Beauty Gems - Scent of a Woman

I’ve been wearing the same perfume for more than 20 years. Roland bought my first bottle while we were still dating. I remember walking around Sandton City; simply wide-eyed and taken by all the glitz and glamour of it all. I knew nothing of make-up and perfume and the only fragrance I wore came out of an aerosol can. It was a moment that I would never forget. I was so young and immature, and this was just a treat. It was a glimpse into this world of extravagance, something that I’d never experience before. I walked around the store, hopelessly disguising my inexperience, and we found a pleasant middle-aged saleswoman, who saw right through me and her comforting smile put me right at ease. She continued to show me these bottles of perfumes. At first, I wasn’t sure what I liked but then, as if heaven opened and whispered its name, I found the perfect one: Eternity, from Calvin Klein. It was love at first smell and that encounter has grown into a lifetime love affair with the scent that has become ‘mine’.  

Eternity by Calvin Klein

Calvin Klein introduced Eternity in 1988, almost a decade earlier, by the very famous perfumer Sophia Grosjman who has also created fragrances for Elizabeth Taylor, Estee Lauder, and others. Eternity won the award of Most Successful Women’s Fragrance in 1989 and was inducted into the Fragrance Hall of fame in 2003. The first impression was one of decadence, and I later discovered its wonderful depth as it changes within the course of the day. It lasts all day with just this beautiful musky, earthy smell at the end. I only needed a little to make a statement and everyone around me would be pulled into my dream the moment they walked pass me. The potency has changed somewhat over the years though due to, which I only found out recently, changes in regulations limiting the amount of certain substances. Many fragrances have their roots in Eternity including the recent addition of Eternity Air created by Laurent Le Guernec. 

Photo from pexel.com

All fragrances are made of a mixture of essential oils, alcohol and/or water with perfume having the highest ration of oils to alcohol, at about 22%, and therefore perfume is also more expensive.  Eau de parfum is next, that lays between 15 to 22%; Eau de toilette between 8-15% and Eau de cologne at just 4%. Perfumers blend together oils to create essentially three tones for each fragrance. First you have the Top Tone, which is what gives you that first impression when sampling in the store. Top notes include citrus scents like lemon and bergamot, fruity scents like berries, and herbs like lavender. The Top Notes usually fade and evaporate first, making room for the heart of you fragrance, the Heart or Middle Note. This is the scent that sticks with you most of the day. A combination of fruit and flowers with blends of various spices. And then, the Base Note; this note is the last bits of your fragrance. The smell that lingers to remind you that you’re worth it. Base notes are more ‘woodsy’ and ‘musky’. Eternity’s Top Note includes a mixture of citrus and violet with a middle note of carnation and other florals, ending with a musky sandalwood. 

Photo from pexel.com

Two years ago, I also started using Coco Chanel Mademoiselle. It’s a very light scent with notes of orange, rose and jasmine. While Eternity gives me a sense of lush opulence and a sense of ‘spoiling’ myself, Coco Chanel’s Mademoiselle gives me a fresh daytime feel. Between these two fragrances, they give me just enough variety for any mood I find myself in.  Scents are all about layers; incorporated in ways that create its own unique smell. This, and the fact that no 'one' perfume smells the same on different people, helps create a scent that is unique to you. When I bought that first bottle of Eternity, they gifted me samples of Eternity scented shower gels and lotions. This helped create those layers, as scents evaporate differently when they are incorporated in lotions and creams.

Eternity and Coco Chanel's Mademoiselle

When applying your fragrance, it’s all about bottom up so start at the back of your knees (I know it’s a bit weird). Think, between the elbow crease, wrist (try not to rub your wrist together, apparently it destroys the oils, maybe just dab), behind the ears down the neck line, and cleavage. I like to spray some on my clothes, but it does evaporate very quickly though and, in a way, is a bit of a waste.

The Body Shop Bawadi Mall, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE

There are other ways of adding scent layers by using soaps and lotions infused with similar tones to that of your fragrance. The Body Shop carries a great range of scented products like shower gels and lotions. Their Indian Night Jasmine shower gel and body lotion is simply heavenly. I’d wear it with my Eternity to pick up on its floral notes and add just that extra layer. For my Coco Chanel I found the British Rose bath foam for added pampering. I usually prefer showering, but this foam might just entice me to lay in the tub for a few minutes and roses are my favourite. For a bit of night time scent, I like their Almond Milk body yogurt; simply decadent and oh so good for your skin. It promises 48-hour moisturising effect and it’s good enough for sensitive skin.

Eternity paired with Indian Night Jasmine shower gel and body lotion.

Coco Chanel paired with British Rose bath foam

You can also use essential oils in the same way. Just remember to buy good quality essential oils that can be used on your skin and not those types that are used in lanterns. Lavender oils can be used directly onto your skin, but most others cannot and require a carrier oil. It is safe though to pour a few drops into a bath and few drops on the shower floor, just be careful not to slip on the oil.  

Almond Milk Body Yogurt moisturiser

Perfumes can be expensive but a little goes a long way. Remember that eau de toilette is a great alternative but you’ll have to use a little more or reapply during the day to get the same lasting power as perfume, but great if you just need it to last a few hours. Use soaps and lotions that are scented (again, if you have sensitive skin be cautious and buy products specifically for your skin type). Essential oils are a great addition to your scent experience; take care to store them in a dark place and keep an eye on the expiration date.

Photo from pexel.com

Creating scents and playing with fragrances allow you to express your personality and to be creative. All through the ages perfumes and fragrances have played and important part in culture whether it was used in religious traditions or to improve the quality of skin. I’m sure Eternity from Calvin Klein will remain my signature scent but that doesn’t prevent me from exploring and expanding my scent ‘vault’ and enjoy the extravagance of it all, because I’m worth it.

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💖Always

Leazille

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Send me an email at givingiteverythingandmore@gmail.com and receive updates of new posts. 

Once again, thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with you today. 

All photos taken by Roland Pretorius, unless otherwise mentioned. 

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternity_(fragrance)

http://www.perfume.org/all-about-perfume/what-are-top-notes-heart-notes-and-base-notes-fragrance-notes-explained

http://www.fashion-era.com/perfume_history.htm

https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Calvin-Klein/Eternity-257.html

https://perfumesociety.org/fred/?perfume_id=7091

http://perfumeshrine.blogspot.ae/2011/02/calvin-klein-eternity-original.html

http://www.madehow.com/Volume-2/Perfume.html