to music.

Let’s build a new vibe together, shall we? ✨

In this week's setlist:

🍊🍋 Citrus Choruses

When I think of citrus scents, I imagine a clean, refreshing, yet punchy ambiance. Like my lemongrass scent rollers, it’s the kind that perks you up and keeps you focused on the day’s tasks, while maybe even shaking a groove out of your foot.

Here are some cool, funky songs that smell (and sound) everything other than funky:

🌲🍃 Echoes of the Woods

The woody scent family feels like a roadtrip through a pine forest. Reimagined as sound, the tempo’s toned down, the textures are thicker, and the vibes are grounded and earthy like vetiver. Definitely not your typical pine-scented car freshener.

Check out these songs that capture the cozy campfire cabin feel, a luxurious dinner, or a slow, warmly lit evening curled up with a good book:

🌹🌺 Flirty, Floral Notes

One thing about floral fragrances is that they feel delicate on the skin, like a dove feather grazing the surface. Similarly, I imagine light, romantic genres to carry that same airy, floaty vibe. It’s a feminine kind of essence, but this scent family welcomes all genders.

Lay your head gently in an imaginary garden as you listen to these charming tunes:

🍯💛 Amber-plifying the Sound

Finally, we have the rich resin and hints of vanilla under the amber scent family. These fragrances hit deep — they're warm, sensual, and sweet with a touch of spice. If there were a genre that matches this scent, R&B and lo-fi beats would be strong contenders.

Invigorate your senses with these smooth, sultry tracks:

💡 This Week’s Disc-Coveries

Stumbled upon The Voice contestant Aeden Alvarez performing a rendition of Jazmine Sullivan and Ari Lennox’s “On It.” He’s probably the smoothest, curliest-sounding vocalist I’ve come across on the internet.

@aedenalvarez

this song takes the cake #jazminesullivan @arilennox #arilennox #rnb #singing #vocals

And if you're not a fan of provocative songs, would you give them a second chance if they were turned into ballads? This next artist transforms “Talk Dirty” by Jason Derulo into something that sounds SFW-approved for a wedding. Just goes to show that it’s not you, the song or the location — it’s the vibe. 😆

@jaedynnmusic

“talk dirty” by Jason Derulo as a ballad @Jason Derulo #talkdirty #jasonderulo #cover #vocals #singer #remix #ballad #fyp ##foryou##xyzbca... See more

Well, that’s enough of the dramatic song transformations for this week. To wrap things up, Ni/Co’s cover of “I Need You” by LeAnn Rimes keeps it simple while still delivering all the feels of a soft, tender romance.

@ni.co_official

Replying to @LeAnn Rimes Cibrian thanks for your patience guys!!! WOOF this song is so good😭

🎶 New Music This Week

Chamomile by Jet City Sports Club: Soothe your senses mid-commute with this alt Z track. It’s the perfect song to daydream and zone out to the window with.

nice dress by quiet morning, isaacprease and tylo: At first listen, you’d think this is an unreleased keshi track, but it’s uniquely home-grown in this bustling island. Big way to close off NDP month 🇸🇬✨

Inspired by this week’s music picks?

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