Traces of Her -Caroline Van Baren , Echoes of motherhood
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Time to read 3 min
TRACES OF HER
At mmoire, we wanted to offer something meaningful for Mother’s Day. Something less cliché than flashy campaigns that flattens a deeply personal experience into a greeting card moment. We wanted to hear from real women. Therefore, we asked them to reflect on what motherhood meant. To trace the contours of their story through memory, through emotion, and yes, through scent.
Traces of Her unfolded in three parts, a creative kit to invite reflection, an at-home photoshoot with photographer Frederik Schut to capture mothers in their own space, and an honest conversation about their journey. For our final portrait, we spoke with Caroline van Balen.
SCENTED INHERITANCE
Caroline’s story begins in Rozenburg, a small village in the Haarlemmermeer, nearly in the shadow of Schiphol Airport. But it wasn’t the airplanes that defined her childhood, it was the roses.
“My father had a rose nursery,” she began. “Old-fashioned, fragrant roses. Sonia and Baccara, bright pink and deep red. The smell alone made me happy.”
Later, the family moved to Aalsmeer, and Caroline found joy in helping at the nursery after school.
"“The roses made something in me blossom,” she recalls. “I never felt I was treated differently as a daughter, but I remember my father always proudly saying, ‘I have a daughter too.’”
Looking back, it seems inevitable that fragrance would take root in her life early. At ten, she had a shelf above her desk lined with at least a hundred miniature perfume samples.
"Scents played a big role in my life early on.”
Her first loves, oakmoss, aldehydes, rose, musk and patchouli.
BUILDING A LIFE
Caroline built a career in strategic communication and event organisation. Her work spanned from the government sector to business and higher education, and now, she lends her expertise to a non-profit that aligns with her values. “I can put my heart into it,” she says.
Her heart would be pulled in an entirely new direction when she met Frank.
"It was at a multi-club tennis park in Amsterdam,” she smiles. “At first, I kept some distance. I thought he was quite the type.” But charm prevailed. They’ve now been married for almost 30 years.
Still, nothing prepared her for the seismic shift of motherhood.
“Since becoming a mother of Sophie and Daniel, I really understand what unconditional love is,” she says. “My mother used to say it often, and now I know exactly what she meant. (...) Caroline describes motherhood with a quiet clarity. “Children change everything. Your outlook, your heart, your priorities.”
There’s no sentimentality in her voice, just honesty. “It’s an enormous enrichment, full of love, worry and occasionally fear. Because you simply wish your children the world.”
Over the years, the bond has grown only deeper. “We can share, discuss and laugh a lot. And I’m grateful to be there for them, in big and small moments.” Whether navigating adulthood or simply making dinner, Caroline is steadfast, present, involved. “Motherhood taught me to show up again and again, no matter what.”
INHALE, REMEMBER
Some mothers speak about scent as a quiet companion to parenting. For Caroline, it’s more than that. “Zwitsal,” she says immediately, recalling the traditional Dutch baby care brand with its smell of powdery musk and vanilla.
“That scent is my motherhood in one bottle. After the bath, a warm towel, such a cuddle on a soft baby’s head. Pure magic.”
Her relationship to fragrance hasn’t faded, it’s evolved. “Perfume is a form of self-expression,” she says, her voice firm. “It’s not just how I want to smell, it’s how I want to feel.”
Her perfume cabinet is full, and she’s not afraid to experiment. “I love mixing Sur Arize by Mmoire with smoky woody rose scent, or a touch of velvety, woody amber spice.” Her current favourite blend?
“Sur Arize with a hint of earthy rose scent. Elegant and powerful at the same time.”
But even more powerful than the perfume are the memories it holds. “Scents bring memories to life. With one spray, I’m back in a particular place or feeling.” In Caroline’s world, scent is a form of time travel, a tool for grounding, a daily ritual that connects her to herself and to the many roles she holds.
A MOTHER'S INSTINCT
When asked what she would say to someone just entering motherhood, Caroline offers something simple, but essential.
“Trust your gut, especially in the beginning, a lot of things will come your way, but try not to get lost in rules or expectations. Stay close to yourself.”
And perhaps that’s the most enduring trace of all. Caroline’s motherhood isn’t built on grand declarations or performative gestures, it’s built on trust, on intuition, on everyday presence. In the warm bath water. In the shared conversations. In the mix of perfume on her skin.
Her story reminds us that motherhood is not a destination, it’s an ongoing act of becoming. One that leaves a trace, subtle but unforgettable.
Further Reading:
Discover our other motherhood stories here
