The smells of my youth.... My first memories of perfume were enveloped in Christmas . There are three that to this day stay with me. I can recount the memory of my grandmother whenever I smell Estee Lauder Youth dew, she would arrive at my parents house on Christmas day always in a red or black polo neck jumper pearls drapped around her neck and a black fur hat no matter what the weather, it was Christmas after all . Youth dew is her fragrance and always will be to me. Heady and delicious it captivated her elegance a bold elixir that oozes confidence. The bottle is classic vintage in style with neat gold bow simple glamour. How wonderful it is to be able to close your eyes and remember someone or something no longer with us through scent alone. Whenever I smell this i can feel her arms around me.
My second memory is a gift my father gave to my mother one Christmas in the 1970s. I must have been around 7years old. Under the tree was a treasure chest shaped present. I remember being intrigued in the days before Christmas.  What was inside this curious gift  ? The chest held a perfume set of Yardley's Sea Jade. Turquoise silk lining delicately cushioned soap , talcum powder and of course perfume., intoxicating. I was mesmerised by my mothers joy and captivated by the sheer beauty and glamour of this gift. and just like that I knew the power of fragrance. Two women very different yet both fixed in my memory as goddesses at Christmas. The following year under the tree was a gift for me 8 years old and wearing Avon's Pretty Peach, a sweet indeed peachy perfume cute and     childlike I treasured that bottle I had discovered how it felt to own fragrance.
          I was in love,.. and the story begins..