I've been thinking a lot about motherhood lately. Noticing more and more how my mannerisms reflect those of my mother...how her mannerisms reflect her mother. Realizing this little girl I cherish so much will one day reflect me and my mannerisms. And knowing that my son already does.
When I think of my childhood memories of my mom and grandmother, I always remember how good they smelled. Always the same - and there was great comfort in that. My mom will forever smell like Jergens lotion in my mind. Granny smelled of Vaseline Intensive Care lotion and gardenias. When I came home from the hospital last month, my mother-in-law left a bottle of Vaseline Intensive Care lotion in my bathroom. I immediately slathered some on my hands (parabens be damned) so that I could smell my Granny, and I almost burst into tears as I breathed in deep the familiar scent.
I wonder what smell my children will remember me by?
I have had a love affair with Chanel Coco Mademoiselle for over a decade now. I was first introduced to it by my friend's mother - it was her favorite perfume and I loved how it lingered in the air. I hoarded samples of this perfume and used them sparingly as a 20 year old on a college student budget. Eventually I bought myself my first bottle one spring break. It was the first non-essential, non-emergency item I ever put on a credit card. But I would wager that bottle of perfume spared me many wasteful expenditures in the long term.
You see, I would spray an indulgent spritz of perfume on my way out the door to go shopping. Since there weren't many things to do in Waco, browsing at the mall quickly became my favorite way to pass time and I inevitably always spent money. Even if it was just $5 or $10, small amounts add up quickly. But scents can be a mood changer, and when I wore Coco Mademoiselle, I felt rich - like I already had everything in the world I could possibly need. Sales no longer held their sway, and I would happily browse any store and leave without spending a dime.
Many things have changed since my college days. I still think scent can have a strong effect on your mood, but I no longer use perfume to curb excessive spending. I've flirted with other fragrances and I even perused Nordstrom this past week in hunt of a new "signature" scent. I brought home samples of Hermes and Diptyque which I've worn over the last few days. They smell lovely, heavenly even, but I'm not swayed.
So what scent will my children remember me by? What can I say - the heart wants what it wants. My guess is a mixture of coffee and Chanel. Some things never change.
