Laundromat Demeter Fragrance Library 2000 Cologne

My first apartment had no washing machine and no dryer.
And so it happened that I would pilgrimage twice a week two blocks down the street to the laundromat. The dirty laundry in a large travel bag, along with a good book. My life lacked a certain regularity during this time, due to the daily grind, especially when it came to visits to the laundromat.

Every time I opened the entrance door, I was enveloped by the scent of freshly washed laundry, laundry detergent, fabric softener, stain remover. The sparkling rows of washing machines and dryers. Citrusy cleanliness. Polished linoleum on the floor. Reflective windows, looking out into the evening-dark black city. That was my time. Sometimes I was too tired to read. Then I would sit in front of the drum, watching the colors swirl together, enjoying the silence and surrendering completely to the staring idleness. Occasionally, I would engage in quiet small talk with other waiters. Chlorine bleach lingered in the air. Time never passed too slowly or too quickly for me.

I wouldn’t want to wear this perfume, but it is a beautiful reminder of the time when I first felt truly and completely grown up.

My wonderful laundromat - that’s what this scent smells like. A little soapy, lemon, floor wax, and laundry detergent.