Moving to Türkiye, motherhood and… my new secret ritual

Between a new country and a baby to look after, Kristina Çelik refused to leave herself for “later” — and fell under the spell of perfume. She shares the warm notes she loves for autumn: spiced vanilla and amber, sandalwood and cardamom, coffee and chocolate.

By Kristina Çelik · September 28, 2026 · 2 min read

An oak dresser in autumn light: four unlabelled perfume bottles in amber, honey and rose tones on a brass tray with vanilla pods, tonka beans and two pieces of amber resin; a knitted throw at the edge, a dry leaf on the wood and the sea through the window

When we first moved to Türkiye, I thought all my time would go on settling in, housework and looking after the baby. But I knew very well that I mustn’t leave myself for “later”. I needed a small hobby full of inspiration, something that would nourish me. Something that would lift my mood in seconds, wouldn’t need hours of silence and would fit easily around motherhood…

And I found what I was looking for: I fell under the spell of the world of perfume! While my little one sleeps or plays beside me, I study notes, hunt down rare bottles and, you could say, collect feelings.

Now, as that soft, velvety autumn arrives in Türkiye, this ritual rescues me from every kind of low mood. So shall we choose our autumn scent wardrobe together? When the evenings turn cool, what warms us, what wraps around us like a cosy blanket?

Here are my favourite notes, wonderful for busy mothers:

Spiced vanilla and amber. Look for scents with tonka bean or warm milk notes. Even on a walk with the pram along the seafront, they give an incredible feeling of calm and comfort.
Warming oriental hints. Soft sandalwood and a light touch of cardamom. These notes open up differently in Türkiye’s air; they turn truly noble and deep.
Gourmand scents (coffee and chocolate). The most innocent way to lift our dopamine levels, with no fear of calories! A couple of spritzes, and the mother scraping purée off the rug is gone — a queen walks in instead.

A cream pram beside a wooden bench on a seaside promenade at sunset; a dusty-rose scarf tied to the handle, a folded sage knitted blanket on the bench, yellow leaves on the paving and the calm sea behind — Even walking the pram along the seafront…

Sandalwood pieces and shavings on a linen cloth, green cardamom pods in a stone bowl, an unlabelled perfume bottle with a wooden cap and a folded cream scarf; eucalyptus and dried flowers behind, pink and sage fabric swatches with a spool of thread in the corner — Soft sandalwood and a light touch of cardamom.

Turkish coffee in a tulip-patterned cup on a round oak side table, squares of dark chocolate on a plate, scattered coffee beans and a brown unlabelled perfume bottle; on the play mat below, a wooden stacking toy, blocks and a plush bunny — Gourmand scents (coffee and chocolate).

Ladies, perfume is the quickest way to come back to yourself, to remember the woman you are and to stay in the “now”.

So which is your autumn scent? Do you like something sweeter, or do you prefer woody notes?

A thoughtful gift for a new mum

A named bunny and little shoes make a warm gift for the baby of a mum who’s learning to make room for herself, too.

Add their name

— Kristina Çelik

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