UPDATE: The winner is…Rita!
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I’ve talked about scents on this blog before. Favorite scents. Mine is the scent of oranges. It always makes me happy and energizes me. Now, I want to talk about scents that invoke a memory because, you know, your brain uses scent to anchor memories.
One of my earliest scent-memories is the aroma of a certain vintage perfume, “Evening in Paris.” My father gave my mother a gift of a set of “Evening in Paris” perfume and cologne as a wedding gift, and she used it only sparingly because it was dear to her. They didn’t have much money then, so every gift he gave her was something she treasured. And he was a romantic at heart—he never forgot an anniversary or Valentine’s Day (except once, but that’s a story for another day). No matter how strapped they were for cash, or how far apart (he had many tours of duty during the Viet Nam War), he always managed to find something she would love, even if it was only flowers and chocolate.
I’m sure Mom’s “Evening in Paris” would have survived the length of their marriage (sixty years), except for the fact they had a nosy, sneaky daughter—me. I loved opening the precious bottle and just rubbing the cap on my wrists so I could enjoy that smell.
For one of her last Christmases, I found a store that specialized in vintage, popular perfumes and bought her a bottle of “Evening In Paris.” Of course, I had to open it first and draw in that scent. So many memories came pouring through my mind of me when I was a kid, of sneaking it from her dresser to anoint my wrists. She had to have known, it’s a strong and distinct scent, but she never chastised me. I still wonder why.
Contest
Share a scent-memory for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!
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Mine has always been vanilla. I am allergic to most perfumes. It makes life difficult.
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Honeysuckle always reminds me of my maternal grandma. She used to wear it–anyone else remember the stick perfumes?–and she’d let me put it on, too. Every time I smell it, it makes me think of her. 🙂
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Darn. No puzzle. 🙁 I’m more a naturalist. Can’t tolerate perfumes and scents (this includes cologne on men) but love the scent of baking bread, spaghetti sauce, freshly cut grass and the sea.
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Old Spice is a stong scent trigger for me. It reminds me of comfort and love and one of my most favorite people. Also fresh rain. Rain is the most comforting experience in my life. I LIVE for rainy days.
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Babe perfume from faberge. The company is no longer in existence. The perfume is no longer in existence. I have a bottle left over from the 80s that I use very sparingly. But when I do use it I have very fond memories of high school and college.
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The only scent that doesn’t bother me to wear is Midnight Path by Bath and Body Works, if it’s mild enough then some of the scents my family wear I can handle.
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Not big on perfume… love the smell of Cinnamon… reminds me of the holidays… my grandma making pumpkin pie.
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Wind song
I used in my youth
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I can’t go to Home Depot or Lowes because of the insecticide smell. We had a patient in E.R. that smelled of insecticide for about 8 hours straight. So I can’t stand the smell.
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I love the smell of rain hitting hot, dry earth. That’s the smell of childhood summers for me.
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watermelon
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I remember my mother had a bottle of Evening in Paris. I’m having trouble placing the scent though.
One of my favorite perfumes was Oh! de London (I think that’s right) by Yardley. It was all the rage when I was in high school in the early 70’s. I also loved one called Blue Jeans. Now I rarely wear any perfume.
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My grandmother used to use powder scented with Blue Grass scent from Elizabeth Arden. If I smell it I can hear her laughing.
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My mom always used to use the Jergens hand lotion, so even today, that slightly almond scent takes me right back to when I was a kid 🙂
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Rose lotion reminds me of my grandmother. It’s so soothing.
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Lilacs or honeysuckle. I have 2 liac trees. Spring is here is what I think of.
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Lilac
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Jovan Musk. My high school boyfriend wore that, well now my husband. Ahhh. So many memories.
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I love vanilla. Any scent with vanilla or vanilla bean reminds me of my mom or jadore. For some reason she loved that perfume.
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Rose scent reminds me of the roses my dad loved to plant and the scent my grandmother used to wear….gives me comfort.