Taking comfort when Mother Nature goes wild

comfort go-to scentsAs I write this, Hurricane Irma is pummeling Florida, especially the West Coast, and has set her powerful sights on Georgia and Alabama and beyond in the next day or so. We are sending up prayers and good thoughts for those who have been dealing with her and those people in her immediate path. It’s such a helpless feeling, knowing that you are at the mercy of Mother Nature on a rampage. As a former Florida resident and hurricane survivor, it’s especially difficult. Alas, at this point, there’s not much most of us can do except pray, offer help and comfort to hurricane refugees in our area and try to stay calm ourselves. And I know almost all of you Posse folks take comfort in a bottle or two (of perfume, right?).

The overcast skies and lack of sun here lately have sent the temps downward, so in this eerily cool calm before the storm, here’s what’s helping me stay grounded and semi-peaceful: Les Couvents des Minimes Eau des Missions and Guerlain’s Cuir Beluga are providing a warm, cozy balm for me. Those two are the equivalent of wrapping a beautiful, angora-soft shawl around your shoulders to ward off the evening chill.

Also, and rather unexpectedly, the lovely, green-tinted floral Kai. It was an surprising blessing for me when I wore it nonstop just seven years ago when my son nearly died after a near-drowning in Florida. There’s just something relaxing, calming, and life-affirming about it. And hopefully, it will be a comfort when those 50 mph winds start whipping crazily around us and we’re watching the trees sway perilously, praying that none fall on people’s houses or injure anyone. We’ve had our dead and diseased trees removed last year, so we’re hoping that the remaining ones will be able to stay standing.

What about you? What scents do you wear when you feel in need of comfort? What fragrance works to help soothe and smooth your difficult days?

  • Kate E. says:

    Vol de Nuit has become my security blanket. After a tough day I tend to spray it on at night to soothe myself. I hope that those impacted by both Harvey and Irma get the help they need.

  • Portia says:

    Irma looks terrifying Ann,
    Hoping all the American readers stay safe.
    What do I wear for comfort? Shalimar, Liberté and Rima XI spring to mind immediately. Mohur too.
    Portia xx

  • rosarita313 says:

    Hoping for the best, Ann. It’s been years since I have sampled Kai, it does sound lovely and comforting. You have been through so much and I’m glad it has helped. Chanel 19 is the perfume I’ve worn the longest in my collection, it makes me feel the most like “me” and that’s a comfort in a crazy world xxoo

  • HeidiC says:

    Smart, taking down the diseased trees ahead of time. Be safe. Cuir Beluga is definitely one of my all-time comfort perfumes. Minneapolis has been pretty this past week and will be through Friday, so I can’t pull out most of my snuggly comfort perfumes yet. I’ve been trying out samples I just received — especially Papillon’s Dryad and Bogue’s MEM — but my sample of Fetes Persanes seems like it’s working pretty well as a comfort scent in this weird weather: warm and spicy, but doesn’t smell like I should be wrapped in furs.

  • March says:

    What a lovely post. I still marvel at your strength in the face of that near-tragedy. Those things, terrible as they are, often end up giving us even more appreciation of the gifts we have. Kai is one of the names that pop up if I’m complimenting random strangers on their perfume; I have the shower gel, which is a great way to start the day.