Perfume Nostalgia

By Blythe

My mom and I recently sorted through a bunch of boxes that had belonged to my late grandmother. Midway through our excavation, I opened a box of jewelry, expecting a bunch of Avon necklaces and stick pins, when out wafted a cloud of scent that brought happy tears to my eyes. Memories of my grandmother's soft skin and silky grey hair filled my head as her perfume, White Shoulders, filled my nose.

(image credit: amazon.com)

I have plenty of great memories of my grandmother (her fried chicken, her oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and her frightening driving skills), and I have been lucky enough to inherit many of her possessions, including furniture and jewelry. But it took her perfume to make me feel like she was right next to me. Sense memory is funny like that.

I've had similar experiences when I am in a room where someone is wearing my mom's signature scent (Estee Lauder's Youth Dew), or when I smell the perfume my best friend wore in high school (Exclamation by Coty, which I can't believe is still around). Ralph Lauren Polo takes me straight back to middle school summer camp dances.

What scents inspire your favorite memories?

Comments

[J]

White shoulders does it for me, too. I keep a bottle of it that I never wear myself...I just smell it whenever I am missing my mother. I remember her getting dressed for church or dinner with my dad and powdering herself with White Shoulders powder with that big pink fluffy puff with the satiny bow after her shower. Do people do that anymore? I used to think that was the height of lady-like.

[Mavsmom]

I had a college professor who wore Polo Cologne and smoked Marlboro Reds and there was just something about that combination that was great. I hadn't thought much about it until about a year ago when I walked passed a coworker and smelled the same combination: Marlboros and Polo. As soon as I got back to my desk, I was texting my college friends to share a memory of "Dr. Dan."

[Jessica]

I don't know what kind of perfume my high school drama teacher wore, but a woman I go to church with was wearing it yesterday and I was reminded of my teacher instantly. It's amazing to me how powerful your scent memory can be!

[Blythe]

I love these stories!

[Erica_H]

Aaaah! My mom wore White Shoulders too. I mean, she's still alive. She just doesn't wear it anymore. So I guess it reminds me of....the eighties. In a nice nostalgic way.

Also, I'm just going to throw out Malibu Musk for the 1991 fans in the house.