Hellelena

It is my very own Bad-Fragrance-Day, because I mistakenly grabbed Parisienne by YSL. Bam!!! A concentrated dose of sugary May roses and garden berries drowning in syrup, along with a huge portion of lemon dipped in nail polish. Boo!!! The fruits disappear quickly into the distance and don’t come back. Lucky me! The little flowers last a bit longer but soon give up. Nice? Not really! Because what remains is not a memory, but sandalwood soaked in sugar water with a splash of patchouli. And a lot of sugar. A pile of scratchy sugar crystals crawling down my throat, tightening my windpipe… Help!!! On the verge of a sugar shock, I run back to the shower to save myself from an olfactory breakdown. The rest of the day, the evil pink sugar spirit from the beautiful bottle with the golden cap haunts me. That same evening, the decant goes into the "for passing on" box. Adieu, Parisienne!

Have you ever been to a drag show? In the front row? Do you remember the moment when the lovely long-legged drag queen gracefully balanced down from the stage in her high heels and strutted right in front of you, so close that you could see every single facet of her glittering gown and each one of her false eyelashes? The second when it truly dawned on you that this graceful beauty, this embodiment of femininity, is of an unnatural origin? The thought both confuses and enchants you. You know it and yet you don't believe it. The feelings are mixed up, and you can't decide whether to love or hate this dazzling creature, but one thing is certain: you cannot remain indifferent. Either applaud or wrinkle your nose.
This angel in divine blue is also such a peculiar being: a true work of art, a radiant drag queen among fragrances, eternally young and disturbingly beautiful. It smells otherworldly, as all the ingredients are unnaturally strong in their effect; no flower, no fruit is of this world, the blend itself is overloaded. The sinful richness of heavenly delights. The angel, who is so seductively innocent. You can love or hate it - just don’t remain indifferent.

we have known each other for so long, but we never met in person before, aside from fleeting encounters in society, where you always accompanied someone else. Admittedly, I was rarely alone myself.
We remained strangers for quite a while, perhaps because I was too young and inexperienced for you, perhaps because you seemed too sensual and powerful to me.
The years passed, I lost sight of you as the others, rather pale and short-winded types pushed you down to the lower floor, your exotic face almost faded from my memory.
Until one day I saw you again in a discount store.
You have changed, donned a new garment, your silhouette has become slimmer and no longer shimmers golden, but is dipped in a color reminiscent of strongly diluted fruit tea. An unworthy color for someone like you.
Is it really you? Or have you not only become an outward victim of the lifting craze and now are just a shadow of your former self?
I think of spicy herbs at your head and lovely flowers around your heart and dreamy vanilla at your feet, wrapped in cedar and moss. You were so beautiful…
I want to know. I can only know when you reveal your soul to me!
Come closer, so that I can smell you…
Oh yes, it is you… So sensual… So smooth… So powerful... The right one for me.
I don’t want to miss out anymore, to indulge in your bittersweet embrace, to feel your warm kiss on my skin, I am yours for all eternity!
I will take you with me and you will move into my boudoir with the other Darlings, but don’t worry - I will always love YOU.
Promise.

It is the year 2010, just before Easter.
A sunny day in April in an ancient harbor town, a light salty-fresh breeze blows through the city. We are almost exhausted after the long shopping tour, but we still have enough energy for a detour to the perfumery. It is said that one needs a new summer fragrance. Although we already have a few, it doesn’t matter. The not-so-young saleswoman diligently sprays little flowers and citrus scents on paper, but none of them seem to please either me or my companion that day. I’m already putting on the Sorry-But-I-Found-Nothing-Today smile and want to disappear when my nose, plagued by lily of the valley and peonies, catches a whiff of fresh air.
It smells beautiful.
It smells of sunshine, freshness, and tranquility.
It smells like the forest.
I know this forest; it lies just a few meters from a not-so-crowded beach, with huge slender pine trees and plenty of light.
I haven’t been there in a long time...
The price doesn’t matter, the name doesn’t matter, all that counts is this memory.
The "Douglas Fir" grins at the sight of my silly face.
As a parting gift, I get a generous spritz on my hair.
The city is crowded.
I stroll through the summer forest.

...and boring. A charming little bouquet in a fruit basket.
I received the pink water as a gift and immediately passed it on to my dear daughter, as it is more suited for teenagers than their mothers.

Addendum: My daughter has declined the "generous" gift. She thinks the scent is disgusting. The youth...