In the shower, and in the garden

Love this apricot-pink-bronze combo.

I’ve enjoyed the recent posts about “smell-good” scents, including all your comments. Here’s some more meandering on the topic – next time will be reporting back on recent lemmings.

Here’s one lemming caught and released — I got ahold of LUSH Rose Jam. Thanks to you all, I was thisclose to buying it unsniffed because of the recent commentary on here, except: in general, I’m not a fan of rose fragrances, much preferring the actual roses I have in my garden. Anyway, Musette graciously sent me some and I figured I’d love it or hate it, and instead it was … fine? It was fine. I used up my sample and have no need for more.

However, it did clarify what I’ve really been wanting, which is a body wash that doesn’t smell like either the citrus or “spa” types I’ve used for years. I want something … floral? Tropical floral? Ylang, tuberose, gardenia? I did get some of the TJ Brazil Nut body wash which is apparently a dupe for one of those Sol de Janeiro things at 1/10^th the price and I really like it, and yet – well, this is where you come in. Is there a body wash you like that smells like white florals, or fruit cocktail, or … an alternative I haven’t thought of? (Again, something other than citrus, or “spa” scents with lavender, pine/woods, eucalyptus, etc., which I’m kind of bored with at this point.) Any recommendations? Cheap and cheerful is fine, in fact I’d prefer that to a “fancy” body product from a legit perfume house, I don’t want to smell like Chanel or Amouage in the shower, fabulous as they may be.

ornamental oregano

I’ve been working like mad on the new-to-me walled garden, which already had foundation plantings and spring bulbs and some groundcover, and which I would describe as “restrained.” I fixed up the out-of-repair drip irrigation and am now transforming this space (with the landlord’s blessing) into something more my style, which is messy New England cottage/wildflower garden. I didn’t realize how much I missed gardening after my move out here until I dove back in … it’s a combination of fussing over things (which I’m good at) and having patience (which I’m not good at, but it’s a good practice for me). A lot of the plants are still on the small side, but by next summer it should be a sight to behold. I hope the old owner doesn’t stop by; he would absolutely loathe what I’ve done with the place.

In the midst of this, I’m realizing how much of what I’ve chosen (and what works in this arid, sun-blasted, high-elevation climate) is a lot of plants with fragrant foliage in addition to their blooms. As I work in the morning shade I smell the herbaceous sweetness of nepeta (catmint) and artemisia, a scent I adore, especially after a rain (ah, petrichor!); tomato vines; dianthus; my roses, which are going gangbusters after some tending from me; the sharpness of ornamental oregano, as well as regular oregano in my herb garden. Ornamental and culinary sage. Scented geranium, chives, thyme between the flagstones … the list goes on and on. My own tomatoes aren’t quite ripe yet, but my hands still smell of the fresh basil I chopped earlier for the tomatoes from the farmer’s market.

So, any shower gel recommendations? And are you enjoying outdoor / gardening smells right now?

(images of roses, oregano, and artemisia: mine)