A column by T&A writer Helen Mead explored so-called “old lady perfume” – fragrances that conjure recollections of individuals and locations.
Several readers reached out to share which scents triggered memories for them. Tahira Amin sent an email outlining the nostalgia evoked by White Satin.
‘I just came across your perfume memory piece,’ she writes. ‘I recall using my aunt’s White Satin during childhood. I used the entire bottle. I’ve felt remorseful about it ever since. I wish I could locate a bottle with that original scent; I purchased one from Amazon but it bore no resemblance to my aunt’s version. I’m still searching for one to give her. I was approximately 11 when I first used it – I’m now 52! I simply cannot seem to forget this; she was so fond of it.’
Tahira mentioned she’d ‘adore experiencing Anais Anais once more; it was my initial luxury fragrance – I was a struggling student back in the 1990s.’
Reader Sally Durham shared which perfumes she remembered: ‘I appreciated your feature on ‘old lady fragrances’. My mother also possessed a bottle of Tweed and I recall yearning for the vivid yellow Kiku bottle during my teenage years in the 1970s.’
June Rickell describes her grandmother’s signature scent. ‘I enjoyed your article about ‘old lady perfumes’. It brought back thoughts of my grandmother’s particular fragrance, which came in a small bright blue bottle. It was named Evening in Paris, and on special occasions she would permit me a small dab behind my ears.
‘When I was 17, my then-boyfriend inquired about my favorite perfume, but not wanting to acknowledge that the sole fragrance I knew belonged to my grandmother, I stayed quiet until he mentioned his mother’s favorite was Gardenia by Goya.
I told him I enjoyed that as well, despite never having heard of it. The subsequent week he presented me with a diminutive box – comparable in size to a matchbox – containing this small bottle of Goya Gardenia inside. I adored it.’
She continues: ‘My mother and her sisters applied Pond’s Cold Cream in the evening, and nowadays I use it too, as a cleansing product, and discover it evokes memories of the three of them.
‘Another fragrance I enjoyed came in the form of a shampoo from Woolworth’s, which was my favored store during my teenage years. It was named Halo and smelled heavenly. It lingered on your pillow for several days after washing your hair, and I mourned when it discontinued.’
She adds: ‘Scents retrieve so many memories. My other grandmother lacked gas or electricity for a period, so her home carried the scent of Calor Gas and oil lamps. I treasured that.
Contemporary expensive fragrances fail to conjure any memories, though I still rather appreciate Chanel no. 5 and consider Marilyn Monroe, who when asked what she wore at night, provided that as her response.