PeaceBang is a VERY olfactory-oriented girl, and therefore scent is a hugely important thing in her life. I burn incenses that I collect from my travels (and home sprays, too — I have one that I got in Barcelona that takes me right back to that fabulous city), obsess over perfume, and take forever to choose home care products that are environmentally-conscious and smell good. I burn candles, but I am very choosy about what brands and scents. I grow a big tangle of herbs for the sheer pleasure of picking big bunches of rosemary, lavender, lemon balm, and mint and keeping them on my bedside table in small vases.
My life as an adorer of perfume began when my Daddy gave me a bottle of Amour Amour by Jean Patou, the same parfumer who made Joy. I can bring that scent to mind instantly just by closing my eyes, but I would love to smell it from a bottle again (alas! it has been discontinued). It was the perfect perfume for an adolescent girl; delicate, floral, a hint of sexiness, just a beautiful perfume. Other scents I have worn over the years include Clinique Aromatics Elixir (for which I apologize because it’s absolutely poisonous stuff to me now), Rive Gauche, Eau de Metal (Paco Rabanne), Paloma Picasso, Love’s Baby Soft, Wind Song (those were pre “Amor Amor” – early schoolgirl days!), Tea Time by L’Artisan, Bronze Goddess by Estee Lauder (stupid name, love the fragrance), my beloved Yuzu Rouge by Parfumerie 06130 (probably my favorite for several years) and essential oil concoctions of my own making back in my seriously Witchy days.
I have loved Chanel Cristalle Eau de Toilette since college, when I first smelled it on a marvelous human being named Sally Shea and bought some for myself. The Eau de Toilette is IT for me, but the heavier, slightly mossier Cristalle Eau de Parfum is NOT. Keep this in mind, darlings, when choosing a scent. Do NOT follow the fashion magazines’ advice and “layer” scents by using the soap, body lotion and perfume — it’s total overkill and I personally don’t recommend using such a heavily-scented soap in the first place. Get something better for your skin. Body lotion OR sprayed scent should be fine to smell good, not both.
I’m just really super happy because I scored a 2 oz. bottle of hard-to-find Cristalle Eau de Toilette on ebay for $28 (shipping included) which retails for $70 and up. Is it frivolous and silly? Sure. Will it make me happy? Yes. And it will remind me of Sally Shea, who, I’m sure you’ll be happy to know, turned out to be a fantastic woman with an awesome hubby and three terrific kids. I saw her last week and she still smells great.
Hey, can you tell all those patchouli-wearers out there to lay off? That stuff is STRONG and since we all become immune to the scents we wear, we need to all be careful not to blast each other out of the room.
P.S. Try not to ever wear perfume or after-shave to a hospital visit. It’s a nice humanitarian move to leave it off when you’ll be traveling by airplane, too.
Is this the same one? [No… the one I got was made, I think, in the 1950’s and went out of production in the early 80’s. It came in a beautiful, apple heart shaped clear bottle, super feminine and elegant. I have found some descriptions of it online in perfume review blogs but no image at all in the image archives, which makes me strangely sad. – PB]
My husband’s allergies don’t appreciate it if I wear perfume, light scented candles, use heavily scented lotion, etc. So I have not dabbled in perfume since I was 18, before I met him. (I do miss it at times!) Because of this, I find that the scents that others wear tend to be heavy-handed and sometimes overwhelming to my nose. So I’m all for encouraging people not to go overboard! Also, I have parishioners whose lives become severely restricted by their strong allergic reaction to perfumes. I try to encourage my folks to be sensitive to this, and rein it in a bit.
My very favourite is Estee Lauder Cinnabar, but it is not always easy to find–my best source is the duty-free on the Dover-Calais ferry. A bottle lasts me a year (or more). I don’t wear scent on airplanes or trains. Just a good bath in my Pears Transparent Soap, and a bit of deodorant and perhaps some baby powder.
not wearing perfume is one of the hardest things about working as a chaplain–seriously. I LOVE smelling good things and I feel half naked. . . .I do sneak in some good smelling shampoo I have to admit.
Many years ago, in my former life as a Controller, I was walking back to my office and realized that I could smell a salesperson’s cologne even though he was 20 feet away from me. It was really strong. I mentioned it to his manager who must have handled the issue because I never noticed it again.
I’ve started wearing Philosophy’s Amazing Grace, which I love because of the name and because of its light, kind of citrusy scent. I know that some folks have issues with scent, but for me it has become a ritual of grace, an anointing for ministry, when I put it on in the morning. I also like Estee Lauder’s Private Collection (Cinnebar is too heavy for my skin) and Giorgio of Beverly Hills Red. Been through WindSong, Shalimar, Charlie (the original) early Lauren fragrances (I miss Tuxedo!) and Tresor…obviously I have a profligate nose!
Hmmm. Because of allergies to scent in my family (fortunately there are many scents that do not affect me, but often perfumes give me a slight headache), I am keenly aware of the impact that perfumes and cigarette smoke can have on someone who is allergic to them. Because of this, I do not consider wearing scents to be appropriate for the workplace. I save it for the times when I am not at work.
I always feel something is following me around when I wear cologne, but I have fallen in love with Molton Brown shower gel. I get a nice burst of aromatherapy in the shower, and then smell the crook of my arm the rest of the day if I need a pick-me-up. I even found some approved scents for my husband. It’s expensive–my daughter got me hooked on it–but worth it.
Wendy–I LOVE the scent of Pears transparent soap.
So, I am pretty much over my anxiety attack and breathing normally now. Peace Bang, a new world order needs to be established. Please, be like Oprah and her effort to stop talking/texting while driving and do your part to make the world safer for people like me.
I have severe allergies to scents. Reactions that leave me hospitalized or with a six week recovery and a round of Prednisone (trust me, it is awful) are a constant in my life. Try not being able to sing or speak for months at a time because Mrs. “I love Avon and I don’t care if it makes you sick” decided to wear her perfume to church.
I realise I am not normal. I realise that you have a right to wear perfume. But where it is optional for you and could kill me, wouldn’t a little compassion be in order? Let’s make church as accessible to people like me.
And, by the way, yes, I carry a charcoal filter mask like this http://www.icanbreathe.com/favorite.htm at all times and it does help in a pinch. But, while it does come in colours, it isn’t really a fun accessory. And it is impossible to preach in and looks really bad shaking hands at the door!
Hey PB, I’m afraid I don’t have much to contribute re scent (although I am a fan of Gucci by Gucci for what it’s worth), but I would like to read your Peace Bang on Word Press. However it says I need a password. Is it up yet?
Thanks. [The PeaceBang Blog is out of commission for now — no one can access it! We’re re-designing for a 2011 launch. – PB]
Lately I have been wearing Pure Grace. I like Baby Grace and Amazing Grace too.
I’m another great fan of Philosophy’s Amazing Grace. It’s a great, clean smell- and makes me feel great- never overpowering. Susan- love your imagery of anointing oneself! I use the shower gel everyday, followed by the body lotion- nothing else needed.
For non-work related scents, I love Burberry Gold (hard to find) and Bulgari Rose Essential.
I love love love Angel by Thierry Mugler. It’s very distinctive. I only wear it when going out socially, though; not while working in any circumstance. I did have a decade-long obsession with Je Revien once!
Gotta put a plug in for my new fave, Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche (it’s green colored, not the amber one). Smells clean, like so many of us seem to appreciate, and it’s sophisticated without being overpowering. (I hope)
@ Sarah G–Pears is the one soap which, for the 30+ years I’ve used it, does not irritate my skin, leave icky residues, make me sneeze, etc. And at 49, I have a basically clear, wrinkle-free, non-blotchy, good vibrant complexion. What else from Dollar Tree is so marvelous?
My sympathy for your trouble, Lil. I had a family member with that problem, so I have seen first hand how bad it can get. Some people simply refuse to understand.
I am one of those who is allergic to scent of most any kind. I get headaches and start cughing and sneezing which is quite embarassing in meetings, church, concerts, plane rides and movies–actually most any public place. It is a joy to sing in our church choir as scents of any kind for males as well as females are forbidden. On the rare occasions I sit in the congegation, I inevitably sit next to a heavily perfumed body–arrrgh! I do know how much people enjoy thier fragrances as there was a time in my 20’s and 30’s that I was among ’em–no more. So please, folks, use a light hand and be considerate! Thanks!!