I know, a sort of pathetic title for a post. But it’s been announced we’re going back into lockdown from Thursday and while I’m mostly been home any way and my plans are to continue to do what I’ve been doing (ie, life won’t change much for me), I find this really disheartening. Not because it isn’t right and things like a mask mandate any time you’re outside should have been done ages ago (and we might not be doing this now if something like that had been implemented) but because I’m just weary of this idea of protecting the economy meant not really protecting people – that they were somehow mutually exclusive. If so and so just had an imagination and cared about the rest of us maybe this would all look different.
Sorry, rant finished.
This is my garden currently. Still a mess, but the rain should stop early this week which means my focus will turn outdoors. I’m seriously thinking enough with the grass. It’s time to do something imaginative, with maybe just a walkway from the patio to the shed and all the rest of it broken up into quadrants or something … maybe a small meadow, a raised bed, a load of dahlias etc, something else… Any suggestions welcomed.
Tagging on from my Arpege post last week I’ve had Estee Lauder Youth Dew in my head ever since.
Youth Dew is another rather classic fragrance that I have sample over and over but have never bought. It works well on me, is dark and sensuous, unctuous even, comes in a gorgeous bottle, is easy to find and is pretty inexpensive. I guess it just doesn’t quite sing enough to put me over the edge. (I couldn’t get a good YD pic, alas.)
Launched in 1953, originally as a bath oil, the notes include (among other things) aldehydes, narcissus, lavender, orange, bergamot, peach, cloves, cinnamon, rose, ylang, jasmine, LOTV, incense, tolu balsam, patchouli, oakmoss, amber, vetiver, vanilla and musk. Another kitchen sink list.
This works from nose tip to tail tip on me: spicy, powdery, sort of mysterious, and smooth in the dry-down.
I had a roommate at university who wore this, back in the early 1980s when it certainly wasn’t a thing. She was Italian; incredibly chic in a boho way (when the rest of us just wore jeans and t shirts or button downs, sneakers or clogs, she wore black and dark blousy florals) – long dark wavy hair, that accent, and a load of Youth Dew all the time. She worked in one of the uni bars and would stumble home late, looking louche.
This was definitely not ever one of my mother’s perfumes. I think it was a bit too dark for her.
So, was/is this in your collection? Anything in your collection louche and unctuous?
My mother wore either Youth Dew or Estee Lauder Estee perfume. She was a well-dressed professional woman and was always surrounded by a lovely soft perfumed aura. I thought she was beautiful! As I grew up, I associated Estee Lauder perfumes with all that was perfect and attractive. – I wear many EL perfumes, still.
I never really got on board with Youth Dew. But the unctuous scents that stick in my mind from that time (and which I still love) are Coco, Samsara, and Charles of the Ritz (the self-titled signature one).
I had an aunt who gifted me a full bottle of Youth Dew when I was only 13, and I was appalled with it. So heavy, so unctuous, so patchouli. And this was back when girls my age were wearing Love’s Baby Soft. I chucked it in the trash after trying it once or twice. Then, the final nail in the coffin: a lady in my church choir wore too much of it as her signature scent and made the rest of us long for a breath of fresh air. But I’ve heard that as a bath oil it’s wonderful, so I’m curious to try it again now that I’m mature.
For some reason right now I don’t have any YD but I used to spray a LITTLE on a cotton ball and kept it in my purse. When I would open my purse at a checkout line, the most heavenly scent would waft out and the clerk would take a deep breath and always say “What smells so good?” Ebay here I come!
That’s such a wonderful idea — the cotton ball. I do that sort of thing in my clothes drawers but will have to keep handbag in mind.
I have a tiny bottle of Tabu and several gallons of vintage Opium. The heavenly Opium PdT sends me into a tizz of bliss.
I wore Opium in my Sheffield clubbing days 80-83. That’s what industrial electro smells like to me
I loved Opium. Yes, early 1980s — that was definitely its time — going dancing in odd and wonderful clubs.
Another vote for the bath oil, I have a vintage bottle that still smells amazing and I dab it on when I’m in the mood.
Every once in a while I think to myself ‘oh, buy it, it’s cheap, and it will make you happy’. Still never done it.
I, too, had a university friend whose signature scent was Youth Dew. But she looked more Cheryl Tiegs, blonde hair, blue eyes. Guys adored her. That was omg, the Sixties! I got a bottle maybe ten years ago to add to my collection and I love it. It has been a comfort scent for me during this Crisis.
Hmmm, blond, Cheryl Tiegs … going against type?
No YD for me but I do have a suggestion for your garden – what about 4 hedged borders with a sundial or fountain bisecting the path(s) – that would break up that vista to the shed (which would also benefit from a bit of dolling-up, for the visual) and would also make the garden look bigger. You could put whatever you want in the beds but I wouldn’t get too diverse, as it’s not big enough for too many different kinds of plantings. Either pick similar flowers in differing shades (if you like that) or different flower types in the same color family. xoxoxo
Thank you on garden. I once did an open gardens visit to a house where the middle of the garden was broken up with some kind of gnarly tree right in the middle. I’m thinking about that too — as long as I can figure out what the tree was.
One thing I forgot to say: Love the Youth Dew Bath oil as I do, I too, cannot stand the name. Good grief. But consider some of the ad copy today for newer releases….
Yes, a slightly off-putting name. I don’t think about it that much, but I’m now going to have to go look up that history.
I love Youth Dew! But–caveat: it must be the bath oil. I do not use the perfume. The bath oil, which despite many permutations is still amazing, and it’s much better/different for some mysterious reason than the spray edt/edp, which is harsher and brasher, and has, to my nose, different notes.
I am now in my 50’s as of yesterday 31st, but I was playing in my mom’s Youth Dew when I was 6! She couldn’t keep my paws off it–and she was very into spicy scents, dramatic with lots of flair. Believe it or not, the original Dana Tabu (back in the day) is awesome and in the same vein (not the Wal-Mart .99 version–try STC for the old vintage) as Youth Dew–they have a similar DNA, so that’s what it was at my house when I was a child. Mom also had Clinique Aromatic Elixir.
Consequently, the anemic colognes citrusy-whatevers are not my thing.
Tip: I heartily recommend you shelve the perfume, one and all; throw for some 35.00 bath oil at Macy’s or Selfridges, and then have a bath/spa. But wait for it: hours later, a day later walk into your bathroom/spa, and you’ll get the magic! Perfumed air, delightful swirls of peachy-clove magic embedded in a fluffy towel. With a light touch, it works as a perfume (little pinky finger, dab, dab–otherwise you’ll fumigate the neighbors).
Happy Birthday!!! xoxoxo
You made me laugh. I no longer have a bath — just a huge shower stall. It’s lovely, but not a place for bath oil.
My mum had a small bottle of Youth Dew when I was very young, in the seventies. I didn’t like it back then, it was simply to dark and I couldn’t associate it with my mum at all. She never bought another bottle but she still keeps the empty bottle in her cosmetic cabinet.
I have an empty bottle of Mitsouko perfume — simply can’t get my head round getting rid of it. I do have Mitsouko EdP, so I can spray but not gotten round to getting another little perfume bottle.
My mother liked perfume, although I do not recall that she wore it often. Youth Dew was definitely in her repertoire, though. One summer, I sneaked a spritz or two whenever I went out to meet my boyfriend. He liked it and asked me what it was called. I should never have told him because he found the name hilarious! I haven’t worn it since those days, but I’m sure I have some around the house somewhere…
Sometimes it’s better to be mysterious, especially when we were teenagers.
Yes, I am beyond upset with what could have been if this situation had been handled better in the US. Just heartbreaking on all counts!
My signature scent in college was Cinnabar but I certainly was not living the elegant life of your roommate 🙂
I have a very close friend who is a Cinnabar girl. It was never one of mine, but had that dark, spicy vibe which was so attractive.
This was mother’s signature fragrance. When my father was in the hospital, I could tell she was on the floor from her sillage. Glorious on her, a cesspool on me.
that’s me and Norell (which is what brought me to the Posse, btw!). My mother’s signature scent, it smelled divine on her. On me, it smelled like a 4-day bender! xoxox
Hmmm, that’s like my mother could wear Bal a Versaille but on me it was not pleasant. I hope your father is ok.
Youth Dew was what my mom wore when I was a baby; she had a different fragrance for each of us kids, to create a scent memory for us! I didnt do that for my kids, but I love the idea! For my 40th birthday she got me a bottle. It doesn’t necessarily remind me of her, but definitely is a luxurious scent, one that I find comforting and yet dark/risqué at the same time! I love it!
That’s lovely — the different perfume for each child. And a lovely gift from her to you.