Love Notes: The Fragrance of God’s Love

I was thinking about Valentine’s Day and how, in so many ways, every day with God is Valentine’s Day. The holiday naturally stirs up thoughts of romance, affection, and the kind of love we see expressed here on earth. But as I was letting my mind wander in that direction, the Lord gently stepped into my thoughts and invited me into something deeper, a rediscovery of the Divine fragrance of His love.

His love does not just brush against our hearts; it settles on us, saturates us, and becomes our spiritual “signature scent.” Just as perfume clings to the skin long after it’s applied, God longs for His presence to linger on us so richly that people can sense Him the moment we walk into a room.

As I continued to ponder these thoughts for a few days, something beautiful happened. One day, during my time with my “small group”, which my pastor, Shelley, affectionately calls the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I saw perfume bottles in a vision. At that moment, I heard the Father whisper that His Bride is a beautiful fragrance to Him. He said her scent is like the musk of a deer.

Then I saw a doe appear before me, (a picture of who we are), climbing higher and higher in search of the Lover of her soul, Jesus. The Lord showed me that we are like that doe and that we carry a musky fragrance infused with the very pheromones of the Aroma of Christ, mingled with the unique fragrance of our own lives and stories.

That picture stayed with me, and I began to see how often Scripture uses the deer to represent our relationship with God. Like the deer that pants for water in Psalm 42, our longing for God rises from the deep places within us. This longing itself is a kind of fragrance. In the same way, the deer leaping with strength across high places in Habakkuk and Psalms mirrors how His love strengthens our steps. God makes our feet steady, sure, and agile as He draws us into higher spiritual ground.

And then there is the image in Isaiah, where the lame leaps like a deer, a picture of healing and joy bursting forth because of His, God’s, presence. Proverbs speaks of the deer as graceful and beloved, a symbol of tenderness and affection, reminding us that God delights in us with that same fierce love. But perhaps the most stunning image of all is found in Psalm 29, where the very voice of the Lord causes the deer to give birth. His voice, His presence, His love bring forth new life within us, awakening what was dormant and restoring what was barren. No wonder that Scripture concludes, “And in His temple all cry, ‘Glory!’”

As I continued reflecting on this theme of the deer, I found myself drawn to the idea of musk perfume. Musk is unlike any other fragrance because it does not smell the same on everyone. It blends uniquely with each person’s chemistry, creating something personal and unrepeatable. The more I thought about that, the more I realized how beautifully it mirrors God’s love in us. His presence becomes like a second skin. It wraps itself around our identity, our personality, and even our wounds and healed places. His love does not erase who we are, He mingles with it, transforms it, and brings out something that only we can carry.

Just like musk warms and blooms differently depending on the skin, God’s love blooms differently in each individual heart. Our surrendered places, our healed places, and even the fire of God within us all influence how His presence shines through. What draws people to us spiritually is not our efforts or perfection; it is the unique way His love expresses itself through our lives. It becomes a holy pheromone, a God-breathed fragrance that awakens others to His nearness.

There is also a cost to this fragrance. Real musk historically came from the gland of the male musk deer, rare, precious, costly. Following Christ carries that same weight. It cost Jesus everything, and in return, He changed the scent of our entire existence. Through salvation, our fragrance has been redeemed. We no longer carry the synthetic scent of the world or old wounds. We now carry the supernatural aroma of Christ. And this fragrance goes with us everywhere.

People may not immediately recognize God in our words, but they sense Him in our presence. They feel the peace that settles in the air when we walk into the room, the warmth that radiates without effort, the kindness that disarms, the purity that comforts, the joy that spills over unexpectedly. These are the notes of His fragrance on us. The more time we spend with Him, the stronger and sweeter the scent becomes. Scripture says, “We are the aroma of Christ,” and that is not a poetic exaggeration. IT IS TRUTH!!

His love becomes our fragrance. But not a generic one, not a mass-produced scent that smells the same on every believer. It is personal and intentional; crafted by the Father with the unique blend of your story and His presence. Your life carries a fragrance no one else on earth can release. And today, as you breathe in the love of God, may you realize something beautiful and profound. . . . YOU are HIS love note . . . and you carry the unmatched fragrance of His heart wherever you go.

Blessings,

Joy Pharo

Sanctioned Love