Writing about scent is like dancing about...embroidery. Or something.

[mollyringle]

Sometimes I sit down and say to myself, "What I really want is a perfume with notes of artemisia, young bamboo, cucumber, tea rose, peony, gardenia, cardamom, and sandalwood." Well, okay, I never say that, not least because I don't know what artemisia or young bamboo smell like. But it sure sounds elegant, and for some reason I love reading the descriptions of the various fragrance notes in scents. That list comes straight from the little piece of paper, in 9 languages, that is packaged with Shiseido's "Relaxing" fragrance, which is my latest cosmetic happiness. Apparently I like "green" fragrances - Victoria's Secret used to have this cucumbery scent (Tranquil Breezes) that I just loved, and got so many compliments on, but the idiots discontinued it. Sure, they kept all their over-sweet fruity-floral perfumes, but abandoned the one I liked. *sigh* Anyway...

I've also liked marine/aquatic type scents (still rather fond of Cool Water), and have a soft spot for some florals. Orientals are not me, citrus usually doesn't smell as good as I'd hope, and I have mixed feelings about the chypre/mossy/earthy ones. In general I'm more forgiving of men's fragrances, because they aren't as sweet and cloying and chemical. Older guys tend to wear nicer scents than younger guys, in my experience: the younger guys go for the overpowering citrusy/sporty things, whereas older guys go for mellower, relaxing, spicy scents. (I will take this opportunity to say, however, that jedmiller, though of the younger generation, smelled really good when we met that one time.) :)

I may not be able to recognize notes of artemisia, vertiver, or moss yet, but toying with fragrance oils over the years has brought to my attention the surprising fact that a lot of guys' fragrances and deodorants use lavender as a main note. Lavender, despite its reputation as a girly flower, is actually classed as an herbal scent, and adds a bracing clean note that mixes quite well with other "masculine" scents. So perhaps it isn't so emasculating of slash writers to keep putting lavender fragrance oil on Frodo. ;)

Talk about a great segue...
In case you didn't know, the hobbit guys are hot.

They're also funny: Lest anyone still thinks Dom & Elijah are a couple (well, I guess they *could* be, but the hobbits are making an awful lot of jokes about it if so), check out this snickerable passage from Premiere magazine (Dec '03/ Jan '04):

---

When Wood excuses himself from the table, Monaghan cocks his head and seizes the moment. "All right. While Elijah's away..." he says, looking over his shoulder as Wood disappears.

"He cried a lot," Astin confides, speaking of Wood's experience spending 15 months shooting the Lord of the Rings trilogy in New Zealand.

"He was always crying," Astin continues as Boyd shakes his head, looking grim. "We were always consoling him."

"He missed his mom. He missed L.A.," agrees Monaghan. "He had a blanket that he forgot."

Astin adds, "He would say, 'I don't think I can make it, you know, I...'"

"'...need you guys, I need YOU,'" Monaghan completes the sentence with a frown.

"'Nobody understands me,'" Astin continues. "Sad, really. Pitiful."

"'Am I straight? Am I gay? Why am I confused?'" Monaghan says, imitating his fellow hobbit.

"'Why won't Dom touch me anymore?'" Astin says.

"'Why do I feel this way?'" Monaghan echoes.

"'Why won't he look at me that way?'" Astin whines. "'For the first three months, it was constant attention--and now what?'"

"'Do you know if Billy's single?'" Monaghan recalls Wood saying. "'Do you know...'"

---

Hee hee. I'm so glad they're willing to make slash jokes about themselves. It eases my guilt considerably.

Comments

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

They play off each other so well. They should star together in movies constantly for the rest of their careers. No bias in that opinion of mine; nope, none at all. :)

[darthbeckman.livejournal.com]

Billy Boyd plays a member of the crew in "Master and Commander." Samantha leaned over and whispered to me, "Hey! That's the guy in the hobbit movie!" Yes dear, the hobbit movie, lol.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

That's pretty much how I view it: the hobbit movie. :)
I've kept an eye out for Billy in the M & C previews, but haven't spotted him yet. How's the film? Worth seeing?

[darthbeckman.livejournal.com]

One of the best films of the year. Possibly the greatest film ever made that takes place in the age of fighting sail. A must see.

[bluekarma42.livejournal.com]

Ha, when I first read that I thought your current mood read "Slitting my wrists," and I wondered just how bad a perfume could get... ;)

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Hee, cute icon. (Inspires me to use my own Star Wars one.)

The slitting of wrists would be for the perfume sample I tried yesterday, which came free with the Shiseido. It was some Italian thing and it smelled absolutely horrid. Maybe it was just my body chemistry, but this scent was of the "Ew, yuck, ack, get it off get it off get it off!" variety of fragrances. Ahem. :)

[jewelsong.livejournal.com]

I love these guys. I really, really do.

[dirae.livejournal.com]

I actually purchase men's colognes for my own fragrances since they seem more suited for my overall taste that is an oriental woodsy type of scent:

I recently picked up a scent by Escada called "Casual Friday" (por homme) that smells like sandalwood, lavender, soft patchouli, with lower notes of vanilla, anise, lemongrass, bergamot and clove. Manly scents comfort me.

Also, a number of Bath and Body Works Aromatherapy Massage Oils and Essential Oils are grand: Bay Leaf Rose, Eucalyptus Spearmint and Lavender Vanilla being my favs.

On a sidenote, I gave my students a Photoshop assignment in my magazine production class – it had to do with photo manipulations and whatnot. Anyway, one of my hobbit-minion students loves Elijah Wood and George Stephanopolous (sp?), thus she created a very cozy image of Elijah with his arm wrapped around a Georgie-boy. Cute couple, I must say. Perfect height for one another. Kevon and I added a few images in the background - see who else you can discover behind the two. :)

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

I may have to branch out to the guys' stuff too, then, if it's considered kosher. When I was in Scotland - without Steve, and thus without cuddly male companionship for a matter of some 3 months - I bought and started wearing a men's cologne (Aramis). Ended up giving the bottle to my dad, who has a vast collection of aftershaves and scents, but I still like most of those warm spicy manly fragrances. Clove is especially comforting. I guess I've already posted about how I like to drink it in tea form...:)

I've also heard that guys find food scents the most appealing (on women), thus the popularity of vanilla and spices and fruits in the fragrance world. I may have to try out some of the chocolate- and coffee-based scents out there - bet that would be yummy if done right. This Shiseido one is definitely of the feminine & fresh variety; it mostly makes me smell clean, and as if I've used a very nice soap in becoming so. Something actively tasty would be nice to add to the arsenal. Gah; I'm such a scent hound.

Hmm, Elijah certainly out-cutes Stephanopoulos. (Big surprise there.) And I think I spot Courtney Love to the left, Britney Spears (?) to the right, and...can't tell who's in the middle, but the blond one looks kind of like Rick Schroeder...

[dirae.livejournal.com]

Courtney, Britney and a altered mug-shot photo of Wynonna Judd (arrested for DUI) - She's the chick beside the guy who looks like Rick Schroeder. :D

I'm just glad she didn't use any Elijah-shower photos to create some kind of prison scene slash-art...

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Prison slash art...oh gawd...

"Elijah Wood makes guest appearance on 'Oz'...how many seconds will his character last? Find out at 10:00!"

(Never actually seen 'Oz,' but I hear there's a lot of shower rape and stuff.)

[(Anonymous)]

I'm quite fond of a perfume from The Body Shop called Spirit of Moonflower. It's officially described as "top notes of linden blossom, freesia and cucumber; secondary notes of moonflower and cyclamin, with a base of jasmine and lily". Despite the jasmine and freesia, it's not as overwhelmingly saccharine as it sounds. It's really quite subtle and light.

Heh, I was just at theonering.net before and I was reading that article, and the first thing I thought as a read that slashy section was "Molly's going to love this". I couldn't stop laughing. Those hobbit lads are incredible.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Might have to look into that scent. I've definitely liked freesia perfumes in the past, and jasmine sometimes as well.

"Molly's going to love this".
*sigh* I'm so predictable. How sad. ;)

[jennae.livejournal.com]

I've always wondered why my favorite fragrances get axed (I'm of the green persuasion as well) while flowery shit lingers like grandma. I do not get it. *sigh* I also love the descriptions - wanted to be a tag line writer, much like Elaine Benes in her J Peterman job. Yeah. That would be the best job ever.

Another note, *I* used to wear Cool Water and Men's Liz Claiborne for a long time. I like the men's Cool Water much more than the women's. I guess I'm weird.

Premiere mag bit: Brilliant.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

I may have to look into the men's Cool Water. Maybe it's less sweet? That was one of my few complaints about the women's version: it did sometimes have a slightly headache-inducing strength. At least this Shiseido stuff fades to subtlety pretty fast.

[jennae.livejournal.com]

Oh the men's is definately less sweet. I much prefer it. I could sit and smell myself all night if wearing that. :)

[rachel2205.livejournal.com]

Very funny :)

I love perfume too - I need more! I always wear some of the stuff, for it helps me feel groomed.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Yes, I feel much cleaner and prettier if I know I smell good. Plus, smelling good is an absolute requirement in the opposite sex, if I'm to be attracted to someone. (i.e., I'd take a mediocre-looking guy who smelled good over a handsome guy who smelled bad, any day. Assuming personalities were comparable and all that.) ;)

[bluesound.livejournal.com]

Ah smells. I remember Siggy telling me I should smell nice and got me some hugo boss stuff, a small silver ball with an orange line around the middle. I was quite surprised, it actually smells nice I thought it would be vile. She on the other hand likes to go for Kenzo's 'Flower' or 'l'eau par kenzo' or one called 'miracle' or j'adore. Again they don't smell vile either.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

"He's Hugo and he's boss..." Isn't that a Blur line? :)

I have some J'Adore around here as well. Was quite taken with it for a while there. Lately it's struck me as too sweet, but I did admire how sophisticated it made me feel.

[jedmiller.livejournal.com]

Hey! Thanks! Gosh. While I recover from this unsought compliment from a treasured corner, a few disclaimers. First, the restaurant at the EMP had just extinguished a building-clearing grill fire, so you may have smelled seared cilantro, not me. Second, I forget if we traded driver's licenses but my "younger guy" cred is definitely on the wane, at least that's how it's been feeling these days...

But, your nose did not deceive you. A freebie from a friend in the beauty biz hooked me on Chanel's eau-de-toilette "Égoiste" a couple of years ago, and now and then a ridiculously small amount is dabbed. Prompted by your post, I did some research and learned that it apparently contains Lavender, Rosemary, Petit Grain (dunno), Sage, Geranium and, per Mme. C., "a Cedar note" as "final punctuation." (So you're true to your word re. the spice thing.)

My preference in women's scents tends toward citrus, but those are almost inevitably too sweet, so I think a note of incense can lend some much-needed gravitas.

p.s. For laughs, definitely go to chanel.com and check out the full prose "profile" of Égoiste.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Heheh. It definitely wasn't seared cilantro. Though I'm sure that would make a lovely dry-down note. The other description (lavender, herbs, et al - I don't know what Petit Grain is either) sounds more like it. Egoiste! Aha! Isn't that the one with the commercials where the women are shouting the name angrily out their elegantly-shuttered windows? At least it was a memorable ad campaign. :) And that description - hehe! I wonder if any guys read that and say, "Ah: defiantly independent; confident in his tastes. That is me. I shall buy this fragrance."

I seem to have a favorable impression of Chanel so far, though. Mom's #5 was always lovely, of course, and I've been meaning to sample their Coco as well, since apparently it smells sort of chocolatey, and that's got to be a good thing.

Well, no, we didn't trade driver's licenses, but I doubt you're in your late 40s or above, which is what I class as "older". If you are, you simply must share your youth-preserving secrets with us.

[jedmiller.livejournal.com]

you simply must share your youth-preserving secrets with us

Oh, come on that's such a softball! Won't share it! It's mine. My own!