priya.cardamomin Giving Fragrance · Toronto ·
ExerciseA scent portrait in five smells, no names
Thread of the week: a scent portrait of someone on your gift list, done before you set foot in a shop. It's the exercise from the Class on giving fragrance without guessing, and nothing goes on skin.
1) Write down five smells that person seeks out: what they cook, grow, drink, light or wear.
2) Gather what you can on a plate and smell each one, stepping away in between.
3) Translate each into a family (peel for citrus, lavender for fougère, vanilla for amber, a pencil for woody) and post the two families that come up most. No names, please.
Over to you.
13 comments
kemi.cocoa
My mum: cocoa, nutmeg, Sunday rice and peas, the cocoa butter on her hands and the sorrel she steeps at Christmas. Amber, amber, amber, then floral. No surprises there.
hamish_heather
Did my da: peat smoke, wet dog, oatcakes, old oak and the heather on the hill. Woody and leather, ken. Hard to loose that.
joon.yuzu
My partner came out citrus, then woody.
- green tea
- lime on everything
- cut basil
- the cedar shoe rack
- rice cooker steam
Basically a citrus person who lives in a cedar box.
mags.lavender
I did my granddaughter: strawberry lip balm, the lavender bags I sew her, clean washing, hot chocolate and the dog. Alot of amber with a fougère poking through. Lovely exercise.
priya.cardamom
That pairing already says something soft with a lavender thread through it, Mags.
mo_from_leicester
My dad: cardamom tea, rose water in the kheer, his cricket bag, mustard oil and the incense at the mandir. Amber with rose, I think. Not bad for a man who says he doesn't like perfume.
juniper_jules
Did my partner. Cedar shavings, wet clay, coffee, rosemary from the porch and woodsmoke. Woody, more woody then I thought anyone could be.
mel_from_adelaide
Did my sister: lime, wet slate, Riesling, jasmine on her fence, sunscreen. Citrus, then floral.
dex_in_brooklyn
ok so my chef: burnt sugar, smoked paprika, espresso, his leather knife roll, oranges. you're looking at amber and leather, no question
ingrid_berlin
My sister: violet pastilles, clean sheets, black tea, snow on the balcony, pencil shavings. Floral, then woody. A very quiet track, almost no treble.
rafa_azahar
My mother in Seville: the blossom of the orange trees in our street, olive oil, the incense of Holy Week, lemons and jasmine. Floral and citrus, like the city.
kemi.cocoa
Ha. Mine is going in a card so I remember it when I shop.
ollie.grapefruit
My girlfriend came out citrus and pepper, same as me. Probably why we get on.