smell this: Hermès, Vétiver Tonka

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The rich earthiness of vetiver never fails to attract me, even in its less palatable interpretations (straight vetiver essential oil, for example, is incredibly powerful and basically unpleasant to smell. It has to be significantly diluted for use in perfumery…still I am drawn in).  I have smelled many now (and there are many to smell – there was a good guide to vetivers on Perfume Posse a bit ago) and really two stand out for me well above the rest. The first is Guerlain Vetiver (1961), which is a clean, unclouded, classic  vetiver, crisp and bright with an effect not unlike that of citrus while being so much more interesting than citrus. Wonderful on anyone, especially on me this summer.

The second is Vétiver Tonka from the Hermessence line by Hermès in-house perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena (of whom I am a great admirer). This is simply one of the best smelling things I have come across. Here the earthy quality of vetiver is offset by the sweet caramel of tonka bean, which I often think of as a mild, toasted vanilla scent. Scent is subjective, so it may just be the perfect storm of hazelnut, vetiver, and a touch of sweetness that makes this smell, for me, like that of some gorgeous otherworldly fruit at the moment of ripened perfection. My reaction is the biological opposite of our instincts to avoid the poisonous and the rotten. I want to approach it, to move ever closer to it, to consume it. It is me. The experience of smelling something you find without fault, something you truly like, without any effort or doubt, is a moment of recognition. It is me with the edges softened and sweetened, rather me shown truly as I am and not as I seem.

But you might like it, too.

The longevity is not excellent but I reason, trusting in Jean-Claude, that this is because if it were any better, the result wouldn’t smell as good. So I don’t care.

If you are near an Hermès boutique, investigate. Many of the other fragrances are wonderful as well. They give generous samples, which will comfort you when you learn the price. I plan to get the discovery set one of these days, with all four slots given to Vétiver Tonka.

 

neon with ice cream

It started with wanting to wear these neon yellow [P-Heaven] flats from Steve Madden. I am not entirely behind the annual summer neon rush* but when confined to the realms of shoes, nails, and exercise gear… maybe certain accessories, I can support a bit of neon.

*personally, I mean. As one friend from Alabama’s mom says: to each it’s own.

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Then [perfect day for it – a gorgeous Memorial Day] I wanted ice cream. In a waffle cone.

Off I went to get the ingredients. Of course, this day just happened to be the day that I discovered that my ice cream scoop was broken (whaaa? Nooo! Awww.). The handle of the ice cream scoop is about as key as you would expect, which amount of keyness is: extreme. BUT I PERSEVERED.

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Ben & Jerry’s Imagine Whirled Peace, exorbitantly priced organic waffle cone, Swatch watch. I almost forgot I had this watch. The ticking is slightly audible so I put it in my sock drawer a couple of months ago…it’s great for this summery girl-next-door kind of look, though. Not that I’ve self-identified as a ‘girl’ for a while.

On the nails: Sally Hansen in Lacey Lilac.

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American Apparel U-neck tank (this kind of generous scoop neck tank is my preferred style), Zara shorts. Cheap eBay version of my other orange mirror sunglasses.

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The cone did not disappoint. Note to self: the act of eating ice cream is not photogenic.

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