/ˈsəndrē/
noun
plural noun: sundries
- various items not important enough to be mentioned individually."a drugstore selling magazines, newspapers, and sundries"
It really is a sundry post. I even had a virtual drugstore shopping experience during the writing of this post On top of completing hurricane preparedness, I’ve fallen down a few rabbit holes the past few days. Feeling under the weather, haha, it’s been slow going, but I really did make arrangements for a worse case scenario. In restful moments, I googled perfumes, perfume spokesmodels, and Linda McCartney (her birthday was last week).
I have a few friends on social media who also love perfumes, and it’s fun when they post about one I know. Looking back, it’s interesting to think about how you perceived the scent during its time in your life. For example, Heaven Sent. I loved that one when it was made by Helena Rubenstein, before it was bought and changed by Dana. The perfumer’s 1970’s commercials were made for teen and preteen girls, and they certainly captured my imagination. Even after all these years, the fact that it was my first perfume love, it still does. All my web searches led me to purchase a vintage bottle on eBay, exactly like the last one I’d had. Will I regret it? Even if it’s not something I’ll still wear, I look forward to sniffing it from time to time to let it bring back memories. I’ll recall walking in the snow one night, to see Dr. Zhivago at the Avalon theater with my friend Kim, who wore it before I ever had a bottle of my own. Her maroon and ivory scarf was rich with that scent, and I asked her what it was. I remember that scarf because it was handmade, I think, and I’d never seen hand crocheted or knitted things before. It was very nicely made. I think we both sprayed some of her perfume on before we left her house one snowy evening in our jeans, desert boots, and midi coats. I think my mom got a bottle for me that Christmas. Another fond memory of this fragrance is the scent of our living room in the apartment on Minnesota I shared with my first husband. I’d bought, probably a splurge, a sea blue, Heaven Sent perfumed crescent moon candle. We didn’t burn it because it was a really beautiful candle. I kept it on an old wooden silverware box with a rabbit skin on top. This arrangement sat on an antiqued red desk, along with a vase of dried sea oats. It was a joy for me to do this bit of decorating, something I loved from a young age. We had little, but I enjoyed that. Arranging things.
Heaven Sent was a warm amber based perfume. It would not remain my favorite from the era, though. (That love is reserved for Love’s Fresh Lemon) The website fragrantica describes Heaven Sent this way:
“Heaven Sent by Helena Rubinstein is an Amber Floral fragrance for women. Heaven Sent was launched in 1941. Top notes are Orange, Neroli, Mint, Bergamot and Amalfi Lemon; middle notes are Rose, Carnation, Ylang-Ylang and Lily-of-the-Valley; base notes are oak moss, Musk, Amyris, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Benzoin and Patchouli.”
This whole topic came about because a friend posted about Revlon’s Ciara, a perfume that came along much later, but was very popular during the 70’s-80’s. We were discussing Lauren Hutton as the spokesmodel used for that scent and we both agreed she wasn’t the best choice. She was such a free spirit, adventurous and modern with a mischievous glint in her eye. Ciara isn’t like that. It’s more voluptuous or experienced, someone’s inner feelings, in a way. She wasn’t the right fit. (Also, she had a very long contract with Revlon, so that’s likely the reason they chose her) In that same conversation we agreed that Marion Cotillard is the perfect new face for Chanel No 5. A good match isn’t just about looks, and it is satisfying for perfume lovers.
Back to Heaven Sent. Cybil Shepherd had been a spokesmodel for Heaven Sent in the 70’s when it was marketed to younger women, previously it was aimed at women in general, who could either buy it for themselves, or receive it as a gift. It was created in 1941, which I hadn’t realized before.Another 1970’s adWhat can I say? It smelled great, and if your nose and brain were so wired, and you were fond of perfumes, plus you were an impressionable imaginative early teen… You might have loved it, too.I still remember this catchy ad:And for a bit of trivia, I guess Quentin Tarantino, might like it too:Linda McCartney, it was her birthday last week. I always loved Linda and was made so happy by the idea of the family she created with Paul. I went on a long tour of her wonderful photography. Great human, and it made me wonder if she liked a perfume. She was very natural. And I’d think she’d have loved patchouli oil. That’s my next rabbit hole. I never found out which perfume Lauren Hutton liked in real life, but I bet she’d like patchouli, too. I love the stuff. That’s for another post another time. Enjoy something that smells greet today, and stay safe.
Comments
Post a Comment