It is lavender-harvest time in Provence. Read about the festivities in the New York Times.
An older but still interesting article in Popular Science discusses how the army is using the sense of smell to train soldiers:
Olfaction could be key. A number of researchers believe that smell, more than any other sense, can powerfully and immediately trigger emotions, memories and states of arousal—all of which, when manipulated adeptly, can boost the sense of immersion and thus the quality of training in VR [Virtual Reality]. In short, smellier simulators could produce smarter soldiers. “We started out thinking that the human was a visual animal only,” says Roger Smith, chief scientist for the Army office charged with procuring new simulation technology. Sophisticated sound systems followed, and now the military is intrigued by the prospect of tapping the power of smell. “Olfaction is the next step,” Smith says.
Many thanks to Caitlin for the link!
That NYT article was interesting, wasn't it? Someday I'd like to be there during lavender season—if they banned all other tourists but me ;D. It's no joke dealing with the traffic down there in high tourist season.
L, I can imagine that its a zoo…but would love to see it anyway! Some day 🙂
How weird that it took the military that long to cue into the smells of war… I mean, when the vets tell their stories, frequently they'll mention the smell of this or that . Perhaps it's because vets don't dwell on it, they seem to mention it only in passing?
K, it is interesting, and will become more so as fragrance technology continues to improve, what with smell recording devices & the like.
Laure Anne, lavender in bloom is glorious, and there are lavender festivals in the US, too. None as glossy as the Haute Alp, for sure, but lovely.
Less tourists, too.
Interestingly enough, lavender oil, when freshly-distilled has a rather off note, known as a “still” note. It needs several months to settle down and get sweetly floral, so you won't accomplish anything by being there when it's distilled (to purchase), unless you just resign yourself to stashing it away.
I don't think it strange that the military is only recently thinking about scent to enhance sims. The R&D costs taxpayer money and its implementation will cost. It wasn't long ago that our very presence was enough to deter. Sadly, that's not the case anymore. But on to perfume! Today I received Le Chevrefeuille, Aimez-Moi, and Eau Des Merveilles and I am in heaven!
….this blog is hurtin my wallet. ;-p
Oh, great choices — the fragrances, I mean! Hope you will love all 3.
Robin, I am having Such Fun with these 3. The Aimez Moi is unlike anything I've smelled before. I plan on trying more Carons now. Parfum Sacre, Bellogdia, and Nuit de Noel is next. I'll have to get over my Ebay virginity thing soon so I can try that crack o the whip one.
The Chevrefuille is easy to love but I wish the sparkle lasted longer on me. I suppose it gives me an excuse to spray again! I liked the Eau Des Merveilles, but I think I will like the stronger version much more.
It's strange that now that I've been playing with these 3 frags, that my first impression of 100% Love has changed. I was disappointed with my sample since it sounded so wonderful and I put it aside. I tried it again last night and I am liking it much more. I'm playing with the sample set of OJs and some Andy Tauers too.
I've been reallllly bad lately. I have Bandit, Fath de Fath, Antilope, Black Cashmere, Sensations (Jil Sander), and Angel Innocent on the way. The only two of those I've ever smelled was the Jil Sander and the Innocent.
Oh! It was because of you that I reexamined Corriandre. Thanks for the inspiration. I like it alot, though I have to be in the mood for it. A little goes a long way and it lasts all day on me. It's got a nice skank factor. I'm still scared of Jicky, but maybe one day…….
It's rainy and grey today, so even as I await my next group of frags, I'm eager to sniff Mitsouko in parfum form. And some of that Passage from Hell stuff.
……I'm pretty bad right now, ain't I? lol
Oh shoot! I meant to purchase Apercu, not Antilope!
Oops!! Hope the Antilope is ok then! I've actually never smelled it.
Yes, you sound like me 2 years ago, buying like mad! Don't worry, hopefully, eventually you'll keep sniffing but stop buying 🙂
Yes, the Chevrefeuille needs to be reapplied frequently, but “sparkle” rarely lasts. What do you think of the OJs?
Hi Robin. I will have to think about the OJs. I'm still playing. I wanted to be swept away, but I wasn't. I think with all the lavish praise, my expectations might have been unreasonable. I plan on ordering the samples again when it is not so hot. I wonder that perhaps the heat of Tucson in July was just too hard on them. They did sit in my mailbox for three of four hours.
I think that Champaca is nice, but I don't know that it is FBW. It's very well made, but I was looking for Holy Grails. It's definitely worth purchasing but I may settle for a decant. The Tolu might be the one, but I will have to sample again. Sampaquita was nice too, but I'm not sure if it is FBW for me. I realllllly wanted to be bowled over by the OJ Woman. I wanted it to be big and bad and sexy……..like how Tania said it was for her. It wasn't for me. I have a feeling though that months or years from now, I'll be craving it. I had hopes for the Ta'if, but it actually smells bad on me. Has to be a chemistry thing. You can tell that alot of care went into the making of those frags. I also think that the heat might have hurt my Maroc pour Elle, Andy Taurer. I'm still considering the Desert one. I was lucky to get a sample of his Orris and I'm still considering them all.
Well, I called to change my Antilope to Apercu, but instead, most of my order was cancelled. Only the Jil Sander went through. SoooOOOOOOOooooo, I reodered and got:
Bvl Black, I'm actually craving that one.
Fath de Fath and Habanita, in minis so I could see if they are worth hunting for
Bandit, bought a bottle unsniffed. If it is indeed the other half of Fracas, I figured I can't go wrong. I'm one of those strange girls who normally doesn't do floral, but I can wear Fracas whether I'm cleaning house or going out on the town. Time of year is not a factor with me.
Nuit de Noel, yes it's early in the year but I guess I miss the fall and winter, and……I'm buying it unsniffed so sue me
Angel Innocent. A few years ago, I bought Angel and I mostly just sniffed the bottle. It's powerful stuff and mostly, I get tobacco which reminds me of my father. I never wore it because it never seems to evolve, soften or dry down on me. Now, for some reason (I'm sure you've heard this one many times) my tastes are changing and I find myself spritzing some on from a little tester I had. I suppose I ordered the Innocent so as not to offend quite so many people. ;-P
Couldn't get Apercu because it wasn't in stock. So next time, in addition to Apercu, it's probably Le Dix or Rumba, one of the Balmains, a for-sure on the Feminite —the woods one (I have no patience with this French stuff), and maybe Bellodgia. Maybe Quartz and the Nikki de Snake one. Quartz and the Nikki were two of my first department store purchases as a young woman. I tried a small Rive Gauche recently and was pissed at what they did to it. The RG was one of the few frags with aldehydes that I ever liked. Now, I can relate when I hear all the lovely ladies and gentlemen in these blogs bemoaning the fates of their old faves.
When I get that Apercu, I'll gladly send some your way. Thanks for listening. I'm having such fun with all of this and I'm new, so lots of yakking.
V
V, it is hard to try anything with an open mind when you've heard so many raves about it. Yes, maybe try the OJs later, but maybe they just won't suit you; I do know people who don't like anything in the line. Actually, the Niki de Saint Phalle was a huge disappointment to me: heard it was fabulous, love the bottle, but hated the scent.
Bandit is a great scent, but I don't wear it although I adore Fracas. Hope you'll like it! I have been almost cured of ordering unsniffed after many failures 🙂 Apercu, however, I own & love.