Happy Birthday, Patty!

Hi everybody.  Let’s wish Patty a happy birthday!  I love Patty, she’s my first perfume friend.  I know some of you longtime readers already know this story, but the one of the very first decants I ever bought when I was dipping my toe into perfumista-world was from Patty’s shop, on eBay at that time I think, and it got lost in the mail.  So there I was thinking I’d been ripped off, and of course when I emailed and complained I didn’t get it, she probably had the same thought.  It was a sample of Etro’s Messe de Minuit, of all things.  I hope whoever got it was some non-perfumista who loves generic D&G Light Blue, and they opened it up and spritzed it with abandon, and then promptly regretted all their life choices once the mildewed-crypt notes really kicked in.

Anyhoo, Patty cheerfully sent another decant, and we kept talking, by which I mean I kept badgering her incessantly about my New Fragrance Destiny, and she realized she’d never get me to shut up already, so why not write for the Posse?  Not too long after that, when I still didn’t really know Patty beyond the blog, there was some amazing deal on some bottles of … what was it?  The first Armani Prive fragrances with those fancy stone caps, they must have just launched… whoa, eons ago.  She’d found some at, like, a Stein-Mart in the middle of absolutely nowhere but driving distance for me halfway across the country, and I guess e-commerce wasn’t what it is now, and she asked me to go get a bunch of them for her business, and I hoped I wasn’t getting roped into some scam I didn’t understand, because it was serious money for me.

Well the joke’s on me, isn’t it?  Patty is one of the most unfailingly generous people I have ever met — generous with her time, her laughter, her kindness, and her perfume.  Her family is also an absolute hoot, and we had some great times in New York City together, they fit together like the proverbial peas in a pod.  Some of my closest, dearest friends are perfume people.  My life would be a much poorer one without them, and the Posse, and all of you.  Give yourself a spritz, and thanks for all the love and great comments over the years.

  • Ariel says:

    Happy belated birthday! May this next year be better than expected.

  • Ann says:

    Happy, happy birthday, dear Patty!! We love you! Big hugs to you!

  • Patty says:

    Thanks for all the birthday wishes!!!

  • Patty says:

    Love you and thanks for the birthday wishes and being my friend for the last 15 years! Has it been that long? My life would have been so much poorer had we not met over that MdM decant for sure. 🙂 xoxo

  • Zazie says:

    Happy Birthday Patty! 🙂 Hope you have a fabulous time.

    PS if you can, tell us what fragrance you are wearing for your B-day! I’d love to know…

    PPS March, I thought you’ve always known each other… thank you for the glimpse on how it all started! Messe de Minuit!!! Lol 😀

  • Tara C says:

    Happy birthday greetings to you Patty!

  • Jennifer S says:

    Have a wonderful Birthday Patty!

  • VerbenaLuvvr says:

    Happy Birthday Patty, I hope you have a lovely day! 🙂 I am so grateful for the friendships that I have made in the fragrance community

  • Dina C. says:

    Happy Birthday Patty! Hope you and your pups have a great day! May you have a healthy, happy, well-scented year ahead. March, I love your story about your perfumista beginnings. Your enthusiasm and joy for this scented world is well matched by your skill as a writer.

  • Musette says:

    Happy Birthday, you little darlin’! I would go on and on about how much I adore you – but you already know it and it would make you blush. So. Happy Birthday! xoxoxo

  • KimB says:

    Wishing you a great birthday and an even better year.

  • Pattie says:

    Happy birthday Patty!

  • monkeytoe says:

    Happy Birthday, Patty!

  • Cinnamon says:

    Happy birthday, Patty. Maybe it be fun and wonderful and full of good things.

  • Neva says:

    Great story! Have a wonderful birtday, Patty!

  • MizChristian says:

    Happy birthday, Sister Sagittarius! : )

  • shiva-woman says:

    Happy Birthday Patty–you’ve lived through the best–and now, the worst–of times! May you have many more years of the best of times. Eat, drink, and be as merry as you can be. When I fell down the rabbit hole, STC was and still is my gateway drug. Thank you for changing my world and being in the world!

  • Maya says:

    Happy Birthday Patty. As Bob Dylan writes and sings, “may you stay Forever Young”!

  • SpringPansy says:

    Happy birthday, Patty!! Thank goodness for Surrender to Chance and your perfume passion. I’m glad you retold the story, March as I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before. Love the serendipity AND the generosity of perfume people!

    That reminds me of my own story. When I found MakeupAlley way back in 2004ish and fell down the perfume rabbit hole, I was desperate to swap and try all the things people were raving (and ranting) about but really had nothing of interest to swap and was unsure how to go about trying things. My big break came when CJ from mua (who now owns and runs cjscents) offered to send me a box of various samples and decants if I would buy and then send her a big bottle of DSH Gingembre in return. (I lived about 10 miles from Dawn’s studio in Colorado at the time). Like you, March, I wasn’t sure if I was about to be ripped off, but I was so enthralled with the idea of all kinds of treats to try that I jumped on it. And CJ did send me the most wonderful box in return full of all kinds of niche fragrance bits and bobs that I’d never have been able to try without her. It was like a treasure box filled with perfume gems!

    • March says:

      That is such a great story — that moment of trust where you’re thinking, is this okay? And taking the plunge and hoping for the best.

  • Filomena says:

    Happy Birthday to Patty?!

  • Filomena says:

    Happy Birthday Patty?!

  • Ann says:

    Happy birthday Patty! I hope you enjoy your special day. Loved reading this beautiful tribute March ?

  • Carolyn says:

    Happy birthday Patty!!

  • Jo Ann says:

    Happy Birthday Patty!

  • Tiara says:

    Happy birthday and may next year be even better!

  • Gina T says:

    Happy Birthday, Patty! Blessings upon you.