Emma's Mixtape: Scent-memories

Sunday, June 05, 2011

Scent-memories

I did a beautiful event, last night, at Scent Bar, the Los Angeles boutique that's basically a library of perfume. I read segments from my book, and Katie Puckrik "curated" the appropriate perfume for each emotion, which was handed out to the audience to smell. Katie chose expertly, summarizing both scent and feeling. I have this passage in my book:

"Mania flows like a river approaching a waterfall. Depression is a stagnant lake. There are dead things floating and the water has the same blue-black tinge as your lips. You stay completely still because you’re so afraid of what is brushing your leg, (even though it could be nothing because your mind is already gone). That’s why you lay in your bed, (in the centre, with my dark blue sheets. The silver curtains are a nod to mania. They were something that seemed like a good idea at the time). My bras are hung on the wall behind my bed, crucified for my sins. I have thirty six bras. I counted. I hold my hands over my breasts in my days and weeks and months in bed, as if someone might steal them."

So, for mania, Katie chose 'Commes des Garcons Daphne', describing it thus:

"High strung and dramatic, going in lots of directions at once. You just know Daphne Guiness was telling perfumer Antoine Lie: "I like oranges and oud and roses and sex and candy and tuberose and saffron and kittens and monkeys and coconut and incense!" It's a perfume with no boundaries, no sense of what's appropriate..."

Depression was 'Serge Lutens Gris Clair... ', which made me clutch my heart when I smelled it.

I mentioned, a few posts ago, 'Protection' by Rossy de Palma, and Katie picked it to symbolize the optimism in my final chapter, telling the audience:

"Your book ends hopefully, with the recognition of love as a force field, as protection. This is a sharp metallic/earthy rose, the smell of a rose turned flesh. Roses crushed passionately and protectively to your chest..."
You can read more from Katie at katiepuckriksmells.com and you can order samples at luckyscent.com
Here we are, with Scent Bar's Steven Gontarski, who organized the night. Yes, I am wearing the same Marc Jacobs dress I've owned for ten years and yes I have cut six inches off my hair. And, yes, it was because of this photo: