Pain is one of the things that has kept me away from the blog since Monday. I took a hard fall during my hike Monday morning and did some serious damage to my back. I can walk perfectly well, but anything that involves much movement of the torso can cause breathtaking pain, and that includes working at the computer. I am living on Advil and keeping my fingers crossed that I have not screwed up a disc or cracked a vertebra. So far, I have learned two things from this experience: 1) Do not wear your old hiking shoes with worn out tread on a rainy day when the trail is slick; and 2) The ability to plié to the floor and rise back up without bending your back is a skill worth maintaining even if you took your last dance class a quarter century ago. I have never been so grateful to have good knees.
What does all this have to do with Roma? Well, that beautiful, underrated oriental has been my comforter since the mishap. I was introduced to Roma a few years ago by Besotted at Perfume of Life, and I fell in love with it almost in spite of myself. I am not the biggest oriental fan generally, and I am especially dubious about complicated melanges like Roma, with its odd fruity/minty opening and its base of vanilla-scented beast. But in Roma's case, a multiple personality is part of its charm. The drydown progresses smoothly from one stage to the next, without those awful I-am-a-perfume-at-war-with-itself moments that afflict popular messes such as Black Orchid and Euphoria. Each of Roma's faces is nicely composed, and gives way to its successor before I have time to get bored with it. Depending on what's happening with my chemistry, I find the civet can be a little overwhelming, but that's my problem, not Roma's--and anyway, there's nothing wrong with a touch of excess skank now and then.
Given its lively character, I wouldn't have pegged Roma as a comfort scent, but I reached for it instinctively, and as usual, my subconcious has turned out to be a fine judge of perfume. Soothing but not soporific, Roma has been the perfect quiet companion for a time of minor trial.
Notes per Fragrantica: Black Currant, Sicilian Bergamot, Pink Grapefruit, Mint, Hyacinth, Carnation, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley, Rose, Amber, Sandalwood, Singapore Patchouli, Musk, Civet, Vanilla, Oakmoss, Myrrh.
Roman Charity, Peter Paul Rubens, c.1612.
7 comments:
Oh my, I hope you mend up soon, and are able to get back out and about!
Backs. Hardly anything can put you out of commission like an injured back. (Mine is acting up too.) I certainly hope your pain is temporary. If you can still plie to the floor, it probably is. Good luck!
Thanks, J, I hope so, too. I hate being slowed down this way.
Same to you, Olfacta. I have nothing but sympathy for anyone who has to deal with this kind of pain long-term. Mine is already making me very crabby.
SO sorry for your accident, darlin'.
NO fun, whatsoever.
Roma seems like a wonderful choice; Tocade might be, too.
I could see you recuperating in Silences, too.
If I were closer, I'd make you better.
Oh, Tocade sounds nice. I think Roma may have given me all she has to give, so I'll try that next. Thanks, Chaya.
I just found out about this (was linking you in an upcoming post btw) and I am SO SORRY....that's no fun at all! I hope you recover to your full capacities again very very soon!
Hugs!!
Thanks, E. I am doing much better, even back to hiking in a low-intensity way. Perfume is a great healer ;-)
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