Does Corsetry Tighten Loose Aromatic Morals?
I chatted briefly yesterday with delightful MmeBenaut about fragrance, and whether to stay with a signature perfume or be a bit loose with one's aromatic morals and dabble with a variety. It takes a lot of scentual fortitude to remain faithful to just one.
As challenging as it is, I stick with three, partly because it takes me so long to use them up that my wee dram of Scots won't allow more than that. This Jean Paul Gaultier Classique {with notes of rose, star anise, ginger, vanilla and orange blossom} is my 'summer night/winter day' signature scent. Well, not this one exactly. The bottle with the fancy corsetry is reserved for the Eau de Parfum, whereas I have the Eau de Toilette, which can't afford such elaborate underwear but still looks nice naked.
So how about you? Do you prefer corsetry or going naked? Wait ... what? Sorry, I meant to ask ... Are you a one fragrance woman? Or are the choices impossible for you to resist?
I go naked! Too often I've been nearly suffocated by someone's overpowering perfume. So if they can't smell themselves, I fear I might do the same---put on an amount I think is good but it's actually destroying other people's olfactory organs.
ReplyDeleteI also notice that the smells I like best on other people are clean, soap smells. So I just make sure I stay clean and use nice-smelling soaps!
I go naked, too. It's partly laziness. I can barely be bothered with moisturizer. Perfume just seems like more work. That's boring, isn't it. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteWell, the wee dram of Scots in me approves that you are both saving money with your nudity!
ReplyDeletePCN ~ You are very considerate. I love French fragrance too much to abstain... but I do the subtle 'spray air and walk through' in hopes that I'm not leaving fumes in my wake. When you visit someday, though, it will be my pleasure to go 'au naturale' for you.
Margaret ~ Moisturizing is a drag. But like flossing, I do it. I find perfume the easiest part. But I'll definitely go nude with you when we climb the Story Bridge someday, how's that?
Hee hee. As you know, my choice is YSL Opium - I put that boldly here just in case someone knows when my birthday is. I'm afraid that if I am sans earrings or parfum I do feel rather naked.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love your sketch, Shell. Rather looks like an icing map of the world that has dripped with all that heat :)
ReplyDeleteMmeBenaut ~ One can never drop too many birthday gift hints, in my opinion! And thank you ~ your description is poetic. Mmm. Icing.
ReplyDeleteI have commitment issues, Dr. Shell, so I wear a variety of fragrances. I don't believe in a signature scent, but a signature sense of style, which in my case is predictably unpredictable.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the session. How much do I owe you? :D
from cali, I'm not surprised. That said, you are unpredictable, so I feel I should be surprised. But by not being surprised, that's a surprise in itself. Now I'm confused. Some doctor I am! I need some icing.
ReplyDeleteI'm a signature kinda gal..but only because, whenever I wear Elizabeth Taylor's 'Passion', some gorgeous male asks me what I'm wearing as he's just a little bit in love with me already! ps I'm happily married so it leads to nowhere but delicious dreams.
ReplyDeleteAnnie-L ~ Methinks he's more than just a little bit in love with you! Sweet dreams.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Shell. I do save a lot of money from going naked. I also don't drink, don't often eat meat (will eat if others cook; too lazy to prepare it myself), don't have a Starbucks habit or a heroin addiction. All this adds up to quite a bit of savings, which perhaps I can use for that ticket to Australia!
ReplyDeletePCN ~ it goes to show that an obsession with pop culture can leave little room for other addictions. Very healthy... and I thoroughly approve of your savings plan!
ReplyDeleteI like PCN's savings plan, too.
ReplyDeleteI've never been tested but I think I'm a "super-smeller." It's a blessing and a curse. Even if someone's wearing perfume the light way (walk through the spray) I can still smell it from far away. It's like an assault when I'm in a perfumed crowd. Ouch.
Shell, I just love your pictures. They are all deeee-lightful.
Petrea ~ I'm guessing you have to sprint through cosmetics departments in stores to avoid the ladies offering spritzes! I only like top quality fragrances and essential oils, though ~ I nearly pass out at the others. {And thank you so much re: my drawings ~ I'm happy you're enjoying them!}
ReplyDeleteThe thing is I love most essential oils. I wonder if it's because the scent is pure. Real lavender, for example, is heaven to me. But some lavender perfumes are just...bad.
ReplyDeleteI'd say so, Petrea. Fragrances have other things added, and not just alcohol. The higher quality ones usually have higher concentrations of essential oils. But as you've also observed, not all essential oils are equal. Your nose knows!
ReplyDeleteAm all for diversity, but have been faithful to my "signature" scent, YSL's Paris, for about 30 years now.
ReplyDeleteHave twice had a total stranger tell me I smell good! Hmmmm. Do try to apply with a very light hand though (someone on the subway with heavy fragrance will send me into paroxysms of coughing).
Just yesterday I found a guy selling perfume on the street. A little haggling got me the big bottle of Paris for next to nada—score!
Love this illustration (love all of them).
Alexa ~ Wow, well scored! I must go and smell 'Paris' again. I wanted it years ago because of its name but had to concede it didn't suit me, darn! {PS: Thank You!}
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