Scents of Nostalgia

The other day I caught a familiar smell.  It stopped me and I was immediately transported to my senior year of college.  Has that ever happened to you, where a scent can bring back a situation so vivid and real that you swear you are reliving it?

For me this was Giorgio, the perfume I wore in college.  I think I have a relatively strong sense of smell and although I frequently experience the past via my nose, I seem to really notice it with perfumes, soaps and hair products.  I remember my sister Ann's scent  in college as Lauren and my mother-in-law's (from the time I was dating her son) as Obsession.  I could even recognize my mom's scent when I was married but cannot remember the name.

When I moved to Chicago, I took my sister to the Bloomingdales on Magnificent Mile and met with a fragrance consultant (oh yeah its a real position).  After about an hour interviewing me, discussing my desires and sniffing several mists, she recommended Bouchron.  I love this perfume and have worn it ever since.  I have briefly tried a couple others over the years but ALWAYS go back to Bouchron.  I thought when I stopped working I should try a new perfume for this new chapter in my life.  Well no.  maybe I will try again when I am a senior citizen.

I love it that my clothes and my things all have this scent.  My co-workers said they could tell when I was near because of a hint of this smell.  I would have DIED if they thought I bathed in it!  There is a fine line.  Speaking of fine lines,  I think pachouli oil should be banned and Axe body spray for men should come with a governor stopping boys at one squirt!

When my beautiful niece turned 10, I sent her a fragrance that I hoped would help her understand the scent experience.  Of course she will change as she grows up but I hope that she will always be able to remember her good times and the people she was with via a fleeting scent.