Perfume is described as marking the most important times in life - birth, death, health and seduction. I suppose I think it has always been an interest for me - but recently I've decided to make it a hobby. Images of white coats and chemists beakers aside I've decided I'm going to order an 'organ' of base/middle/top notes and start to make my own scents. Even if I only achieve marginal success and manage to create a room or linen spray that doesn't make my nostrils burn I guess I'll be happy. I plan to get
The Perfumery Training Kit K26. 
Fragonard is a perfume factory that I visited while in the South of France, about 2 years ago. It is in Grasse. What a heady experience. It was great to be at the centre of perfume-making where the techniques were perfected and all the history of perfumery lies. Below image of Grasse.
I'm sure in another life I was destined to be a 'nose'. I have a keen, almost overdeveloped sense of smell (in this life) which seems to have been genetically handed down to me from my father - along with a particularly 'roman/retrousse' profile...
Isn't it amazing how strongly scent and memories are linked? Some of my favourite scents and scent memories inculde -
*Nine years old, my mothers perfume sprayed on a lace hankerchief. I kept it under my pillow in my little cold dormitary bed for comfort when I went off to boarding school for the first time.
*The chlorine clean bleach-blue smell of the school swimming pool - very institutional smell which conjoured up feelings of nervousness and even now is associated with competitiveness and butterflies in the stomach!
*The smell of freshly cut grass. Also a school association, usually accomanied by sharp bursts of whistles and running.
*My mothers baking. Comfort and saftey.
*Lavender 'Vinolia' soap and Colgate Apple shampoo - immediately transported to childhood.
*Wet dog, most likely one of the reasons why we don't have a pet.
*Wet swimming towels, damp smell usually equalling a scolding as they'd been left in a heap on the floor.
*Cedarwood. Vanilla essence. The lavender growing in our garden.
*Malibu - sunscreen and Hawaain pineapple cocktails.
*Laundry detergent and the smell of softener.
*The cloying heady smell of incense. Too strong.
*Dried roses - pot pourri - reminds me of Valentines days gone by and old ladies houses.
*Clothes and hair after being in a smoky pub/club. Yuck.
*New car: new anything actually - a new leather handbag - happy, happy.
What are your favourite scents or those linked to a strong memory?
I was given this book as a birthday present and was quite suprised when it was made into a movie. I thought the only way to sucessfully communicate all that had been described in this book would have been to release scent into movie theatres and make it a REAL sensory experience! Not a bad adaptation but as usual, I enjoyed the book more than the movie.
Still shot from the movie (below).
On to perfume:
CLEAN perfume - I think this company has been extaordinarily clever to replicate scents that we all love: warm cotton, clean laundry, shower fresh, the smell of a baby.
This book is on my list to purchase.
I know this was an extremely long post today, thanks for reading if you made it this far! : )
