Saturday, May 8, 2010

The smell of matches


I have no idea actually how come I am talking about the smell of matches - I mean I do, but I still find it a bit strange. First, I read this morning Carol's review of XIII which is all about smoke and then, I smelled matches at a barbecue (another smoke smell) and realized I haven't smelled matches for quite a long time (everyone uses lighters these days) and that the smell of matches is actually quite particular.

Which got me thinking that even if I had smelled it before in a perfume, I probably wouldn't have realized it because the smell of matches just wasn't a smell I had a conscient thought of recognizing.
I really like the smell of smoke in my perfumes and today realized I love the smell of matches.
So there must be a note that might not smell exactly like matches but is close enough to it. I mean, there are so many perfumes out there with smoky notes, does anyone know of a one that has a note of matches' smoke?



8 comments:

  1. Ooh! I _love_ the smell of matches. But, sadly, I've never smelled them in a perfume either. Maybe suggest it to CB I Hate Perfume as an accord?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ines, there is that sulfurus something in the striking of a match...and sometimes what you strike it on makes a difference. But YES, I know the very smell, and have always been...interested...by it. It conjures so many associations, that I am not sure if I like the smell itself, or just that I smell it, if that makes sense.

    No, I can't say I've smelled it in a perfume. On the subject of TMI, there is a habit in certain households in the U.S. of "striking a match" after a visit to the loo. (That was a British-ism, should any of our friends from there drop by. ;) ) The purpose of the match lighting is to, if I can co-opt Turin's quote of his friend, to reduce the merde to un peu. I was fascinated to come across it, and am not sure that it works, but there you go.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great question. I too love the smell of a nice burnt match, and would love to find something emulating it in fragrance form! I hope someone offers a suggestion...

    ReplyDelete
  4. CF, that'a actually a good idea. :) Hmm, how do you go about proposing something like that to a perfumer...?

    ReplyDelete
  5. ScentScelf, you got me chuckling. :) How interesting!
    And I love the Turin's quote - I'll remember that one. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. La Bonne Vivante, if you find something before I do, let me know. It's my new perfume quest.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I know, I know!!! Tom Ford "Amber Absolute." Smells just like you just blew out a match. (Ok. So there's some myrrh in it, and a little vanilla.) But matches-- yes, yes, yes. It's so good...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yeey!! I knew there had to be someone who smelled the matches' smoke somewhere. :) I'm putting it on my list of things to try as soon as possible.

    ReplyDelete