Shared scented moments

This whole thing started because I was looking for this Jo Malone ad for inspiration for this year's Hutch Holiday Gala. Yes, we are all ready beginning that designing process this early! Feels like we just finished last years weeks ago, hey, we DID!

Before I knew it I was reading this post by The Non-Blonde about vintage Lauren perfume by Ralph Lauren. Which reminded me of mom and our shared experiences over perfume.

I remember when I started wearing Lauren that in the 80’s. But more than anything, I remember one hot West Texas day opening my mom’s car door and that fragrance hitting me, me thinking, “nothing smells better than that in the heat”.  She wore it well.

I have a full bottle of Jean Patou’s Joy Eau de Parfum, my mom’s favorite. I bought it for her every Christmas. My dad would buy it for her every Christmas when they were together. I wore it once in her honor but it does not smell as good on me as it did on her. My mom also wore Tea Rose for everyday, smelled great on her. Interesting history about Joy.



Our shared memory. I have an empty bottle (now two because I bought another almost empty bottle on eBay) of NM Eau De Toilette. I remember the day mom and I bought that at the downtown Dallas Neiman Marcus. My mom did not work far from there and we walked through the store all the time. I always felt so special when we made a purchase there. I don’t remember wearing the perfume myself but I love the fragrance. Very, very spicy. (It reminds me of Fendi). We loved it then they quit making it. I am not sure who kept the empty bottle but we still have it some 40+ years later. Occasionally, I would bring it out for mom and I to have "sniff", smile at each other and remember that day.  Quickly close the bottle in case any of that wonderful scent escaped. An of course talk about why they did not make it any more.

I realized the other day that that shared memory is no longer a “shared” one. I am the only person remembering that day, that smell, that story. So I shared it with someone at work the other day, we had a sniff and I told her the story. Gaia shared this lovely post about Scented Memories of Our Mothers. Thank you!

My mom also wore Zig Zig by Zsa Zsa and I think they quit making that too. One Christmas I surprised her with a couple of old bottles I found on eBay. Just for fun. My mom wore the parfum bath oil. It smelled wonderful on her. Ah, funny! It looks like Gigi also loved it and also bought her mom Zig Zag from eBay for a present. I love that!!! And I can't forget White Shoulders! Mom and I also always have a big bottle of 4711 splash for after showers ;)

I still wear Lauren if I am feeling like something heavy. My favorite, affordable perfume now is Banana Republic “W”, a light, breezy, floral (a hint of violet?) scent style without it being overpowering. I still wear Fendi at times, my husband loves it.

What I really want to find is a wonderful Honeysuckle fragrance for summer. I have ordered a few online, but they were not to my liking. I am still searching

If I would loaded I would wear Jo Malone, every flavor!

I bought a tiny size of CB I Hate Perfume's Wild Pansy and it was wonderful, but again, a little out of my price range. If you have a couple of hours to kill, go read the fragrance stories, they are a must!

Interesting blog about Yesterday's Perfume, talks about What Perfume Did Your Mother Wear?

Smells like nostalgia: Why do scents bring back memories?

This sounds interesting enough to buy for a sniff - The Dead Writers Perfume, blend evokes the feeling of sitting in an old library chair paging through yellowed copies of Hemingway, Shakespeare, Fitzgerald, Poe, and more. Suitable for either sex, Dead Writers makes you want to put on a kettle of black tea and curl up with your favorite book. This perfume contains black tea, vetiver, clove, musk, vanilla, heliotrope, and tobacco.

There are so many fragrances out there. Most are too sweet for me, but when I read the descriptions, I want to try them all!