A Touch of Hearth & Home~ Seasonal Scents of Love

I think one of the strongest things attached to my memories of this time of year are the scents I associate with Thanksgiving and Christmas. There's comfort and warmth and the feeling of love that emanates from food, from homes, and even those outdoorsy smells we notice less or not at all in the warmer months of the year.

Some of those things are just simply more common to the fall and winter months, so it makes a lot of sense that I would associate things like apples and cinnamon or the sweet luscious mixture of apple cider with brown sugar and other spices- cinnamon as well as clove and nutmeg with the holidays. There's a feeling of comfort in sipping the hot liquid, the slight tingle of the spices on your tongue and in your throat.

As a child, the smell of those mixed apple and orange fruit bags planted me firmly in my grandparents house, peeling back the thick skin on a navel orange and then squeezing the oils so that they spritzed against the side of the wood stove, the sizzle as it hit and the aroma of orange filling the air, nearly burning your eyes with its pungent odor. But man, did it smell so good!

Oranges also smell delicious with whole cloves. Piercing the outer peel with those fragrant little stems fills the house with comfort and reminds me of my mom, who does this often. I just looked it up and found out it's called an Orange and Clove Pomander (here's a tutorial if you feel like being crafty.)

Another favorite smell of mine is pumpkin pie or one of those pumpkin rolls or logs. There's just something about the sweet rich aroma of pumpkin and spices, topped with whipped topping. My mom makes this fluffy Pumpkin Chiffon pie that's to die for! It has a light texture that's more airy than a traditional pumpkin pie, really more of a jelled set pudding pie and it's scrumptious- in aroma and flavor.

Another good one is sweet sugar cookies, baked with vanilla. It's soft and warm, and hints of the care and kindness and love that goes into baking and filling your home with the wonderful goodies, the aroma that greets the kids at the door when they come in on a cold winter afternoon after school.

And let's not forget the great outdoors. Though we'd generally rather stay in at this time of year, there is something wondrous and comforting when you step out into a bitterly cold night- one of those nights where you can almost "smell" the cold- the froze dampness of dead dry leaves and the hint of snow in the air as your breath materializes before you.

I take a deep breath and hold it, latching onto memories of time long past. Nothing hearkens me back to my childhood more than a cold blustery day when I can feel the tingling in my ears and my throat, when the wind stings my eyes. It's times like that when the woodsy odor of pine and cedar fills the air and the comforting tang of wood burning in someone's fireplace or furnace suffuses itself to me, clinging to my clothes and weaving it's way into every fiber of my being.

It's that touch of hearth and home that gets me, every time, that fills me with the knowledge that I'm HOME and I'm LOVED and really, that's what it's all about. (Here are a couple of the great smells I've discovered recently- Air Wick Apple & Shimmering Spice and Air Wick Vanilla Sugar Sparkle. One of Glade's Limited time Winter scents- Nutcracker Crunch, which smells of walnuts and mocha- delicious! Glade's Limited time Fall scent- Maple Pumpkin. Yummy!)

What are YOUR favorite scents this time of year? What brings back fond memories?

Have a SCENTsational Saturday!

The Way to a Man's Heart- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

The Way to a Man's ♥

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

I've been thinking a lot about this and since December will be the last of my SCENTsational Saturdays regarding my own favorites about perfumes and fragrances- Ironic, my favorites worked out to be just the right amount for each month this year when I started doing it.

Starting next year, I'm switching things up and turning Saturdays fully into RECIPE day, so I hope you'll continue to join me through the rest of this year and into next year, as

The Way to a Man's ♥

 gets underway.

Today I'm offering my own version of Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. My tastes have outgrown Campbell's Basic Chicken Noodle, but though Progresso has a decent one with big noodles and chunky veggies, I'd rather have fresh chicken instead of what comes in a can and a person can only eat so much Ramen before the body says- whoa...what's up with all the salt?

 It doesn't hurt that after making this on the fly based on what I thought ought to go in typical homemade chicken noodle soup, my husband and kids love it so much, it gets suggested all the time for the menu, even when we've had it the week beforehand.

So here it is-

Taryn's Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients:

2- 32 oz. Chicken Stock/Broth

2 chicken breasts

1 small onion, diced

3-4 carrots, cut in rounds

3 celery sticks,

1/2 to a whole stick of butter

salt and pepper

12 oz bag Extra Wide Egg Noodles

Water

Crackers

Instructions:

1. Dice onions and cut up celery and carrots
2. Add them to a stove top dutch oven or large pan with 1/2-1 stick of butter
3. Add chicken breasts, broth and pepper
4. Simmer for 2-3 hours until chicken is tender, remove from stock and cut into bite-size pieces, then return to pan
5. Add 2-3 cups water, salt & (more pepper if needed) to taste and entire bag of Egg Noodles
6. Simmer on low-to med until noodles are done, serve with saltines

Have a SCENTsational Saturday!

#SCENTsational Saturdays Favorite Jovan's Vanilla Musk

Another soft scent by Coty. I just discovered this one in the four pack gift set I got last year with Christmas money. I was surprised that I enjoyed it, as usually I prefer a more realistic vanilla scent. If I'm wearing it, I usually prefer to smell like a sugar cookie, but instead this one has subtle tones of cedarwood, sandalwood and musk, giving it a much more exotic fragrance than simply smelling of fresh baked goodies.

We're getting started on these holidays and this inspires me into a different direction musically...

Have a SCENTsational Saturday!

#SCENTsational Saturdays Through the Years~These Moments

I discovered this perfume when I was probably in my late teens at the good ol' Rite Aid and instantly loved it. It was definitely a more mature scent than the other fragrances I wore at the time- Exclamation, Electric Youth, Tribe. They were bold, funky young scents, but this one made me feel like I was growing up and coming into my own as a woman. It had sensual tones and floral notes that made me think of mature love.

I remember using every last drop in the bottle and then when I went back to buy more, it was gone, as though it never existed. I'm sure I could find some sort of knock off or old bottle of it nowadays, but I prefer to remember it simply as a fragrance I "grew up" on.

The perfume came out in 1991, so I'm going to share a couple of songs I really loved back then. ;)

Have a SCENTsational Saturday!

Does your Hero Smell? He Smells like a Memory #poetry

Ironically, this wasn't a cologne worn by anyone I ever knew, but I remember finding a sample scent in a magazine and I tore it out and slept with it under my pillow for a while and then placed it in my underwear drawer. It just smelled so good!

I guess, if I really get down to the nitty gritty of the matter, all the heroes in my novels probably smell like Safari or some equally raw earthy aroma that reminds me of my youth, of young love and the way your heart expands and your stomach pitches when you see that guy who makes your palms sweaty...who you'd recognize simply by the fragrance of him. The thing that makes him "smell like a memory." Our sensory perception lays the foundation for what we're attracted to, what we love, and the type of hero/heroine we're drawn to.

I don't often share my poetry here and I'm honestly not sure if I've shared this poem before or not, but I thought today I would because for me, scent does set off the most vivid of memories, and therefore it opens the door to the things we carry with us, no matter how far we've coming from where we once were to where we are now.

He Smells Like A Memory

HE smells like a memory
A hint of the past

Wrapping itself around my senses 

Jerking me back to a time I had forgotten
I feel the quickening of pulse
The deep vibrations in my core
Rising to roar in my ears
Drawing me to him

He smells like a memory
That makes my mouth water and my palms go damp
My heart aches and my loins tremble
As the visions of a life I once had
Flash through my mind
I catch my breath…

He smells like a memory…
Where has time gone?
It seems I forgot him so easily…
But I haven’t…
Not really
He has always been there
Ever-present in my heart
Waiting for some small detail
To set off the rushing river of emotions
That still tie me to him forever-
Be it an object or a feeling
Or even a scent
Yes, that’s it!

He smells like a memory
Like sensuality and sex
He smells of urgent need
And burning passion
And a love I tried so desperately to release
Still desire flickers and smolders beneath the surface
Yes, he left me…
Left me to face the days and years that came
Without him
Left me to reminisce of what once was
What should have been
What could never be
Yes…
He left me to pick up the pieces of my heart
Each time HE smells like a memory…

(copyright 2009 Taryn Raye)

I'll leave you with a few songs from one of my favorites- Ben Taylor.

Taryn Raye's The Way to a Man's Heart- Stroganoff

 The Way to a Man's ♥

Taryn's Stroganoff

A while back, I got the notion that making beef stroganoff couldn't possibly be that hard and would probably taste better homemade than out of one of the quick dinner boxes or one of those "helper" meals- so I decided to try it myself. This is, of course, another favorite of my husband's and my kids.

Ingredients:
1- 1 1/2 pounds round steak, cubed
1 small onion, diced
1 package of fresh mushrooms, sliced (Your choice)
1 (13-3/4 oz) Can of Beef Broth
salt, pepper to taste
Wide Egg Noodles
2 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour
1 8 oz. of Sour Cream

Instructions:

I prepared the meat, onion, mushrooms, broth, salt and pepper early in the morning for a supper meal. Place all these ingredients in the crock pot and cook on low all day.

Cook noodles (8-12 oz) package until tender, drain water from them.

Drain broth from crock pot into a pan and mix together with the 2 Tablespoons of All-Purpose Flour and the 8 oz. of Sour Cream until thickens and is creamy, then mix all ingredients- meat/onion/mushrooms with noodles and sauce. Add additional salt and pepper to taste, if needed. 

Serve hot and with rolls and a side if you wish.

Have a SCENTsational Saturday!

SCENTsational Saturdays- Favorite 10- Body Fantasies Vanilla

A very soft and sweet vanilla, this body spray calls me home and makes me feel warm and safe. I'm not sure why, but vanilla tones in perfumes make me think of fairy tales and knights on white horses. Perhaps it's the simplistic natural aroma of vanilla that harkens back to homemade cookies and childhood.

I lures me with memories of holidays spent with my family. Of warming my hands next to the fire and the sharp aroma of wood smoke spiraling from a chimney on a cold winter day. It's a scented journey through my youth that gives me inspiration and reminds me of my mom and her encouragement.

I wish you a lovely weekend and a reminder that life is nothing if you don't Try... ;)

Have a SCENTsational Saturday!

#SCENTsational Saturdays- #Autumn in the Air

Autumn is sneaking right upon us. I know a few people who aren't enthused about it, but for me, this is one of the best times of the year. The aromas in the air, the chill infiltrating the heat of summer in the breeze, the quietness across the land that inspires me to be descriptive and poetic in my ramblings. The other morning I had the window up and the only sound I heard was a squirrel sitting on a branch on a tree in the backyard, nibbling on a walnut or something he found worthy of eating now instead of saving and hiding somewhere in the yard, unlike the green walnut I found on the post next to our mailbox where it couldn't have fallen from a tree and conveniently situated itself there. I'll leave it there and see if a squirrel ever comes back for it in the spring. It just seems funny that they'd hide it in plain sight. Silly squirrel!

Earlier this week at the store I got some air freshener that smells like Maple Pumpkin- Lordy! It smells delicious. Normally I go with floral scents or sugar cookie/vanilla & apple and cinnamon. Those are smells that speak to me of the change in season, that hearken back to me the memories of childhood that remind me of home and gathering around the coal stove and eating homemade vegetable soup and chili or oyster soup (milk, butter, salt, pepper and oysters) that my grandma made....

Every morning when my kids get on the bus now, I can smell it in the air...Autumn is coming and it scratches something in my soul that wakes me up. My sense of smell is heightened by the musky odor of the leaves and grass as they die back, taking their greenery with them for a spell. The pungent aroma of brush piles being burned, of bonfires and wood-burning stoves- the earthy tones of decay and hibernation as the earth begins to take her rest from the weary heat of the summer sun. She withdraws into herself while at the same time, drawing us near in the circle of her warmth, beckoning us to retreat indoors.

I inhale deeply the spicy tang, the incense-like crispness that permeates into all things at this time of year, the dying back, the rustic fragrance that takes on a life of its own. Instead of the fresh sweet smell of roses blooming, there is a cloyingly sweet headiness in the air, suffused with the smell of damp earth and cold rains, as the moisture sinks into your bones.

 

I'm reminded of cool Halloween nights, seeing your breath in front of your face as you shivered your way around the neighborhood and the warm smell of neighbors burning wood, the sweet aroma of apples and oranges and chocolates and candies in your bag.

The meaty buttery goodness of turkey baking in the oven for the family's Thanksgiving gathering warms you through, while the zesty smell of basil fills the air while the dressing browns and you give thanks for all you have. One of my favorite things is making a crock-pot full of spiced apple cider, with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves and brown sugar. The aromatic beverage not only tastes good, but it perfumes the house with that sweet spiciness.

Welcome Autumn, I'm glad you're back. I dedicate my first cup of chocolatey good cocoa to you!

What are some of your favorite smells during Autumn? Your favorite memories? Please feel free to share! I'd love to hear your favorites!

Have a SCENTsational Saturday!

#SCENTsational Saturday- The Way to a Man's Heart- Meatloaf

The Way to a Man's ♥
Taryn's Meatloaf

Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef

1 egg

approximately 1/2 cup Quick Oats

Salt & Pepper

Ketchup

1/2 small onion, diced fine

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350º-375º

Mix ground beef, egg, 1/2 cup Quick Oats (enough to make solid but not too much), diced onion, salt and pepper (eyeball it) and generous squirt of ketchup together until it's a moist yet firm loaf. Place in foil lined 9X13 to shape and flatten to thickness you desire. I usually pat it down to nearly fit the pan, leaving 1/2 inch to an inch around so that sides of meat are not touching foil. Usually pat it down to about an inch thickness.

Smear top with generous layer of ketchup and sprinkle with pepper. Fill dish with enough water to surround meatloaf- I do this to keep the meatloaf from burning on the bottom, plus I find it seems to draw the grease away from the meatloaf without detracting from the moistness or flavor.

Bake 45 minutes to an hour. Serve with mashed potatoes and green beans or your favorite meatloaf side dishes.

(Seen served here with sweet peas, brussel sprouts and my Cheesy Bacon Tators)

Have a SCENTsational Saturday!

#SCENTsational Saturdays- Through the Years- Love's Baby Soft

I'd swear this was one of the very first perfumes my parents gave me for Christmas as I was approaching adulthood. Caught somewhere in the middle of being a child and a grown woman, I supposed loves is a very good "transitional" perfume. I haven't smelled it in a while, but I'm tempted to get a bottle of it, just as I did for the can of Skin Musk, which I've really been enjoying. Funny how taking a trip down memory lane is a wonderful reminder of who we were before we became who we are.

This does have a soft powdery scent, but not something so loud that you'd feel suffocated by it's sweet floral and woodsy tones. This perfume was introduced the year before I was born (don't ask)...and is still a very popular fragrance, even now, so it definitely has staying power.

Heck, I might have to get it simply to share the experience with my own daughter. My mother shared it with me and now it's my turn.

I looked up commercials for Love's Baby Soft, but honestly the ones from the 70's were downright embarrassing and silly and there weren't any I could find from when I was growing up in the 80's, so instead I offer you The Supremes...so lovely!

Have a SCENTSATIONAL Saturday!

#SCENTsational Saturdays- Healing Garden Fragrances

 The Healing Garden

I've had this collection for a very long time and it seems from my online search for it, The Healing Garden products still exist, though they are not all the same as they were when I bought these originally. In fact, it would seem that mine were put out by Coty (LOL, isn't EVERY fragrance I own?!?!) but now the line is owned by Calgon instead (Take me away!) (and I do have the Hawaiian Ginger put out by Calgon, and I tried their Moon Petal Musk but gave it to my mom because it didn't smell good on me and gave me a headache.)

These have lasted longer than most regular bottles of perfume though because they're made with essential oil extracts of their ingredients so they've held up well over the past decade and I can still use them now, unlike some perfumes that tend to age poorly and become more alcohol than fragrance.

From left to right are as follows-all mention that its light, silkening conditioners bond with the moisture in your skin, allowing the soothing scent to linger.

1.) lavendertheraphy- relaxation body mist- with natural extracts of lavender flowers, chamomile and valerian.
2.) jasminetheraphy- sensual body mist- with natural extracts of ylang ylang, passion flower and neroli.
3.) junipertheraphy- clarity body mist- with extracts of geranium and ginkgo leaf.
4.) gingerlily theraphy- positivity body mist- with natural extracts of rosemary, cypress and st. john's wort.
5.) tangerinetheraphy- energizing body mist- with natural extracts of tea tree, ginseng, mandarin and balm mint.
6.) green teatheraphy- enlightening body mist- with natural extracts of asian sandalwood, peony petals and everlasting.

The tangerine one was my favorite, as evidenced by the fact that the bottle is nearly empty, but the jasmine comes a close 2nd and the green tea 3rd. Overall, I enjoy each one and find that on days when I need a touch extra to boost my mood, these are wonderful, light scents that don't take themselves, too serious.

Enjoy this relaxing song from Ben Taylor from his Famous Among the Barns album....

We sure could use the Rain....

Have a SCENTsational Saturday!

#SCENTsational Saturdays- Johnson's Softwash

I have such a hard time finding body washes that don't irritate my skin. I want to smell good and feel good, but at what cost?

One body wash I have found that isn't too bad is Johnson's Softwash that I buy for my daughter. It has a very light fragrance and it does moisturize my skin, leaving it smooth rather than dry and itchy. And it lathers good. That's always a plus.

(from the back of the bottle)

Johnson's Softwash

24 Hour Moisturizing Wash

Johnson's- the brand that nurtured you as a baby, as developed a body care line to nurture you again. Johnson's best understands the difference between baby and adult skin and what it takes to keep skin beautifully baby soft,, so they created this rich moisturizing wash enriched with 1/3 creamy lotion. with continued use, it is clinically shown to moisturize skin for 24 hours after you cleanse. The moisturizing wash, with its soft fresh scent, transforms into a creamy, comforting lather that nurtures your skin, then rinses clean for touchable, lasting baby softness. So everyday you can nurture your skin and your senses as you cleanse, for beautiful lasting baby softness.

What body wash is your favorite? Do you have sensitive skin? Anything special you use?

Hope you have a SCENTsational Saturday!

#SCENTsational Saturdays- The Way to a Man's ♥- Meatballs

The Way to a Man's ♥Heart♥

Homemade Meatballs

In my current work-in-progress, Perfect Recipe for Love, Ben runs a restaurant called "Ben There, Ate That" and in one scene, he and the heroine, Sunni, are at the restaurant where she's learning the ropes about cooking. I attribute this very same recipe of mine, to Ben, as he explains to Sunni about growing up with four brothers and a single mom. His creativity in the kitchen had always been a blessing, as his meatball recipe stretched the meat just a little bit farther for their family when money was tight, so they could make two meals out of one. Now he uses it as a signature item on his menu for either spaghetti dishes or sub sandwiches.

I love this scene, as Ben, who's very close-off emotionally, gives Sunni a glimpse into himself and his past. Ben puts love into his food and that, to me, is a quality also about the way to a man's heart. He understands that the best and most delectable foods comes from being passionate about cooking, the love and care that goes into making it and is also proof that he's not as closed-off emotionally as he thinks.

Now, I'm not a fan of store-bought meatballs, because it always puts me in the mind of the Chef Boyardee I ate as a kid. My husband loves meatballs and he's not a fan of store-bought ones either. His mom has a recipe he wants, but she teases that he won't get it until she's gone, so we decided we'd just have to come up with something of our own. (That's something else I've learned about men, or at least my husband- if we create a dish together, it goes straight to his heart, too because it's "ours" and nobody else can claim it.)

I started with the basic ingredients from my meatloaf recipe- the pound of ground beef, onion, egg, then switched out the quick oats I normally use and replaced them with crushed saltines. Then I added Parmesan, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and garlic pepper for flavor and instead of using plain old ketchup I mixed in a little spaghetti sauce to moisten.

Surprisingly, this recipe turned out great the very first time I made it and it went over well with my husband and the kids. In fact, it turns out good every time. It works great for spaghetti and subs.

 

 1 package saltines, finely crushed

1/2-3/4 cup parmesan cheese

Garlic Powder

Italian Seasoning

Garlic Pepper 

1 lb lean ground beef

1 egg

½ of a finely diced sweet onion

1/2-1 cup, approximately, spaghetti sauce

Directions- Preheat oven to 350º

1.)                Crush saltines in Ziploc bag until fine. Add parmesan cheese, a few dashes of garlic powder, Italian Seasoning and Garlic Pepper. (I measure this by eye- as to what I think looks about right.) Seal bag again and shake until mixed thoroughly.

2.)                In large bowl, mix hamburger, egg, diced onion and spaghetti sauce by hand until well combined. Mix in cracker mixture, until it holds together firmly as if you were making a meatloaf.

3.)                Spray foil lined large cookie sheet with cooking spray. Shape into balls and place on cookie sheet. Bake in oven for 15 minutes at 350º. Remove from oven and turn over then bake for another 15 minutes till golden brown.

4.)                Place in large covered pan with spaghetti sauce(I used 2 jars to cover all meatballs) to simmer on low until all is hot and can be served over spaghetti.

Hope you have a SCENTsational Saturday!

#SCENTsational Saturdays- #Fave #5- #Jovan #WhiteMusk

Unpredictable in spirit, pure in its essence. Exquisite in its delicacy. Alluring Jasmine, ylang-ylang, and honeysuckle blend with sensual musk, soft woods, and amber. The result is a warm and purely feminine fragrance.

Every time I wear this, I'm transported back to my early-20s. I was living on my own, working at a factory where I printed keys for laptops, ironically. When I wasn't working, I hung out in my apartment with friends, went to the movies or out to eat. Sometimes I went to the local American Legion to listen to live music and maybe get up and dance a slow song if the right guy asked me. That wasn't often and usually it was a handsome stranger who shared one slow dance rather than the current guy in my life.

My biggest concerns were paying the bills, buying groceries and finding a way to get to the laundromat when I didn't have work so I would have clean clothes in my closet and dresser. Honestly though, life seemed more carefree back then...even with bills to pay and work everyday.

Of course, I wanted to get married and worried about whether my current relationship would amount to a hill of beans. I knew I was wanted, needed, desired, but needless to say, it didn't work out and neither did a few others after that, but I was having fun and living life. Even with all the heartache I also associate with that time, I also have a lot of great memories, too. I guess that's what those early years were for though- growing and learning. I sometimes think I took the freedom of my early 20s for granted, but I wouldn't trade that time in my life for the world.

I think that's what Jovan's White Musk represents for me- a more youthful side of me- the side that doesn't feel like a "mom" or a "wife" even, but that young woman who was spontaneous and carefree and enjoying life in the moment. I guess that's why I still wear it- because it reminds me that I am a woman, I am beautiful and desirable and wanted. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Ladies, find that thing today that reminds you that YOU are a woman, your own heroine!

Men, don't let your women forget that you know this fact!

Hope you have a SCENTsational Saturday!

#SCENTsational Saturdays- Through the Years- #Emeraude

Emeraude by Coty

 

Emeraude by Coty is a Oriental fragrance for women. Emeraude was launched in 1921. The nose behind this fragrance is Francois Coty. Top notes are orange, bergamot and lemon; middle notes are jasmine, ylang-ylang, rose and brazilian rosewood; base notes are amber, sandalwood, patchouli, opoponax, benzoin and vanilla.

Recommended Use: evening

I remember wearing this perfume for a very long time through my teens. The fact that all my favorite fragrances came from Coty, this one should come as no surprise as a favorite either. My mom wore Charlie, which always gave me a busting headache, but she had the same complaint about me wearing Emeraude. Ironically, I gave this fragrance up years ago- I probably haven't worn it in more than a decade, but my mom now keeps a bottle on her bathroom shelf and occasionally wears it.

There was something elegant about the box, the green and gold that drew me to it and the fragrance made me feel grown up during those very early formative years of adolescence and it was probably the first perfume I wore most often.

The strangest thing about the memories I associate with this specific fragrance are memories of V.C. Andrews' family saga, Flowers in the Attic and the diamond and emerald earrings and green velvet and chiffon dress that Cathy admired her mother wearing the night she allowed Cathy and Chris to sneak out of the room to view the Christmas party, when they saw their mother with Bartholomew Winslow.

This just reminds me how vivid her writing was, how greatly I admire her ability to weave clear description that still sparkles and lives on from page to memory. It leaves me feeling inspired and hopeful that the words I put to the page, each time I tell a story, each time I mold and shape my characters and build their worlds leaves that kind of impression on readers of my works.

And now that I've teared up a little, I think that's enough rambling...

Whether it's a fragrance or a book that wraps you in fond memory- 

I hope you have a SCENTsational Saturday!

#SCENTsational Saturdays- Does Your #Hero Smell? 2nd #Favorite- #Eternity

• distinctive. romantic. timeless. the spirit of today's man: sensitive yet masculine, refined yet strong with a modern vitality and confidence. refreshing and exhilarating with a cool, crisp edge and a warm, woodsy trail. iconic crystal bottle with silver-tone cap designed by Pierre Dinand.
• 
  
• top notes: mandarin, lavender, green botanicals
• mid notes: jasmine, basil, geranium, sage
• base notes: sandalwood, vetiver, rosewood, amber

Eternity has always been a favorite of mine. I've known a few men in my time who wore this cologne and I just wanted to eat them up. It's sensual, romantic and masculine- drawing attention to the male wearing it. For me it speaks of comfort- that the man wearing it could pull you into his arms and you'd feel the warmth of comfort wash over you when you needed a hug or a shoulder to cry on, but at the same time, he could sweep you off your feet with a sweet single kiss.

What's one of your favorites?

Have a SCENTsational Saturday!

#SCENTsational Saturdays- #Fave 4- #DreamAngels #Heavenly

There is irony in the fact that this SCENTsational Saturday's favorite is

Victoria Secret's Dream Angels Heavenly.

 Capture the radiance. Live the dream. Love the romance of Dream Angels® fragrance. Luminous and sensual, Dream Angels Heavenly® glows in luxurious warmth. White musk, sandalwood, vanilla and white peony.

Several years ago, when my marriage was much younger, I'd told my husband I'd like a bottle of Frederick's of Hollywood perfume for Christmas. It was pricy, but I loved the fragrance on the little sampler sheet that was in my catalogs. I knew there wasn't a store anywhere close to where we lived, so I kept dropping hints for him to order online or from the catalog. We didn't really know each other all that well at the time, had only been married maybe a year, together two, so he didn't know how to take the hint, at all.

Imagine my surprise when he made a trip to the mall without me and came home with "a little something you asked for." He was so proud that he "found the perfume I asked for," and it even came with a small clutch (that's a purse) but I was beyond crushed. He actually thought he'd went to the right store and got me the right perfume. I thought the smell was just too loud and it gave me a headache and I burst into tears.

Now, I can't remember exactly what was said, but at the time, I was still coming down from the hormones of having a baby and I was so completely taken aback by the fact that he'd gotten the wrong thing, I took the immature route and fussed at him about it. How could he have gotten it wrong? I'd hinted and blatantly told him which one I wanted, had in fact told him he'd have to order it, but instead, he did things his own way.

It turned into a fight, and not a pretty one- if a fight can ever be pretty, because at the time, our marriage was so new and we were learning about each other all the time, finding out things we hadn't been aware of when we first got together....it was like balancing on shifting plates, similar to the tectonic plates that shift and cause earthquakes. It was shaky and scary and uncertain what might set us off.

Of course, he felt awful that it wasn't, in fact, what I'd asked for and after I had my big baby cry, I tried to accept the gift anyway as something unique that he picked out just for me. His intentions were in the right place, but I was left feeling that he didn't know me at all.

The irony in that, is that after nearly 9 years or so, I actually LOVE this perfume because I think of him when I wear it- not the messy argument about it, but the sensual aroma of it and the fact that it was a signature fragrance that I've only ever worn since he and I have been together. It's a scent that I associate with my husband, so I guess that good intentions gone awry do sometimes have a lasting effect- in a good way!

Has a significant other ever given you a fragrance or cologne you just could not stand? Or perhaps, given you a new scent that now, years later, inspires lovely memories and happy thoughts?

 Share with me...

Have a SCENTsational Saturday!

#SCENTsational Saturdays- Through The Years- #Exclamation

Introduced in 1988, Exclamation has hints of peach, apricot, amber and sandalwood and it definitely leaves an impression.

When I smell this fragrance nowadays, I find it hard to believe I ever wore it when I was a quiet, shy chubby teenage girl. This was not, is not, a scent for the timid. This perfume shouted from the rooftops that you had arrived, you were there! EXCLAMATION! No ifs, ands or buts about it. Others would know you were coming before you entered the room.

The funniest thing, it gave me a busting headache and yet, I wore it. My mom HATED it- thought it the most loud odor she'd ever had the misfortune to gift to me at the holidays and dreaded every spritz of my bottle. I'm sure there were times she hoped that I'd finally hit the bottom of that little white bottle, but then, if I had allowance money, I'd head straight to the store to buy more.

Now I can do without the overpowering scent, but the thing I cherish most about it- the imagery and memories it conjures up- music and time, divided by decades, but one whiff of Exclamation and I'm there all over again- Take a musical journey with me-

Do you remember any of these songs?
What were some of your favorites late 80's/early 90's?

Man, I wish LL had the official video for this. LOVED that video SO much. He was such a cutie! Still is!

Have a SCENTsational Saturday!

#SCENTsational Saturdays- #Fave 3- #CherryVanilla

Cherry Vanilla Perfume

Surprise yourself with the unexpected allure of Cherry Vanilla, the deceptively simple fragrance that blends the innocence of pure vanilla essence with the tart temptation of cherries to create an almost magical effect on your emotions. Wear Cherry Vanilla and feel totally delicious, amazingly self-assured and refreshingly romantic.

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Yes, that's an empty bottle. Rarely do I make it through a bottle of my favorite fragrances before the age and just don't smell as good as they ought to, but this was a very small bottle and it just smelled SO good. Always does.

Cherry Vanilla is a simple fragrance,- soft, feminine and reminds me of the holidays, my momma, and home. It's such a warm comforting scent it makes me want to curl up on the couch under a fuzzy blanket and watch Christmas movies and sip eggnog while the tree lights twinkle, even in the middle of July.

Of course, I don't have my tree up in July, but I still enjoy wearing this perfume year-round.

Hope you have a SCENTsational Saturday!

#SCENTsational Saturdays- Through the Years-#ElectricYouth & Happy #StPaddys Day! #Green

Electric Youth was a fruity scented fragrance marketed by Revlon to go along with Debbie Gibson's album and song of the same title. It was aimed at Debbie's teenaged fans with a blend of citrus and other fruit essential oils.

Yes, as a teenager, I totally wanted to be like Debbie Gibson. I sang along with my cassettes and knew all the lyrics and I danced crazy in my bedroom when no one was looking. I wanted cool clothes like hers, but I settled for wearing her loud fruity fragrance. Again, this is one of those perfumes that I wore until it was discontinued, and I miss it dreadfully.

A fun funky fragrance, it really did make you feel youthful and spunky.

As Debbie said, youth is energy. Youth has nothing to do with age.
It's Electric.

Debbie saw me through the joys and pitfalls of being a teenage girl and helped me deal with my first heartache with Lost in Your Eyes. I'm a dork, I know, but that teen angst still comes bubbling to the surface when I hear her music and this song can still move me to tears, but not quite for the same reasons. ;) Ah, youth is wasted on the wrong people!

Hope you have a SCENTsational Saint Patrick's Day Saturday! Hope you're wearing green!
I am!