Heaven Scent
Article by Hair and Make-up Stylist Deborah Monday
Perfume has provided inspiration to lovers and poets for centuries. As an aesthetishist [beauty fetishist] I view scent as being the icing on the cake of subtle good grooming. Tis what the eye can't see, the subliminal effect that olfactory delights have on our psyche that can make one seem and feel divine. With origins in Ancient Egypt, perfumed oils and incense were used in religious rituals and later in the beauty and cleansing regimes of women. I think the art of bottling smells, stems from two basic tenets. The desire to alter one s emotional state with a mere whiff, and the other, to leave your mark.
Some perfumes are as fresh as the flesh of Children Sweet as the sound of oboes, green as pastures in And others corrupt, rich, and triumphant. Having the expanse of things infinite such as amber, musk, benzoin and incense that sing of the flight of spirit and the senses . |
Often imbued with a certain mystique, or heady lust provoking secret powers which linger long after the perfect stranger has vanished, perfume power is not to be denied or taken lightly. I once became momentarily besotted by a bloke [who otherwise did nothing to stir my feminine fancies] simply because his aftershave captivated me with its intoxicating 'essence of man'topearer had lived up to the scent, we might be happily living on some Dude Ranch in Wyoming, and holidaying in the Far East.
Tapping into our base desires, our emotional tones, and the impression we wish to leave on others, are all rudimentary elements prized and studied by perfumers. When Marilyn Monroe was asked what she wore to bed, she cooed, "My alarm clock and Chanel No 5". Instantly and eternally the perfume became the embodiment of femininity, glamour, and matchless sex appeal, just like Marilyn herself.
Sometimes we want to seduce, sometimes mesmerise, but always we desire to be remembered, to leave some kind of imprint. This somewhat primal need may seem too beastly an explanation for some, but for what other reason do we crave to impose our own scent on others? Of course we all want to smell good and definitely there are certain fragrances that depict milestones and various 'Chanel' changes in our lives. For example.
Wishing to disguise my teenage naivete, sophistication and maturity came in a bottle of Maja. Sensual, musky, affordable and with a bonus sexy Spanish dancer on the label. Just the trick for a teeny, teetering on the brink of womanhood. My first love wore patchouli oil, very memorable, very "Boheme". So enamoured was I that I actually thought that this was his natural smell. It was some time before the Patchouli spell could be broken. I eventually moved to YSLs Rive Gauche, perfect for a left bank lifestyle, with nothing left in the bank but pockets full of dreams.
A brief bout with a big brother's gift bottle of Joy ended in ving a lingering when I reminder of my clumsiness. Obviously too green and irresponsible to appreciate the intricacies of the most expensive and feminine of all perfumes, I swore off florals forever. Huh! Never liked it anyway, too sweet and way out of my league!
The edgy, earthy qualities of Gaultier, saw me through my turbulent late twenties. Since then, I have canoodled with Kenzo, only to find him too fresh, played with Poison [a bit on the toxic side], and now trifle with Tresor, hoping that my soul mate will sniff me and think, "Oh there you are at last, my treasure!". In the ever evolving kaleidoscope that is life, I have yet to find my signature scent, but when I do, heaven help us, I'll be reaching for that bottle of Beautiful before you can scream 'Bridal Shower'!
Maybe wearing perfume is simply a way of emulating natural smells which evoke certain memories and emotional responses. Whenever I smell the original Cool Charm deodorant, its instantly summer, I'm sixteen and lying on the beach with a considerably flatter stomach. I always have some handy for those blah moments, much better than St Johns Wort.
Perfume has provided inspiration to lovers and poets for centuries. As an aesthetishist [beauty fetishist] I view scent as being the icing on the cake of subtle good grooming. Tis what the eye can't see, the subliminal effect that olfactory delights have on our psyche that can make one seem and feel divine. With origins in Ancient Egypt, perfumed oils and incense were used in religious rituals and later in the beauty and cleansing regimes of women. I think the art of bottling smells, stems from two basic tenets. The desire to alter one s emotional state with a mere whiff, and the other, to leave your mark.
Often imbued with a certain mystique, or heady lust provoking secret powers which linger long after the perfect stranger has vanished, perfume power is not to be denied or taken lightly. I once became momentarily besotted by a bloke [who otherwise did nothing to stir my feminine fancies] simply because his aftershave captivated me with its intoxicating 'essence of man'topearer had lived up to the scent, we might be happily living on some Dude Ranch in Wyoming, and holidaying in the Far East.
Tapping into our base desires, our emotional tones, and the impression we wish to leave on others, are all rudimentary elements prized and studied by perfumers. When Marilyn Monroe was asked what she wore to bed, she cooed, "My alarm clock and Chanel No 5". Instantly and eternally the perfume became the embodiment of femininity, glamour, and matchless sex appeal, just like Marilyn herself.
Sometimes we want to seduce, sometimes mesmerise, but always we desire to be remembered, to leave some kind of imprint. This somewhat primal need may seem too beastly an explanation for some, but for what other reason do we crave to impose our own scent on others? Of course we all want to smell good and definitely there are certain fragrances that depict milestones and various 'Chanel' changes in our lives. For example.
Wishing to disguise my teenage naivete, sophistication and maturity came in a bottle of Maja. Sensual, musky, affordable and with a bonus sexy Spanish dancer on the label. Just the trick for a teeny, teetering on the brink of womanhood. My first love wore patchouli oil, very memorable, very "Boheme". So enamoured was I that I actually thought that this was his natural smell. It was some time before the Patchouli spell could be broken. I eventually moved to YSLs Rive Gauche, perfect for a left bank lifestyle, with nothing left in the bank but pockets full of dreams.
A brief bout with a big brother's gift bottle of Joy ended in ving a lingering when I reminder of my clumsiness. Obviously too green and irresponsible to appreciate the intricacies of the most expensive and feminine of all perfumes, I swore off florals forever. Huh! Never liked it anyway, too sweet and way out of my league!
The edgy, earthy qualities of Gaultier, saw me through my turbulent late twenties. Since then, I have canoodled with Kenzo, only to find him too fresh, played with Poison [a bit on the toxic side], and now trifle with Tresor, hoping that my soul mate will sniff me and think, "Oh there you are at last, my treasure!". In the ever evolving kaleidoscope that is life, I have yet to find my signature scent, but when I do, heaven help us, I'll be reaching for that bottle of Beautiful before you can scream 'Bridal Shower'!
Maybe wearing perfume is simply a way of emulating natural smells which evoke certain memories and emotional responses. Whenever I smell the original Cool Charm deodorant, its instantly summer, I'm sixteen and lying on the beach with a considerably flatter stomach. I always have some handy for those blah moments, much better than St Johns Wort.
Scents and Scentsability
Here are some Dos and Don'ts to help you to come to your scent-ses.
DoChoose a scent to suit your lifestyle and personality Seek advice from a skilled salesperson Try before you buy. Its always best to take your time and road test two at a time. Sample one perfume per wrist. Go home, and see what the after effect is. Ask people their opinions Test perfume on the warmest pulse points, the wrists Store it in a cool place, away from sunlight. The fridge is always good Throw out old perfumes [but keep the pretty bottle]. If you think a perfume smells rancid or acidic, its probably off, as perfume has a shelf life |
Don'tJudge a perfume by those little pieces of card, although do accept any freebies, very handy to put in undie drawers. Perfume should only be sampled on the flesh Smell perfume immediately, this is not the true smell and is called the 'top note'. Spray and wait a while Rub perfume together with your wrists as this will cause bruising of the intricate ingredients Buy a scent just because of clever advertising. Gorgeous models frolicking with each other on the sand may look appealing, but if it doesn't suit you, it's a waste of money Remember, perfume has three stages or notes. The top note, the middle note and the base note. The base note is the one you will be left with and hopefully the one that will mesmerise, intoxicate and have good looking strangers chasing you down the street with gifts of flowers |
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