Not the actual winter but the hints it's giving out before it comes.
The smell of snowflakes in the air.
The cold that smells blue.
The anticipation of air turning and sun blazing white.
We've had a long summer and a strange, humid autumn that made everyone sick and today, finally, the air is bracingly cold, the sky is finally showing signs of losing the clouds and the smell of winter is in the air.
I love the smell of each of the seasons but I especially love the smell of winter. After all, it is my season (as I was born in winter).
I hate being cold but I can't help feeling that when I smell the winter in the night air (as it seems it's always night now), I feel at ease and comfortable.
There is something in this cold, night, starry air that feels as much me as it can.
I still don't know why that is that I feel winter is the time of year when I feel most comfortable with everything. Walking in the cold and enjoying Christmas decorations (which are almost here) and then coming home into the warmth and enjoying being comfortable and cocooned in it - not to mention all the perfumes making me feel warm and fuzzy and happy.
The truth is - only the winter perfumes make me feel truly happy and truly me. :)
But, even though this might sound like I will be writing more often than lately, I do think it won't be the case as some of my personal (delayed by me) obligations will have to take precedence over everything, so I believe I won't be writing as often as I'd like, but I hope that I'll be here at least once a week until Christmas (and the rush) passes.
The smell of seasons on the brink, sounds like winter where you are is really, really cold. I love the smell of winter too, some smells are gone and the ones that are left are really representative of the season, maybe the persistent ones.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy [relatively] real winter (-2-3C) with snow for several days every couple of years when we rent a house for holidays in mountains. Other than that I do not miss real winter. But even though it doesn't get very cold here, in Northern California, you still unmistakenly smell and see it is winter. And I also noticed that I like my cold weather perfumes the most.
ReplyDeleteCold season perfumes are the best, and since I am a Perfumista I enjoy winter a lot more.
ReplyDeleteIt is below zero today in Vienna, and I feel snug like a bug in a rug with my Vol de Nuit.
A beautiful post, Ines! xo
Hi Liam, well, winter here is I'd say normal. Sometimes we get snow, sometime we get very cold but generally it's moderate winter. But snow makes an appearance each year. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is only on clear, cold days like yesterday that the smell of approaching winter is in the air - most of the time, the city's smells and humid air kill everything else in the air.
Undina, I don't like being cold but I ADORE snow. :) And I'd love for it to fall all winter long.
ReplyDelete(I should take care of not saying that out loud - I'm the minority here) :)
I hope you're enjoying your cold weather perfumes already.
Thank you Olfactoria! :)
ReplyDeleteWe woke up today to -5 degrees and frost covering everything.
And I wanted to wear Ambre Sultan but couldn't find my decant so had to settle for L'Eau d'Ambre instead.
I also realized I somehow managed to put away my winter decants in spring so well that I have no idea where they are now. :) (I'm missing Spiriteuese Double Vanille as well - will have to find them today...)
I really enjoyed this lovely post, Ines and the way you talk so poetically about winter and the way the season and its aromas affect you.
ReplyDeleteI love the changing seasons and autumn smells/perfumes in particular but I have a special place in my heart for spring and now I'm wondering if it's because I was born in April!
Thank you tara!
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering now the same thing about you and spring. :)
But I don't think it always works, my boyfriend was born in January and he hates winter and adores summer. :)
Hiya Lovely Ines! Splendiferous post as always! Of course, I'm totally dying to know your top five Fave Winter Perfumes :) (or an even longer list!)
ReplyDeleteThis post made me think of Christopher Brosius's perfume Walking in Air - it is the scent of fresh fallen snow, and it's perfect. You Totally must get some! In the absolute form. Bet you'll fall in love with this fresh, elegant winter scent :)
Cheers mate!
Zanne
Ines I wish we had winters like you - you mention the sky losing the clouds. Not in Britain. If anything it is even more cloudy here in the winter!
ReplyDeleteZanne, thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteI'll try and put together a list of my winter favorites although they don't seem to be changing much - nothing new has found its way into my collection.
I haven't smelled Walking in Air but it sounds exactly like something I would love (I love the smell of snow)! :)
Michael, we had some foggy, wet, un-cold days but now it's clear and blue every day - and cold. :)
ReplyDeleteInes, such a lovely post! I like the very beginning of winter--November and December--and the first couple of snowfalls. But after that, it's quite a challenge for me. And I'm someone who does go outdoors every day in winter and try to embrace its beauty, but I must admit that if I had my way, I would live in the high desert of Arizona or New Mexico. My favorite climate is hot and dry. I love winter in Sedona: when it snows there, almost by the time it has accumulated on the beautiful red rocks it begins evaporating. (I prefer a dry, powdery snow, but in Pennsylvania, it's quite often heavy and wet snow that we get.)
ReplyDeleteSuzanne, I think I could live in hot and dry (here when it's hot, it's also humid), if I could go for a ski trip every year. :)
ReplyDeleteI also prefer dry, powdery snow but living in the city, even if it falls as such (which is rarely), it doesn't last as such for long. :)