Scent of a Mother

For the picky Parfum wearers and readers, the word perfume will be used throughout this post and there will be no distinction between cologne, eau de parfum, eau de toilette etc.

Somewhere between baby #1 and baby #2, I stopped wearing perfume. I would just skip it because it seemed a little silly being at home with babies to be wearing it. If my husband and I went out, I would try to remember to put it on. It somehow made the date seem a little more special.

 

The night after my mom passed away, I was trying to sleep on my parents couch. There are so many emotions that you go through the first night. I tossed and turned and barely slept at all. As I tried to get comfortable, I noticed that on the couch I could smell the the scent of my mother. I could smell her all around the house especially where she used to sit. I never noticed it before but once she was gone, I couldn't get away from it at my parents house that first week. I have been back many times since December and the scent has faded. But, now and then, it will hit you and you will remember how she was and it will seem like she is right there.

My mom was a girly girl. She never wore pants and I only saw her in jeans a couple of times in my life (Can you believe I had a mother that never wore pants?). Her make-up was always perfect and she always wore heels, jewelry and perfume. She loved perfume and always tried different ones through the years.

In the 70's, it was Estee Lauder Beautiful. I remember the 80's and the perfume Opium by Yves Saint Laurent. In the 90's, I was away at college and grad school so I have no idea what she wore. And this past year, it must have been Journey or Belara by Mark Kay.

So, in the days after my mom passed away, I got out my old bottle of Romance by Ralph Lauren. That is what I am wearing now. I put it on as a little tribute to my mom and hope that my children will someday catch the scent of a lady and think of me.

In my perfume history, there was Love's Baby Soft, Gloria Vanderbilt, Liz Claiborne, Benetton, Chanel No 5, Sunflowers, Beautiful and so many more. What did you used to wear?

What perfume do you wear now? Do save it for a special day or is every day special enough to smell pretty or handsome? Is it something you picked out or can you wear what someone picks out for you?

And for all of the preschool moms I see in the morning, I apologize if my perfume is a little strong. I try to only put on a little spritz and run through it. Some days it goes a little better than others. I always hope that no one notices which mom put on a little too much perfume that day.