Last night I had a ridiculous dream. I was in a department store among a large display of fragrance and body products. For some reason, the perfume ancillary to this dream collection was perched high atop a tower of boxes of lotions and shower gels. I couldnt reach it and I kept thinking to myself "Why would they place it so high out of reach?" The male Sales Assistant was in the toilet and it was frustrating to know he was taking a dump while I was needing his assitance.
It didnt stop me from jumping up and trying to snatch this fragrance from its lofty perch.
In my impatience, I managed to get it down by toppling a couple of boxes underneath it, then catching the bottle as it tumbled down. When I had it in my hands, I realised it was a bottle of Niki de Saint Phalle, however the bottle was shaped liked the Tabu cello although it was still cobalt blue.
(Yesterday I received a bottle of Niki in the mail, so was probably riffing off that.) Applying it, I dont remember much of the smell, but I remembering thinking that it was so much nicer than when I first tried it, and that it was an amazing clean scent and I could understand how my friend said it was her favourite. (I actually do have a friend who holds Niki de Saint Phalle as her favourite perfume ever.)
But the strange thing was, it smelled like my beloved Nuit de Cellophane with a bubblegum sweetness.
Just as I was browsing the rest of the display, the SA came out of the toilet and started bugging me, watching, hovering, and generally being a silent nuinsance in my peripheral vision.
Everytime I picked something up, I felt had to explain to him why I was picking it up and what I thought of the item. I was feeling insecure that he thought I was being a pesky customer and wasnt serious about perfume.
So I pick up this hideous glass ornament, it was like a large glass pebble but inside it was full of water and had some tiny pebbles and some fake coral to look like the bottom of the sea. I told him that this would go so well with my L de Lolita as they share the same theme and aesthetic.
And thats it.
Maybe there is some divine prophecy that is not apparent to me. Or I could just be crazy.
Perfume Dreams- Eau de Toilet?
Good Things Take Time
Today, after having a sample in my possession for at least a year, I fell in love with a new perfume. I cant remember how many times times I tested this one out and simply didn't feel inspired, relegating it back to the dark confines of the "meh" pile. Now that I think back on it, there have been a few lightbulb moments where I have tried a scent and not thought much of it, and then one day out of nowhere the lightbulb moment happens. I suddenly "get it" and from then on, couldn't imagine my life without it. Angel was the first and it took me a 4 year hiatus from first sniffing it (loathe at first sniff) to then trying it again in the body cream, to fully realise I in fact loved it. Chanel No.5, Lutece, Unforgivable Woman, Nuit de Cellophane, Quel Amour, Petite Cherie, Angel...all instant dismissals on first application, and then fully appreciated upon random rediscovery.
Perfume has a personality just like a person does. It can be complex-high-maintenance-unpredictable or it can be meat and potatoes-safe-and-warm. Of course, there will be a few that you are so offended by at first meeting, that you know you will never respect or want to like a person/perfume like that. Over time, you may run into them again and soften towards them, even appreciate their differences and see some qualities you might like, but still be resolute in your first impressions that you dont want to share your life with them. But the key is, to take your time.
Wherever possible, if it doesnt offend you at first sniff, but looks like it could be a contender in your life- ask for a sample to take away and get to know it in private. Try it when you have no other perfume on and when you wont be too busy too notice how it evolves on you. Sometimes you have to keep at it for a few days before it hits you over the head and weaves its magic...much like realising that horrible boy who teased you in school and made you miserable...was actually kinda cute and sweet when he wasn't around his bravado mates.
So you see, understanding perfume is not that different to understanding people. You have to get to a know them before you can truly know whether you like them or not. Sometimes like turns into love which then turns into happily ever after, and sometimes it can turn into "Thank god I didn't give him my phone number!"
L'Occitane- For the Love of Honey
Deja Vu anyone?
It only seems like last week when they discontinued the original honey line, but to their credit they replaced with the Miel et Citron range which seemed to make people happy. Only now, they are pulling that line too and there is no word as to whether they will replace it with yet another honey inspired line.
I only found out via an impromptu visit to kill time, and saw the discount table with my beloved Miel et Citron sitting there at half price. Now, I'm not complaining about that, but if I had the choice to buy it at half price and never see it again, or to buy at full price and know it will be there when I run out, I would choose the latter.
L'Occitane, for the love of honey, please stop pulling and replacing and leave the honey alone!
Teens and Cheap Body Sprays
My daughter prefers cheap supermarket body sprays to fine perfume. I dont know how this happened, her favourites used to be Lolita Lempicka and Coco.
She is getting ready to go to a birthday party and wants to use a nasty alcohol spray over my entire collection of fragrances. Not even the offer of Pink Sugar or Beyonce's Heat could tempt her.
Where did I go wrong?
My husband suggested the next child should be birthed into a pool of Chanel No.5 to ensure she will have good perfume taste.
Scent Stalking
Is anyone else guilty of this?
I cant help myself, when I get a whiff of someones perfume on the street or in a crowd, I HAVE to identify it or it drives me insane. I have been known to follow someone around a store until I got it, even if thats means tapping them on the shoulder and straight out asking them - that is, if after 30 mins of twisting myself up in knots trying to recall it doesn't work.
So, if you see a strange woman following you around in Farmers sniffing and then casually looking at a rack of mens socks to avoid your annoyed stare, fear not! Tis' just me, your friendly scent stalker, smelling your yummy perfume!
What A Difference A Spray Makes
Sniffing at my wrist with a blissful buddha-like grin on my face, I declared to my family with a wistful sigh, that Chanel No.5 makes me feel unbelievably happy. Of course, my family, now used to my eccentric ways and utter conceitedness when it comes to smelling good, didn't bat an eyelid. So to get their attention, I prompted a discussion about what makes us feel good- the one thing in this world that we turn to when we need a little joie de vivre to lift us out of the funk we find ourselves in from time to time.
However, in all honesty and PC parenting aside, sometimes the best things come cellophane wrapped and tied with a Chanel ribbon at $270.00 per 100mls.
First off, I dont remove the cellophane from the box when I get a new bottle. Instead, I carefully snip around the top so that the box is still covered, but the lid is easily accessible without having to unwrap the cellophane seal everytime you want to get at it. This gives it that "brand new" feel everytime I pull it out. Theres just something about the crunch of cellophane on its own that gets my heart throbbing.
Next is the bottle itself. The familiar simplistic, heavy square glass flacon with a plain white sticker and those famous, indelible words:
The deep golden yellow colour encased in that gorgeous glass prison is enough to lift my spirits alone, rich and warm, pure liquid sunshine.
And thats where my happy place is, right in that moment when every target has been hit and I am lit up inside like a Christmas tree. This is my well blended glass of Jack and Coke and it really doesn't get any better than this. Even after the scent dissipates and I am left wearing only a memory, it lingers in my mind, reminding me that happiness is always, just a spray away.
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