Let your nose lead the way.....

I happen to be one of those people that have a very acute sense of smell.  Sometimes this is a blessing, sometimes a curse!  But I would rather have it this way; particularly when I smell the first jasmine blooms in the spring, or the faint whiff of the citrus trees in my neighborhood when they are in blossom.  Some of my favorite scents are the sea, damp moss in the woods, fresh strawberries, freshly ground coffee beans, lemons... the list could go on forever.  When I remember happy times of my life, the scent is burned into my brain with the visual.  Coming home from school as a child, I could smell my mom's homemade bread and sticky buns before I got to the end of our driveway.  When I was in the south of France years ago, the scent of the lavender fields was just as amazing as their purple glory.  Living in Florida, I am treated to the scent of the beach and blooming flora whenever I want...life is good!

Volumes have been written about the science of scent, but that is not really where I'll go today.  I do have a few suggestions for great reads on the subject though, "What the Nose Knows: The Science of Scent" by Avery Gilbert, a psychologist concerned with the aromatic side of life.  Gilbert is a great storyteller, making clinical data interesting, amusing and amazing.

A more "hollywood" version is "The Perfect Scent: A Year Inside the Perfume Industry in Paris and New York" by Chandler Burr.  It follows the creation Hermes "Jardin sur le Nil" and Sarah Jessica Parker's "Lovely" by Coty.  Burr shares a lot of history on the perfume industry, with delightful French quotes and description of Paris and Grasse for all of us Francophiles!  A personal biography of SJP is oh - so entertaining for those of us who; let's face it, have a girl crush! 

At Lotus, we offer a vast range of French and American fragrances.  Fragonard, one of the oldest perfume houses in France, is our favorite from the other side of the pond.  Our "all American" favorite is Zents.  

What we love about Zents is that they have designed their line of fragrance so that each scent can be combined with one or more others in their line to create a unique, custom fragrance.  Deciding which ones to blend is easy, and any of us at Lotus can help you create your personal favorite.  

To help you get started, we are offering a wonderful gift with purchase right now!  Come see us a the store anytime, or believe it or not, we can even help you design your fragrance over the phone!  941-906-7080, 10 - 5 EST.  

Written by Wendy Getchell on May 09, 2010