When bad things happen to good perfume
Last summer I was in a car accident. No one was hurt, thank goodness. But I did lose something.
It was a chilly, rainy day, and I was driving north on my way to spend the last weekend of the summer at a friend's cottage. I chose Annick Goutal Musc Nomade as my perfume for the weekend. It has a comforting, cuddly feel to it, that I knew would go well with sweaters and flannel shirts. Plus it's light, and wouldn't overpower my hosts in a small cabin. I remember, I was even thinking about it as I packed for the trip, loving the way it was wafting discretely from my décolletage. And then, boom.
In the aftermath of standing in the downpour, exchanging information and the sick feeling of adrenaline, I forgot entirely about the perfume, of course. But now, when I pull it out to wear and I sniff, I just... can't. I can't wear it anymore.
I have always avoided wearing perfume when I am sick, or when something upsetting is happening, like visiting a sick relative, because I feared just this sort of association. But I couldn't foresee the accident. I'm still hoping that the bad feelings will wear off with time and I'll be able to wear this perfume again.
How about you? Have you ever had a perfume you loved become associated with bad things, and had trouble wearing it again?
Photo: Gabriela Camerotti
not really but i had a bad experience with apple martinis once and can't stand anything apple scented ever since. the bad thing was too many apple martinis, way too many.
ReplyDeleteThat can happen with apple martinis :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that. It is such a nice perfume, too.
ReplyDeleteI associate Guerlain Vetiver with a man, who really hurt me, whenever I smell it on somebody it brings back a little bit of the pain. But thankfully that is a scent I wouldn't want to wear myself.
On the blog "Waft...what a fragrancefanatic thinks", Carol hosted the perfumer of AbdesSalaamAttar and he was asked for advice asked about a similar situation. In a nutshell, his advice was to smell the scent while doing something pleasurable or meaningful to you.
ReplyDeleteI could do this with bacon but I don't really care about bacon like you do Musc Nomade.
I hope you get a chance to find pleasure in the perfume again.
Yes, vetiver was/is difficult for me too due to an old relationship, but fortunately with all the various scents with various types and strengths of vetiver, my aversion is slowing disappearing.
ReplyDeleteHi olfactoria: Sorry to hear about the Guerlain Vetiver. But at least you won't miss it.
ReplyDeleteHi JoaneElaine: Oh yeah, I read that interview. Maybe I should try it sometime. Just wear it for a nice movie night, cuddling on the couch.
Hi Frida: Vetiver isn't a big draw for me, but I did like Vetiverio, which wasn't so vertiver heavy anyway. I hope you can learn to love it again too.
Yes, I can no longer wear Shalimar because it reminds me of my late teens when I was in love with a man I could not stand.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I bought a brand new bottle of 1740 by Histoires de Parfums and the FIRST TIME I wore it, I got the flu, puked and never could wear it again. Baby Sis got lucky over that one.
Hi Josephine: A bad love affair is a much better reason for not wearing Shalimar, than mine. (I just don't get it, Shhhh don't tell anyone.) And that is exactly the reason why I don't wear perfume when I'm sick!
ReplyDeleteI am afraid so , my husband had an emergency 9 hour operation three years ago. There was no known outcome but they ranged from being in I.C for a very long time to death. He recovered but Guerlain lost my custom forever for the Aqua Allegoria that smells of redcurrants.
ReplyDeleteI;m sorry to hear that Angela! But I'm glad he recovered. I hope you found a lovely but different replacement for the Aqua Allegoria.
ReplyDelete