10.17.2008

Love Potion

You know you're a die-hard foodie when:
1. Your favorite perfume smells like chocolate, vanilla, coconut, and cinnamon
2. Your second favorite perfume smells like saffron, pimiento and white pepper
3. Your third favorite perfume smells like honey
4. Your shampoo smells like coconut and your conditioner smells like vanilla
5. Your deodorant smells like vanilla chai

Yup - I walk around smelling like a freaking bakeshop. all. day. I LOVE IT! People hug me and say "oh, you smell so good!" My doggie occasionally tries to lick my wrists. I, as a sit here typing, am euphorically sniffing myself. Yeah, I might be crazy, but at least I smell good, yo! :) 

I'm also the type who associates smells very strongly with memory. For instance, the perfume I'm wearing today (#1) is the same I wore when Hunter and I first started dating... so wearing this scent opens a floodgate of sentimental thoughts of autumn, Milwaukee, infatuation, pleasure and comfort.

When it comes time to consider what my signature scent for the wedding will be, I know I want something new to wear, so that specific smell weaves itself into my memories of that day. I love the idea of wearing it later, on special occasions and anniversaries, so both Hunter and I remember our wedding and all the warm fuzzies the scent recalls in our subconscious.

But I'm picky. I like my scents to be natural. I wear mostly essential oils, because I find that perfumes often smell "artificially flavored" on my skin and I no likey (I'm a hippie, remember?), plus they last far longer.

Enter Aroma Workshop. This hidden gem of a shop in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago is where I first discovered the magic of creating your own scent! You mix and match from a huge array of essential oils to create a mix that's perfectly you - and they give you the option to wear it as oil, mix it into lotion, bath gel, massage oil or shampoo!  They keep your "recipes" on file for when its time to refill - but I gotta say one $8 bottle has lasted me 6 years so far. Holler!  

Aroma Workshop is where I made the special concoction I wear today, and it's where I intend to make a love potion especially for the wedding, the next time I visit home.  It will probably be a new twist on the old sweet standards, but it will be distinct and unique and one-of-a-kind... just like our love!

They also host "scent events" - you and your bridesmaids can go in for a special signature scent creation party... a concept so cute I can barely stand it.  If my girls all lived in the area, you could bet I'd be planning one right now.

They ship all over the US, and carry knock-off designer scents, too, for those of you who love the scent but not the pricetag of fancypants name brands.  Can I get a what what?

I can't wait to go back in and let the spirit move me toward the perfect blend.  Now, I just have to come up with a super cute name for it!  Any ideas? 

Have you found your special love potion?

5 comments:

Krista said...

Oh, that's so neat, making a custom scent! I also don't like a lot of perfumes - they either smell awful on me, or they make my nose run. Yuck. But when I get a perfume that works, I love it. I definitely identify with this post.

Anonymous said...

That is awesome. Will check out. You crack me up!

Teacher X Tells all said...

That place sounds great!

Even with all the designer fragrances out there it's hard to find a good one. So many are harsh and artificial.

Personally, I love Gendarme, which has a light lemony scent. It's made for men but a female friend of mine wears it too.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Alex

Modelmental said...

I am almost in tears of jealousy now, that is the best thing I've ever heard of... And at such great prices? Crazy! I'm totally with you on the scent-memory thing and also want something new and special to keep for occasions... No build-your-own-fragrance around here though. But I will keep looking!!!

Naturally Blessed said...

this is such a great idea. i really wish i had read it a earlier...

as it stands, i have no special wedding day scent but want one very badly....i too associated memories and occasions with smells...which is why for the last few weeks i've spritz on the last of my Curve bc thats the fragrance i wore when my FI first began to date....

i really want My Insolence by Guerlain....problem is i haven't smelled it on my skin yet....hope it smells good...i'm going to Ulta to check it out.

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