While I was refilling my small spray bottle in the bathroom today, I got to thinking about fragrances. I have some definite favorites, and a number of not so favorites.
| One of my favorite fragrances is the age old Jean Nate After Bath Splash. I spray myself liberally with it every evening after bathing before going to bed. My PJ’s and sheets always smell wonderful to me. It’s getting more and more difficult for me to find Jean Nate. About the only place I’ve been able to get it is Walgreen’s. It also brings back pleasant memories to me of my kids growing up. If they couldn’t think of anything else, they always knew giving me a bottle of Jean Nate was the perfect gift for Christmas or my birthday. |  |
Back when I was a teenager and working in the ‘Loop’ of downtown Chicago at Wieboldt’s department store, I discovered a fragrance that I fell in love with about the time the Beatles descended on the world.
That fragrance was “Tweed”, and was imported from London, England. Pretty snazzy for a high school girl! While my sister Pam doused herself in “Evening in Paris”, I sparingly used Tweed. It was rather pricey for a kid making $1.15/hour.
A not so funny story, to me at the time, about Tweed happened when I was in my late 30’s. I had to see a gynecologist for a little problem, and as the rather mature doctor walked into the examination room he exclaimed, “You’re wearing Tweed! It so reminds me of my grandmother!” 
I don’t wear it often as I’m usually living in areas with goodly numbers of mosquitoes around, and they seem to be really attracted to perfumes. It has also become very difficult to find these days. I think the little I have left was ordered from the Vermont Country Store about a decade ago. (I told you I use it sparingly)
A few of my other favorite fragrances are fresh ground coffee (even though I never drink the stuff), freshly mown grass, lilacs, and the sweet smell of little babies after their baths.
Then there’s the other side of the coin. At the top of that list would have to be the smell of diesel fumes, canned tuna, and frying lamb chops. They all immediately turn my stomach. Of course right now, the number one hated fragrance for me is the innards of mottled ducks. But I have good news on that front. As suggested by some readers, I put a glob of Mentholatum under my nose this weekend each time a mottled was brought in, and it worked! I didn’t toss my cookies even once.
Well, that’s about it for tonight. Anyone willing to share their favorite and not so favorite fragrances?
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
Favorites: a wet dog, horses and a Minnesota Lake before August.
ReplyDeleteNot so favorite: Any perfume or laundry soap with perfume. Most perfumes give me an instant headache. Some shampoos are highly perfumed too and really yucky:)
Bad, bad fragrance. 20 men living in the same space as your motorhome on a Coast Guard cutter I was on. The smell of mallard guts would have seemed like heaven... :c)
ReplyDeleteLove your header, Judy. I am with you, I love the smell of coffee grinds, but don't like drinking coffee.
ReplyDeleteJudy, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.
Frankincense and Myrrh, I discovered it a couple years ago and fell in love with it. Used to wear Tova and still have some left but only use it for special occasions
ReplyDeleteI remember Jean Nate very well. We loved it growing up and I remember my first date bringing me a bottle.
ReplyDelete5th Avenue is my choice of fragrance.
ReplyDeleteJudy, I found Jean Nate Afte Bath splash at Amazon. Check it out there.
ReplyDeleteHow about walking into the small Chicago poultry shop to buy warm duck blood to make duck blood soup. Yuck, and riding home on the bus with the warm carton. But then the smell of my Gram cooking homemade pierogis and sausage was worth it. Merry Christmas, Judy.
ReplyDeleteHate the smell of brussalsprouts (sp) they smell awful and you couldn't get me to eat one for anything.
ReplyDeleteI also love Jean Nate
Hey Judy... My list is tainted by the sadness of having lost my sense of smell several years ago dues to three sinus surgeries and perhaps the use of Zicam products, which have been linked to that... So now, it might come as no surprise to you that my favorite smell used to be baby kittens, then baby humans, followed by stargazer lilies! I'm sure I had things I didn't enjoy smelling but I can't recall any! I guess because I don't have to smell them anymore!!! ;). Merry Christmas to you!
ReplyDeleteLove the smells of fresh coffee, plowed ground after a short summer rain, mountain forests, and good food. Hate all sweet perfumes, paper mills, and liver.:-)
ReplyDeleteI really hate the smell of coffee. It turns my stomach. Perfumes and candles give me a migraine. So I stay away from stores that sell them. But the smell of baking bread just puts me in the best mood ever.
ReplyDeleteI like most smells, there honestly isn't any odor I hate that I can think of right now. Even sweat, gasoline, cooking Brussel sprouts.boiling artichokes, dog farts and others I won't mention, yeah, I like them. Oh, I know, I don't like the smell when I walk into a dentist's office.
ReplyDeleteLove wet dogs, coffee, baking breads, bar-b-que-ing burgers, freshly mown grass, all the usual odors.
My perfume choice is Georgio. Long ago I went into all the nice department stores and got little fragrance sample vials. I tried each one for a little while, waiting for someone to say, "Gee, you smell good." Even with some of the best ones I could get samples for, no compliments. Then I dabbed on Georgio and got lots of compliments. Guess that was the one that worked with my chemistry, and I've worn it ever since. Well, I stopped when I started full-timing, but it's still in the cupboard! :)
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ReplyDeleteJudy, both Jean Nate and Tweed are sold on Amazon !
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. Love the idea that you treat yourself to lovely smells when you go to bed. Nice idea. I like perfume smells that aren't too strong.
ReplyDeleteEste Lauder "Youth Dew' have worn it since the 60's and just recently found out it has undertones of patchoulie (sp) so not surprising I like it forever, just an old hippie at heart!!
ReplyDeleteCoffee, popcorn and chocolate chip cookies baking are among my favorites and I love to smell Joe's t shirts!
ReplyDeleteDon't like perfumes so much.
Nice post!
Merry Christmas Judy and Emma!
Nothing about fragrances, but I remember Wieboldt's, Goldblatt's, Lyttons, the Forum Cafeteria in the Loop and a few more. I always hated the fragrance sprayers in the departments stores and avoided counters as much as possible
ReplyDeleteA good cup of freshly brewed coffee ... though I hardly ever drink the stuff; the scent of pine in a forest; and my mom's pizza sauce ... I must be hungry!
ReplyDeleteI always wore Youth Dew by Estee Lauder, and for the past 6 months I have been thinking about getting a bottle of it. The smell of freshly ground coffee beans makes my mornings, and I agree with Sandie that the smell of freshy baked bread is just about sinful. What I don't like is any kind of deodorant soap - in a sotre I can smell someone several aisles away who has used it, and I get nauseated by the odor.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother lived near a city bus stop and I liked the smell of the bus fumes. That smell reminds me of her.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember the name of the perfume I started wearing in high school and wore for a long time. Seems like it had a french name. Now that is going to drive me crazy. I wore Giorgio for a long time and now I wear Michael Kors. I use a liquid soap called Pink Peony to shower with. One of our cats loves that scent. I have to watch her or she will try to bite my legs when I get out of the shower.
Haha, love the crawfish header pic! I like Halston & Joy. Don't have either in the RV though. And Patchouli! I still have a vintage (ahem) bottle from when I was a kid! Skunks & garbage probably rate the top of the other side of that coin! Yuck!
ReplyDeleteI love making home-made bread and the smell is just yummy from beginning to end. I used to like perfume but never wear it anymore, and anyone who wears it heavily is guaranteed at least 8 big sneezes from me or until I can leave the room! Merriest Christmas, Judy to you and Emma!
ReplyDeleteJo, Stella and Zkhat
My #1 favorite is the smell of the desert after a rain storm! There is nothing else like that. I love to smell just about any bread or cookies baking and I'm one of the weird ones that loves brussel sprouts, to eat and smell them steaming. What can I say, there's something for everyone. And a merry, Merry CHRISTmas to you and Emma.
ReplyDelete'
When ever my dad is around a bunch of old ladies he always makes the same comment..."I smell Tweed"
ReplyDeleteI used to wear Heaven Sent perfume. Now my two favorites are Sand & Sable by Coty, and Tatiana by Diane von Fustenberg. In fact, when I went on my first date with Bob I wore Tatiana and he knew immediately what it was. It was his favorite perfume on a woman. Can't beat that.
ReplyDeleteOther favorites scents: cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip cookies baking, coffee (don't drink it though), lilacs, roses, chocolate, Brut for men, and pine trees.
Least favorite scents: patchouli, skunks, cat spray, doggie doo, peeled hard boiled eggs, geysers at Yellowstone (sulphur). scented laundry soap, scented dryer sheets, and paper mills.
Most perfumes and perfumed soaps etc give me a headache and my sinuses fits. I use unscented laundry detergent and about anything else unscented that I can find. Unfortunately, I've had to move my seat to another area in restaurants or church if I'm around scents. Now... give me the smell of garlic or onions cooking or just about any food and I'm fine.
ReplyDeleteThe smell of cooked meat turns my stomach. I also can't do any perfumes, either. Instant headache.
ReplyDeleteLikes - the smell of sauteing onions, the forest after a rainfall, most flowers, peppermint, and many others.
Love your Santa crustacean!
Apple pie baking! Still remember the smells when I would come home from school as a kid. Mmmmm, makes me want to go bake one. Least favorite, your dog getting skunked.
ReplyDeleteHAHAHA...love your Tweed story. Aren't men a hoot!
ReplyDeleteI, too, remember wearing Tweed when I was in high school. I thought I was a real big shot wearing perfume.
I love the smell of fresh baked cookies, Italian restaurants and Paul's Axe after shave. I do not like the smell cow poop, permed hair, or Brussels sprouts.
Love the smell of the ocean, vanilla and cinnamon, lemon and new little babies. These days my least favorite smell is black and gray tank odors!
ReplyDeleteMany perfumes really bother me, giving me a headache. For years and years I wore (probably too much) Clinique's Aromatic Elixir--it was supposed to smell different on each person but to this day I recognize the scent if someone is wearing it--I stopped wearing it when I met Michael, 20 years ago, he is very sensitive to perfumes, candles, etc. I do love a balsam fir scented candle (and those don't seem to bother Michael much) and the smell of coffee, fresh bread, roses.
ReplyDeleteThis is obviously a topic on which everyone has an opinion. I used to wear White Shoulders but haven't had any for years. Now perfumes and aftershaves all both me and I have had to change tables in restaurants and move seats in theaters to get away from someone wearing it. The worst was when we had season tickets for the symphony and the man behind us drenched himself in something and I couldn't stop coughing. I love the smell of a horse's neck, the ocean, baby beagles, fresh bread or pastries. I could go on and on. I guess I love most natural smells but hate chemicals of all kinds.
ReplyDeleteI too cannot be around perfumes or aftershaves, cough, sneeze, and throat starts to close and I can physically taste the offending
Deletesmell...also includes candles etc anything chemical. Not fun is it.
Thanks for reminding me - I'll have to check my supply of Jean Nate After Bath Splash so I don't run out over Christmas.
ReplyDeleteYAY!! glad that worked..Now you can keep it handy for any really bad smells...We could use some here after a big meal of Texas Chili!
ReplyDeleteThe mornings first fresh coffee, cinnamon, apple pie and fresh bread, sun on pine trees and 'White Musk' from the Bodyshop. Funny how some put certain smells on the 'nice' and others the same ones on the 'naughty' list! I definitely don't like the smell of our grey tank overflowing when forgetting to open it back up after flushing the black one! Oh, and a very Happy Christmas to you and Emma as well!
ReplyDeleteJean Nate is my wife's favorite. She could always depend on our 3 sons getting her some for Christmas. Enough to last to the next Christmas. Brings back many good memories. I miss that fragrance. I'll have to go to Walgreen's. Not to late for a forgotten Christmas tradition.
ReplyDeleteTo me, one of the worst odors is the smell of a skunk. We've been smelling it about once a day at this county park where we are staying in Riverside, CA. 😠
ReplyDeleteFavorite smells? Hmmmm....old fashioned roses, reminds me of the handcream my Mom used to use when I was a kid....lilacs for sure...bread baking...all the typical good smells...least favorite? Well....wet dog is right up there. :) Have a good holiday!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my Jean Nate, now that's a classic. I loved it most of my life, until I discovered White Citrus from Bath & Body. Did you know the citrus smell repels mosquitoes? In high school and college I wore WindSong. And an Este Lauder brand in my 20's. Thanks for the memories!!
ReplyDelete1st off love the header pic.....wish I had a favorite fragrance, but I am allergic to most chemical odors, really sucks being a gal and
ReplyDeletecant wear any colognes or scented lotions. Of the smells I can tolerate fav would have to be bacon and brewing coffee.
I too love the smell of lilacs and fresh cut grass. Hands down my least favorite food smell is onions. I hate the smell, taste and everything about them :) The worst nature smell is definitely skunk!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you - I like freshly mowed grass and hot coffee brewing. Among the worst is cigarette smoke altho pipes and cigars are different. I also like meat on the grill cooking. Its an inviting smell. Then there is the campfire...I could go on.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and all the best in 2014!
Cute header picture! Merry Christmas to you.
ReplyDeleteA quick perusal of the previous comments shows me most people, inc me, dislike, can't stand, or actually hate stinky smelly perfume-y odors, whether it's perfume, shampoo, bath gel or soap. I think it might be due to the chemicals companies use. It all smells like toxic waste to me! I used to use Jean Nate back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and I loved Youth Dew, but now I wear no scent. I like fresh, natural smells.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Emma. I always enjoy reading your Blog. Thanks for writing it
ReplyDeleteWell, now you've got me thinking. Let's see . . . some of my favorites are freshly mown grass in the summertime, beach air, white sage burning, homegrown tomato plant leaves, a well-stocked bicycle shop, Maggie just after a bath, leather (as in saddles, etc.) I just about gag when a skunk gets under our rig or if I'm in close proximity to a woman who has seemingly poured an entire bottle of fragrance over herself. Sparingly, fine, but why do some ladies go overboard? I wear none. A very Merry Christmas to you and Emma! Thanks for sharing your adventures!
ReplyDeleteI really loved this post, Judy. And the Santa header is so funny!
ReplyDeleteYears ago I was wearing a tiny squirt of my favorite Chloe when we went out to dinner. The waiter gushed, "You smell just like my mother!" :)
My favorite scents.... a freshly opened can of coffee, the ocean, roses, gardenia and honeysuckle, a freshly mown lawn, the crisp, clear scent of autumn breezes..
My least favorite ones.... a dog past due for a bath, fish, dog poo -- and freshly mown field garlic!
Great post! Merry Christmas to you and Emma. Love your blog and incredible pictures and I look forward to your adventures in 2014.
ReplyDeleteJan
I love vetiver. It's a South American grass whose root was used in Cajun linen drawers (that's where I discovered it - in one of those Cajun village living museums in Louisiana). I have a bottle of Vetiver Toilet Water that a Louisiana friend gave me several years ago - it's probably decades old, but it reminds me of her whenever I use it. I also got some perfume from Hove's perfumery in New Orleans. I rarely wear scents as I'm kind of sensitive to them, but I know the power they have to evoke memories.
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