Wednesday, January 28, 2009

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.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I rarely get to wear perfume because my husband claims that he is allergic but I did wear Givenchy Amarige for our wedding. Then the bottle leaked on the way to our honeymoon. It got evrythinhg!! The best result is that that scent always brings me back to those happy days.

OHmommy said...

So sweet Indy.

I just got a new perfume for xmas. Creed - Spring Flowers... still trying to get used to my own new smell.

Kat said...

After my grandma passed away my sis, mom and I would smell her perfume around us when we would have family gatherings. We just knew she was with us. Very cool.

I have a couple different scents I use now but I don't wear them often.

Anonymous said...

I can't wear perfume anymore, but I do remember wearing Chanel and Beautiful.

Flea said...

What a sweet way to remember your mom. :)

For what seemed forever my favorite was an Elizabeth Taylor scent. White Diamonds? Yes. Then a few years ago I discovered Red Door. Now it's nothing much - a couple of body sprays I rotate through. But nothing very often.

Jessica said...

I have so many different types! I wear them all, not at once of course! I like trying new things though! However, when I go on dates with my boyfriend, I always take a little bit EXTRA time picking out the PERFECT one for that day! :)

I'm glad you can remember that about your Mom -- so sweet! And, I like how you're trying to provide that for your boys! How neat.

AreWeThereYet? said...

oh.....love's baby soft as a pre-teen. Haven't thought of that is years....

Beautiful on my wedding day. Had to borrow it. Didn't even own it. Still never have.

Chanel #5 after baby #2. Mostly because our sitter had it on and I was "naked" as I went on a date with my husband. Didn't want to be outclassed by my sitter.

Now my new potion is rarely broken out. Mostly because it is a tiny small sample size. I am too afraid I could never afford a real bottle. But after reading your post, I think it will go on top of my wish list.

Thanks indy. I will never think of perfume the same again.

Jessica said...

Although your mom's scent will fade in her home...you will always have a strong sense for it. My mother passed away 12 years ago now. My sister and I will open an old box or meet someone and without hesitation say to each other "that smells like mom!" This will sound weird but it goes beyond perfume. My mom cleaned with Pinesol. Any home that has that "pine" smell makes me pause. My sister called not long ago with a voice full of glee. She said "do you know that distinctive smell at Nanny and Pa's....it is BLUE Lyesol cleanser and cedar chips." We could never put our finger on the first and now I chuckle when I see the electric blue cleaning product in the supermarket.

May all your memories be a blessing!

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

That was so sweet.

I used perfume (very sparingly) before kids, now I never remember to put it on. When I do, it's Very Sexy for Her (2, I think) and Armani Mania!

Anonymous said...

I used to wear perfume every day - various ones (but not all at once - lol)... but since the kids I don't wear any except on special occasions. I originally stopped because "they" said some babies wouldn't nurse if you wore perfume and my first one was a picky nurser. Then, by the time the second one came along, I had lost the habit. He would have nursed through a fragrance spill.

I love what you said about the scent of a mother. I found that to be true after my mom passed away - that I would smell her scent and remember her in such a strong way.

My mother rarely wore pants either, except after she retired. They were easier to garden in.

Thanks for a wonderful post, it brought back some great memories.

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