One of mine – I don’t know why – is Nina by Nina Ricci (1987). A very soapy, green, mimosa blackcurrant aldehyde with a classic vetiver moss musk base, it captured my heart when I first smelled it nearly forty years ago – and still takes me to a calm, almost Hellenistic place of classical refinement.
I brought it into hospital with me.
Although yesterday was horrible : I couldn’t feel either of my legs for two hours and was convinced I was paralyzed – even the nurses looked concerned – gradually, I had a ghostly phantom limb sensation under the druggy severance, and could eventually move my ankles and toes.
It was forbidden, but I was wearing some Nina on my left wrist.
Oh Neil, I was thinking about you and hoping the surgery was successful. I never imagined you would be posting the day after! What a horrible fright. I am so glad that the feeling is returning. Your poor body has been assaulted so much lately it is not surprising it is taking a little time to come to. And if wearing perfume as aromatherapy helps, then do it!
I am surprised that I can’t recall Nina. I used to wear Farouche and Fleur de Fleurs (and even L’Air du Temps when at school), but for some reason never even bothered to sniff Nina, but I think I would like it. My comfort scent used to be Le Dix. Haven’t really settled on another yet.
Best wishes for a very speedy recovery after this initial slow start. x
No I was actually writing yesterday a few hours after coming round – just in my notebook.
I ADORE Farouche and Fleurs De Fleurs – there is nothing like classic Nina Ricci for that marblesque elegance ( I respect L’Air Du Temps, but there is something a bit pheromonal about the musk).
Nina – this is a blend of vintage parfum, eau de parfum, eau de toilette and bergamot oil I made – is just a delight. Staid, conservative perhaps – in a way, deathly dull and outdated for 1987 – but it has a sylvan stillness and timelessness – a maternal embrace I find supremely comforting. It does turn, though, and should never be bought in vaporisateur as it is guaranteed to be off – but if it is a boxed glass flacon – I ADORE the tactility of the frosted glass, how it feels in the hand, then I heartily recommend trying it. I usually wear Farouche on my right wrist and Nina on the left and flit sighingly between them.
By the way, I could FEEL that you were wondering – which is why I posted
You are unstoppable!
You are so right about turning … I have been disappointed more than once in purchases of Farouche in cannisters.
Hah! I had a large collection of items of frosted glass items as I love the look and feel of it too. Haven’t seen it since we moved. Not worth anything, and I had actually forgotten about it till you reminded me. Perhaps I will come across it one day.
Ugh, someone sharing, that’s a great shame.
Breathe deeply of your Nina, and get better soon.
Thank you
Apparently today is the most painful day
Forbidden comfort is double solace.
I send you all my thoughts of friendly fragrance.
My very ancient one is the smell of sheets dried on the grass in sunny weather. And lying on them afterwards. Also the crisp texture, sound and whiff in the nose of new cotton sheets. Maybe stemming from my childhood.
In perfume It fluctuates along with my mood. Definitely the treeish bath salts. And the downy, spicy fragrances. And I get a lot of comfort walking on my street and smelling whatever is blooming in nature.
Ah, nature !
so unavailable in this room – unfortunately there is another person in here so I can’t do any of my curtain swishing natural light shenanigans
the smell of a grassy lawn really does represent the freedom of eternity
Thank you for reminding me of it
Dear Neil, a speedy & succesful recovery, and no lasting pain! How very petty to forbid fragrance! Use it — and if someone asks wherher you’re wearing perfume, think if Nancy Reagan and her immortal dictum: „Just say no.“
!
But if you lived here and were truly under the membrane you can FEEL that perfume is wrong
Wearing a bit is fine though – and it really did calm me !
Sending wishes for a full and speedy recovery.
My comfort is Lyn Harris’s Ink. It is my safe place. The scent of ink on paper with a notes of Vetiver. It is true comfort, like your words and your wonderful book that I have read over and over again. Wishing you the very best.
Thank you very much indeed. Honoured. Gives me inspiration to continue with my next one! I love vetiver massively – will have to check out Ink when I can move again.
Arigato
What a scare – hopefully the worst is over and you make a full recovery! Not sure what I’d sneak into a hospital, but if no risk of nausea, maybe something like Cacao Porcelana by Atelier Materi. Warm like a cashmere sweater, yet cool and reassuring that things are “in order.”
Sounds good .. I am so out of the loop now I of course haven’t even heard of this let alone smelled it
Anything even VAGUELY cacao-ish, or even cashmere-ish, would chime very wrongly in this environment – maybe better as a cozy homecoming !
I just walked like a forest crone with the zimmer – assisted by the capable physio
– so feel there has been some progress
Thanks for the encouragement.
You’re right, I don’t think that scent profile would mix with ambient hospital smells at all. A cozy homecoming is something to look forward to. Progress is progress – gambatte!
Progress is divine when you start from a zero point of paralysis : a hateful scenario
Can’t wait to get going again on Monday – get me back on that zimmer frame NOW !
Neil, I am so sorry for the pain you are experiencing! I can relate, as I had lower lumbar fusion surgery 6 years ago. It was traumatic; I wasn’t at all prepared for the level of pain I was experiencing, and the helplessness I felt at not being able to do anything for myself.
I have two comfort scents, in fall/winter it is vintage Nuit de Noel and in spring/summer it is Un Matin D’Orage. They are both so beautiful and calming to me.
I wish you a very speedy recovery and hold best wishes for you.
P.S. I’m so disappointed that I am (so far) unable to find your book here in the US. I couldn’t buy it when it first came out (some financial challenges at that time) and I deeply regret that. If you happen to know of any US bookstores that would have a copy please let me know whenever you feel better as I would love to order a copy. I really love your writing. Even though I rarely comment, reading your beautiful posts has given me great pleasure throughout the years.
That is absolute music to my ears – thank you so much. Sometimes a person can have a dip in confidence so that buoys me up.
Yes, to be honest, my publisher should have done another printing. I was doing an event in Honolulu two years ago but there weee no copies to be had for the bookshop. It is sold out now, and something of a collector’s item I have heard – which I suppose is something I can be proud of.
Lumbar fusion sounds hideous. I have a lumbar catheter in as we speak. I hope you are no longer in pain and the surgery was successful.
This morning I have been feeling that mine wasn’t – but the physio has assured me I am doing ok considering that it is only two days after the operation.
G A M B A R I M A S U
Ps I love Nuit De Noel – only have a bit left now but love to have a sultry comforting sniff every now and again
Matin D’Orage always freaked me out with that guaiac ginger and I could never smell anything else
Is the gardenia prominent on top for you ?
The gardenia note in Un Matin ‘Orage is not a prominent top note for me; I think initially I was more aware of the milky tuberose, then I became aware of the myrrh and vanilla. I really love this one and I’m wearing it in today’s scorching summer heat which is currently 92 degrees Fahrenheit! It soothes me.
I really hope you’re feeling better, that lumbar catheter sounds horrible.
Well I do have good news regarding your obtaining your book, I’m happy to say! After a lengthy process of trying to find it online via various bookstores, libraries, etc. I decided I would be willing to buy it used if I could find it, and I did, on ebay. It is 2.5 times the original price but at l can finally read it! I am very excited to receive your book. It’s coming from across the country so I should get it in a week’s time.
Have you heard of Bangkok based Tada Perfumeur? I buy some of my fragrances from ZGO Perfumery in San Francisco and they are currently carrying the line. The latest collection is called Reminisce of Nippon, based on his travels. It sounds intriguing.
Actually I have a full bag of their samples at home waiting to write about: I may already have done a review or two.
Glad you got the book – but don’t expect too much ! It was rushed, there were internal conflicts, and it is now completely out of date.
Hopefully it has moments still though of pleasure and escape. Do let me know
My comfort scent is still the original Hiris by Hermes. Back in the day I could afford to buy perfume and back-up bottles of my favorites, so I still have a couple bottles of Hiris.
What a gorgeous one to have. I love it too. Melancholic, but soothing and serene, cool and gentle – you have got me craving it !