one of my own

It's been an odd weather time for New Yorkers, with the days being either super-warm or slightly chilly, and the evenings being either slightly chilly or downright cold. In situations such as these, I discover that instead of reaching for a Holy Grail fragrance or an adventurous scent, I put on something I have made.

During the early spring warm vs. cold struggle, a lot of perfumes I adore don't stand up to the chemistry change. Apres L'Ondee smells too storm-chilled when it's cold; Tilleuls de Vent's tea smells too smoky if I get too warm. This is exactly the sort of thing that started me on making my own scents - I very specifically made fragrances to fill holes in my scent wardrobe.

What I've been wearing these days is my personal favorite, Grapefruit Bellini. I originally made this because most grapefruit scents turn ugly-sour on me after the first hour, but this one I can wear with ease. While grapefruit and peach don't seem to be the sort of notes that would welcome cold weather, the narcissus and vanilla provide a surprisingly decent anchor, while not becoming too overwhelming. Also, champagne and prosecco are considered all-weather wines, elegant yet still fun.

It's this sort of thing that I love about perfume - I'm distinctly an amateur, yet I choose my amateur concoction more than I would expect.