It's Valentine's Day. Time to choose a perfume about love. It's easy to grab a bottle of Jean Patou Joy or a pretty soliflore, but we're real perfume enthusiasts here. There are at least a hundred kinds of love — shouldn't there be more than one type of Valentine's Day fragrance?
First, let's consider the love that launched a thousand Harlequin romances: Grand Love. Grand Love is that delirious ardor that seems inevitable yet impossible. You can't believe he actually loves you, yet aren't you fated to be together? — you both adore the same John Lennon song and neither of you likes meat on the bone. You both guffaw at the Naked Gun movies and you both detest gin. The world gushes with joy (look at the flowers that sprout in the pavement! kitties, babies everywhere! why have you never noticed how beautiful the grocery store logo is!) and you mysteriously drop five pounds. Without even trying.
If this is you, enjoy the ride. You need a perfume as crazily hyperbolic as your emotional state, something that could give a normal person a beauty hangover. I suggest Guerlain Nahéma for its psychedelic rose and peach, Frédéric Malle Carnal Flower for its heroin-like tuberose, or XerJoff Irisss for its iris-jasmine overdose.
Then there's Unrequited Love. This is the itch you can't scratch, the love that has you burning with lust at night and heartsick with longing during the day. Maybe it's for someone else's husband, someone who doesn't want you, or even someone of a gender you thought you weren't supposed to love. I won't deny the jagged beauty of unrequited love, but Dr. Angela says real love isn't for sissies. Pick up the phone and do your best to get something started with your love interest. If it doesn't work, move on. Unrequited love can rouse a drug-like drama that poisons as it feeds. We don't want you spending too many nights with An Affair to Remember and a bottle of bourbon.
(Related to Unrequited Love is Unhappy Love. You walk on eggshells with your honey. You think if he would only stop seeing his ex/ get his temper under control/ give you a ring /insert other issue here everything would be great. In the meantime, you're settling for someone who doesn't love you how you need it.)
If you're a victim of Unrequited Love or one of its relatives, a perfume full of passion and courage might suit you today. Something with definite character whose beauty hurts a little. How about Robert Piguet Bandit, Vero Profumo Onda, or Serge Lutens Tubéreuse Criminelle? We're rooting for you.
Now let's talk about a really wonderful love: Lifelong Love. This is the subtle love woven over years. It's that feeling like being dipped in warm water you get when you see his face across the train station. This is the love that holds back your hair when you vomit. It's confident, secure, forgiving, and is as different as the millions of couples who create it. If we're lucky, Grand Love turns to Lifelong Love, but I'd happily toss every romance novel into the Grand Canyon and follow it with a lit match to get to the meat of Lifelong Love.
Lifelong Love deserves a perfume that is lush, lasting, but with a quiet sillage. Something complex and changing. Here, Jean Patou Joy in parfum is a great choice. Guerlain Chamade parfum or Tauer Perfumes Une Rose Chyprée (just a drop) would be nice, too.
What if you aren't in a relationship now? What does Valentine's Day have to do with you? Lots, of course. There's plenty of love out there to celebrate — the love you feel for your baby nephew, your best friend, Daniel Craig, the barrista who made your latte perfectly this morning, you name it.
Besides, love begets love. You've probably heard of the study that showed people who hang out with overweight people are more likely to be overweight? I have a theory that it's the same with love. Today, eat something shaped like a heart. Buy a potted hyacinth to keep at your desk. Smile at the bus driver. Get out that sample of vintage Diorissimo parfum you've been hoarding and dab it on.
Happy Valentine's Day.
What perfume do you associate with love? Who do you love today?
Note: top image is Конфета by xvire1969 at flickr; some rights reserved.
oh Angela
a real piece of art
again
thank you so much
and the picture is wonderful too
Robin chooses the images–isn’t this one great?
I was quite happy loving Daniel Craig. He was my fictional boyfriend for years.
And I can actually say the first Valentine’s Day my fiancé’ & I were together we got to share one of those lifelong love experiences — the one w/ the vomiting thanks to a one of my friends who’s an officer of the law no less trying to see how many drinks we could take together — though I think I ran him out of the bathroom because I insisted I could take care of myself. Lol.
I’ll say this year should prove to be a bit more subdued. I feel like vintage Lanvin Arpege which is the SotD falls into the same category as Chamade. Fitting.
Hey, so we share a fictional boyfriend!
I’m recovering from stomach flu, and the thought of smelling anything more fragrant than warm water makes me want to retch. At least today I managed to eat some toast. Yuck.
And such a delightful fictional boyfriend he is.
That’s terrible. Hope you feel better soon.
I’ll just imagine he’s here giving me a foot massage–just as soon as he’s done with the dishes, that is.
wow, do you mind if I sometimes imagen that too?
i’m happy to pay you royalties for that : )
Please, take the dream as my Valentine’s Day gift to you!
Does he vacuum & cook too? And I’ll bet he makes a mean martini. Lol.
Angela, you are more than generous : D
Feel better soon Angela!
Thanks!
my honey just had me watch 9 with him on our Sunday night..pre valentines day…I guess there was daniel craig…but their was also penelope cruz and a whole lot of others for him!…
That figures. Well, in my dreams there’s no Penelope Cruz!
Nice V-Day post, Angela. I am extremely fortunate to be in the Lifelong Love category – I can’t emphasize enough – and have a wonderful hubby who indulges my perfume habit. V-day takes on a bit of quirky “We’ll get to it when we can” tendency since we have a toddler. Our happy V-day was full of routine chores, wonderful deli sandwiches, laundry done by my husband, and two miniature bottles of Glenlivet to wash down the bliss after a youngster goes to bed on time. Happiness is the small things. My fragrance of choice today is Rose Barbare – more cuddly than barbaric IMHO. And a dash of Drole de Rose after lunch. I thoroughly applaud your choices of Nahema and Chamade – perfect for deep passion and love. I’d also throw in Bal a Versailles for passionate love – so complex and yet happy skanky too.
That sounds like an ideal day! Cozy and nice (and prettily fragrant).
Sounds like a Happy Vally’s Day to me.
What a lovely, lovely Valentine’s post, thank you. Love the description of Grand Love (and Nahema! Perfect choice!) as well as the celebratory, life-loving affection for your barrista (perhaps there was a little heart in your microfoam this morning?)
Today, I’m looking forward to a candlelit grilled cheese dinner with my smiley little guy, my daughter who asked for a kiss this morning and the hubby who managed to have “The Wire” on DVD arrive by mail this morning. I shall wear Moment Supreme, I think. Hope you have an equally romantic and sweet evening…
What a great day you have in store! Smelly little guy, kissy girl, The Wire, and all.
No coffee for me today, or much of anything, really, thanks to the flu. I haven’t been laid out like this for a good ten years. So make sure you celebrate for the two of us!
Oh blech, Angela, I’m so sorry. That was me on New Year’s Eve. hope you are feeling better soon, and hugs from the bunch here and all your fans!
Thank you!
Ooh, grilled cheese and The Wire, Erin! Sounds like a great evening. Advice on The Wire: Turn on English subtitles unless you are actually from inner city Baltimore. Helped me a lot!
Great advice!! My hubby used to watch Wire episodes late at night and I never saw them. Seeing the beginning of the pilot recently got me hooked, but those first fifteen minutes of dialogue had me wondering if each episode was going to require my full attention.
Whom do I love today? As always, my family. My kitteh and doggie. And the wonderful writers at NST, who never fail to improve my day. Thanks to you, I’ve learned to love a whole new world of fragrance and words about fragrance. And the wonderful people who comment with humor, with insight, and with endless generosity!
Today I’m wearing Balenciaga’s Paris – is pink, is fluffy, and it complements the candy hearts that I’ve been eating all day (big bag of them in the office) …
Weird thing, and has this ever happened to anyone else? I just finished reading “The Secret of Chanel No. 5” (meh on the overall quality of the writing), but it inspired me to read a biography of Coco Chanel, which I also just finished … and I absolutely HAD to go out and buy a bottle of No. 5 edp. It was a compulsion! The car practically drove itself!
Nice! Thank you for the Valentine’s Day love!
Isn’t it amazing how cars can drive themselves to perfume stores? I like the EdP formulation best, although I don’t think it gets as much love as the others.
SOTD- Balenciaga Paris, I found it this morning sitting along with the body cream,…and a little basket of flesh tiny roses. I really love it, soft and powdery violets!
It’s perfect for Valentine’s Day!
Nice gift!!!
Yes, it is indeed, I did’nt tell you….It’s a Valentines Day Gift from my true love…He is only 6 years old..LOL
😉 Very sweet. If my 3 year old were to give me a treasured gift, it would be a bag of potato chips! Her favorite, rare, treat.
Very sweet!
Adela, I love it!
You deserve it mama, have a happy day sweety! 😀
Sweet!!!
Hey Dzingnut! I also recently finished the Secret of Chanel No. 5, and it inspired the same thing, though I haven’t gotten my hands on either a bottle of No. 5 (though I’m wearing Eau Premiere today) or a Coco Chanel biography. Which biography did you get? Did you enjoy it?
Re: No. 5 – I wore it in the 80’s. Haven’t worn it since. But am really enjoying the EP. After reading the book, I really wanted to get some vintage No. 5 parfum…
i had better not read it…it will lead me onto the path of a whole vintage collection probably…..
Hi Karin – I am blanking on the author, but the title was “Chanel – The Legend and the Life”. A plus is that there are a huge number of photos. After finishing it, it seems that Chanel was hugely talented, hugely successful, but probably not very happy … in almost all of her relationships she was “the other woman”; acceptable as a mistress/hostess, but not “good enough” to marry. It was also disappointing to discover that she attempted to use the Nazi Anti-Jewish laws to obtain more of the profits from Chanel No. 5. But there is a very funny section where the silent film star Gloria Swanson, in the early stages of pregnancy, impels Chanel to invent a prototype Spanx out of industrial strength elastic … and nobody can argue that the clothes, and the shoes, aren’t wonderful. The focus is much more on the events of her life, as opposed to examining the specific changes she brought about in women’s clothing, but overall it’s very interesting and a quick read.
Well, Dzingnut, something like that happens to my husband when he watches foreign films or a film set in a foreign country. For example, if he watches a Japanese film, he will get cravings for Japanese food. Recently, he watched War and Peace (the Russian version from the 1960’s) and I told him I wasn’t sure what to do if he got cravings for Russian food–Russian restaurants are pretty scarce around here.
Better find a recipe for Beef Stroganoff! Or maybe just a touch of vodka?
That happens to me too! Tell him to watch “Raise the Red Lantern” — he’ll be craving spinach and tofu (and little mallets to massage his feet).
I love that movie!
My husband is of Russian descent … herring, potato salad, sardines, and anything that has been pickled in brine.
I’ve been married just over a year to the love of my life, whom I found (or who found me) rather later in my life than most people find (or get found). Not that I didn’t have fun looking, mind you… And today love is wearing the scent he “doesn’t hate” (Made In Italy’s Sicily) rather than the one I was kind of wanting to wear. Because for a non-perfume person, he puts up with a lot from me and seldom complains (and has even been known to wear the Jo Malone Vetiver I bought him last Fall). Lifelong Love Rocks!
Oh, and I wore Diorissimo on our wedding day, so that says love to me!
I bet that perfume says love to a lot of people–and deservedly!
Now there’s true love–wearing a scent for your honey when you’d probably wear something else otherwise. Congratulations on the lifelong love!
Brilliant post, Angela!
I keep forgetting that it’s Valentine’s today so it wasn’t a factor when I picked my almost empty sample vial of Jubilation 25 this morning. However, it’s a perfume that I love so it would seem a fitting choice. Plus I think that it’s a fragrance that could easily work in any of the scenarios that you mentioned.
Oh yes, Jub 25 is magnificent. Have a great Valentine’s Day!
I suppose Valentine’s Day makes me think of roses, though I’m not a huge fan of rose perfumes (I love the scent of roses, though). When I was trying to decide what perfume to wear this morning, I thought of roses, decided against it, then thought of my favorite flowers – French tulips. I don’t have a tulip scent, though (not many of those). Made me wonder what Byredo’s tulip smells like!!! I decided on Chanel No. 5 Eau Premiere. Seemed like a perfect choice.
OK, so that doesn’t really say what perfume I associate with LOVE! That’s a strange question. No idea! I suppose my HG would be my scent of choice – because I LOVE it – Attrape Coeur. My husband loves it, too, so that’s a huge plus.
And speaking of my DH, he’s the one I happily love!!
French tulips are so beautiful, big as fists and elegant.
Attrape Coeur is a really romantic fragrance, I think. Nice choice!
The barista didn’t make my latte correctly today *grumble grumble*
The relationship that I was in for many years was a great example of Unhealthy Love. I wore Prada Man exclusively, because that was what he wore and I wanted to feel close to him at all times. I think that’s telling, that I never had a fragrance of my own. Now, of course, I have far too many fragrances of my own 🙂 Beautiful piece, Angela, as always!
It sounds like you made a very nice recovery! Take that, Mr. Prada Homme!
Now YOU get to pick, sweetie.
Ari,
Recently out of a similar situation, myself. Perfume seems to be part of my recovery. There doesn’t seem to be anything that demonstrates taking care of myself, simply for the sake of meeting my own needs, more than buying and enjoying a lovely perfume! Here’s to self love! (Which really aught to be on the list above, I think!)
And the BEST scent for that? Whatever gives you joy because you love it, and to heck with anyone else!
You’re absolutely right–loving yourself is fundamental to any of the other good types of love. And I fully agree with your perfume suggestion for it!
Stuck in Unhappy Love, for the time being… does that mean I have permission to spend money I don’t have on a bottle of Bandit? It’s near the top of my list anyway. 😉 As for love… my girls, as different as could be, but both truly wonderful. I’ve never really “done” Valentine’s Day except for the kids anyway, so today I went with de Bachmakov…perfect for the big thaw we’re seeing this week.
The perfume you chose is really about flowers poking up through the ground–spring–and great things to come! It sounds like your girls are a wonderful antidote to unhappy love. If you want, you can share my boyfriend, Daniel Craig, with me in the meantime.
Oh, I have been…ever since Archangel. 😉 And now I’ve read back over comments – hope you’re feeling better soon! There are few things worse than a stomach virus.
Thanks! I’m already feeling a little better. Yesterday I didn’t even have the energy to read, but here I am at the computer!
“how beautiful the grocery store logo is…” ROTFL!!! That’s hilarious. Love it.
I almost took that out because it seemed so random, but I thought it really reflected the crazy emotion of Grand Love. I’m glad you liked it!
HEY!!!! its so NOt random…well for me anyway
Good!
Celebrating Lifelong Love today with my hubby, and wearing Shalimar extrait for him, since it’s one of his favorite things to smell on me 🙂
This evening, when I get home from work, it should be in just the right state of dry-down that inspires amorous pursuits!
Happy Valentines Day to all!
Nice choice! I had a drop of vintage Shalimar on a few days ago, and this time for whatever reason the incense really came out. What a gorgeous perfume. Have fun!
This was great. I associate 100% Love with love, and NOT for the name!!! Numerous personal reasons. It’s such an unusual perfume.
It really is an unusual perfume–and perfectly named, too.
I went to the doctor today, my daughter is sick.
there I met the love of my life
he was about 4 months old, and a real man, with the look : )
I might need another baby….
to celebrate Valentine day with you guys I dabbed some vintage Emaraude (hello Miss Kitty : ) )
Oh no! Baby love. That’s a hard one to shake. One squeeze of that fat little hand, one dimpled smile…
I hope your daughter is doing well soon.
Speaking of babies, isn’t it amazing how good they smell? It truly is addicting!
Cats and babies both smell delicious. (Except maybe for the hind end region of the baby at new diaper time.)
i agree ami….funny thing that love…i will always want more of it, oh well, i need to wait for my grandchildren…meantime everybaby i meet gets a big fat dose from me
That’s sweet!
Er…this may end up being a stupid question, but why a hyacinth? Am I missing some knowledge here, not being a hearts and flowers type?
Nothing special–just that if you put hyacinth bulbs in your refrigerator last autumn, this is the time they are ready to be potted and forced for an early taste of spring. I have one on my mantel right now.
I have a few hyacinths in my garden, and they come back reliably every year, even though this part of the country is usually not good for most bulbs. The leaves are peeking up above the ground, but no flowers yet. It has been a cold winter, so they are a couple weeks later than usual. I always look forward to them, as they are one of the first signs of spring.
Take care Angela, and get better. Those stomach viruses are awful.
They really are such a wonderful reminder of spring. That’s part of why I like Chamade so much, I think.
A–Before I put it on my “to sniff list”–Is that a wood hyacinth fragrance or the very sweet hybridized ones with the double-sized flowers so popular now? I love the scent of “old-fashioned” hyacinths, but they seem to be disappearing in favor of the plastic-looking (to my eyes anyway) hybrids. . .
I know what you mean about the difference in old v. new hyacinths. This one is a pungent, true, not particularly fruity hyacinth (although Chamade does add black current for a little bit of a fruity zip). I think it’s worth trying just for reference, just like it’s worth seeing the Mona Lisa even if you don’t need it in your living room.
This may be a little out of season already but I’m wearing SSS Fireside Intense on one wrist and SSS Violet Wood on the other, trying to decide on what size of each I’m getting myself for Valentines day. Not that BF wouldn’t get me a perfume but he knows well enough that I would be impossible to surprise. And he got me a computer monitor which is more romantic anyway. He’s been kind enough to tolerate the wave of compulsive decanting, swapping, and fragrance research going on over here these days so that’s good enough for me. LL love in the nerd dept!
I hope he at least taped a heart on that monitor! Smart, though, that he’s letting you choose the perfume.
Hi Angela. This was a great piece of writing. Truly. Being sick certainly doesn’t hold you back any!
So, thinking about PERFUME & LOVE is another way of approaching perfume choice! Although, like you, I spent the day in bed and/or with my head in the toilet bowl! However, if I HAD been out and about, I would have had a tough time choosing between these scents:
Une Rose Vermeille. Because it makes me think of the colour RED! I always wear it when I am wearing something red! And because it is luscious, sexy, voloptuous and V-day is all about red (hearts)!
Ormonde Woman: Because I just love this scent so much. In fact, I am IN love with it. This scent IS my Valentine!
Tubereuse Criminelle or Ta’if – just so romantic, both of them. TC is ice-cold sexy, Ta’if is spicy and torrid!
I would say that the scent that makes me think most of Lifelong Love would be Musc Ravageur. It is easy, relaxed, comfortable, warm – but also sensual, sexy and slightly dangerous. Even though it has great sillage, it feels like more of a skin scent that melds with your personal chemistry.
What do I love today? My gorgeous kitten rolling on his back begging for attention and a cuddle!
What a terrific line-up of fragrances! I could almost smell each one as you described it.
Give that kitty a kiss on the belly for me (if you dare!).
I think URV is a big beautiful sunset-colored thing – not so much red as orange-red-pink-purple all at once. But I do always associate it with bright color.
This definitely goes in the Top Ten favorite Angela Articles pile. Just wonderful.
Your description of the “heroin-like” tuberose of Carnal Flower is spot-on – I treated myself to the BIG bottle on Saturday and have been wallowing in it ever since.
Valentine’s day is difficult for me, although I remain an eternal optimist that some day I will find something not in your second and its sub-categories. Sigh.
I started my day in Une Rose, as a test, but it is too rose-y for me. Not sure where I will go, scent-wise, after my shower. It’s rainy and gloomy here today. My cat is all in a huff and on the floor in meatloaf mode.
Today I love my kitty, my family, my housemates, my Man at Barneys for managing to match what I’m wearing twice in a row, and my current lust object for keeping my loins alive.
Oh, and so sorry about your flu! Hope you get well soon.
I’m already feeling better, thanks! Just ate half a bowl of soup.
Yay!! On the road to recovery.
now that is good news..hope ue dont get another tummy flu for a looooong time in fact, never again
Thanks for the good wishes. Luckily, it’s rare I’m ever taken out by the flu like this.
Someone as full of life as you is fated for the best kinds of love. It’s a fact! And that Carnal Flower sure won’t hurt.
It’s raining here, too. It’s kind of nice, really.
Thank you, Angela! <3
Living loins are good.
This goes into MY pile of top ten posts by Tama. 🙂
What you said.
And what Tama said about Angela’s post, too.
Thank you both for your eloquence, this is not easy to come by.
That’s funny!
Angela, what a fantastic article – and I hope you feel better soon!
I’m wearing La Chasse today, because the irresistibly cheerful, jubilant jasmine seems in keeping with a fairly new Lifelong Love (three and a half happy years with the kindest, cleverest, and most interesting man, who looks after me wonderfully and understands me perfectly), and chimes with a feeling of terrific good luck. It seemed to match the first signs of spring that were visible today in Oxford as well: snowdrops and purple crocuses tentatively peeking out on the first sunny day we’ve had in ages. When I get home I’ll put on some Penhaligon’s Artemisia, which the BF loves – even though I seem to have become anosmic to it!
I bought thirty little chocolate hearts wrapped in brightly-coloured foil from an old-fashioned sweet shop this morning and distributed them to other singers in classes and rehearsals, and managed to use them up at the perfect rate: the last one went to the bus driver at the end of the day, as I commuted home. I have to say, I love Valentine’s Day…
Marvelous! I love it all, from the BF to the singers to the foil-wrapped hearts and bus driver.
Brazile – your mention of Oxford, where I live, made me click through to your website. It turns out I saw you perform in the Barber of Seville last week! Thank you, you were wonderful, and I had no idea that you were a perfume fan as well.
Isn’t she amazing? NST readers as a whole are pretty amazing, in fact.
Capillary, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I had the best time being Rosina, and wore Eau Premiere for both performances, because it’s so classical and young at the same time (if Rosina grows up to be the Countess in the Marriage of Figaro, does Eau Premiere become No. 5 parfum??)
As we both live in Ox, are you interested in a swap or two? I’m at brazile@gmail.com.
Esther xx
PS Angela – you’re the one who’s amazing! You write so well; your articles make me feel as though I’ve known you forever. If you’re ever in the UK, please let me take you out for tea and cake – I owe many hours of pleasure to your writing and encyclopaedic knowledge of perfume!
I would love that!
Angela- I always enjoy your articles. I love my hubby and there are three fragrances I associate with love: Amouage Gold Woman, Joy and Anais Anais. These are not necessarily the ones I am in fragrance love with (well maybe the Amouage), but for some reason seem to represent it to me.
Isn’t it funny how certain fragrances can symbolize things–even if they don’t necessarily play that role in your life? I get what you mean about Anais Anais with all of its faded out ads of wispy flowers and girls. Have a good day today!
Great post, Angela. Feel better soon! The flu sucks.
For lifelong love I would also like to nominate Songes, whatever one’s favorite Osmanthus might be, Mythique, and on a day like the one we’re having here today–winter brightness with enough warmth to make things smell of earth and a touch of green–No. 19. Quiet, confident beauties all!
Songes is supremely romantic, and I’m glad to see another Mythique fan! I can’t get enough of it. No. 19, too. So nice.
P.S. Never date someone who doesn’t like meat on the bone unless you are both vegetarians!
I threw that one in there because I have a friend who, in the throes of Grand Love, declared their fate sealed because neither of them like meat on the bone. Me, bring on the meat, boneless or no. Gin, too.
With you Angela, though I am a lightweight when it comes to the gin. But I don’t understand how it can be Grand Love without…gnawing…
You’re making me hungry! (And that’s saying something, given my stomach right now.)
With u on the meat angela…but it has to be Kosher, and gin is good, but…scotch is my thing!!!
I wouldn’t say no to scotch, either.
Angela- I hope you feel better soon. I just got over the same and I am telepathically sending you that wonderful potted hyacinth to help speed along your recovery.
Thank you! I’m already doing much better. The one benefit to feeling under the weather is you can take naps without feeling guilty. I see a nap in my future…
I’ve brought in some chocolates for my cowokers, and of course everyone here can help themselves to the big bowl of cyber-chocs. Put on some pc01 to pretend it’s spring and not a monsoon out there…
Cyber chocolates! This could be the answer to my dieting challenges!
That sounds like the best idea I have heard in a long time! I shamefully just polished off the box my hubby just bought me.
thanks Angela for the beautiful article. you so eloquently pegged down different types of love. happy valentine’s day!
Happy Valentine’s Day to you, too!
Thank you for this Valentine post Angela. You really do have the most LOVE-ly way of saying things. Okay, enough of that. 😉 I am wearing a scent for my ‘ lifelong love’ today since it’s one of his favorites. Bvlgari Jasmine Noir. I’m quite fond of it too – it has a lot of depth and complexity for a mainstream fragrance. I saw above that you’ve been under the weather – feel better soon!
Jasmine Noir is very romantic–perfect for today! Enjoy the day.
Lovely article, Angela. I feel so cynical – when I was single, of course V-Day was just a day designed to make you feel terrible and make money for Hallmark and chocolate companies. Now I’m not single, and it seems like an obligation and showing love shouldn’t be like that. But thanks for the reminder that it’s a good day to think about love of all sorts! And cynical me, my lovely hubby made me 2 homemade cards with superheros on them and stashed one on my desk and one in my purse. Still can’t help smiling thinking about that.
Today I’m wearing Chene. I wasn’t thinking of Valentine’s when I put it on – my husband would be happier if I didn’t wear any perfume and it’s just the most recent sample I’ve gotten. Oh, it’s nice.
Superhero cards! I love it! Chene is a fantastic fragrance, Valentine’s Day or not.
Yes, we are definitely more silly than romantic! And I do keep sniffing my wrist – it’s not my normal type of fragrance, but ther eis something about it.
Silly IS romantic!
Angela I’ll chime in with everyone else and say that you wrote a incredibly touching and beautiful piece. I loved it!
I love my stupid lil’ life, my daughters, my mama, my forest, my kitties , my soulmates that I’ve met on this earth.
I love perfume and beauty, in all it’s forms.
Right now my love life is ugly and lonely but I strive , really ,to not let that drag me down.
I even see the beauty in it.
It has made me the woman I am.
Get well soon, it’s raining here too, but not too cold.
Washington spring should come soon I think..I can’t believe it!
I’m wearing Amaranthine today, it’s soft and sweet and lasting..
With an attitude like that, you’ll have throngs of men beating at your door to get some of that love! Love begets love. (Amaranthine, on the other hand, begets another kind of love, not to be dismissed either…)
Oh, Tamara that just really moved ‘me. Hope you had a wonderful day with all of your loves.
I almost wore that one Tamara, My good friend..MY loved the article
too Angela. I’ll be wearing URC tonight.
Mmm–nice choice!
My kind of girl Tamara…learning lessons through pain….and only a positive and upward journey….PG u should find the love
Tamara, you could write song lyrics!
Tamara- That hit me right in the gut. No other way to say it. Beautiful, deep and honest.
So true.
Awwwww thanks so much you guys!
SEE?
That is what I mean, I’m thankful and grateful for the love and care that is shown in this community all the time! Muuuah! <3
Right back at you!
Hi Angela,
Love the article, as always it’s a great read. I’ve had my share of Unhappy Love complete with plenty of bourbon. I’ve found my lifetime love in my hubby; I knew I’d marry him when we first started dating I had caught a nasty cold. I lived in this old drafty SF apt building with a broken toilet. He came over with a dozen roses, cough syrup, pho soup and a new toilet seat. Needless to say, I married him.
Our scent isn’t a perfume but the smell of fresh baked cinnamon buns. It’s a secret my Aunt Mary taught me, put the buns in the oven 45 minutes before your date picks you up. It will make the house smell warm & cozy, he’ll be sure to feel at home.
Awwwww. Looks like you got a good one.
Roses AND a toilet seat! Ding ding ding–you won the jackpot!
Love that cinnamon bun trick! If I had a decent oven I’d give it a go.
Do you know, to this day, hubby loves any perfume I wear with spices & vanilla?? He especially loves Safran Troublant.
oh I love this story Smokey : )
Happy Valentine’s Day dear Angela (and fellow NSTers). I absently sprtized on some Bois des Iles- this morning and then a bit of Orris Noir a while ago. I think I will pamper myself in a luxurious bath tonight and dab on some Joy Parfum (thanks for the rec). I think you are absolutely right about Love Rubbing Off. XXOO
A bath is always perfect, but a bath plus Joy parfum is heaven itself.
Boy, it’s been a loooooong time since it was Grand Love, oh yes.
And sometimes I admit to there being Reluctant, Make the Best of It Love. (Which is nearly always my being impatient and selfish and unwilling to ask for what I want, if I’m honest.) Sigh. Oh-all-RIGHT.
But sometimes it’s Cozy Love with a Spark, and we’re in that at the moment. So this evening, it’s steak and baked potatoes and asparagus, with individual molten chocolate cakes… and kisses… and Citizen Queen… and the kids in bed early.
Ah yes, Reluctant Make the best of It Love…I am familiar with you. And generally for the same reasons! Glad you are in Cozy with a Spark today though.
Had a similar dinner last night with the hubby – he’s in school and has 3 tests this week, so we had our nice dinner last night. Tri-tip roast, mashed potatoes and green beans with almonds. And I was too lazy to bake, so dessert was Ben & Jerry’s Coffee Heath Bar Crunch. Hope you have a lovely Valentine’s Day!
I can tell I’m feeling better, because all of this dinner talk is making me hungry!
All those loves deserve their own perfumes, too. But I do like the Cozy love best.
Meoooooooooow Mals, let her come out to play tonight sistah! 😉
Have fun you minx!
xoxoxo<3
You are truly gifted, Angela, thanks for the lovely article. Glad to read that you are feeling better now!
We are having a Life as Usual Valentine’s Day- as my husband is far too pragmatic to be a romantic! Fortunately, my 2 little loves made ‘me crafty glittery cards and lots if kisses…a
Absolutely nothing better in this world than cuddles from my daughters! Sorry honey 🙂
Wore Shalimar because my 4 year old likes it best- her 2 year old sister was plumping for Parfum Sacre or Emeraude!
Shalimar and Emeraude for the preschool set? You have taught those girls well. Good work!
Amen. Excellent choices.
Glittery cards from your kids! That sounds wonderful.
What a beautiful, beautiful post. Thank you so much Angela, and I hope you feel better soon!
Thank you and thank you!
Angela, what a wonderful piece of writing! I hope you’re feeling better by now and that your tummy is full of something comforting.
I’m lucky to have found Lifelong Love. Came to it a little later than some, but I loved the being-single years too! We are going out to dinner with some friends and I’m currently trying to decide among four rose fragrances (I know, that is old-fashioned, but it has to be a rose fragrance!). The contenders are Ta’if, Safran Troublant, Rose Kashmirie, and Micallef Rose Aoud. The latter two are ahead of the pack at the moment…
Rose fragrances are so nice for Valentine’s Day, but what a difficult choice! You really can’t lose with any of those.
Darling~ RoseAoudRoseAoudRoseAoud! 😉
Tamara – that’s what I ended up wearing! Delicious! 🙂
Terrific article, Angela! And I’m glad to see you’re feeling better.
I don’t know what kind of love I have this Valentine’s Day — but let’s just say someone is making dinner for me, which can only be a good thing, since I’m not much of a cook. And what am I wearing? Katy Perry Purr, which sure doesn’t sound very Lifelong-Lovey. But it’s fun.
aha! A departure from some of the other very sophisticated/vintage scents being listed. I must try this! It doesn’t need to do much to nudge me into buying that bottle. Is it as cute in person as it looks online?
That bottle is pretty darned cute. Love the name, too.
The bottle really is adorable, even cuter in person, I think! The scent is nothing special, IMO, but I enjoy it well enough.
“Fun” sounds pretty good to me! I still haven’t smelled it yet, but I’ll make a point of it now.
Angela, let me add my voice to the chorus…what a truly beautiful post! And I, too, hope you are back to good health soon.
Having done my time with Unrequited Love in my youth, I am blessed to have found Lifelong Love…..as in, I have been physically incapacitated for 10 months now ( can’t walk ) and my sweet husband of 8 years has been doing everything, EVERYTHING, around the house. Cooking, cleaning, shopping, errands, you name it.
I’ve been able to be in a wheelchair for about a month now, so he felt comfortable leaving me for a few days, to take care of an emergency for his mother. But he got up at 3 o’clock this morning, so he could drive 80 miles to our house to kiss me and, wish me a happy Valentine’s Day, and give me a handmade card.
I don’t deserve this man, but I am so grateful to have him!
I’m wearing Bvlgari Rose Essentielle again today, because it’s his favorite.
Happy VD to all, especially those of you with kittehs, of whom I am very jealous!
What a gorgeous love! Honestly, I’m teary eyed reading it. Thank you, and I don’t have to wish you a happy Valentine’s Day, because you clearly are having one.
I’m enjoying reading everyone’s comments, but your story in particular is so good… your husband sounds like an amazing man, and I wish you the best concerning your health!
Cheered by your progress, charmed by your husband, and still enjoying all the samples you sent me for swapmania – Happy V Day, Joliefleurs!
JolieFleurs, I don’t know your circumstances but please know I’m wishing you all the best!
And what a wonderful way for your hubby to show his love.
It’s those mundane things that we take for granted, and times of health gone wrong are tests that try the spirit and people’s patience and he is passing with flying beautiful colors!!
I am happy about this. 🙂 Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours from me and my kitties Bigs and Kinky Boy<3
Yes yes! From Mae West, the portly seductress kitty, too!
I love my husband and my two cats. And I love me. Thanks for asking, I love talking about who I love and about my loved ones 🙂 and thanks for this beautiful piece of writing! Get well soon.
How did you know about the hair? I was reading this text to my husband and when I read this line we stopped and just stared at each other. Uncanny, Angela! Or is it, in your experience, as universal a feature of Lifelong Love as is the beauty of the grocery store logo a feature of the Grand Love affliction? 😉
Speaking of which, seems like I’ve been intimately familiar with all three kinds of love, as my marriage started with a mighty case of Grand Love. In all honesty, even a smallest dose of Nahema could have killed me then. It was before my perfume years, and I remember being overwhelmed even by a slightest trace of shampoo smell from my hair. When I tried to have lunch, the smell of the cafeteria became so intense as I was walking toward it that I just turned and walk away. Needless to say, I lost more than 5 pounds.
Unrequited Love, yes, I remember that one, it was Chanel #5 that I associate it with, and my Unhappy Love association is Poison. This boy was really loving a light touch of Poison Espirit de Parfum on my wrists. I still have the bottle, the scars, and the memories.
Lifelong Love… I am wearing Ma Griffe. Vintage Ma Griffe is my constant chase. That’s how I keep the thrill of Grand Love in my life, in perfume or otherwise.
Happy Valentine’s day to you all!
What terrific love stories! And you landed on such a terrific perfume, too–vintage Ma Griffe. I know you’ll have many more permutations of your wonderful Lifelong Love to live through, too (and hopefully no more of them involving needing someone to hold back your hair!).
I think it is a terrific perfume — but when it’s the right vintage, the right concentration, etc. and etc. It’s always good, don’t get me wrong, but it’s in some right concentration/vintage it’s divine!
I would love to know more about Ma Griffe, its vintages, its different bottles. I am trying to chart a course without knowledge of all this, which is a compass. Luckily, today I am wearing what I know is perfect.
It’s really hard with more delicate chypres, like Ma Griffe, too, since they don’t always hold up as well over the years. It sounds like you’ve found a good one, though!
*sigh*
nope, but someone else did and shared some drops! Precious! I saved it for yesterday’s holiday. I have some vintage EDTs that are fine, but not… quite… like… that stunner that I fell in love with and wore yesterday.
Angela, thank you so much for this great post! I wore Joy extrait today (though single) and had a wonderful day. All the radio stations were playing love songs, and a handsome co-worker walked around with a big box of Godiva chocolates to share. All in all a good day. 🙂
Wow! Why can’t every day be like this? Joy-Godiva-Love Songs-Handsome guy.
Today I am wearing ELDO Like This, with some Amouage Jubilation 25 that’s clinging to my cardigan. It wasn’t intentional, but it’s about right for where I am, lovewise. I’m in the Unwilling to Let Go Even Though I Know We’ll Never Be Together, and We Haven’t Been Together In a Long While But He’s My Best Friend and I Wish We Were Meant For To Be Together But We’re Not and It’s Time I Realized It Stage. There is possibly a better name for that. But I made a good step forward in letting go this weekend, so for today I am wrapped up in a bit of comfort with some longing. And I bought myself some silly pink chrysanthemums and gave all the money in my wallet to the young guy panhandling in the rain, and I feel pretty good right now.
That felt really good to put in writing. I’d like to raise my glass to all my unintentional therapists here at NST and xoxo to you all!
As soon as I’m up to a drink, I’ll toast to you, too!
It’s pretty brave to decide that you have standards for how you should be treated. You deserve cheers. (And excellent perfume.) We’re so proud of you.
Here’s to you, sweet lady!
For what it’s worth, my Lifelong Love started when I was in the same situation as you. Sometimes they just need a big ol’ dose of reality!
Oh shoot. You really are in a tough spot right now (although with some excellent perfume, it sounds like.) Congratulations for starting to let go. You know (and I know you do know) if he’s meant for you he’ll come around. He knows where to find you. Meanwhile, in houses and apartments across town are amazing men who don’t know you yet. Handsome, funny, possibly even handy…
There is an elegant quote, which I cannot find, to the effect that whenever one door closes, another opens, and the longer one hesitates to walk through it, the longer it takes to get to the good stuff on the other side. Not that I ever realize that at the time myself, but congratulations on moving forward!
A terrific principle, and it applies to so much, too.
Happy Valentine’s day to all the NSTers, and I hope you’re getting well Angela!
I’ve celebrated the day with my lifelong love- who still feels much like “grand love” after 5 years of being together, and it was wonderful. As for the fragrance, I didn’t wear anything, because as much as he shares my love for perfume, his favorite scent is that of my skin… and this is probably the only place I can boast about it 😀
Hope everyone’s day was happy!
That’s wonderful! I hope you have the best V-day ever.
I very blessed to have found Lifelong Love with my husband of 20 years and counting. We’ve been through so many things together, and there have been more than a few rough spots, but we have made it through everything. I cannot imagine my life without him, and I do believe that we are meant to be together. It did start out, for me at least, as a whopping case of Grand Love. Over time, it has mellowed and settled into something much more comfortable–and thank goodness for that! Grand Love is exhilarating, true, but it is also exhausting. Lifelong Comfortable Best Friends and Soul Mates Love is the best thing possible.
There were so many little coincidences that came up early in our relationship, and I will not list all of them here, but there was one that really struck me. Our wedding was very small, only 23 people, including me and my husband. In fact, everyone was family except for my husband’s brother’s girlfriend (who now IS family) and a couple who used to live across the street from my parents. At the reception, we learned that some years prior, before they had been my parents’ neighbors, they had lived next door to my husband’s grandmother, in another city 200 miles away. Now I ask you, what are the odds?
Small weddings are THE BEST!
I am almost inclined to thing there is an inverse relationship between the size of the wedding and the likelihood of the marriage lasting. I know of so many couples who had big, splashy weddings, and then got divorced within a few years.
Sometimes things really do seem fated, and you were obviously fated to be with your husband! It’s a great story.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you charming parfumistas. Angela, that post was simply wonderful, a delight to read. I can’t imagine, now, why I hadn’t realized earlier that Onda might be just the thing for supplying the necessary escape velocity when languishing in the precincts of Unrequited Love…a place I know something about.
I have been going from rose to rose since Saturday…a precious drop of Tribute Attar, SSS Velvet Rose and Vintage Rose, layered over CB A Room with a View. I loved the roses floating over all that hay. Liaisons Dangereuses, and then Joy. It was so much fun I might start all over again.
And feel better soon!
A tour of roses! That sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Have you been enjoying Jessica’s reviews?
yah I’m as not as cynical this Valentines cause I’ve had date plans for tommorow since last weekend with a guy I met on line. I will wear the smoky sandalwood Smoke Follows Beauty on the date.
Have a good time tonight!
Happy Belated VD to ALL of you.
What a beautiful and true article Angela.
In our world we have freedom of choice, which I believe is related to how we cope and behave. “Choosing” a dress or a restaurant or a perfume is a preference. So we get to choose beauty, love, life…or ugly, hate,death…. Our world is the most beautiful and wonderful gift, together with all the brilliance that shines in it, and our job is to make light any dark spot we see…. Thus
I am so Blessed to have a love for the grocery sign, the barista….the beggars, all of YOU on NST, a lifelong love, 4 normal, naughty, challenging and AMAZING children and one up in heaven that keeps me connecting heaven and earth, and who has taught me that we can find love and life even in death…and thus….all my perfume symbolises love….one GREAT BIG LOVE
I think we should inscribe your comment in stone! It’s a manifesto for living, hongkongmom. I love it.
better inscribed in the heart!!! thanks angela…btw i love the way you make EVERYONE feel special!!!
Wow!
Monica was that you??
You wrote something beautiful and bright from truths spoken from your heart. If I knew you I would give you a hug for it.
Thank you lovely lady!
nope, not Monica…you are a lovely lady too Tamara!
Today I love Aftelier Shiso and Ormonde Jayne Tolu. The first was earlier today, worn just for me. Like a little affirmation of self-love. Tolu is being worn for both the benefit of my husband (who loves it and is my official valentine along with my cat Troutie) and for myself once again. My husband and I don’t usually celebrate Valentine’s Day, but he was extra romantic this year and went out of his way to make me feel special. And then I bought myself some perfume: Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille, Diptyque Eau Duelle and samples of Ormonde Jayne Woman and Orris Noir pure parfum (must compare to the EDP).
That sounds like a VERY special Valentine’s Day. All those fragrances are terrific.
I’ve read several biographies on Coco Chanel–and have been fascinated with her since I was in my very early twenties. I’ve also seen every movie, (big screen or smaller) that has been made about her (unless one slipped through the cracks). But if my recollection is correct, I had the fragrances before I read the books or saw any of the movies. I’ve always identified with her somehow, and she so intrigued me (or perhaps it was the juice of the different Chanels I have worn through the years, that anything written about her, I read; or any movie about her, I always go to see–even if I have not yet seen the BlockBusters (which I would say I miss most of them). She was so before her time, a feminist, unique, mysterious, strong and determined. The little orphaned girl who reinvented herself. And here we are now in the 21st Century where hundreds of new (but already done) perfumes are introduced every day of the week and most disappear from the shelves within a year (or less), while Chanel No. 5, which will be one hundred years old in about 16 years, is is still one of the (or the) most famous and popular perfumes of the world. Like it or dislike it, even most non-perfumistas of the world equivocate “perfume” with Chanel #5. Chanel #5 has been my comfort scent, and the scent I most often wear to bed, for many years and I believe it will still be around after most of us are long-gone (or at least me)!
It’s true–to most people, perfume, at least, good perfume, means No. 5. I’m sure it will outlive the rest of us.
As usual, amazing, inspiring, spot-on.
And I love you, of course! Because there would be no wonderful perfume in my life without you.
S-Perfume %100 Love is my choice today, but I’d also go for Tauer Une Rose Chypree…
Kisses right back at you! I was thinking about you today, too.
So my BF and I had a fight last night and I was not feeling the love this morning as I baked a chocolate cheesecake and prepared a dinner of whole baked salmon with sauteed vegetables.
I went to visit a friend today. I hadn’t talked to her for several months and called her a few days ago to see how things were going. I was shocked to hear that her husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in April and was gone by August. They were truly soulmates.
As we talked about him and what she had been doing, yesterday’s argument took on its proper insignificant place in the universe. At least I can give my BF a good swift kick if I want to, while the love of her life is gone.
Be thankful for all that is still here with us.
Oh! That’s an amazing and valuable story for Valentine’s Day (the dinner sounds pretty good, too.) You’re so right. Any excuse, including today, to appreciate what’s around us is essential.
I forgot to add–this must be a tough day for your friend. I hope she is managing as well as can be expected.
Angela, you always crack me up, but I’m even more amazed that you can be so funny when you’re not feeling well.
I wasn’t even thinking about V day, but I was drawn to rose scents all weekend and through today, nonetheless. Right now it’s BK Liaisons Dangereuses, of which is about as close as I’m likely to get to one until my next incarnation. Thrilling as that can be, I’m doubtless much happier in the company of this post and also Octavian’s post about “La pourriture noble” and perfume on 1000 Fragrances. Love the way he links science and art!
Thanks! I wrote the post on Saturday before Flu Event 2011 struck. If this were yesterday, I doubt I’d be able to peck out a few “xoxo”s.
It sounds like V-Day was subconsciously on your mind, and don’t rule out any Liaisons Dangereuses just yet!
Actually, there is one dangerous liaison in my life: a sample vial of Xerjoff Damarose. I keep trying it in the hope that my fickle nose will decide it isn’t really so special. No luck so far.
Drat! Have you tried other, less expensive rose chypres in the hope maybe they’ll satisfy?
I really must distract myself with other fav roses such as BK Liaisons Dangereuses – funny that Xerjoff suddenly makes BK seem like a huge bargain. 😉 Jovoy Chypre and Tauer Une Rose Chypree are always a source of joy, as well.
When you have been left single with no warning or choice in the matter, Valentine’s Day is not a great day and I had managed to forget about it, more or less. (For me it was yesterday) But reflecting on Angela’s last paragraph I am reminded that I do still have my children (tho’ they not with me this week) and I certainly have a relationship with them that is no less loving, rich and interesting than ever it was.
And besides, about 90% of my perfume collection has been acquired SINCE my marriage broke up, so there’s something to celebrate too!
Thanks for the past Angela.
I’m glad you have something wonderful to celebrate–your children. Plus, who knows what amazing possibilities are out there?
Lovely post…thank you!
I wore OJ Champaca today, as my sweetie bought me a bottle for Valentine’s Day. (I’m not sure if I like it *better* than Ormonde Woman, mind you, but I like it just as much…and he really likes it too. Compromise, love, and luxury fragrance combined made this a perfect Valentine’s Day!)
Those are both my favorites of the line! What a terrific gift.
what a wonderful Valentine’s Day gift to all of us, thanks Angela!
This was an Ubar day, the last drop from the tiniest of samples in my collection.
You’re welcome! You chose a wonderful fragrance for celebrating. Ubar reminds me so much of spring.