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Funny and heartwarming story: how fragrance made my parents even happier with each other

post #1 of 21
9/6/12 at 8:54am
Thread Starter 
I wanted to share this funny and moving little story with my fellow Basenoters.

As you probably know, since at least 2-3 years, I keep on acquiring fragrance gifts for my parents on a more or less regular basis. Being familiar with pretty much any of their fragrance tastes and liking, it is not that difficult for me to find the right fragrance gift.

The thing is, my mom got complimented repeatedly by my dad, as she proudly admitted later on to me. My dad said on repeated occasions to her "Wow, you smell so good", the fragrance worn by her being a verbena- and citrus-based EDC from the "Fraicheur Vegetale" series by Yves Rocher. Moreover, almost every time my dad applies an EDT, my mom also seems to notice and say either "Your dad smells good today" or "You surely have chosen the right fragrance for him" or "I like it when he takes care of himself".

Now, my parents have a happy marriage, while not perfect, aside from the usual misunderstanding and largely harmless divergences, quite balanced, supportive, mature and loving. Yet, fragrance certainly made them discover a new common ground for meaningful interaction, I'd even risk to say, a new common hobby they almost unexpectedly discovered.

Without wanting to brag however, I am still proud anytime I can contribute with little fragrance tokens to bringing a bit of joy in their lives. While currently they got mainly designer scents as presents, I can hardly wait for the moment when I will finally present them with niche too.

Anyway, it made me happy to know that fragrances have and also have had in the past this positive effect in making them even happier, even more comfortable with each other and with what they enjoy (scent-wise and beyond).
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post #2 of 21
9/6/12 at 10:14am
Well done Ken_Russell- good show buddy.
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post #3 of 21
9/6/12 at 1:18pm
Absolutely! Good show!

Your remarkable patience shows - and the effects are quite clear! *wow*!!!
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post #4 of 21
9/6/12 at 2:24pm
Ken, you are a loving & wonderful son. Bless you!
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post #5 of 21
9/6/12 at 4:38pm
What a great story, Ken!

My parents loved fragrances, too. My father bought Chanel No. 5 for my mother when it was very popular, and he wore Lentheric Onyx (a leather floral) for her. I recall them leaving the house to go out on dinner dates--both scented and dressed to the nines.

You're a kind and considerate (not to mention perfume-loving) son!

Thank your for sharing this very personal story. It's nice to know couples groom to please each other!
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post #6 of 21
9/7/12 at 7:21am
Wonderful story.
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post #7 of 21
9/7/12 at 7:51am
Ken! What a lovely story and how wonderful to bring the pleasure of fragrance into your parents lives. Now you can all chat and have a good time with it!
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post #8 of 21
9/7/12 at 7:53am
Ken / V - a great BNer AND a devoted son . Thanks for sharing such a personal and inspiring story.
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post #9 of 21
9/7/12 at 8:01am
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Very heart-warming indeed

I wonder if you could present them with a unisex fragrance some time to see if they end up sharing it. I think that would be a wonderful gift for a couple Just a thought, anyway.
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post #10 of 21
9/7/12 at 8:36am
So sweet! I love this story. It falls under my category-"Have you ever turned anyone on to a scent?" Or something to that effect. I tried to start a similar thread. I have not had very much luck in interesting any friends/family in scent.

Only once, I gave my sister and niece a bottle of Hermes Caleche and they really seemed to like it.
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post #11 of 21
9/7/12 at 9:04am
I love that story. Unfortunately my mother has no sense of smell at all. She still wears scent though.

I've been working gently at my sister who only ever wore Chanel 19 (which is lovely on her) but she said everything else turned to soap on her skin. She has added 24 Faubourg and Boudoir to her collection and will now try different things out at my house.

How lovely to do that with your own parents. It shows they are not stick-in-the-muds.
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post #12 of 21
9/7/12 at 9:11am
Hello Ken_Russell! Your story reminds me very much of my own, although in my case I don't dare to predict how the mutual appreciation that my parents have for the fragrances I bought them actually influences their marriage. I have observed that my father isn't »allowed« to wear certain special scents around his colleagues because my mother fears it might affect other females the way it affects her... On the other side my father teases my mother about certain powerful orientals (I bought her some Montale's and Lutens') that always draw the guys' attention at mother's work. Well, I guess this parental »games« are not to be figured out by us »youngsters«.
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post #13 of 21
9/9/12 at 9:04am
Bravo, Ken! That's really sweet. I wish I could do the same for mine...
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post #14 of 21
9/10/12 at 3:16am
Aww how nice.
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post #15 of 21
9/10/12 at 4:50am
A lovely story
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post #16 of 21
9/21/12 at 9:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken_Russell View Post

I wanted to share this funny and moving little story with my fellow Basenoters.

As you probably know, since at least 2-3 years, I keep on acquiring fragrance gifts for my parents on a more or less regular basis. Being familiar with pretty much any of their fragrance tastes and liking, it is not that difficult for me to find the right fragrance gift.

The thing is, my mom got complimented repeatedly by my dad, as she proudly admitted later on to me. My dad said on repeated occasions to her "Wow, you smell so good", the fragrance worn by her being a verbena- and citrus-based EDC from the "Fraicheur Vegetale" series by Yves Rocher. Moreover, almost every time my dad applies an EDT, my mom also seems to notice and say either "Your dad smells good today" or "You surely have chosen the right fragrance for him" or "I like it when he takes care of himself".

Now, my parents have a happy marriage, while not perfect, aside from the usual misunderstanding and largely harmless divergences, quite balanced, supportive, mature and loving. Yet, fragrance certainly made them discover a new common ground for meaningful interaction, I'd even risk to say, a new common hobby they almost unexpectedly discovered.

Without wanting to brag however, I am still proud anytime I can contribute with little fragrance tokens to bringing a bit of joy in their lives. While currently they got mainly designer scents as presents, I can hardly wait for the moment when I will finally present them with niche too.

Anyway, it made me happy to know that fragrances have and also have had in the past this positive effect in making them even happier, even more comfortable with each other and with what they enjoy (scent-wise and beyond).

I found this neither funny nor heartwarming. Did you forget to take your brain medicine?
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post #17 of 21
9/22/12 at 1:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by icanzapyou View Post

I found this neither funny nor heartwarming. Did you forget to take your brain medicine?

Troll? Banned, .

Thanks for the story, Ken.
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post #18 of 21
9/24/12 at 10:24am
Thread Starter 
The overwhelming majority of positive feedback, even the one less positive, showed me once more that, most likely "Basenotes is a state of mind", a lifestyle, often extending to family, friends, more and more people we cherish and respect.

Thanks for the responses so far and, yes, I thought somehow about the unisex aspect too, though not that directly. But yes, they enjoy "matching frags", the male and female version of the same designer and even the same fragrance, but only as tiny part of less matched, accessorized eclectic wardrobes they start to accumulate.

Thanks again and feel free, if you enjoy it, to post any similar, resembling stories.
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post #19 of 21
9/24/12 at 10:46am
Can I give you one Ken?

Recently, close friends got married. She is Swiss, he is Scottish. They are both quite eccentric. The bride and groom were both genuinely delighted when I offered to do a fragrance for their wedding. I suggested something that had never smelled before, that they would both wear, that had nice projection, and a really nice trail, (but you all know all that). So we sample, sample, sampled. Various genres, various notes, everything, anything, to narrow it down for them. We discovered a few surprises. The groom, who had never been into fragrance, so he was like a blank canvas, really liked Heliotrope, instinctively, really just loved it. He would have chosen L'Eau D'Hiver but the bride didn't like it. They both really liked the Juniper of Juniper Sling (but it is an Eau de Toilette and not suitable for an all day wedding). The bride liked ambers, (yes we did L'Air DDM), and leather, and to cover the whole spectrum we smelled Muscs Kublai Khan (from a BN friend). I said nothing but the groom got it straight away and there was much growling and posturing. They both liked Iris. The Heeley was too sweet and pretty for the groom.

Then a clear winner emerged.....ta da da da... have you guessed?

Dior Homme! They both loved it. So off we went to the Dior Counter, and Dior Homme it was. Two little decants were made for the actual day, one for the brides handbag, one for the grooms sporran. The groom was getting ready at our house, and I must say when he was in his great kilt (the big over the shoulder one) and his leather belts and all the brooches and accessories that make men feel butch in kilts he wore his Dior Homme beautifully. Honestly, with the wooly smell of the tartan fabric, which is quite strong, the Dior Homme was great, a kind of heathery, leathery vibe. I loved it on him. On the bride it was lovely, very cool and romantic. Isn't that great?

PS: The bride, who is a beautiful woman in her late thirties showed me her all time favourite fragrance. Fahrenheit, from the nineties.
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post #20 of 21
9/24/12 at 10:52am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Foustie View Post

Can I give you one Ken?

Recently, close friends got married. She is Swiss, he is Scottish. They are both quite eccentric. The bride and groom were both genuinely delighted when I offered to do a fragrance for their wedding. I suggested something that had never smelled before, that they would both wear, that had nice projection, and a really nice trail, (but you all know all that). So we sample, sample, sampled. Various genres, various notes, everything, anything, to narrow it down for them. We discovered a few surprises. The groom, who had never been into fragrance, so he was like a blank canvas, really liked Heliotrope, instinctively, really just loved it. He would have chosen L'Eau D'Hiver but the bride didn't like it. They both really liked the Juniper of Juniper Sling (but it is an Eau de Toilette and not suitable for an all day wedding). The bride liked ambers, (yes we did L'Air DDM), and leather, and to cover the whole spectrum we smelled Muscs Kublai Khan (from a BN friend). I said nothing but the groom got it straight away and there was much growling and posturing. They both liked Iris. The Heeley was too sweet and pretty for the groom.

Then a clear winner emerged.....ta da da da... have you guessed?

Dior Homme! They both loved it. So off we went to the Dior Counter, and Dior Homme it was. Two little decants were made for the actual day, one for the brides handbag, one for the grooms sporran. The groom was getting ready at our house, and I must say when he was in his great kilt (the big over the shoulder one) and his leather belts and all the brooches and accessories that make men feel butch in kilts he wore his Dior Homme beautifully. Honestly, with the wooly smell of the tartan fabric, which is quite strong, the Dior Homme was great, a kind of heathery, leathery vibe. I loved it on him. On the bride it was lovely, very cool and romantic. Isn't that great?

PS: The bride, who is a beautiful woman in her late thirties showed me her all time favourite fragrance. Fahrenheit, from the nineties.

Thanks for sharing, wonderful story indeed. And, even if based on their choice of fragrance alone, they must be such a happy and charmingly interesting couple. Besides, I can imagine both Dior Homme and Fahrenheit smelling great if worn by the ladies.
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post #21 of 21
9/24/12 at 11:27am
That's sweet. I love both stories. ♥
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