October 29, 2009

Of Perfumes and Emotions

Thursday, October 29, 2009 Posted by Mary , No comments
I have always been obsessed with scents for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up, my dad would always bring home perfumes which my mom and I would wear. I remember being in love with Cool Water by Davidoff, Dune by Christian Dior, Anais Anais by Cacharel and No. 5 by Chanel. Of course, I'd use baby colognes and unknown brands, too. Scents didn't have to be expensive for me to love them, they only had to smell good! I can't really explain why I'm so attracted to them. I think, for some reason, smelling a good scent makes me feel happy.

Back then, I'd use whatever perfume or cologne was available in the house, as long as it didn't give me a headache. Recently, I've been learning about what they are made of. Terms like top notes, middle notes, base notes, accords, and olfactive notes now make sense to me. Perfumes are special and complicated concoctions; and I am amazed at how they are connected with your emotions--something I've read about a lot in the past but never personally experienced until recently.

A few months ago, after using a cheap, deo-cologne that seemed to irritate the noses of my co-workers (no more Bench for me ever again), I went on a search for my "signature scent"--a scent that I could always wear and people would associate with me. After spending much time at PerfumeEmporium.com and visiting a local department store, I found Bvlgari Blv Notte, and it was exactly what I was looking for. It was sexy and sophisticated, with notes of iris, galanga, vodka, and dark chocolate. It was described by Bvlgari as "Sensual and mysterious... an Eau de Parfum of uncommon refinement inspired by the captivating atmosphere of night time. As dark and enchanting as the night... a sensual oriental Eau de Parfum. The mysterious and enveloping aromas of Vodka and dark chocolate awaken an exquisite warmth that enchants and entices the senses." When I smelled it at the store, it was love at first whiff! I had found my scent.
Little did I know that my love affair with Blv Notte would not last. You see, I started using Blv Notte during a really emotional time in my life. Now, three months later, with only a few drops left on my first 75ml bottle, and just as I am recovering from that stage of my life, I smell Blv Notte and for some reason, it's as though fears and insecurities are triggered deep inside me all over again. It's hard to explain, but it's definitely there... and I have a feeling that if I want to move on, I need to stop using Blv Notte. It is a wonderful perfume, mind you. I would recommend it to anyone. But this just proves to me how powerful scents are. They can take you up, or down... forward into the future, or back down memory lane.

I am definitely on a Bvlgari phase now, and I look forward to the future with Omnia Amethyste by my side--a fresh, floral fragrance that makes me happy. To Blv Notte, I'm sorry to have parted with you so soon. But just like the person you are intertwined with in the story of my existence, you will always have a place in my heart. In so many ways, you were a first in my life.

October 19, 2009

Farewell, Stephen...

Monday, October 19, 2009 Posted by Mary , , No comments

Stephen Gately
17 March 1976 - 10 October 2009

I grew up during the era of the boy bands. Take That, Backstreet Boys, N*Sync, Ultra, Caught in the Act... there was a ton of them. But I only had one favorite--Boyzone.

We all know teenage girls have their obsessions. Mine was Boyzone. I literally adored them. I loved their songs even though I knew some of them were really not that special. I'd defend them against the fans of their biggest rival, the Backstreet Boys. I got devastated when some of them got married. And I was an official member of their official fan club. That's how big of a fan I was.

Last week, Stephen Gately, one of the members of Boyzone, passed away while on holiday in Mallorca. He was only 33 years old.

I am no longer a screaming adolescent who obsesses over boybands, but I was still affected by his death. Boyzone will always remind me of my growing-up days, and their songs will always be meaningful to me. They bring back memories of friends and innocent days gone by.

Boyzone was going to have a World Tour next year. There was a very big chance that they would have come to the Philippines considering their fan base here. I wanted to see that; to pay tribute to this boyband who had such an impact in my life. With Steve's death, that tour may never happen--and that, I have to admit, is the saddest part for me.