I've wanted to blog about our kitchen renovation for weeks now... but that job is not finished due to unforeseen circumstances. So, what can I post on today? I hadn't a clue, until I spritzed a mist of "Innisfree" on my wrist, and with the sweet fragrance of spicy and floral deliciousness, the snow melted, the leaves miraculously appeared on the trees and the daffodils poked their sharp green blades through the frozen earth!
Well, maybe I'm exaggerating, but you must agree that perfume is a most uplifting and magical substance.
I may be a farm gal, but I never go a day without lipstick or perfume . Is there anything that makes one feel more feminine than perfume?
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As if the scent weren't enough to draw you in, the packaging of perfume has always been in the most attractive of containers.
All of the above are antique cologne bottles with sweet names like Superior Pomade, Violet Toilet Water and Clover of India.
My first bottle of perfume, perhaps I was around 13yrs old, was a simple eau de toilet called "Muguet de Bois" by Coty. Imagine my surprise when I recently tracked down a bottle of this cologne I thought long ago discontinued. It still smells light and wonderful as lily of the valley.
Most ladies discover a perfume they love and continue with it for a lifetime. How about you?
My long time favorites are "Romance" by Ralph Lauren and "Pleasures" by Estee Lauder.
However, I love trying new scents and recently discovered a sweet smelling, fragile fragrance made in Ireland called:
INNISFREE
I did not have a clue that perfume was made in Ireland, what an unexpected pleasure.
And who could resist these wonderful tiny bottles of aroma from Penhaligon's?
If you want to test a new scent without paying a fortune for a full size bottle, they also offer skinny vials in a sample box. A 3.4 oz bottle of Penhaligon's runs close to $100, so you will want to experiment before committing.
I highly recommend the Bluebell, Victorian Rose and Lily of the Valley.. that is, if you like a light flowery scent as I do.
Now, I am on a search for 3 other perfumes I wore long ago. ELUSIVE by Avon; my fragrance in High School ,CHAMADE by Guerlain, discovered on a trip to a duty-free shop in the Carribean when I was 21 and Rive Gauche by YVES ST Lauren.purchased for me by a good friend on my 25th birthday.
Fragrance brings on such memories. I can still remember the first time I used Yardley's English Lavender Soap... it is still a favorite of mine.
Please share, what cologne, perfumes, scents or soaps do you love? What was the first perfume you ever wore? And one more.. Are you old enough to remember a cologne my mother used to wear called "Evening in Paris"? I think it was pretty awful, but very nostalgic. Mom used to sell Avon door to door in the 60's and she got many free samples of perfume, thank goodness she gave up the "Evening in Paris"
Still, I would love to find an old bottle to add to my collection.
Jeri, I too wear perfume every day. Scents trigger memories for sure. Your collection is beautiful. I love all of the beautiful bottles. I'm familiar with Inish and have a bottle in my cabinet.I'm not familiar with Innisfree. My Mama used to wear White Linen by Estee Lauder. My daughter loves Opium by YSL. I used to wear Youth Dew but now I've been wearing Amazing Grace by Philosophy for over 12 years. I remember my grandson telling me he liked it and when I asked him why he did he said it smelled like Boo--that's me. And soaps- I love lavender french soap from Marseille.♥
ReplyDeleteMartha, I can't think of a nicer compliment your grandson could have given you!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteI bought my Evening in Paris bottles on eBay.
First cologne I don't remember. Mother always bought me Avon To a Wild Rose. Canoe, men's cologne is a favorite scent I wore in high school. Later, Azuree by Este Lauder, Chanel 5, Cache, and Ciara ( I forget maker names). I've grown away from most of them. I haven't bought cologne in years, and have no all time favorite number one scent. I presently do use Yardly Lavender hand soap.
I will look on ebay for those bottles, You can find anything there!
DeleteWhat a wonderful collection you have, old and new. I love to wear scents too. In my late teens I wore Woodhue by Faberge. When we were in Venice, (on our 60 day by train trip to see nine countries before we came home from Spain, US Navy), in the closet in our room I found a spray cannister of Windsong and just fell in love with it. I tend to love floral/spicy/exotic scents. Right now I have Tahitian Gardenia that is very nice by Pacifica. I really love scented soaps. Aaaahhh!
ReplyDeleteI have a sweet little blue bottle with a light blue lid of 'Evening in Paris', given to me by my late MIL. It still has some perfume in it, and it doesn't smell all that good. I thought it was nice years ago, but not now. Of course, it was old when she gave it to me, and it's even older now. But I collect blue glass and have some little old perfume bottles in my collection. Nothing all that great, but I enjoy them. Seeing your collection, makes me want to display mine nicely.
This was a fun post to read and to comment on.
Have a lovely, scented Sunday ~ FlowerLady
Lorraine, I am sure a whiff of WIndsong will bring back that 60 day trip, what a fabulous memory, what a wonderful experience.
DeleteI was JUST thinking of you, wondering when you'd post again, and there you are....
ReplyDeleteOK, this is a great topic.
Do you remember DESSERT FLOWER? Well, every Christmas, my father bought here that cologne. My half sister also loved it (she was the same age as my mother!) and to this day, if I even smell ANYTHING remotely close to that fragrance, I am immediately 10 years old again. My mother always wore that, but nothing else. I therefore was never a perfume kind a gal, but when I was in Grasse, France, the one-time capital of the French perfume industry, I meet a young chap at the church I attended one sunny, lavender-scented morning. He took me on a tour of the old Frangipani perfume museum that knocked my socks off....there was a little gift store adjacent to the museum and this kid bought me a tiny bottle of lovely perfume....did I EVER HAVE AN AUDREY HEPBURN, Roman Holiday moment there! I have never used the perfume, but keep the bottle on my dresser as a keepsake of such a romantic moment...HAHAHHAHAHAHHA while my husband is here in the STATES! He knows the story....
Gorgeous bottles, Jeri! My mother had such a lovely collection of empty crystal bottles that I adored. Lost forever, however.
Enjoy your Sunday! Anita
Anita, that IS a romantic moment, you must always keep that bottle. About feeling 10 years old again: if ever I smell OLD SPICE< same thing, we gave it to my dad every year for Christmas and he actually liked it.
DeleteI forgot to add...I still have the bottle of sachet from a Friendship Garden gift box given to me for Christmas in 1957.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeri, I love the perfume post. Such a wonderful diversion from this freezing temp's. I have to add that I'm one of those that still wears what I wore in high school, White Shoulders. I have saved all the bottles but the oldest ones have since been misplaced - think ex husband. But I do have mixed sizes and just love the embossed lady on the front of the bottle. Over the years, I have been given different brands as gifts, but they just don't work for me. So White Shoulders it is and it makes me smile. When you open my closet, there is a whiff of those beautiful flowers.
ReplyDeleteOften others will ask what perfume do I use and they smile and say they remember an old friend that it reminds them of. Others say, they used to wear it but changes. Many are not aware it is still available. Thanks for putting a smile on my very cold face,
Love you, Deborah Rogers Mercy
Dear Deborah! One of my best friends in high school wore ONLY "White Shoulders", I always wondered HOW she could afford it at her age.
DeleteLike you, Jeri, I wear perfume every day, and for some years my favorite has been 24 Faubourg by Hermes. When this scent was first introduced, I was given a miniature sample bottle and knew I had found a winner.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember my first perfume, but do remember many years of using Chloe, Ysatis, Isadora and ... Biba.
Lavender is a favorite scent for soaps and dried lavender makes wonderful sachets.
xo
Frances, I found an empty mini bottle of Ysatis in my drawer, I don't remember wearing it, maybe I used it to scent my nightgowns! Lavender has to be the very best scent, in the garden and in a bottle.
Deleteyou have to check out aroma sanctum in salem, mass.. she is wonderful and blends the most fantastic scents. all pure with no chemicals! she can also duplicate any commercial scent that you like and do it chemical free and also turn it into lotions or soap. it is such a wonderful place. since i have been a teenager i wear a combination of interlude and tabu..but only in fall and winter. i never wear any scent in spring and summer.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a wonderful shop, I even love the name of it,"Aroma Sanctum".
DeleteWindsong….just the name of it conjures memories for me ~ you either love it or hate it. I love it.
ReplyDeleteI love the small, frosted green crowned-shaped bottles…I still have one or two here somewhere in this old farmhouse. The scent reminds me of childhood Springtimes…and I can still here the commercial singing "your Windsong stays on his mind…." Thank you for the reminiscent trip my sweet friend ~
L
Lori, I can hear that song too!
DeleteI loved Avon's Persian Mist when I was in high school. Many years later I found it again and it sure wasn't what I had remembered. My fragrance of choice now is Jessica McClintock (a lily of the valley type)
ReplyDeleteLove your blog and your talents!
Mitzi, I am for anything that smells of Lily of the Valley, I will be on the lookout for the JMc. I know I've seen it in Kohls.
DeleteOh Jeri, your post reminded me of my childhood when Daddy used to go every Christmas to the local drugstore and buy Mom a boxed set of Evening in Paris. Lordy, she hated that stuff, but I don't think Daddy ever knew it. Mom would put a little in the rinse water when she was washing clothes until she would finally get rid of it. So of course, Daddy would think she was using it and continued for years buying her a set every Christmas. I did like the pretty blue bottles! My grandmother used just a drop of "per-few-knee-mun-clone-e" every Sunday before church. It was magical watching her do that. I don't have a personal favorite, but right now I'm using White Diamonds. My grandchildren tell me, "Nana, you always smell good", and I like hearing that. Wearing perfume does make me feel more girly even if I'm outside digging in the dirt.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the memories.
Diane in North Carolina
Diane, That is so funny! POOR mom! But little did your dad know he was actually wearing Evening in Paris on his freshly washed shirts!
DeleteYour collection is wonderful Jeri ! I love lily-of-the-valley perfumes. And violets also.
ReplyDeleteNear my city, there is a castle (Conros Castle) with a museum of perfume. I keep all my perfume bottles for us. When I live in Paris, I bought fresh waters from Crabtree and Evelyn store
I like "La Petite Robe Noire" (Guerlain), "Parisienne" (YSL), I love "Trésor" (Lancôme) "Champs Elysées (Guerlain) Dior Addict (this is my perfume right now) but I wore "Pleasures" for some years. I remember Avon, my mother was a customer of Avon during sixties.
If I can find an old bottle of "Soir de Paris" (Evening in Paris) I send you it. I promise you.
I love scented soaps, I use "Roger & Gallet" soaps or others french brands like "L'Occitane" (natural products)
I wish you a nice end of sunday Jeri,
Hugs
Nath.
Nath, not many people can say they have a castle nearby, and full of perfume to boot! Lucky you! I love anything by Guerlain. My daughter in law sent me a set of soaps and bath oils from L'Occitane, very very nice.
DeleteI discovered Inis(the energy of the sea) at an Irish store in Wisconsin. I wear it every day. It has such a clean smell to it. I don't remember the first year I bought it. The one that seems to create the most response, tho, is euphoria. I have more men and women ask me what I am wearing. I save it for special outings. Snowing just beautiful today. It was snowing so soft and gentle it was like on a postcard. My birds are crazy at the bird bath and feeders.
ReplyDeleteJudi, Aren't these Irish perfumes just delicious? I love them. Yes, we've been feeding our wild birds with corn and chicken scratch. Our coop was selling bird seed out of a huge barrel "by the scoop" because they had run out of the 25lb bags. I was so glad to know that so many were feeding the birds in this snow we've had.
DeleteWell, I've never been much of a perfumey person somehow. I did use Wind Song when I was in High School for all the good it did me-----I was one of those invisible girls who didn't date or flirt but made good grades instead. But my husband told me once that one thing that he really liked about me when we were first dating was that I didn't smoke, wear hair spray or perfume. Weird, huh? Must have been fate. He still doesn't much like perfume but does buy me a bottle of Chanel no 5 when I run out.
ReplyDeleteVic you always make me laugh! I was invisible in school too, but i still wore my scents...those stupid boys! My husband is so picky about the perfume, but he always buys my Romance and Pleasures, 2 of the few he can tolerate.
DeleteLike you, Jeri, I wear perfume almost every day. My absolute all time favorite is Passion by Elizabeth Taylor. It's a woodsy, spicy, lavender and sandalwood scent. I've been wearing it since high school, but I do have other fragrances that I wear occasionally depending on my mood. Hermes 24 Fauborg is reserved for special occasions. Jovan Musk is also a favorite, and sometimes I combine it with the Passion for a completely unique fragrance!
ReplyDeleteStarr, You are the 2nd one to mention Hermes 24, it must be very nice. I never thought of mixing scents together, but why not, I mix lipstick colors all the time.
DeleteDear Jeri,
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your perfume collection.. The bottles are so pretty... I too, wear lipstick and perfume everyday... I have been wearing Verbena by "L'Occitane for the past year... I have been looking for a rose perfume, and I think I will look into Penhaligon's Victorian Rose that you have suggested here... It sounds lovely..In the 80's I wore Pleasures and White shoulders for a few years..
And I love soaps... Yardley English lavender and Honey Almond..
Your collection has stirred up memories of my grandmother's bedroom table... Filled with beautiful bottles... You know I remember my mom having a bottle of Evening in Paris. The only thing I really liked about it was the bottle... I think it was deep blue?
Wonderful post Jeri...
fondly,
Penny
Penny, Do try the Victorian Rose, the bottles are lovely and the scent, AHHHHH! You can buy it on Amazon or ebay. I can understand why you would love rose, as you grow them so beautifully.
DeleteWhat a fun post! Like you I wear perfume every day, even just to hike on the beach. For years I've worn Angel by Thierry Mugler, before that Opium, Then Yves St Laurent "Y" , and first Chamade in high school. My mother wore perfume every day too, for many years Chanel Number 5, then more recently Paris, by Yves St Laurent.
ReplyDeletelizzy at gone to the beach
Liz, Perfume is an absolute must for hiking!
DeleteI have been wearing Dune for about 20 years now..I might be ready for a change. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, yes, maybe time for a change, or at least an addition to your current scent. There is so much to choose from, that is the difficult part.
DeleteI just checked and I have a rather dusty very vintage [grandma's?] bottle of Evening in Paris, cologne, in the cobalt bottle. Maybe 1/3 of the perfume remains. I have never opened it to see what remains of the scent, but the bottle is pretty. You may have it if you d enjoy it...email me your address?
ReplyDeletelizzy
Thanks Liz, Will do! Thanks!
DeleteJeri,
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember Jean Nate? Oh goodness a bottle of that under the Christmas Tree when I was a little girl and I thought myself all grown up:-) My Nana and Mother used Cinnabar for years. Remember that one? I love scents, but sadly I am highly sensitive to them now. I do love the Rose scent from Crabtree & Evelyn, but my hubby says I smell like a funeral parlor-how about that! There is a new Lancome one I tried that I like and can't recall the name. Some old bottles are just too beautiful!
Blessings,
Suzanne
I sure do remember Jean Nate, My older Sister wore it all the time. Come to think of it, she usually smelled of TEN O SIX and Noxema.
ReplyDeleteOkay, well back in the 70's in high school, I wore, get this, Love's Fresh Lemon cologne and my husband of almost 40 years still pines for that scent! When I graduated to more grown up fragrances, I went to Ma Griffe by Carven, which I remarkably found again recently. My old standby has been Youth Dew by Estee Lauder, which I once read was considered to be a drop dead sexy scent, so sounds like a winner to me!
ReplyDeleteYou must track down a bottle of that " Loves Fresh Lemon: and give your honey a nice surprise! I have been amazed at how many of the older fragrances can be found lurking on Ebay, scents I thought were gone forever. Youth Dew DOES sound like a winner...if it's reputation is accurate
ReplyDeleteHi Jeri. "Unforseen circumstances" does not sound good.....I just finished my painting project last night (boy, do my hands ache!) and the floor people are due this morning to install our new flooring....but we have icy conditions here so we're wondering if they'll be able to make it up our driveway. As for the perfume, my mother wore Shalimar and as a child I loved the shape of the bottle. I'd go into her bedroom and remove the top to smell the perfume from time to time. A still have the empty bottle of what I wore in high school when dating my future husband. I found it amongst my memorabilia in the attic a few years ago and there was still some fragrance wafting out when I took off the cap--instant memories! I've had other objects that just the fragrance of them have transported me back in time. Alas, I can no longer wear perfume because I've become very sensitive to strong fragrances.
ReplyDeleteCathy, Unforeseen circumstances being a floor that has to be completely replaced, just when we thought we were done.
DeleteIt is amazing how long those old bottles will hold that scent. Some of my oldest bottles, circa early 1900, still have aroma inside. I am sorry you can't wear perfume, but I am sure you have lighted scented soaps and lotions that you love.
Yes, I do have some great scented soaps. I love lavender, orange blossom honey, sandalwood, and bayberry, to name a few.
DeleteDear Jeri - my first favorite perfume was "Windsong" - later I moved to "Charlie" and now I wear "White Diamonds" mostly. I do love other fragrances though and it is always something I put on each day when I get ready for work. I always love perfume. Thanks for sharing yours - hugs!
ReplyDeleteHi Deb, I remember each one of those fragrances by name. Good heavens, I wonder how many perfumes are out there?
DeleteI also love to wear perfume! I love the dusky spice of 'Opium' but I also love flowers scents like rose and lily of the valley. I'm going to keep my eye open for the perfumes you recommended. Your bottle collection is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely with you on the rose and lily scents, anything from a cottage garden is good with me.
ReplyDeleteGosh you opened up a most fun and wonderful subject that got everybody's senses remembering back to the delights of aroma and fragrance!! I so enjoyed reading every one of the comments of all these lovely friends, and what fun to remember all of these great varieties of colones and perfumes and all!! I just know we all went right back in time and thought of experiences and of moms and sisters, grandmas and aunts, best friends and dating and good times and memories!!!! Smells and music do that don't they?? We need scratch and sniff here!!
ReplyDeleteMy first fragrance was 4711 a gift from a German Aunt, and then one Christmas (1970s) all the ladies in our family received one each of the Faberge colones! Mine was Woodhue and my Mom's was "FLAMBEAU" and my sister-in-law Tigress! We were in heaven!!! And then later for years my signature fragrance was Chanel CoCo and Laura Ashley no 1,
but as if over night I became super allergic to almost all perfume and such...pout pout..
but thankfully those natural oils and aromas are there to comfort! I find myself drawn to the lavender-rose, green tea, and spicy cinnamon vanilla smells, thank goodness for them!! But I LOVE LOVE all my bottles! ;-)
Mmmm Innisfree is wonderful!!!...mmmm!
Jeri this was definitely a GREAT FUN post!
Blessings Warmth and love, Linnie Lou
Yes Linnie, this has been a fun post, I've been reminded of colognes I hadn't thought of for years and been enlightened about a lot of perfumes i still need to check out. With your allergies, you may like to try out the L'Occtitane line mentioned above by Nath.
DeleteChanel No. 5 and Shalimar for my early years. Tried more but settled on Antonia's Flowers for a long time. As I grow older, I find my sense of smell is changing. The old favorite is starting to smell different. Drat.
ReplyDeleteDonna,I took you for a Lavender, Lilac and flowery sort of a gal. Maybe because you are a country woman like me.
DeleteOh..my! Muguet de Bois was the first perfume I remember getting also, loved it! There was a perfume called Sweet Honesty and Love ? I used while dating my hubby.I think I went on to Estee Lauder's Youth Dew in my 20's. Essence of baby smells from then to early 30's.Dabbled with Champs-Elysees by Guerlain and light floral by Marc Jacobs But have settled with Beautiful by Estee Lauder. Have loved it for past several years. May be traveling to Ireland later this year will try to check out the Innisfree. Love your bottle collection and enjoyed the travel back in time.
ReplyDeleteWendy, Lucky you, getting to pick up your Irish Perfume in person! If you want a real whiff of your past, find the Muguet de bois, i found mine on ebay
DeleteHi Jeri, this post evoked a beautiful memory for me; when I was growning up, our family had a couple who were friends of ours and we at our home frequently for dinner. The wife whose name was Anne was a model and had graced the cover of Vogue magazine years earlier. This was back in the 60's when the chemise dress was popular. While I was planning for my wedding, she attended one of my showers and gifted me a bottle of White Shoulders and told me it was a perfume meant for brides to wear on their wedding day. Right before I walked down the aisle I spritzed a lite spray of White Shoulders on my shoulders and received comments in the receiving line about how good I smelled walking down the aisle while passing everyone. I never forgot how romantic that seemed to me and how grateful I was to that beautiful model for befriending me like that. Always at home in Hopalong Hallow, Judy
ReplyDeleteJudi, i just love that story, do you still wear White Shoulders?
DeleteOh my goodness, Jeri. My first perfume was the same!! And then I went on to "Love's Baby Soft" and "Love's Fresh Lemon". I've stopped wearing perfume now, though. As a nurse, we were never to wear it... and then along came Hubbs who doesn't care for perfume. Now, my typical scent is "Eau du Barn"!!
ReplyDeleteI wear Eau du Barn too!
DeleteLove your post on good smells! I have my aunt's set of Evening of Paris cologne. There is still some in the bottle. I like it because it goes well in my cabinet of Cobalt blue glass.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see your kitchen!
We just have to fix a hole in the floor, a mess!
Deletesuch a fun post
ReplyDeletei also love perfume bottles, but don't think i have one now. i do have seemingly endless bottles of essential oils and love ylang ylang as a perfume.
the only perfume i really took to is Paris by Yves Saint Laurent. you have made me wish i could smell it right now ;-) I think my favorite thing about perfume is when one has just a hint on and slides into bed and the warmth between the sheets brings the scent out. I also do not like my mothers perfume, but many people do, Channel No5.
Favorites also: Rose for sure, sandalwood, lavender, jasmine.... woods and flowers! You sure have chosen a hot subject for us to dream over Jeri!
DeleteTammie, I used to have a little cabinet full of essential oils for making lotions and potions, I can still smell y'lang Y'lang, and Valerian when I open the drawers
DeleteMy first memory of using parfume was around the age of 6. I was given a few samples of a parfume/body mist. The parfume had a soft sweet smell of the outdoors. After my husband comes home from hiking or being out in the mountain air there is a sweet outdoor like smell that reminds me of this parfume. Anyways, I would spray it all over my body so I could smell myself all day. My dad would hide the bottles but I would always find them. My children call parfume "smell goods". It always makes me laugh when they ask for a quick lil spray of smell goods.
ReplyDeleteOop! I forgot to name some parfume! As a teen, Sunflowers by Elisabeth Arden was my favorite. In my twenties I frequently used Honeysuckle and Country Apple by Bath and Body Works until my husband said it was weird that I smelled like fruit. Now I seem to like more of the soft and slightly sweet musky smells. Recently I've liked Sensual Amber and Twilight Woods by Bath and Body Works. Nothin' fancy.
DeleteChrystal, your children have a good description, "smell goods" just about says it all
DeleteTwo that I remember are Youth Dew by Estee Lauder and Shalimar by Guerlein. I also remember Evening in Paris in the dark blue bottle. You could purchase it at the "dime store".
ReplyDeleteSharon, Dime store colognes, dime stores and woolworths... we are dating ourselves!
DeleteDear Cousin Jeri,
ReplyDeleteYour perfume bottle collection is lovely! My favorite was Crabtree & Evelyn "Evelyn Rose". Unfortunately it sounds like they have changed it from the lovely scent that I love. In May I like to wear Crabtree & Evelyn Lily of the Valley. I carry a sachet of lavender and a sachet of orris root in my basket that I love the scent of.
Your cousin,
Diane at Corgyncombe
Cousin Diane, Crabtree and Evelyn shops make me feel like I am in England, they are the best. Since Lily of the Valley was my first ever scent, (Muguet de Bois) I think it will always me my favorite of all scents. Orris Root I must familiarize myself with, I cannot recall the aroma.but I can imagine you carrying it in your basket!
ReplyDeleteI can't do the perfumes (migraines) but I have a thing for candles. Specifically, pumpkin pecan waffle candles. It just takes me to my happy place!
ReplyDelete