One of my oldest bottles of Ma Griffe seems to be feeling the effects of time. I dabbed on some of the juice today, and even though it's still beautiful, still the same Ma Griffe that never fails to bring me comfort and pleasure, something has changed. The top has lost a little of its clarity and bite. The heart has faded ever so slightly, and there's a hint of (I can hardly bear to say it) mustiness lurking in the flowers. Happily, the smooth cinnamon and moss in the base retain all their youthful charm.
Senescence dismantles all great beauties eventually. Careful preservation, whether of people or perfume, can only do so much to postpone decay. The gentle aging of Ma Griffe is a poignant reminder to me that hoarding is futile. I should enjoy and share all my vintage delights before they fade away.
Portrait of Frau Reuss, Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1503.
8 comments:
Perfume as Bodhisattva ... teaching the First Noble Truth.
Well, even though everything arises and everything passes away, I'm sorry to hear of your loss.
Yes. Enjoy it all. How many of these vintage scents came from someone's dresser drawer -- someone who was saving them for a "special occasion" only to find that there weren't enough of them?
I think that every day is a special occasion.
You remind me that I keep on bringing up this struggle in fresh apparitions throughout my life. When I was little, I sought to preserve ephemera from my grandparents' lives...they were around and still quite healthy, mind you...just that they were discarding things that seemed fascinating to me, such clear markers of a particular time and life.
But, as you all are so clearly recognizing, what's the point of hoarding? I now eat off the precious dinnerware; I chide my mother for stashing "goodies" I bring to her; and if I bother to search out a precious old (or new) 'fume, I'm gonna use it...either on myself or by sharing.
Senescence. Good to be sentient about it.
Well, I don't know about the Ma Griffe, but you know I just love that painting....
Thanks for the condolences, J. I hope you never fall into the error of hoarding. (BTW, when are we going to see some new reviews? No pressure or anything...)
You're so right, Olfacta. I don't remember often enough how these perfumes came to me. It's a good image to keep in mind.
I keep vowing to follow your example, ScentScelf, but I keep falling off the wagon. I have 2 (yes, 2) sets of beautiful china, 12 place settings for each, and I never use any of it. Both of them are inherited, and somehow I think by preserving them I'm hanging onto the past. It's ridiculous.
Did you already know this painting, Mary? It was new to me. I thought it was irresistible, especially the gorgeous colors.
FYI, I have listed you as a fabulous blog on my latest, so please take a look when you have a moment:
http://indieperfumes.blogspot.com/2009/05/your-blog-is-f-fabulous-award.html
Oddly enough, I have noticed that a few of my things, just from last year, seem to have turned a bit -- or perhaps it is my recent cold, or maybe just a change of mind and things just don't smell the same? Still, it really does give that sense of time passing quickly and the inevitable changes of time...
I remember this particular painting,but it's been a long time since I saw her. I'm familiar with many of Cranach's portraits and woodcuts - they are fantastic! Thanks for posting her....
Thank you, Lucy! I'm flattered to be included in such fine company. Now my problem is whittling down my list of addictions to a mere 5...
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