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A souvenir that keeps on giving

Posted by Robin on 28 September 2009 15 Comments

Rick Steves (best known for Europe Through The Back Door) talks to Celia Lyttelton, author of The Scent Trail:

Celia Lyttelton shares her story of how she traveled the world to collect the ingredients for her own perfect personal perfume — the perfect souvenir for the person who already has everything — and explains the powerful connection fragrances hold between places, memories, and our emotions.

You can listen here; many thanks to Vickyjane for the link!

Filed Under: perfume in the news
Tagged With: radio

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15 Comments

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  1. moon_grrl says:
    28 September 2009 at 2:49 pm

    Thanks for posting this link, Robin! I enjoy Rick Steves’ travel shows.

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    • Robin says:
      28 September 2009 at 3:34 pm

      I’ve still only listened to part of it. She’s already told him a couple whoppers (including that smell doesn’t deteriorate with age), but whatever — it’s entertaining!

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      • vickyjane says:
        28 September 2009 at 8:06 pm

        So, I just listened to the whole thing. I’m glad I’d read Marcello’s book review (and Robin’s comment above) first – forewarned is forearmed! – so I knew to take it with a pinch of salt.

        I know that this is a really petty thing, and that it refers to form rather than content, but I just couldn’t get past her snooty accent (and I’m English! – believe me, we don’t all talk like that!). Sorry Celia – I’m sure you’re very nice, and, as I said, I’m being petty, but it just turned me off.

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        • Robin says:
          28 September 2009 at 11:23 pm

          Is her accent snooty? I don’t have a good handle on English accents, I guess…she was hard to understand but I thought it must be something regional — and here I thought I had “snooty English accent” down pat from all my years of watching Masterpiece Theater, LOL…

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          • vickyjane says:
            29 September 2009 at 12:04 pm

            Ha! You can’t beat a good old English “who-dun-it”! 🙂

          • Joe says:
            29 September 2009 at 4:29 pm

            Hahahahaa. I assume Vickyjane’s talking about what people say is “trying to sound a bit too posh”. One doesn’t have to speak like a “chav”, but she is laying it on a bit thick. Even worse than Emma Thompson when she’s clenching her jaw.

            I like Rick Steves, but he is kind of interviewing her as though she’s an expert.

          • Robin says:
            29 September 2009 at 6:22 pm

            Yeah, he really is.

          • vickyjane says:
            29 September 2009 at 7:48 pm

            Lol, Joe – “chav” – can’t believe you know that word!

  2. annemarie says:
    28 September 2009 at 6:34 pm

    I should have a proper listen to this, but I did skim through her book. I was unimpressed, tho it was hard to say quite why. There was something unconvincing about it. She seemed to be making a great deal out of what I suspect was a small amouint of knowledge. As reflected in Robin’s comment maybe. But I’m being too critical I guess. It’s all good fun.

    I guess it would be great to have your own scent made for you but, as I will never be able to affford that, I make a virtue out of a necessity by appreciated the heritage of the frangrances I can afford. Millions of women have had the colur of their day brightened by White Liinen (my SOTD) and so do I.

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    • Robin says:
      28 September 2009 at 11:25 pm

      I got busy this afternoon & haven’t yet finished listening myself. But yes, I don’t think she’s an expert on perfume by any means. However I’m not sure she tries to pass herself off as one in the book…I’m afraid I haven’t read it.

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  3. asuperlongusername says:
    28 September 2009 at 10:35 pm

    This was interesting, though I do agree, her information seems more romantic than anything else. I’d probably get bored by her book, though. Doesn’t sound like my kind of book.

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    • Robin says:
      28 September 2009 at 11:25 pm

      Yes, that might be a good way to put it.

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  4. Joe says:
    29 September 2009 at 4:32 pm

    I know one thing: I’m damn jealous of her box of ambergris.

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    • Robin says:
      29 September 2009 at 6:22 pm

      Ditto!

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    • vickyjane says:
      29 September 2009 at 7:50 pm

      When he asked her what ambergris smelt like, I really just wanted her to say “Whale puke”.

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