scent diary: 46 posts

Happy May Day! I’m writing with a bouquet of lily of the valley on my desk, and although today is rainy and overcast, the delicate sweet scent of these white blossoms suggests spring and sunshine.

In other news, I wanted to let you know that Silvia and I are still accepting the early bird reservations for the Lavender Retreat in Bulgaria (June 26-30, 2023.) With the code BOISDEJASMIN you receive 15% off the retreat price and this code will be valid until May 31st. You can find more information via Silvia’s website. Of course, if you have any questions, I’m more than happy to answer them.

Scent Diary is a place to write your observations about the scents around you. Whether you write down 1 recollection or 10 matters less than simply reminding yourself to smell. You can add as many comments as you wish. You can comment today or over the course of the week; this thread will always be open. Of course, do share what perfume you’re wearing or what particularly good scented products you’ve discovered.

While looking through my articles, I found this article that I wrote a few years ago but that still remains popular and often-read: A to Z Tips for Enjoyable, Affordable and Rewarding Perfume Hobby. If you have any tips to add, I’d love to hear them.

Photography by Bois de Jasmin

Last night I spoke with my cousin and my friends in Ukraine to find out how they have been handling these past few days. My friend Nadia is an embroidery master and teacher, and despite the power blackouts, she continues working. She showed me a beautiful rushnyk, an embroidered hand towel, that she finished, and explained that she selected the design of a tree of life to feel more hopeful. “Embroidery is my meditation practice,” Nadia says.

I have an update about our Ukrainian fundraiser. We now have more than 20 prizes, including vintage Coty Chypre and a brand-new bottle of Chanel Bois des Iles extrait de parfum. All of your contributions make a difference, so Thought Group Chile and I are immensely grateful. Here is a message from Cristian Wittig, the director of Thought Group Chile:

“With your contribution we will be able to continue developing the architectural proposals that have been required of us by the authorities of the Cities of Irpin and Chernihiv, for the reconstruction of their destroyed spaces and buildings. Your help will also allow us to continue with the development of our proposals for the 5 architectural projects commissioned for the City of Chernihiv, of which we have already begun to develop our proposal for the New House of Culture in Ivanivka. Your financial support and trust placed in the work of our team, encourages us, motivates us and inspires us to continue working for the wonderful Ukrainian people.

Soon we will have available our official website where you can find all the information regarding our work process for the destroyed cities in Ukraine. In the meantime, I invite you to check our Instagram account @thought4ukraine.”

Scent Diary is a place to write your observations about the scents around you. Whether you write down 1 recollection or 10 matters less than simply reminding yourself to smell. You can add as many comments as you wish. You can comment today or over the course of the week; this thread will always be open. Of course, do share what perfume you’re wearing or what particularly good scented products you’ve discovered.

While looking through my articles, I found this article that I wrote a few years ago but that still remains popular and often-read: A to Z Tips for Enjoyable, Affordable and Rewarding Perfume Hobby. If you have any tips to add, I’d love to hear them.

Photography by Bois de Jasmin

Happy Lunar New Year! We celebrated it with our friends, making dumplings and eating hot pot. At the end of the dinner, my friend served jasmine tea with fennel tea and cocoa nibs. The flavor was surprising–pleasantly bitter and warm, with a lingering spicy sweetness. The floral note of jasmine retained its dominance, amplifying the rose-like accents of chocolate. It was a lovely discovery to start off the new year on a good note.

Scent Diary is a place to write your observations about the scents around you. Whether you write down 1 recollection or 10 matters less than simply reminding yourself to smell. You can add as many comments as you wish. You can comment today or over the course of the week; this thread will always be open. Of course, do share what perfume you’re wearing or what particularly good scented products you’ve discovered.

While looking through my articles, I found this article that I wrote a few years ago but that still remains popular and often-read: A to Z Tips for Enjoyable, Affordable and Rewarding Perfume Hobby. If you have any tips to add, I’d love to hear them.

Photography by Bois de Jasmin

I keep a tin of dried roses on my desk. I gathered them four years ago at my grandmother’s garden in Ukraine. My grandmother was sitting on the bench under the lilacs, watching me. The sun was making the rose smell even more intensely sweet. So much was lost during these intervening years, but the dried rose petals in my tin still retain their honeyed perfume. I close my eyes, take a deep inhale and feel myself bathed in the warm sunshine of a distant Ukrainian summer.

What scents evoke pleasant memories for you?

Scent Diary is a place to write your observations about the scents around you. Whether you write down 1 recollection or 10 matters less than simply reminding yourself to smell. You can add as many comments as you wish. You can comment today or over the course of the week; this thread will always be open. Of course, do share what perfume you’re wearing or what particularly good scented products you’ve discovered.

While looking through my articles, I found this article that I wrote a few years ago but that still remains popular and often-read: A to Z Tips for Enjoyable, Affordable and Rewarding Perfume Hobby. If you have any tips to add, I’d love to hear them.

Photography by Bois de Jasmin

Lavender is still in bloom around Brussels, its almond-like scent competing with the musty aroma of fallen leaves. I always find it a surprising and jarring scent image, as if summer and autumn existed at the same time. It also never fails to remind me why I love lavender and how readily it evokes sunshine and warmth.

Scent Diary is a place to write your observations about the scents around you. Whether you write down 1 recollection or 10 matters less than simply reminding yourself to smell. You can add as many comments as you wish. You can comment today or over the course of the week; this thread will always be open. Of course, do share what perfume you’re wearing or what particularly good scented products you’ve discovered.

While looking through my articles, I found this article that I wrote a few years ago but that still remains popular and often-read: A to Z Tips for Enjoyable, Affordable and Rewarding Perfume Hobby. If you have any tips to add, I’d love to hear them.

Photography by Bois de Jasmin