Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Of perfumes and personae

I am looking up perfumes online. Having successfully finished, mostly through spillage, the bottle of J'adore received in my wedding, I am feeling particularly adventurous and trying to find the perfect scent for me. My limited(read non-existent) knowledge of perfumes means that I have to rely on the perusal and interpretation of the subjective description given by the manufacturer. There is a factual description provided for each perfume too: top notes, middle notes, base notes, fruity, floral, wooden, citrus yada yada but perhaps, I will read that up when I am a mature user of perfumes. As of today, I have difficulty imagining how the smells of apples, roses, varnish(that is how wood smells to us) and lemons put together, stacked one upon the other in that order, will turn out. I want to ensure that the perfume suits my personality and reflects the woman that I think I am. The subjective descriptions are really helpful in this respect. I can choose to be a confident and emotional woman, or a young vibrant person. There is another that will project me as sweet and ready for a tryst with a romantic interest. Not sure if it will work on the existing husband or serve to attract new suitors - an extra-marital partner in my case. I think I will go with the first one - I am definitely confident(except when selecting perfumes) and somewhat emotional. And intelligent. Sadly, they are yet to discover the scent of intellect considering how none of the perfumes promise that characteristic. Before I can hit buy, I see another perfume which reflects the ultra-modern woman. Oh, that I most certainly am! I am considering buying this one in addition to the perfume recommended for confident and emotional women, and then layer it on top. Wearing both the perfumes together will reflect my persona to the extent possible. 

 I see Pari sitting around uselessly, playing games on the phone. I ask her the rhetorical question, more to distract her and give her eyes a momentary break from the device, than for actual advice. 

M: Pari, should I buy a perfume? 
P: (looking at the phone) hmm..
M: Which perfume do you think describes me the best? 
P: ?? 
M: What kind of woman do you think I am? Am I a confident and emotional woman, or a young vibrant one? Or would you consider me an ultra-modern woman? I want to buy one that reflects my personality, by matching it with the description on the website. 
P: Mumma, I think you are a very gullible woman.(goes back to her game) 

I think I'll just ask the brother to pick another bottle of J'adore from the airport aisles on his way to India.