Back to school blues (or bliss)?

back to school
(Author’s note: This post has run off and on around this time of year for a few years, and this time around, it’s as crazy as ever: back to school shopping, son’s first day as a high- school junior today — yikes, how did this happen??!!! — lining up schedules to take the SAT and ACT and looking at colleges, and last but not least, his 17th birthday this week. So I hope you all don’t mind a slightly revamped Posse rerun. Thanks!)

Can I get a collective “Hallelujah!!”? Or maybe a big box of tissues?

Yep, it’s that time of year again: back to school.

Now for those of you who don’t have children it may not matter much, but for those who do, it’s a big deal.

As much as we love our kids, it will be nice to get a break from the frequent refrain of “Mom (or Dad), I’m bored!” that late summer often brings. And it will be good to see them get back into a routine.

My son heads back today, and even though it may seem early, other school systems around here have already been in session since late last week. One nearby county started on Monday, July 31. HELLO, people, July?? Really?? (Oh, for the days of my youth when school started AFTER Labor Day!) But that big first day will be here for everyone else before you know it.

So, here’s a look at fragrances that might work for several back-to-class scenarios:

For the mom or dad for whom summer has just gone on too long: By Kilian’s Sweet Redemption (sweet relief, perhaps?) or A Taste of Heaven.

The most delicious scent to evoke pencils: Fendi’s (sadly discontinued) Theorema

For those with little ones heading off for the first time: Parfums DelRae Emotionnelle or By Kilian’s Love and Tears (they were just in diapers yesterday, how can they be in kindergarten already?)

In the first-morning rush, Chaos to help calm the frenzy (at least for Mom).

Uh-oh, they’ve left their lunchbox, backpack, etc., at home and you’re already late for work: PDN’s Sacrebleu!

For dealing with diehard sleepyheads that first morning, i.e., “Go away, Mom, I was just having the most wonderful …” — thump! — their head hits the pillow again: Montale’s Sweet Oriental Dream

When your daughter finally does get up, who will you encounter at the breakfast table: Miss Charming or Lady Vengeance?

Let’s think positive and assume it’ll be Miss Charming. To go with her extremely carefully chosen outfit: Dior’s New Look 1947.

For the older kiddos who keep late hours and can’t seem to get up: Comme des Garcons Energy C

Speaking of teens, what might they be packing? Encens et Bubblegum, or, heaven forbid, Jasmin et Cigarette?

And with that, ahem, more mature crowd, there’s not likely to be much goodbye affection for the parental units. Take comfort in PdN’s Kiss Me Tender or Love Comes From Within.

Then when they come home that afternoon, and you ask, “How was your day?” or “What’s going on at school?”: Jacomo Silences or Vol de Nuit Evasion will help get you prepped for the noncommittal shrug, mumbled “Nothing,” or exaggerated eye-rolling that might be forthcoming.

Getting your college-age son or daughter moved into a dorm or apartment? Heeley’s Menthe Fraiche might help you keep your cool during the heat of move-in madness.

To ease your frazzled nerves late in the day: a shot of Vanille Bourbon (Il Profumo) or Lubin’s Gin Fizz might be just the ticket.

And when it’s all over, they’re settled in and you’re heading back home by yourselves (albeit a bittersweet moment): Jubilation 25, Vetiver Dance, Perfect Bliss or classic Joy.

What scents put you in mind of back-to-school days or have you looking ahead to fall? For all you school folks out there, what scent will you be wearing on Day One?

And wishing a very happy 17th birthday to Chris!!

  • DinaC says:

    My oldest starts his fall semester of college in about two weeks. He’s about halfway done now. And our daughter is going to start her senior year of HS the week after. Had a great time shopping with DS yesterday for school clothes and uniform clothes for his new job as a waiter. He wears Mugler Cologne, which I love for him or any young man. I’ve also given him lots and lots of samples of men’s colognes to try. DD likes patchouli, which is not my fav, so I pass along all the fruitichouli samples to her!

    • Ann says:

      Dina, your back-to-school fun is just beginning! And I love that your son likes the Mugler; that is so nice, and I’ve even worn it a time or two. Also, that your daughter is enjoying the fruits of Mom’s perfume habit. Very cool!

  • MrsDalloway says:

    Our schools don’t go back till 6 September! But they didn’t break up till 20 July. Definitely a scent of new pencils – Bois Farine? – and sweet relief will be called for.

    • Ann says:

      Sweet relief, indeed! I haven’t sniffed the BF in ages — must go dig out my sample and re-try it. Thanks for the reminder!!

  • otamom says:

    My elementary kids have their own starter fragrance libraries, all department store stuff but they are proud of their acquisitions. My youngest prefers Prada Candy and my older child likes vanilla scents. Daily I must stop them from drowning themselves in perfume! But inside I am proud. 🙂

    • Ann says:

      How cool is this?!! Love it that they already are grooving on fragrance and have their own collections — you did good, Mom!!

  • eldarwen22 says:

    I don’t have any kids but noticed s distinct change in a lot of things. My neighbor’s kids are mainly stuck to playing in their back yard and when they do get to ride their bikes, they are limited to our itty bitty cul-de-sac. And these kids range from 4th grade to 8th. My sister and I grew up (I’m 34) in an era where we rode our bikes all over the place and always had other kids to play with. But the other set of kids are preschool to 3rd grade. So in both houses, someone is always crying, someone is always screaming for no reason and I’m like an old person, I like piece and quiet. My sister and brother in law are a little different. If my sister and brother in law are both off the same day on the weekend, they take my nephews (5 and 7) on long bike rides all over. They (nephews) are not quite at the where they can be trusted off the street yet. So it’s my normal routine with perfume wearing.

    • Ann says:

      Hi, Eldarwen! Yes, it really is a different world. I grew up in the ’60s and ’70s and in the summertime would be out playing and riding bikes from morning until dinnertime and then out again until dark. But it is nice that they take the boys on long bike rides — wears ’em out and they sleep very well!!

  • Mals86 says:

    What a fun post! Not sure what I’ll wear when school starts this year, since we’ve got so many different things going on…

    For the record, my oldest kid graduated college in May, and she just got home yesterday from a summer of TA-ing organic chemistry before beginning to apply for internships/first job and/or grad school. Middle kid graduated HS and will start college in less than two weeks. (He’ll be at Virginia Tech, 17 miles away, but since he’ll be a member of the Corps of Cadets, all his weekends will be taken up with Corps stuff and we won’t get to see him until Thanksgiving!) Youngest kid will also be a HS junior as of this Friday.

    I too grew up with the school-starts-after-Labor-Day schedule, and I graduated the first Friday in June. Now there are allllll those teacher workdays and parent-teacher conference days extending the school calendar, so we start the second week in August, finish first semester (our high school uses block scheduling rather than the old-school 7 classes/day all year schedule) right before Christmas break, and then graduation is around the 1st or 2nd of June.

    • Ann says:

      Howdy, Mals! I can’t believe your girl has graduated — seems like just last year you were writing about packing up and getting her ready to go off as a freshman! And one starting at VT? Wowza, you’ve got a whole lotta change going on there. But I know you are one proud mama!

  • HeidiC says:

    My little guy starts Kindergarten this year — waaaahhhhh!!! I think I’ll have to wear Apres L’Ondee after I’m done crying.

    • Ann says:

      Wow, that is quite the milestone, Heidi! They just grow up too fast, don’t they? But I’m sure he’ll do well and be excited to go to school every day. AO sounds just perfect for a bittersweet day like that. Hang in there!

  • EchoCharlie says:

    I’m taking my youngest to college this year. I think I’m going to drown myself in mitsouko! 😉

    • Ann says:

      Oh, man, I can’t even imagine! MItsy is definitely called for! So will you have an empty nest now? Hopefully your baby won’t be too far away at school.

      • EchoCharlie says:

        My older daughter is going to grad school here so she’s back at home. lol. My baby will be 4 hours away which feels like too far but I know it really isn’t.