Gone in 60

photo stolen: salon.com

Some of you know I watch Live from Daryl’s House on the ‘tube.   I wasn’t planning to – I remember dancing in the clubs to Hall & Oates back in the Jurassic Era, then I got old – and busy – and forgot about them. An invitation to LfDH brought Daryl Hall back to my rather sketchy musical forefront and I found myself loving this new approach to guest artists’ as well H&O’s (and Hall’s solo) music. He’s an amazing artist and I love his stunning voice and his work  – but I’m no fanatic – my approach to music is pretty slipshod – if I hear something and I like it, I listen to it  then I kinda forget about it until I stumble across it again.  Every now and then, though,  I will get hooked on a tune and lose my mind for awhile.  That’s what happened with Hall’s 2011 tune “Eyes for You”, which I just heard (for the first time) on LfDH with Jason Mraz (whom I didn’t even know existed!  I really have to get out more.  And don’t get me started on JOE WALSH! Holy cats & crackers!  Have y’all SEEN him play?  okay, so I’m about 40 years late – but!  Have y’all SEEN?  omg. ).

Hang in there – there is a point, I promise.  And!  Surprise!  It has to do with PERFUME!!!

So.  I played that song at least 10 times last night.  It’s gorgeous, with Mraz bringing a little bit of ‘the regular’ to Hall’s still-crystalline vocals.  I was mesmerized by the pairing – and the song itself, a li’l bit 80s, some great Philly Sound , a bangin’ bass, and some lush accompaniment.  I played it so many times that I was sure every note and word was imprinted on my teeeeny, tiny brain..

And then I went to bed.  And sweatergawd, I couldn’t even remember the name of that damb thing! Seriously.  It was such a total and complete blank that, for a second, I wondered if I’d died and was in some weird transition state, where no memories existed (then I figured that if I was stressing about not remembering then I was probably NOT dead (or transitioning), so I got over it). Woke up this morning?  STILL couldn’t remember ANYTHING about it.  Not the intro (that bumpin” bass, which I should’ve remembered because if anybody loves them a bumpin’ bass, it’s this gal).  Not any part of the tune.  Not. One. Word. Nada. I mean, it was there – but only in theory.  I wasn’t dead/transitioning – and I could see the ‘tube video in my mind’s eye – I just couldn’t remember a thing about it.   It wasn’t until I pulled it back up on YouTube that it came flooding back.  It was just weird – until I broke down the song and realized:  it’s a beautiful dance tune – but it’s not one that sticks in my mind.

Which brings me to perfume:  awhile back I realized that there are many categories of perfumes – but one of the most populated is the Gone in 60.  You spritz a perfume, delight in the ‘pretty’  (or maybe even the ‘interesting’)….and then, 60(minutes, prolly) later, you can’t remember what it is you sprayed !  I used to think it was just us perfumistas,  because we expose ourselves to so many different scents – but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked a layperson what they’re wearing and they’ll say ‘I…I can’t remember.  I remember liking it and spraying it – but I can’t remember the name of it AT ALL WHAT THE HELL IS THE NAME?! (‘by then, there’s a touch of exasperation/mild panic).  Gone in 60 does not refer to longevity – often the ones we can’t remember have good longevity, which can make it even more annoying (more time to wonder if you’re losing your mind) – but there’s a certain ‘something’ about those scents that doesn’t  linger in the psyche.   Obviously, there are very many perfumes that defy this category (I doubt anybody who’s ever spritzed Mitsouko – or Opium – has forgotten what the hell it was they just sprayed! lol!  Ditto Clinique’s Happy and Aromatic Elixir (talk about opposite ends of the spectrum! And you can identify Calyx from a mile away!!!) But there are a LOT of good perfumes that, if you don’t really stay focused, can be gone from your mind in 60! Why is that, I wonder?  Is it because there are Just So Many out there, now? A lot are flankers, of course.   I mean, Shalimar is undeniable – but I couldn’t identify a single flanker and, in their ubiquitousness, they seem to have diluted Shalimar’s power, just a bit (ymmv) .  I just smelled No5 l’Eau – again – and remembered why I forgot about it the first time – it’s lovely, but I can’t seem to keep it in my mind’s eye.  But not just flankers – there are a squickton of really lovely standalones that just …I dunno…I spritz them, love them….and then promptly forget what it is I’m wearing!

I would give you a list…..but I can’t remember any of them!  Seriously!

Okay, maybe not quite THAT serious – but I find this intriguing.  Have any of you had this experience?  If not with perfume, then what?  Food? Wine? Music?  Where it’s LOVE – then it’s ..gone.

Would love to hear your thoughts.  The Girl would, too!  She’ll read them all, then pull a couple of Messy Armoire winners!!!

And…wishing everyone Happy Holidays!

And…fwiw?  I STILL can’t keep that song in my head!