There is a perfume that I used to call ‘The Essence of Me’. Of course, it has a real name, Dioressence by Christian Dior. I can’t remember my first introduction to it, but it was possibly in a batch of perfume sample phials my father brought back from a trip to France, late 1970s, early ‘80s. There was another one I really liked but never knew the name. Anyway, I adored Dioressence for its light, subtle fragrance. I don’t like strong perfume that takes over a room or announces an arrival before the wearer is in sight. It was my only fragrance for many years. I had the matching soap and talcum powder, eau de toilette and perfume. Expensive, but long-lasting and I always used it sparingly. It suited my personality, along with my collection of Laura Ashley summer dresses and hippy style embroidered jeans worn with floaty tops.
Sometime in 2004 I lost my sense of smell and it hasn’t come back. I put the blame on chemotherapy, radiotherapy or the illness. A small price to pay for survival but how I miss all the familiar smells, not just my favourite perfume but everyday things, like the house smelling clean and fresh, home baking and the pleasant aroma of appetising cooking going on. Occasionally I think I get a waft of something very slight and not for long, or it might be my imagination. I continued to wear Dioressence. I couldn’t smell it myself, but it wasn’t lost on others and it was still very much a part of me. It disappeared for a while and now it can be hard to find. Other Dior fragrances have pushed it out of vogue, like J’Adore, but I have no way of telling if I would like it, if it would suit me. For now, I treasure my remaining tiny drop of Dioressence and hope to find more soon.
The Laura Ashley frocks have made way for M&S long skirts and tailored trousers. Jeans are a staple wardrobe item, but plain and functional without embellishments, yes, boring even, and worn with tee-shirts or jumpers. If I remember, I’ll wear some beads but I usually forget.
My Haiku poem,
I Miss My Dioressence.
It was a scent of
Individuality
And it became my
Signature fragrance
Subtle, light and delicate
Ev’ry day and night,
For so many years
In my Laura Ashley frocks
Or embroidered jeans,
A hint of jasmine,
With a spicy bergamot
Accompanied me.
PMW 2022
Thanks for reading, Pam x
3 comments:
I was walking along the river path about a month ago and I could smell this woman coming towards me from 50 metres away. Less is more, I agree, Pam.
I think you got the very essence of the topic of essence in this article. It brought home how important and under rated the sense of smell is. Also how clothes can define a person.
Lovely haiku
I'm not familiar with Dioressence, though you give it good press and the fact that it has both jasmine and bergamot in it makes me pre-disposed to like the sound of it. As far as I'm aware, the only scent I have an aversion to is Chanel No. 5 for associative reasons that I've mentioned in a couple of historic blogs. (By the way, have you read the novel 'Perfume' by Patrick Suskind? Highly recommended.) If I use cologne (which I do occasionally on smart occasions) it's original Bulgari for men (the bergamot again). Your haiku wafts very pleasantly, Pam. Congratulations.
I enjoyed this. Essence of me was and still is White Linen (Estee Lauder) since my early 20s.
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