In the Garden

We are finally having some legitimate August weather – in the 90s and humid.  I am not even complaining.   Now is the time for all the summer greats – fresh fruit and vegetables, straight from the garden (even if it´s not your garden.)

To honor high summer’s arrival after a very long wait, I thought I´d put up a post on great veggie/garden scents.  This is a random sample and by no means exhaustive.  Please add your suggestions.  The fun thing about a post like this is, some of these are obscure enough that newbies and lurkers get a peek at a whole different area of perfumage!

L´Artisan Fleur de Carotte.  I don´t know if actual carrot flowers have a smell; this smells delicately of sweet, juicy carrot.  Available in giant vats from the flagship stores with a little Beatrix-potter-looking paper hat on the bottle (shown at right).

L´Artisan Piment Brulant – green bell pepper.  Not a personal favorite of mine (why don´t I want to smell like green bell pepper?  I don´t know) but I know a ton of people who love this.

CB I Hate Perfume Memory of Kindness – tomato leaf, dirt, sunshine.  While we are on the topic of CB, I know I pimp his stuff all the time, because it´s wonderful – he´s not giving me freebies.  Here´s a link to his accords list – I notice he´s got four tomatoes (tomato basil, tomato leaf, green tomato, market tomato.)  Visiting his website gives me the perfume version of the horn.  I wonder how the rhubarb leaf smells?  Also, as soon as it cools off I´m getting me some boiled rice.  BTW unfortunately, unless the ORDER button appears next to what you´re eyeballing, it´s only available by visiting his Brooklyn store, which is well worth the trip.  Any other CB faves?  How´s his Grass?  Also, has anyone smelled Baby Butt?

For the budget version of CB, of course there´s Demeter – in addition to the iconic Dirt, there´s Grass, Pruning Shears, Privet…  Also – friends – Turpentine!  Should I order it?

Donna Karan DKNY Women – okay, this is a little different, but it´s so interesting and under the radar I´m including it.  I´ve only ever seen it at airport duty frees – it´s in the long frosted glass bottle with the silver holo box.  Notes are tomato leaf, blood orange, water lily, coral orchid, narcissus, tulip, birch.   To me it smells like an urban balcony container garden – the tomato leaf is dominant, but in the background there´s a hint of orange juice, wet pavement, trees, and the florist down the street with the buckets set up on the sidewalk.

Okay, your turn.   What would you like to add to our garden today that isn´t a conventional flower?  (Maybe I should have included CB Dandelion?)

image: tomatoes in my kitchen, courtesy of a friend’s garden.  He did all the work and then left for vacation, inviting me to harvest for the three weeks he’s gone.  It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to eat them, eh?