Scented lives is a series of perfume profiles that explores the perfumes and scents that have been a part of people’s lives. I believe that the perfumes we wear are the individual threads that help build the tapestry of our lives. They speak huge volumes about our character and help us form memories of times, people and places.
The series starts with the profiles of my family, friends and those that are special to me. Ir will then branch out to others with interesting scented lives. As I said in the last profile, if you are interested in taking part in the series, you can get in touch via the Contact Form or you can send me an e-mail on thecandyperfumeboy@gmail.com.
How it Works
Each subject is asked to pick five perfumes (ones that they have worn) that have played a significant part in their lives. They will then be asked to give reasons their choices and explain what their associations with those scents may be. The series aims to use perfume as markers for significant points in the subject’s life, whether happy or sad, and to help them unleash their olfactory memories.
Previous Scented Lives
Part 1: Jane Bryant (My Mother)
Granny and I Strike a Pose…
About Pamela
Pamela, my grandmother, or Obi Wan (Obi Wan as in OB1 = Old Bag One) as I like to call her, lives in the rather posh village of Aspley Guise. She has asked me to tell you all, that despite living in a posh village, she herself is not posh, but I would have to disagree.
Currently Pamela, who is grandmother to four and soon-to-be great grandmother to one, is a retiree enjoying her non-working life, in which she spends most of her time lunching with friends and drinking the odd glass of wine. I suppose you would call her ‘a lady what lunches’.
Pamela’s scented life is certainly a varied one, and although I am, of course, slightly biased, I have to say that she has very good taste. As well as the five perfumes she has chosen to talk about here, the world’s coolest granny has also rocked some seriously decent ‘fumes in her time, such as; Estée Lauder’s Youth Dew, Guerlain’s Shalimar, Prada’s Infusion d’Iris and Clarins’ Eau Dynamisante.
The five perfumes Pamela has chosen are:
Coty L’Aimant
This is the first perfume that I remember wearing, I wore it a lot during my teenage years. I always remember it as being very glamorous and I felt very grown-up when I wore it. Thinking about it now, it’s not a perfume that I would even consider wearing anymore, perhaps because I am now much older, and my tastes have progressed dramatically since then.
The Candy Perfume Boy: I have never had the chance to smell L’Aimant, but looking at the notes it sounds like a wonderful aldehydic floral in the grand old style. I think it’s interesting that you should like this style of perfume, because it’s also a style that mother and I both enjoy. It seems that you have passed your tastes on to us and it feels good to be part of that scented heritage.
Aromatics Elixir by Clinique
Aromatics Elixir was my ‘going out’ perfume for a very long time, and like L’Aimant, I may not be so keen on it now, but I did really love it back then and I could be tempted to try it again. I always thought that Aromatics Elixir was very unusual and I don’t think I’ve ever worn anything remotely similar since. It will always remind me of many evenings out with my friends and family.
The Candy Perfume Boy: Ahh Aromatics Elixir! It’s such a wonderful perfume, I’m not surprised to see it on your list! I would say that it is similar to some of the other heavier perfumes you have worn in your time, specifically Youth Dew and Shalimar. I think you should definitely revisit it, maybe it would work for you on your many lunches!
Ô de Lancôme by Lancôme
Ô de Lancôme is the opposite to Aromatics Elixir because I reserved it mainly for day-wear. I loved how clean and fresh it is and I used to wear it a lot for work because it was bright and energising without being intrusive or loud. I wore this one up until a few years ago, until I replaced it with a similar scent (Eau Dynamisante).
The Candy Perfume Boy: This is the perfume that I have the strongest association of you with. I always remember you wearing it when you would babysit us or take us out, back when we were kids.
Reflection Woman by Amouage
My daughter (CPB: my aunt) brought this back from Oman for me as a gift. I reserve it only for the most special of occasions and I always think of her when I wear it. I also like to wear it in a crisis, with the hope that it will bring me luck. It’s a perfume that I would never have thought of buying myself because it is so expensive, but also because I don’t think I would have come across it. I treasure it because it’s a little piece of luxury that I hope will see me out…
The Candy Perfume Boy: Amouage is one of my favourite perfume houses. Their creations are so opulent and beautiful and I’m really glad that you have been able to experience the luxury that they offer. Reflection is a lovely watercolour-floral that really suits you and I’d suggest that you try a few other Amouage’s – Honour Woman and Ubar in particular, which I think would really suit you.
Guerlain Insolence
You bought this for me as a Christmas present one year and it brings back many happy memories of you Thomas, because I love you so much! I find it to be a very versatile perfume that I can wear during the day or during the evening. Unfortunately, my bottle is running out so I am treasuring the last few drops before it is completely empty.
The Candy Perfume Boy: Aw shucks granny! This is why you are THE coolest grandma on Earth! Insolence is just so unashamedly girly and more than just a little bit trashy, yet you pull it off with great class and poise.
Is scent important to you?
Yes it is, I’d never leave the house without perfume. I like to smell nice and it makes me feel good.
What are your favourite smells?
The smell of grass after the rain
Roses
Newly bathed babies
The smell of onions cooking
Baking cakes
What was your first experience of perfume?
Back when I was a child perfume wasn’t as prevalent, though I do remember that my mother always smelled nice. When I was about 11, I remember an aunt gifting me Yardley’s Lavender Water and I think that was the first perfume I tried, it felt so luxurious at the time.
Is there a perfume that reminds you of another person?
Before your grandpa died, he used to wear Kouros (Yves Saint Laurent). I bought it for him as a gift and it became the only scent that he ever wore.
If you could choose only one perfume, a ‘desert island’ perfume if you will, what would it be?
I would choose Insolence.
Join the Discussion!
Are you familiar with any of Pamela’s choices?
Do you have a signature scent, or a scent that defines you?
What scents do you think will remind people of you?
Please leave your thoughts in the comments box below!
Disclaimer
Image 1 theneotraditionalist.com
Image 2 My Own
Such a lovely post! I would love to have lunch with your Granny!
It is clear that perfume plays an important role in your family, T, you couldn’t escape, if you wanted to.
Also, this post really made me miss my grandmother…
You are more than welcome to have lunch with my Granny at any time!
You’re very right, I was always going to be a perfumista wasn’t I? I didn’t stand a chance…
I’m sorry that you miss your grandmother
Hugs!
Oh Grandma Pamela!!! You are PRICELESS and so Subtle!! {treasuring my last few drops}.
You have rather good taste;I have worn Youth Dew, still wear ,and love Aromatics Elixer. Perhaps, Pamela you might like the 40 year limited edition release of this classic Clinique….it is called Reserve….very gentle ,but stays true to the origional. I have worn Shalimar in the past..enjoy immensley. Recently I have been sent a few Amourages,including Uber….which sadly is a no go.. Pamela, continue to enjoy your lunches,and the new bottle of Insolence being bestowed on you by Thomas!!!!!!!
Finally condolences on the loss of your husband{grandpa} who wore the best ,sexiest sillage bomb for men……EVER……IMHO
Yes, I’m not entirely sure whether she was hinting about that bottle of Insolence….it seems that I’m going to have to be the good grandson I am and get her a bottle, along with the bottle of Allure my mother hinted at in her post!!
(Well, they’ve got birthdays coming at some point this year, don’t they?)
This is very true, and in my grandmother’s case it is the big eight zero!
What a lovely post, your Grandma rocks, the photo of you both is a brilliant photo, such a gorgeous looking family.
Aromatics always brings back memories of my Nana as she always had a bottle of that, Its a shame that she left before I started my perfume obsession as I am sure it would have been something that we could have shared.
She does rock!
I’m sorry to hear about your Nana, it would have been lovely for you to share your perfume obsession with her.
Do you still like to smell Aromatics Elixir?
Aww, Thomas your granny is a lovely lady and this was a lovely post. Oh and T better hurry up with that new bottle of Insolence!
Thanks Deb, she really is lovely!
I’ll get right on that bottle of Insolence…
I want to be your Granny when I grow up! With the exception of the Guerlain and Amouage, I already have all of the perfumes so I’m halfway there!
I really enjoy these profiles. Keep up the amazing work.
Hehe she’ll be very chuffed to read your comment (and the others too, of course).
Thank you, I really enjoy putting them together.
Aromatics Elixir and Insolence are two fragrances I’ve worn in the past. I’m currently revisiting AE and am surprised at how “big” a perfume it is. I probably slayed a few innocent bystanders back when I was spraying liberally! It’s a beauty though : )
I particularly loved your grandmother’s response to “Is scent important to you?” It’s so easy to get all “complicated” when people ask perfume-lovers why they love it so much and I think from now on I’ll just adopt your grandmothers – “I like to smell nice and it makes me feel good” ! So much easier, don’t you agree?
Love the photo, Thomas. Makes me miss my grandmothers (in a good way).
“Big” is a pretty accurate description for Aromatics Elixir, I’m sure the bystanders appreciated your good taste!
I do agree, and it’s very true for most of us too! We like to smell perfume because it feels good.
I’m sorry that you miss you grandmothers, but I’m sure you have many fond memories of them
Oh, lovely post, and cracking photo, I agree! I would love to have had such a classy, cuddly granny – mine died when I was 13, but she was a chily, forbidding character who used to point imperiously at uneaten food on your plate or stains on the tablecloth where you split something in your nervousness.
Anyway, I can say that L’Aimant is around in Boots and such like – you often see it in boxed sets at Christmas for very little money these days, as I think it has fallen out of fashion. But I do remember it as being like No 5.
O de Lancome is a scent I have recently come to discover and appreciate – I might pick that as my “desert island” perfume from the ones on your granny’s list. Or Reflection, maybe – that is a bit under the radar, and very much my thing!
That is probably my favourite photo of my grandma and I, she’s a real laugh! Sorry to hear that your grandmother sounded so cold :S
It seems that there is some cross-over between yours and my grandma’s tastes, and I agree that Reflection is very much under the radar, it’s a very under appreciated watery floral. I find it very ‘lovely’.
Wonderful! A delightful second post in the series; I love getting to know your world through the fragrant dynasty of your women
“The fragrant dynasty of your women” – I love that!
Fabulous post! How wonderful to have such a great relationship with your grandmother. Like Vanessa, I never had that so it’s lovely to read about.
Grandma Pamela is so classy in her choices but adventurous too. I can see where you get your “daring” side from! Not many people would embrace Amouage or Insolence later on in life, I don’t think.
How lovely that her desert island perfume was the one you gave her! I also love how she wears Reflection in a crisis “with the hope that it will bring me luck”. What an amazing woman. I need a perfume like that too.
Your post really made me gulp down the lump in my throat, but as Cymbaline said – in a good way.
Tara, I’m really glad you enjoyed the post because we had such a great time putting it together.
She’s very funny with her Reflection, sometimes I’ll phone her when she’s had a bad day and she’s wearing it to keep her spirits up. She’s cool like that
Your grandma wears Insolence. That’s awesome.
I would love to have had this conversation with my grandmother, but sadly she’s long gone. She’s the one who got me into perfume, and it was while exploring in her linen closet as a child that I found all sorts of beauties- Shalimar, Chanel No. 5, R&G Blue Carnation, Ma Griffe, Halston…but I don’t know what she’d have said her important perfumes were.
Thanks for another great post!
Yep she does, and she rocks it!
Your grandmother sounds as if she had great taste, there were some great scents in her linen closet!
Fantastic post! My grandmother and mother introduced me to the wonderful world of fragrance also – my mother on a trip to Grasse and nana through her aromatherapy. I love reading your interview with your grandmother. ‘The smell of grass after rain’ and ‘Yardley’s lavender water’ brings back memories… Beautiful!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
It sounds like your mother and grandmother had a big hand in your scented education
It’s lovely how scents take you back in time. Freshly made coffee always reminds me of my grandmother too. Have you tried Clinique’s Happy perfume too? I’ve shared it for two weddings when the bride and bridesmaids demanded to know what that lovely smell was!
I think I may have tried Happy, it sounds like it has quite an affect on people! I shall try it next time I’m near a Clinique counter.
I love reading about the awesome women in your family! I think it’s so great that a love of perfume is something you can share with your family members. My mom and aunt both think perfume is gross – I think because my grandmother heavily wore perfume when they were young. Unfortunately, I never got to discuss perfume much with my grandmother before she passed… Anyway, I love this series!
Thank you Susan!
I’m sorry to hear that you never got to discuss perfume with your grandmother and that your mom and aunt find it gross
Perhaps it’s up to you to pass on your love of perfume to the next generation
I actually remember my grandma showing me her perfume but I was little and didn’t know what was going on. My serious interest in perfume came after she was already gone.
Definitely plan on brainwashing my daughter into the ways of perfume-loving… she already asks (at 3!), “Mommy, can I smell?” XD
It sounds like you’ve got her on the right track already!
I love this series. Really, I have SO enjoyed reading your interactions with family members. That is awesome! I may be just a wee bit jealous, too, because both of my grandmothers have passed on, and I can’t discuss scent with them.
L’Aimant is lovely; for an aldehydic floral it has a tremendous amount of warmth! I don’t know that what you’d find currently available would smell much like the L’Aimant your Obi Wan (snort! that’s hilarious!) remembers, but I have some parfum de toilette from the 1970s, and it is wonderful.
I am still running screaming from the very mention of Insolence… but it’s okay. You and your granny are an ocean’s distance away from me. I can smell you from here, and from this distance it’s all good.
It seems that this post has been bittersweet reading for some, it just shows how important our grandmothers are to us.
Hehe, I have been offered a dab of L’Aimant by another (very lovely) reader and I shall get Obi Wan to give it a go and see if it’s anything like she remembers. It sounds fab to me!
An oceans distance for Insolence is probably just right!
I also love this series. It makes me miss my grandma too, but also makes me grateful for my mom and the rest of my family.
It’s so sweet that your grandma would choose Insolence, the perfume you selected for her. You obviously know her taste!
Thank you Natalie, I’m glad you’re enjoying it, and I’m sorry for making you (and others) miss your grandmas
Oh no, don’t feel that way! It is a bittersweet feeling definitely, with the sweet side being that I know how great it is to spend time with awesome grandmas, so I can be happy for you.
This series always makes me smile. I go back and read the one with your mum often and now I will likely go back and read this one as well. Your family seems so lovely..I would like to just sit and have lunch with you all
I’m so glad you enjoy it! Thank you.
Aromatic’s Elixir always reminds me of a friend we used to study with. I think your grandma is right, there is nothing like it out there, immediately recognizable. Can be too much though… To me it’s all about galbanum. Very elaborate but this is the star player in this.
I agree, Aromatics Elixir can be too much at times, but it is beautiful nonetheless
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This is the first time I have joined a discussion. Your granny has worn most of the same perfumes I have. I am now 70 and still remember my mother wearing the original version of ‘evening in paris’ and red door. I am looking for a perfume to wear to my granddaughters wedding and would appreciate any help. I am currently wearing escada signature but starting to find it a bit cloying.
Hi Marion, thank you so much for commenting!
It’s so great to see that you and my grandma have similar tastes
I’d be happy to help you select a perfume to wear to your granddaughter’s wedding, I’d suggest:
Guerlain Idylle
Estee Lauder Beautiful
Estee Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia
Guerlain Mitsouko
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Lys Soleia
Hope that helps
Though I often read your posts this is the first time I have commented. I thoroughly enjoyed that delightful vignette and imagined each scent as your Grandmother described her relationship with it. You certainly inherited her love of fragrance. It’s a beautiful thing.
Brought a tear to my eye, as your post reminds me of my mother who passed this year. She loved Houbigant Chantilly, Chanel no. 5 dusting powder, Emeraude, Je Reviens and the legendary Fracas, which she tells me the girls in Chicago’s Eleanor club wore with great abandon in the 1940′s when she lived there.
Cheers.
So sorry to hear about your mother Reneetamara. She sounds like she was incredibly glamorous and had wonderful taste in fragrance.
Thank you for your kind words re the post!