On Mother’s Day, These Scents And Fragrances Bring Back Memories of Mom

Signature perfumes, spices, and childhood cooking make up memories of these personalities’ mothers.

Have you ever caught a whiff of something that transports you elsewhere? The aroma of a home-cooked meal that stirs up childhood memories, or the crisp scent of freshly laundered clothes that feels like comfort itself? The French novelist Marcel Proust famously captured this connection between scent and memory in his novel “À la recherche du temps perdu,” where a sweet treat dipped in tea evoked an entire world from the past.

This Mother’s Day, we explore that same idea: how scent can hold memory, feeling, and the presence of someone beloved. We speak to Ambeth Ocampo, Lucia Catanes, Jigger Cruz, Hannah Pangilinan, Kiana Valenciano, and Astrid Askert about the fragrances that remind them of their mothers, the memories that linger, and the lessons that last.

Ambeth Ocampo 

The historian and academic remembers his late mother, Belen Raymundo Ocampo, through scents and flavors. “When I went abroad for postgraduate studies she asked her secretary to type out recipes that would remind me of home,” he shares, adding he hopes to compile them all in a book one day.

Belen’s signature fragrance, Jessica McClintock by Jessica McClintock, is a bouquet in perfume form: with notes of ylang-ylang, lily-of-the-valley, jasmine, and rose as some of its top and middle notes. Its musky and woody base notes anchor the florals, creating a long-lasting, memorable fragrance. 

Aside from her signature perfume, Belen also carried abanico fans that carried a specific scent. “Her many Spanish fans were divided among my sisters and me, these carried a particular scent not just from the aromatic woods that made the ribs but the cloth bathed in Black Narcissus by Caron,” Ambeth shares. It seems as though she wasn’t the fragrance’s only disciple. as this daring and sensual scent is reportedly shared with Gloria Swanson, who perfumed her Sunset Boulevard set with it, and the “Queen of Burlesque” Dita Von Teese.

Lucia Catanes 

Many women leave behind a legacy, and one of them is Baguio’s own Narda Catanes, the founder of Narda’s Handwoven Arts and Crafts. Her daughter Lucia, continues her legacy of empowering local weavers and crafters. However, she shares that some of her favorite memories with her mother are tender and mundane. 

“My favorite memory with my Mama Narda was on the trip we made to New York in 2012.  We drove up to the mountains of Philadelphia in search of snow with my daughters and their cousins,” she says. “That carefree loving feeling when Mama and I were making snow angels in the ground laughing and playing like two little girls, ah I can still hear her laughter…”

Although her mother didn’t wear perfume much, the scents that make Lucia remember her mother the most are spices such as cumin, coriander, cardamon, turmeric, and basil. “Mama loved to cook with spices,” she explained. “The whiff of these instantly brings back memories.”

Jigger Cruz

The rhythm of daily life remain the most vivid ties to the artist’s mother. “My mom is a funny person, what I remember most about her.  Our family conversations are always full of puns and funny sarcasms,” he recalls. “Her laugh is my favorite memory.”

A scent he associates with her too, is grounded in the everyday. “Maybe the fragrance of garlic in oil?” he offers. “My mom is simple, she has a carinderia business when I was young, the smell of ulam that she serves reminds me of her, of home.”

Hannah Pangilinan 

For Hannah, her mother Maricel Laxa is the best teacher by example. “She doesn’t lecture much, but her life and the way she is is her testimony to us on how best to live,” the content creator says. “She has taught me the importance of presence and showing up for those that we love and that though we aren’t perfect, we serve a perfect God whose love can enable us to love others too.”

Her mother’s signature scent is Colonia Muy Suave by Denenes, a baby cologne with a light citrus fragrance and soft notes of orange blossom. Fresh and subtle, it’s a scent well-suited for tropical weather.

While they’re often featured running marathons and create content together, but Hannah says her favorite moments are quiet ones, such as cuddling with her mom at the end of a long day. Her message for her mom this upcoming mother’s day?  “I love you and that I’m sorry when I don’t say or show that enough.”

After college, the musician spent a summer in London for further studies. It was her first time living away from home, and her mom, Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano, joined her for the first week. “She scoped out the school, helped me set up the apartment, met the landlord, all of it,” Kiana says. “Having her there made the whole transition into living on my own feel a lot less overwhelming.”

To Kiana, her mom smells like “fresh florals, the smell of a new lipstick, and freshly brewed coffee.” As for her mom’s signature scents, two fragrances come to mind. Elizabeth Arden 5th Avenue is a floral fragrance with notes of linden blossom, jasmine, and vanilla, while Chanel No. 5 blends aldehydes, rose, and sandalwood for a timeless finish.

This Mother’s Day, her message is simple. “I have so much love for her. I’m grateful for everything she’s sacrificed for the family, and that I hope she saves some of herself for herself.” Her biggest takeaway from her mom? “The value of perseverance and integrity.”

Astrid Askert

As art director of J.Lindeberg, her creative instincts trace back to her early years, shaped in part by her mother, multidisciplinary artist Aya Sunga-Askert. “When I was a teenager exploring creativity and art, my mom and I would enter art competitions together and collaborate on our projects. We had so much fun being creative side by side. We even won a few of those competitions, and as a reward, we got to travel to some amazing places together,” Astrid shares. Their bond extends beyond the canvas. “Anything chocolate and cocoa reminds me of her,” she adds.

Fittingly, her mother’s signature scent is also cocoa-themed. “She used that lotion all throughout my childhood, so the scent is deeply ingrained in my memory,” Astrid says of Palmer’s Cocoa Butter. The comforting notes of coconut and shea butter remain part of her own ritual: “I love this product and also use it to this day.”

Astrid recalls their Vogue Philippines shoot as a recent highlight. “I’m usually shy and nervous in front of the camera, but being with my mom, who started modeling at 14, gave me so much courage and confidence,” she says. “We walked into the photo studio with no expectations and ended up having the most special day.” A lasting lesson from her mom? That beauty comes from within, and that kindness and respect always matter.