Well, I have news on the Frangipani and Blond Tobacco affair. Sadly it just didn't work out. Frangipani was just too...well...weak! She didn't quite cut it, when it came to the long haul that is. And Rose, what became of her? Well, she carried on cooking for a few days. As she was cooking food she was also cooking on the inside, she was processing all those hurt feelings inside.
To take you back to the night Blond tobacco broke the news of the affair. Rose did ask and he did show her a photo he had of Frangipani. Rose commented on the fact she thought Frangipani's hair looked dyed, and how she had a very good figure. She asked Blond Tobacco if Frangipani was good in bed and Blond Tobacco took the photo back and Rose could have sworn he smiled. Rose cried, it seemed so cruel. Blond Tobacco and Frangipani were going to move to Paris and Rose was going to be alone. For one last night the married couple did sleep together. Rose slept in her husbands arms, she could hardly bear to smell his smell and think that it was the last time. In the morning the bitter separation took place and Blond Tobacco said good bye. Rose crept under the covers of the bed, she buried her nose in his pillow to smell his warm mellow smell before it faded for ever.
But like I said Frangipani just didn't cut it. Blond Tobacco soon tired of her constant need for attention and he missed Rose and her wonderful cooking. Blond Tobacco also found himself cooking while he was with Frangipani, but there was little appreciation for the food as Frangipani was constantly counting calories and complaining that the food he cooked was fattening.
And all the while Rose was alone, she cooked! She was bringing baked alaska to the neighbours on her left and baked salmon in hollandaise sauce to the neighbours on the right. When her sisters came to visit her they left with pots of sea food chowder, aromatic curries and savory quiches.
They knew that Rose missed her husband.
Two weeks is all the "honeymoon" lasted. Blond Tobacco arrived home early on Sunday morning. He said he had come to take the rest of his belongings. Rose offered him tea, and when he accepted she filled the table with the banquet she had been craming into into the fridge.
Blond Tobacco was hungry, but as Rose filled the table, and she moved quickly between the fridge, the cooker and the table, he watched her, he watched her round hips, he watched her full bosom and her capable hands. He could smell her floral scent as she past and his heart was filled with deep love and regret for what he had done to her.
Blond Tobacco reached out and took Rose's hand as she leaned over to place her home made mayonaise on the table. Her hand was cool, Blond Tobacco stood up and pulled Rose towards him. She yeided easily, for her love for him had not waned. Blond Tobacco began to shake and cry. He begged Rose to take him back. Rose kissed him and told him she would.
A few weeks ago I got a surprise package it contained 15-20 tiny glass vials of aromatic botanical oils, absolutes and tinctures. Among them was frangipani absolute. I just love the deep rich buttery floral note of this exotic essence. You see I am still searching for a new note for my work in progress "Match Made in Heaven" and there is something about Frangipani I think would be a perfect accompaniment to Blond Tobacco, although I am wondering how Rose will feel about that? Do I introduce Franginpani as "the other woman" or do I remove Rose completely from the blend and let Frangipani take her place. First lets try and find out a little bit about the exotic flower herself....then I can tell you what my nose picks up in her character that I feel suggests she would marry so well with old Blond Tobacco.
So what have I learned about this fair and fragrant beauty Frangipani:
She is native to Mexico, Central America and Venezuela.
The flowers can be white/yellow or yellow/pink.
The flowers also grow abundantly in Hawaii.
The common name Frangipani honors a 16th century Italian family who invented a plumaria scented perfume (plumaria is the frangipani genus)
Other common names exist for example "champa" in India or "Kalachuchi" in the Philippines, or "dead man's fingers" in Australia.
Frangipani is fragrant at night so that the sphinx moths will pollinate them. The plants are easily propagated by cuttings.
So what happens, does Blond Tobacco come home one night late smelling of another woman and confess to Rose that he loves Frangipani? That he wants to divorce Rose and marry his new love? How does Rose take it? Faithful steady Rose, Rose who is always there waiting for her husband to come home, with a meal ready to put on the table and a warm smile and a hug. How does she react, do they spend the night together one last time? Does Rose want to know all about Frangipani? How old is she? Has Blond Tobacco got a photo of her. Is she more beautiful?
All these questions, but what attracted Blond Tobacco and Frangipani in the first place. Well from what I know of Frangipani she has at first a buttery innocent and exotic floral scent, but when you really get to know her there is something like tobacco there, something moist, something warm and honey like, irresistable. That's what it is. Blond Tobacco, while himself a very quiet and seemingly innocent man, has a streak in him not many people know about, least of all his wife Rose. He was always a little mysterious and when he met Frangipani for the first time it was as if she saw right through him, saw the adventurous streak in his character and brought it out in him. I also must quietly tell you that she was more passionate than Rose in the bedroom (Rose while sweet would rather be at the stove than lying on her back being made love to) Frangipani couldn't boil an egg but when it came to sex she could certainly cook up a storm between the sheets.
So thats' it... now I'm off to my blending studio again, where the separation shall take place, where Rose will pack her bags and Frangipani will move in.
**In perfumery the word 'marry' is used when we talk about essences left alone for a time so they can blend together and sometimes form something completely new. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't. Episode 6
The Wedding Rings
Each couple needs a ring, something to marry them, round them off, bring them together forever. I think I found one ring, that's the Ambrette, nice round and sexy! That'll make them last, but which couple will it tie together? Who's wedding band is Ambrette? The other wedding band is Frankincense, it's round and binding, rich, opulent and true, but again, who's wedding band is Frankincense? The third wedding band I will try will be Ambergris, pure gold of the sea, can't get anything that is rounder! But who will take this ring? Ah questions that must be answered. I shall 'retire to my studio' for a few hours and see if I can find the answers.
I think this is how it might work out, Ylang Ylang and Cepes will be married with the band of yellow gold Ambergris. Lavender and Oakmoss will be bound by the ring of silver Frankincense and Rose and Blond Tobacco will be joined with the ring of Ambrette.
Ah! Rose and Blond Tobacco, truly a match made in heaven. Rose brings Blond Tobacco out of himself. A hand in glove match. And a warmer couple you could never meet! Masculine and feminine personified. Rose the ultimate in receptive, needing only the tenderest touch of warmth to bring forth her beauty. Blond Tobacco is mellow and deep, warm and quiet, with a smile that would light the heart of many a thousand people. Well, Blond Tobacco's first impression of Rose was as he was approaching the house where the three sisters lived. He couldn't help but notice the wonderful aroma that wafted passed him. Somebody was cooking! He could smell fragrant spices, onion, tomato, ginger, garlic corriander spice, fresh ginger, chilies and paprika, caramelized, dark and sweet. Blond Tobacco's mouth began to water even though he wasn't hungry. Rose had been standing facing the large black stove at the far side of the room. Already she was smiling broadly and walking to greet Blond Tobacco and his brother with her hand extended.
That was it for Blond Tobacco, love at first sight! And as for Rose she basked in his love and opened her petals to full bloom and her heart to him.
First there were three old brothers, Oakmoss, Cepes and Blond Tobacco...in a new perfume I matched them up with three spinster sisters. This is the story of how the second pair of lovers met...
Lavender and Oakmoss met each other as a direct result of our first couple, Ylang Ylang and Cepes getting together.
Oakmoss will never forget the day he met Lavender. It was his brother Cepes birthday, the three brothers were at the local bar celebrating. Ylang Ylang arrived with her sister Lavender. Lavender didn't like pubs, but Ylang Ylang was very persuasive and Lavender said she would go but she promised herself she would avert her eyes from the dirty ashtrays and the horrible scum around the swill sink. The one thing she couldn't avert her eyes from was the man who was seated to the left of Cepes. His eyes were dark green, almost brown and his hair was thick and pure white. Oakmoss remembers how Lavenders cool hands refreshed him and how her pale blue eyes soothed him. When Lavender sat down beside Oakmoss she felt like she never wanted to leave his side. Oakmoss had such a strong manly smell, no aftershave, just 100% pure man.
Once upon a time there were three old brothers, Oakmoss, Cepes and Blond Tobacco...in a perfume I am calling "match made in heaven" I teamed them up with three spinster sisters.
The first couple to get together are Cepes and Ylang Ylang, the youngest brother and youngest sister. This is the story of how they met.
Cepes was out walking, he likes the rain as we know (well he likes a bit of a soft mist if the truth be known) but on this day there was a downpour, a deluge, and he stood in under a linden tree to get some shelter. Ylang Ylang was standing under that very same tree. Cepes had in his bag, as was his habit, a most delicious sandwich and the smell of the bread Cepes had baked that morning was floating into the air. Ylang Ylang (who wasn't in the least shy) said "that's a lovely smell of fresh bread I am getting from your bag"! Cepes, being an absolute sweetheart as usual, smiled and offered Ylang Ylang half of his sandwich. Together they ate, while the rain still came pouring down. Eventually the rain eased off, but not before the trees' canopy had started to leak. Huge drops of water showered down on top of them. Cepes removed his big woollen overcoat and threw it over both of their heads. Soaked to the skin they began to walk in the direction of Ylang Ylang's home, where she lived with her two grown up sisters...Lavender and Rose.
A Match Made In Heaven
I have found three spinster sisters for the three brothers.
Ylang Ylang is the youngest of the three sisters. She is thoughtful, independent and yet very feminine, she likes writing and keeps a daily journal. She is tall and thin and wears her brown hair tied back. She smells sexy and warm. She wears soft colors and cashmere sweaters
Rose is the eldest sister, she is old fashioned and loves to cook, Rose never wears trousers. She likes reading, embroidery and flower arranging. Rose smells very feminine and has a full figure and dark thick hair.
Lavender, the middle sister, is blond haired and blue eyed, she looks like her mother. She smells of fresh soap and water and is *always* spring cleaning. She loves the color blue and her hands are always lovely and cool. Lavender wears white blouses with crisply ironed collars.
Now to try the match making.
I think that Ylang Ylang would best suit the youngest brother Cepes, he likes cooking, she doesn't, she knows how to occupy herself while he goes on his long walks.
I think that Rose, the eldest sister will best suit Blond tobacco, Rose can cook amazing meals while her husband reads and smokes his pipe.
I think that Oakmoss and Lavender would be a great match. Lavender can help Oakmoss clean up his act a little and she will be well able for his strong personality.
I have been exploring my essences again today. I am holding in my hand 3 scent strips. The first is cepes, the next is blond tobacco and the third is oakmoss. I am calling them The Three Brothers... well The Three *Old* Brothers actually. Cepes is the youngest and sweetest brother, he loves cooking and baking bread. Cepes smells of yeast and mushrooms. He is bearded and wears a long woollen overcoat and likes walking in the rain.
The second brother is Blond Tobacco, he is quiet, aloof and likes to read. He wears a tweed cap and smokes a pipe.
The third and eldest brother is Oakmoss, he is also the strongest of the three, he is white haired and wears neither a cap nor overcoat, even on the coldest winters day. He wears a woollen sweater and a shirt, during summer and winter and usually a light jacket.
None of the brothers are fond of bathing, and instead they like to have a wash at the sink with some plain soap and water.
I like these old boys, Oakmoss in particular reminds me of my own father.
Part III of our story. Characters are Cassie, Fr Amber Labdanum, Frankincense (Cassie's Father) and Neroli (Cassie's Mother). The characters in the story are based on natural essences, their personalities constructed around the notes of the essences they represent. How they relate represents how they various essences would go together if their notes were to mingle. Cassie is a young woman who lives alone, her father has just died and her friendship with the parish priest gets a bit "hot under the collar". We also find out more about Cassie's mother.
Fr Labdanum knocks on the front door of Cassie Lights house. He stands there for a minute or two. When nobody comes to the door he takes a couple of steps to the left and tries to see through the lace curtains. He can’t see any sign of life. He thinks for a moment and then he remembers the day Frankincense died and he was standing there waiting for Cassie to return with the front door key. Where did she go, he wonders.
He goes over to the tall black gate at the side of the house. He puts his hand through the small opening and slides the bolt open easily.
The back garden is cloaked in sunlight and as Fr Labdanum emerges from the passageway he has to shield his eyes so that he can see. He spots the black wrought iron fire escape and he looks up and notices a door at the top which is open. He can hear music. "White Ladder" by David Gray floats down to meet him as he climbs up the steps.
Fr. Amber Labdanum is in his early 30’s and despite his standing in the priesthood he still enjoys listening to contemporary music.
He coughs when he reaches the door and he gives a gentle tap.
He looks inside and he sees Cassie, with her back to him. She is standing at a small table that is strewn with wild flowers and what look like long trailing vines of dark green ivy. She is swaying her hips and her shoulders in time to the song while she is doing something with her hands. “This years lovin’ better last, heaven knows it’s high time…”
“Cassie” Fr Labdanum calls. Cassie turns and smiles when she see him standing there.
An hour passes and the pair are still talking. Cassie’s beautiful wild flower arrangement is on the table and the room is filled with fragrance of wild irises and meadowsweet. Fr Labdanum is leaning back on the sofa, comfortable, with one leg thrown up across his thigh. Cassie is sitting on the footstool opposite him with her knees drawn up close to her chest. She is leaning towards him.
“I don’t remember your mother” Fr labdanum says, “It was only yourself and Frank were here when I came to the parish. Do you know much about her?” he asks Cassie gently. Cassie gets up and goes to her bedside locker. She takes a small photo frame and comes back and sits beside Fr Labdanum on the sofa. She holds the photo frame up so that he can see it and strokes the glass with her thumb to clean away some dust. “This is my mother” Cassie says “Her name was Neroli. Wasn’t she beautiful?”
Cassie looks into Fr Labdanum’s face, taking in his expression as he looks at the photo. Fr Labdanum looks at the faded picture of a young woman who is sitting under a canopy of trees, she is wearing a white dress and a floppy summer hat. She is smiling. “You are the image of her” Fr Labdanum says to Cassie.
“She died the day I was born” Cassie explains, “my father stopped speaking when she died. My Aunt raised me on a farm in Wicklow and she passed away when I was 17. There was no where else for me to go so I came back home. My father brought me up here to this part of the house. He showed me where I could cook my food and where I could sleep, I had some money from my Aunt which kept me going until I got a job.”
“My Aunt told me about my mother”, Cassie continued, “she told me that she had a beautiful singing voice and that she was a wonderful dancer. She told me that my mother was delicate from the time she was born and that she was too frail for this world”. Cassie gets up again and puts the photo frame back on her bedside table. She takes her yellow dress from the wardrobe and holds it up against her to show the priest. “When my father gave me this dress he spoke the only words he ever said to me. "Wear this and you may visit me every Sunday at noon'”. Cassie looks at Father Labdanum, his expression reflects the sadness she feels. She looks down at the yellow fabric of the dress, “It was my mothers dress” she says, and she tries to smile, but instead her eyes well up with tears and a lump forms in her throat. Fr Labdanum gets up from where he is sitting, he goes to Cassie and puts his arms out to her. She walks into him and he holds her. With her head pressed against his chest she cries. Fr Labdanum strokes her soft hair. Slowly, Cassie feels the tears subside. She notices the coarse wool of Fr Labdanum's black tunic and she smells the warm churchy incense from his clothes mixing with the deep musky smell of his skin.
Cassie lifts her head, there is a moment when they both know that they should pull away. Instead Fr Labdanum looks down into Cassie’s face. Her skin is shiny from tears and her cheeks are flushed pink. He takes a deep breath full of longing and Cassie stands on her tip toes and kisses him softly on his lips. She kisses him again and again and he cannot resist her. He can smell her skin like soft flowers and he is unable to think. He kisses her and soon the two of them are pulling at each others clothes and their breaths are hot and heavy.
Cassie takes Fr Labdanum to her bed, and he tells her to call him Amber. They make love tenderly and hopelessly until the place is in darkness.
She never really looks forward to her stoic visits to her father, but it's the only day she is permitted to see the old man at all and so she has learned to make the most of it. Her father is able-bodied enough but he employs a home help who comes in three times a week to do his shopping, washing and cleaning.
Frank is well equipped to light the fire himself every evening and cook simple meals.
Cassie lies in bed for a few minutes before getting up to do her yoga stretches. Then she washes at her washbasin and puts on her yellow woolen dress. The material is scratchy against her bare arms but on this cold February morning she is glad of its warmth.
She sits down at her small table and looks out at the tops of the trees as she eats her breakfast. A bowl of museli pre-soaked in almond milk topped with some freshly sliced banana and drizzled with organic honey. She chews every mouthful well as she calmly contemplates her surroundings.
There is a gentle hush in the air. It's unusual enough that the birds are not chirping away outside but even more unusual is the tiny robin that alights on the window ledge and presses his soft brown head against the glass. Cassie goes to open the window and the robin flies away and lands on the nearest branch, his head cocks to one side and then the other as if he is searching Cassie's face for some sort of explanation. Cassie laughs and leaves the window a little open as she goes to check the time.
At 3 minutes to 12.00 Cassie leaves her upstairs sanctuary. By 1 minute to 12.00 she is standing on her Fathers doorstep waiting to ring the doorbell. Her queue is sound of the bells of St Patrick’s church.
It's always the same. She could count her heartbeats until she hears the creaking of the door of the front room opening and the sound of Frank’s slippers shuffling along the tiles of the hall.
Something is wrong. After one heartbeat too many Cassie knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that something is gravely amiss.
She goes to the front window and her heart is in her mouth. She presses her face up to the glass to see if she can make out anything through the thick lace curtain. She can see shadows. She can see the large form of her father sitting in his chair by the fireplace. His head is slumped to one side.
Cassie reacts and bangs on the window loudly with her knuckles. The hairs are standing up on the back of her neck. She presses her face closer to see if there is any movement. There is none.
She looks up and down the avenue. The last few mass goers are trailing behind late for 12 o’ clock service. In shock Cassie runs to the end of the avenue through the silver church gates and into the churchyard. She hurries over to the open doors of the chapel and as she approaches she can hear the choir singing “Hosanna In Excelsis ".
Mass is over. Cassie is in a daze. She walks to the altar and enters the sacristy at the side. Father Ladanum is disrobing and has his back turned. "Father" Cassie calls him softly. "Excuse me?"
Father Labdanum turns and looks at her. His dark eyes are deep and warm and Cassie feels her knees going weak. The priest rushes forward to take her arm and leads her to the nearby chair. He sees how pale and shaken she is. He bends down on his haunches and looks into her face. He strokes her hair back and tilts his head to one side as if to listen. She can see his black priest’s shirt and collar underneath the white robe that is partially open at the front. She can smell the anointing oils mingled with the musky smell of his skin.
"It's my Father." Cassie says quietly "I think something is wrong with him."
"You're Cassie Light aren't you?" the priest asks.
Cassie nods her head.
"Where is your Father?" he asks her.
"He didn't come to the door”, she answers as if in a trance, “my Sunday visit, he didn't come to the door, he always does. I can see in through the window and I can see he is there in his chair. He's not moving. His head is crooked, oh my god, my father, I have to get back to him"
Cassie rambles, her words are tumbling out of her mouth and fear grips her heart as she suddenly feels she has to go back.
She gets up to leave.
'I'll come with you" Father Labdanum says.
"Have you a key for the house?"
A light went on in Cassie's head and she feels stupid for not remembering sooner. There is a key to the front door in her mother's china trinket box on the bookcase beside her bed.
Father Labdanum waits by the front door while Cassie gets the key. His presence is strong and comforting as Cassie opens the door and enters the house.
Frankincense is dead. They find him as they expected to, sitting in his chair in front of the fireplace. His feet are positioned perfectly. Cassie goes to straighten his head and finds that she cannot. He is stone cold.
Frankincense is cremated. His ashes are sprinkled in Galway bay. The funeral is small. Cassie meets some old relatives who are very sorry for her loss. They go back to the house after the service and drink tea in the front room. Father Labdanum is there too. When everybody is gone he asks Cassie if she is all right and then he leaves too. Cassie stares at her father’s chair. She closes her eyes and the air smells as if he is still here. The silence tells her nothing has changed. She sits in her chair by the window. She cries and nobody hears.
To becontinued soon: Find out about Cassie’s past, her mother, the secret behind her Fathers strange behavior and Cassie and Father Labdanum get closer.
Labdanum from Cistus landaniferus: Labdanum comes from the natural exudation of the plant Cistus landaniferus which is a small shrub growing wild in countries of the Mediterranean and the middle east. It grows well near the sea. The Labdanum gum or resinous material is further extracted by solvents to form an absolute. The absolute is commonly used in as a fixative in perfumes of the amber classification. Stefan Arctander says of Labdanum Resin Absolute on P 333 of Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin: “The odor of labdanum is sweet, herbaceous-balsamic, somewhat ambra-like and slightly animalic, rich and tenacious.”
Nutmeg was only four years old the first time I ever saw her. She was holding her mothers hand in the supermarket and throwing a huge strop. Her head was thrown back with her bright red pig tails shaking. Her mouth was wide open as she projected her wail all around her. "She has some set of pipes on her" my mother said to Nutmegs mother. Nutmegs face was bright red and almost matched her hair. She was pulling her mothers hand and arm downwards as she sunk her center of gravity onto the floor, requiring her mother to literally drag her along. Nutmeg wailed louder as her mother pulled her through the checkout and while her hand was freed for a moment she threw herself down on the floor and rolled around in a fit.
I found it highly amusing and I grinned and stood on my tip toes so that I could see over the counter to where Nutmeg was flailing wildly.
I remembered her when I saw her the next time which was about a year later at my first day at school. She had started too and was in my class. She was incredibly pretty I noticed even though I was only 5 and a half. Her hair was braided into two plaits that were like polished red gold. Her eyes were a burnt umber with curious wiggles and squiggles of a lighter brown. She had a few small freckles on her nose and a precious gap between her front teeth.
I wanted to sit beside her. There was something about her. Something that said to me in my childs mind that nothing could possibly go wrong when she is near me.
Nutmeg absolute goes well with sandalwood, vetivert, clary sage, oakmoss, lavender absolute, tonka absolute, labdanum, bergamot, patchouli, geranium, jasmine and rose.
