Signature Scent Series, Part 3

In my last "Signature Scent Series," I wrote about how some of the fragrances I had been trying immediately brought to mind memories of events, places, or people. Many of us know that the sense of scent is tied to memory, but have thought about why exactly that happens? Allow me to present a brief biology review :) Special sensory cells, located in tissue found high inside the nose, connect DIRECTLY to the brain (the olfactory bulb, to be exact). The olfactory bulb connects to the Limbic System of the brain, which is responsible for memory. It is also a part of the brain which regulates emotions, which can explain why certain scents make you happy, relax you, or can even agitate you.

An update on the Search for My Signature Scent:
This week, I tried the Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin, Earl Grey & Cucumber, Orange Blossom, and Red Roses. Lime Basil & Mandarin along with Earl Grey & Cucumber both fall into the "Citris" category on the Jo Malone website, while Orange Blossom is in the "Floral" category and Red Roses in the "Light Floral."

Lime Basil & Mandarin: "Our signature fragrance. Peppery basil and aromatic white thyme bring an unexpected twist to the scent of limes on a Caribbean breeze. A modern classic."

If this was the first Jo Malone scent I experienced, I probably would not have tried more. I enjoy lime, basil, and mandarin, but this scent smells dated and over-powering on me. I tried it on four different occasions and disliked it every time.

Earl Grey & Cucumber: "A British Tradition... afternoon tea. A fragrance with a burst of bergamont, distinct to Earl Grey, and the cool succelence of crunchy cucumber. Counterpoised with a sweet base of beeswax, vanilla, and musk. Reviving and refined."

Something odd happened with this one... I had sprayed it on my chest and instantly did not like it. Soon after, I smelled it on a friend and loved it- not knowing it was the scent I hated on myself. When it was time to write this post, I sprayed it again, but this time on my wrist. I actually enjoyed it on my wrist and proceeded to sniff it the rest of the afternoon! Even though it is under the classification of citris, it smells quite linen-y fresh. Maybe it's the bergamont in the Earl Grey I enjoy? While I loved this scent on my wrist, I do enjoy wearing fragrances on my throat and chest as well.

Orange Blossom: "A shimmering garden oasis. Clementine flower sparkles over a heart of orange blossoms and water lily, with warm undertones or orris and balsamic vetiver. Pure delight."

The first thing that comes to mind when I smell this scent is Honeysuckle. A huge field, a warm day, and a ton of honeysuckle. I have never smelled an actual orange blossom, so who knows? Maybe they actually smell like honeysuckle? This scent so reminds me of summer! Because of the strong summer presence, I'm not sure I could wear it year round.

Red Roses: "A voluptuous blend of the world's most exquisite roses. With crushed violet leaves and a hint of lemon, it unfolds like a bouquet of freshly cut flowers."

So, I have a little confession. I had used this sample vial before beginning my official search and have kinda already fallen in love with it. It was the warmness that I crave and the Rose scent I adore. I really love how it seemed to become one with my skin and smell so very nice on me. One of my sisters (who would be the last person you would think to like a rose scent), actually complimented this scent on two separate occasions and was shocked when I said, "Red Roses."

You may wonder why I found it necessary to still go through the whole "Signature Scent" process when I had already fallen in love with this particular scent. My answer would be that even though I already knew I loved roses, even before trying the sample vials, I didn't know what some of the other scents were like. Always wanting to learn and grow, I knew I needed to give each of the scents an equal try.

This week I would love to know, have you decided to go on the Signature Scent journey? Have you already? I would love to hear about it in the comments below!

Signature Scent Series, Part 2

Have you ever had this conversation: "Oh my goodness, you smell so good! What are you wearing?" Upon receiving the name of the delicious fragrance, you immediately go to the store, purchase a bottle, then wonder why in the world it does not smell the same on your skin. The first time this happened, I was in my teens and was so jealous that a certain scent smelled so good on my friend, but smelled old lady-ish on myself.


Most of us probably already know that something happens to make perfume smell different on different people. I decided to do a little research on why, and found a lot of information at TheLondonPerfumeCompany.com. Basically, everyone has a unique body chemistry, and (just like our fingerprint or DNA), no two are the same. When the perfume molecules react with warm pulse points through our heart beat, it causes a reaction with our skin and hormones, which causes the perfume to give off a particular scent. Our skin is made up of a unique combination of salts, proteins, acids, hairs, fibers, fats, and water. Factors that can influence your skin type include diet, stress level, hormone level, humidity, and Herbs & Spices.

So what's our best bet to ensure that we love our friend's scent on us as much as we do on them? Ask them for a squirt. Get a sample from a department store or online. Allow it to settle into your skin for 30 minutes and see if it's still the scent you love.

This week, I've tried our four of the Jo Malone scents. They were Nectarine Blossom and Honey, Pomegranate Noir, English Pear & Freesia, and Blackberry and Bay. All of these colognes fell into the "Fruity" category on the Jo Malone website, and all four of them could not be more different from one another. Below is the website's description of each, along with a few words on my experience with each.

Nectarine Blossom & Honey: "London's Covent Garden early morning market. Succulent nectarine, peach, and cassis and delicate spring flowers melt into each note of acacia honey. Sweet and delightfully playful."

The first word that came to mind for this scent was, "Wholesome." It had such a light and sweet scent and reminded me of summer trips to Stone Mountain when I was little. Those don't even go together, but that's the memory that came flooding in when inhaling it! I felt this scent smelled exactly on my skin as it did in the bottle. Which is not bad, but I enjoy my body's chemistry interacting with scents a bit more. It seemed as though this one just "sat" on my skin.

Pomegranate Noir: "The sensuality of a daring red dress. Ruby-rich juices of pomegranate, raspberry, and plum are spiked with pink pepper and laced with Casablanca lily and spicy woods. Dark and enigmatic."

At first scent, this cologne made me think of the spicy incense one would smell at a Renaissance Festival without the added headache of it being over-powering. It is a very sensual scent and I loved the warmth of it on my skin. It did interact with my chemistry, but lacked the floral notes I tend to enjoy.

English Pear & Freesia: "The essence of Autumn, the sensuous freshness of just-ripe pears is wrapped in a bouquet of white freesias and mellowed by amber, patchouli, and woods. Luscious and Golden."

I was a bit surprised when I read the description of "The essence of Autumn," as Autumn was something that never came to mind while wearing this scent. Fiona actually tried this scent the evening before I wore it, and it smelled absolutely delightful on her. I was excited to wear it the next day and was disappointed when, again, it seemed to just sit rather than mingle with my skin. It was a beautiful scent, and reminded me of strolling through an English Garden... or, at least, what I would imagine an English Garden to smell like.

Blackberry & Bay: "Childhood memories of blackberry picking... A burst of deep, tart, blackberry juice, blending with the freshness of just-gathered bay and brambly woods. Vibrant and verdant."

I have to admit, this was the one Jo Malone scent I was most excited to try. I mentioned Jennifer L. Scott's search for a Signature Scent in my previous post, and this was the scent she had chosen! When I first applied it, the first thought that rushed to my mind was, "This smells like my Daddy!!" While it may seem quite odd that a connoisseur such as Jennifer and my father would choose the same scent, it actually made sense to me. I was the one who had purchased my father's cologne for him, and I absolutely adore the way it smells on him. Of course, I had to discover what the similar notes were to make them smell so much alike. His cologne, L'eau D'Issey Pour Homme by Issey Miyake has a very complex scent list, including Cypress, Coriander, Mandarin, Fresh Verbena, Nutmeg, Saffron, Cinnamon, Tobacco Amber, Musk, and Hatian Vetiver, just to name a few. The only one I could possibly consider carrying a like-smelling scent was the cypress. Am I the only one who finds this incredibly interesting??? Be sure to read my next post, where I dive a little deeper into why scents evoke memories.

The search continues! I would love to know- Have you had a similar experience with a perfume not mixing well with your body chemistry? Please share your stories in the comments below!

In Pursuit of a Signature Scent

The first time the concept of a "Signature Scent" was brought to my attention was when I was about 10 years old.  An older, more mature, friend of mine was talking about her "cool" friends and how they each wore one perfume (or body splash, probably), so religiously that they could smell one another coming before they actually saw one another.  I determined quickly that my Signature Scent would be "Exclamation," as I already had a bottle, and I then proceeded to ask for bottles of it for birthdays and Christmas for the next several years.  

As a young adult, I continued to wear perfume, but branched out of the drugstore aisle and played with department store brands- from Victoria's Secret's "Angel" to Banana Republic's "W for Women" to  to the flirty "Velocity" by Mary Kay, I simply purchased whatever I thought smelled classic and sexy and would faithfully apply it every morning.  Looking back on my journey through fragrances, I've realized that certain scents can easily be correlated with specific relationship and life-events.

My mid-twenties brought on the search for a truly Signature Scent.  I fell in love with Coco Mademoiselle and would constantly find magazine and department store samples.  I wanted to make sure that the scent was one that would embody the essence of me.  After a year of debating, I made the purchase with some birthday money I received as a gift.  The scent was truly the most delicate balance between classic and allure and helped me feel confident and beautiful every day I wore it.  I purchased several bottles over the next few years and reveled in the moment I would apply it each day.  

Through the years of wearing Coco Mademoiselle, I have found it worthwhile to re-evaluate my love of the scent before investing in the next bottle.  High-quality perfume is quite an investment, so it seems like the natural course of action to visit a few counters and try some samples before committing the next 15 months to my beloved Mademoiselle.

I recently read an article on The Daily Connoisseur about the evolution of her Signature Scent.  She spoke about Jo Malone London and her journey to discovering their Blackberry & Bay scent.  Her descriptions of the fine fragrances lead me to further investigation and I decided to purchase a set of 10 sample vials online.  I also received a vial from a dear friend and have decided to begin my study with these:

Lime Basil & Mandarin

Earl Grey & Cucumber

Orange Blossom

Pomegranate Noir

English Pear & Freesia

Nectarine Blossom & Honey

Blackberry & Bay

Red Roses

Wood Sage & Sea Salt

Dark Amber & Ginger Lilly

Oud & Bergamont

Please join me on this journey and do let me know in the comments below: Do you have a signature scent?  How long have you worn it?  What are some of your favorite scents?

Many thanks to Sheila Sim, a photographer from Edinburgh (who also did a Jo Malone photoshoot), for graciously allowing me to use the above photo for this blog!  View her beautiful pictures on her website by clicking here.

Photo © Sheila Sim Photography

Say, "Cheese!" Cheeses and Mary's Grand Opening in Milton

Imagine the most genuine, graceful, welcoming person you know.  Now add CHEESE.  What could possibly be finer than cheese?  Enter Mary Mayer.  Mary takes Cheese to a whole other level and she recently opened a shop in Milton, Georgia, where you can sample and purchase these delectable cheeses from happy goats, sheep, and cows.  

Mary offers a collection of Georgia artisanal and farmstead cheeses along with a peck of complimentary locally prepared products (think Gourmet Wine Gelée, Sweet Heat Jalapeños, Georgia Grinders Almond Flour).  But back to the cheese...

If you sneak a peek into Mary's back office (aka, the kitchen), you see pictures of the goats that produce the milk for some of her cheeses. You can go on her facebook page and see pictures of her visiting different creameries.  Something happens when we go to the source for the food we eat and see that it's responsibly sourced.  It makes us happier.  

You know what else makes me happy?  The name of Mary's cheese shop:

Please stop by her new shop, sample some cheese, and say hello!  I promise you will be inspired!

12220 Birmingham Highway

Braeburn Village, Building 80, Suite 102

Milton, Georgia 30004

And please like her on Facebook!

Update:  Mary's Website is www.cheesesandmary.com!

Craft Kitchen and Brew, Roswell

You know that feeling you get when you drive by someplace you've driven by a hundred times and think, "We have GOT to try that place!"?  Enter Craft Kitchen and Brew (formally knowns as Belly's Pizza).  This place is close to one of my frequented shopping marts, and every time I would pass it, I would wonder why Chris and I had not tried it out yet.  Probably because we didn't necessarily go to that part of town except for the sole purpose of grocery shopping.  And who wants to stop to get pizza when you have milk in the car?

It so happened one Sunday after church we had driven over to that part of town to get some BBQ.  Luckily for us, the BBQ place was closed.  I am so happy I remembered there was a "Craft" place nearby  (don't judge- buzz words are suppose to work) that also had the word "Brew" in the name- a perfect fit for Chris and I.  We walked into a little pizza joint that reminded us of hole-in-the-wall places we used to frequent before we had children.  

We were seated and opened the menu to find the restaurant was true to its name.  While they did have 5 standard pizzas (the term "standard" being used very loosely), they featured 14 Craft Pizzas.  It was tough to choose, but we finally decided to settled on the Pawley Island Pizza.  Ohh.  Emm.  Gee.  This thing was incredible.  It was described as their "twist on a southern coastal classical with grilled green tomatoes, hickory smoked bacon, and [their in-house made] pimento cheese."  The tanginess of the green tomatoes intermixed with the slight kick of the pimento cheese and the sweetness of the bacon in such a way that made us go back for seconds thirds.  

I spoke to one of the owners and he informed me that the Pawley Island was one he was especially proud of.  Pawley Island is located about an hour and half north of Charleston and apparently has these amazing sandwiches with the same ingredients.  The owner was inspired by the ingredients and started "messing around" after returning from the beach and the Pawley Island Pizza was the result.  

After doing a bit more research, I discovered all of their specialty Craft Pizzas can be made with glutton-free crust.  They offer four (good) beers on draft: Sweet Water 420, Terrapin Hopsacutioner, Bells 2 Hearted Ale, and (my personal fav) Bluemoon.  They have weekday lunch specials 11-4 and Team Trivia on Wednesdays,   Their large pizza is a few more bucks than other nearby pizzerias, but their fresh ingredients ingeniously paired as so worth it.  Plus, their beer is cheaper, so you'll end up spending the same amount for a much superior pizza.

550 West Crossville Road

Roswell, GA

Give them some Facebook love, too :)

UPDATE: AUGUST 17, 2016

Craft Pizza and Brew is now Carlisle's Pizza Tavern in Downtown Roswell!  Their new address is 

1132 Canton Street

Roswell, GA 30075

Check out their NEW Facebook Page!

Days 21 & 22

Days 21 & 22:  HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!

Since Chris had to work this weekend, we didn't have much of a celebration but I did what I could to bring the festivities home.  Saturday night we had Corned Beef and Cabbage.  The Corned Beef slow-cooked all afternoon long in a brown sugar, beer, and whatever-the-seasonings-are-that-comes-with-it.  It was delicious!  I threw some carrots in towards the end and they, too, were yummy.  Since my Mother-in-Law's Crock Pot is not as large as mine, I couldn't get all of the cabbage in with the roast and ended up sauteing it with olive oil and salt and pepper.  I added some of the juices from the roast and it was delicious!

Today at Kroger, I fell into a trap of using the self-check-out.  I have been avoiding those as part of my no drive-throughs. The cashier's lines were backing up and a lady came and got me (with my three items) and said she would check me out "Over here."  I was skeptical that she just wanted me to use the self-serve line but she started scanning my items herself, so I was relieved.  Then she said, "You can pay here," and walked away.  I was left to complete my check out on my own with only the computer as companion.  It did not tell me to have a nice day.

On another note, the Reubons we made tonight were amazing!  We used the left-over corned beef, some sauerkraut warmed in white wine, swiss cheese, and thousand island dressing on Rye bread (yes, we did have to buy more) and used a panini press to melt it all together.  Thanks to Alli for the quick recipe!

Hope you all had a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Days 17, 18, 19, 20

Day 17: Snacks
Once again, there was no need to forgo a drive through today.  I have found that since we no longer use drive-throughs, we have to plan for snacks to hold us over until we get home to eat our meals.  The best snack for such a time is definitely a Cutie.  Those things are so stinkin' yummy, we have to bring at least 3 anytime we are planning a snack: I can easily put two of them away on my own.  Fiona loves them, too, and they are healthy!  Check out your Smart Source 2/24 coupons for 50¢ off (doubled to $1 at Publix).  You know you wanna!

Day 18: Chase Bank
Banks were what I dreaded most in forgoing drive-thoughs for my 100 Days of No Drive-Throughs Challenge.  I have to say that it has surprisingly not been as big as a burden as I imagined.  Since drive-throughs and ATMs are so easily accessibly, there are hardly ever lines.  Not even one today, when I popped in before heading to the grocery store.  Today as I walked in and was greeted, I noticed that several of the people noticed me.  I have been using this bank since the branch opened several years ago and have never been noticed.  I've been going inside for less than a month and guess what?  They notice me.  Talk about a good feeling!

Day 19: Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Sandwhiches on Rye Bread
My grocery shopping this week consisted of items that were intended for our St. Patty's Day celebrations for the weekend.  One of the items that I only buy in March every year is rye bread and I don't know why this is: anytime it's in the cabinet, we use and love it!  Today I made bacon and fried egg sandwiches with muenster cheese on toasted rye bread with sliced strawberries on the side.  It was delicious!  So delicious, I have a feeling I'm going to need to get another load of it before our Reubon sandwiches this weekend!

Day 20: An Apology to Starbucks
I wanted to offer a sincere apology to whomever it is at Starbucks who's reading my blog and obviously got upset when I didn't write for a while.  Today when I went to get a latte, there were no parking places.  Note: NO parking places.  Not like, "Aww man, there are no close places," but like, "Dang.  There are NO parking places at all."  And since I couldn't go through the drive-through, I had to forgo my espresso indulgence and head home for a K-Cup with Irish Creamer.