My Love Affair with Bottled Emotions: A Perfume Addiction Confession
Today, on my birthday, I’ve unwrapped the first of what I suspect will be many gifts that clink and gleam within their boxes. Yes, another bottle of perfume to add to my ever-growing collection. It seems my loved ones have long since realised that the way to my heart is through my nose. Perfume is all I ever have on my wish list, a liquid wish that’s always granted.
As I hold my newest olfactory treasure, I can’t help but reflect on how this fascination began. It wasn’t with a sniff, but with a memory. Chanel No. 5, the iconic scent that conjured images of my mother and filled our home with its luxurious aroma. It wasn’t just a fragrance; it was a bridge to my past, a tether to cherished moments. And let’s face it, its ability to linger on every imaginable surface is nothing short of magical. It’s like leaving a signature, “I was here,” but in the most elegantly scented script.
My collection, a fragrant anthology, ranges from the explosive floral notes of Flowerbomb to the timeless elegance of Clinique Aromatics, with the occasional detour to the boldness of Gucci Rush. Do I have a type? It seems not. My only criteria: it must be enchanting. As for the nuances of mid notes and the like, well, let’s just say I’m more captivated by love at first sniff than the technicalities.
However, life has its twists – like that unexpected turn when COVID altered my sense of smell, transforming my once-beloved Chanel Coco Mademoiselle and Gabrielle into scents I could hardly bear, despite others still finding them delightful. And just when I thought my olfactory journey had hit a roadblock, along came Glossier You, a scent that promised (and delivered) a unique aroma on every skin it touched. To me, it’s a bouquet of floral lily, a contender for my heart – or nose, in this case.
If I had millions, I would embark on a mission to buy every perfume ever created, building a library of scents so vast it would rival the archives of Grasse.
So, what drives this relentless pursuit for the perfect perfume? Is it the thrill of discovery, the allure of a scent that can stop someone in their tracks, or simply the joy of collecting beautiful things? Perhaps it’s a bit of everything. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s my way of making a statement, leaving a fragrant footprint in a fleeting world.
As I celebrate another year around the sun, surrounded by my fragrant friends, I can’t help but wonder what scented adventures await. Because, at the end of the day, life is just a tad sweeter when enveloped in a cloud of your favourite perfume.
What perfumes are on your wish list?
