I am meant to be tidying up my house. But it is not going well. I am enforcing all manner of diversionary tactics, including helping a friend set up a blog, talking to friends, accompanying my son to the bank to set up a new account, wandering off to our local shop to buy one item of food at a time……and so on.

I am also going to move “TIDY YOUR F”G HOUSE” off my “THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER” list and put it on to my “THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE” list – along with “GET A FACELIFT”, “DISCOVER THE MEANING OF LIFE” and “WATCH BABY TURTLES HATCH AND WADDLE OFF DOWN THE BEACH”.

Another top tip for major diversionary tactics is to sort through bottles of perfume – it takes ages. Most of them are now stale and revolting. I have been doing this all week. Testing them out to see if I still like them. I have decided that to be a proper grown-up you are supposed to have a signature perfume and I don’t.

Well, I do have one I love the most but it’s become so signature that I can no longer smell it on myself. Or maybe that is the point. When you don’t feel like a walking honk machine then perhaps you’ve found the right one.

So. I test them out and ask my daughter’s opinion –

“What do you think of this one? I quite like it”. Too fruity?

“Mum, it stinks – you smell of chlorine”.

Bin.

“OMG this one is REVOLTING don’t you think? It must have gone off. I smell like a dead animal!”

“Mum, I’m not gonna lie, you smell like that all the time”.

Bin.

I feel I’m too old to be choosing perfume. I must be having another midlife crisis. My mother always wore the same perfume. Is that a good or bad thing or should you have lots to choose from depending on your mood?

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4 Comments
  • SusannahS
    September 1, 2012

    I decided to follow Marilyn Monroe’s example by having one signature fragrance. However I don’t like the way Chanel No. 5 smells on me (although it smells fantastic on my grandmother–body chemistry is so odd). I’ve been a Marc Jacobs girl for years.
    Do you have Sephora over there? It’s like make-up and girl heaven in one giant store. They’ll make little sample spray bottles for you so you can try a fragrance for a few days before buying.

    • Family Affairs
      September 1, 2012

      Oh really? We did have some of those Sephora shops I”m sure, but I don’t think I’ve seen one for ages so perhaps I’m imagining it….will check. I’ve got a Marc Jacobs perfume I like and my daughter loves Daisy so thanks for the tips and I’ll check. I agree – Channel N0,5 is not for me either – my mother wore that and tbh I never liked it – especially on long car journeys. Lx

  • Jo
    September 3, 2012

    My mother wore Chanel No 5 and I think that it smells like old ladie’s hankies. Those that have been kept in a handbag for years, folded but never used. I wear Diptique’s Fig in Winter and Jo Malone’s Grapefruit in Summer. I read somewhere that if you wear grapefruit perfume it makes you look younger.

    I think that Sephora went bust in the UK, there is one at Algarve Shopping. Make-up heaven indeed.

    • Family Affairs
      September 3, 2012

      I know – mine too and I find it revolting on me…..winter/summer options – hadn’t thought of that Lx