This post is an advertisement feature with Boots but all words and images are my own.
With Mother’s Day around the corner I’ll admit that, for the past 6 years, I have mainly thought of myself – the stay-at-home mum with small children at home and little time to myself, in desperate need of R&R.
Now, both of my children are at school. I’ll admit at first I found it difficult to adjust but now, out of the baby and toddler bubble, at last, I’m slowly realising that there is a whole world still out there, starting to think about things a little outside of my own world. Like celebrating my own mum on Mother’s Day.
I read a beautiful article once that really resonated; it was about how becoming a mother is the nearest we can come to time travel.
As soon as you become a parent for yourself and only then can you experience your childhood through entirely new eyes, appreciating and recognising what your mother actually dealt with while you were busy being a child, being entirely self-centred and demanding – as all children are, of course – taking for granted everything that she went through, and everything that she did for you.
I’m sorry, mum. I know that at times my sister and I were absolute pains in the backside, fighting and pulling each other’s hair and constantly bickering. Being stuck at home with two small kids, no transport and no immediate support network (and no CBeebies or internet!) was bloody hardgoing; I know it must have been. But look how well you did! We’re awesome people now.
Well done. Top mumming.
And now you have three grandchildren who love you to pieces too, so hopefully everything that we put you through was worth it in the end.
Going back to Mother’s Day… I’ve been a bit hit and miss over the years I admit. Although a handmade card (from the kids, not me – obviously) is generally our go-to, maybe a box of chocolates or some flowers, I think one of the most decadent gifts you can buy as a Mother’s Day gift is perfume.
It is the final finishing touch, the luxury that most mothers don’t tend to have time for, for a while at least. The scent of my children being young was mainly baby sick, jaffa cakes and endless cups of unfinished tea.
As part of the Boots ‘Love Notes’ campaign I was asked to think about the scents of my own childhood
In particular, those smells and scents that remind me of my lovely mum.
As a psychology student many years ago, I learned about the strong connection between scent and memory but it’s surprising how easily a particular scent can instantly transport you back to your childhood.
Scent is a really powerful thing; a few weeks ago I was on the train with my family, and a woman got on and sat near us. As soon as she did I was instantly transported back to my Nan and Grandad’s house, and I realised it was her strong patchouli-based perfume. It left me actually blindsided and blinking back tears for the briefest moment, so strong was the emotion that it brought on, so suddenly.
Just a little spray of Christian Dior ‘Poison’ evokes memories of my sister and I probably arguing and playing up up as my mum was getting ready for a family dinner to celebrate a birthday, or maybe even going off to see friends, not as often as she probably deserved to. I don’t ever remember my parents going out together and leaving us behind; they just didn’t have the option. It’s something that I now very much appreciate when they offer to babysit. See, it’s that time-travel thing in action.
Coffee on Sunday mornings, red wine (both of which I hated – and still not a fan!) evenings spent in front of the open fire in our living room, garden-grown sweet peas in bunches and warm fruitcake coming from the kitchen, and the magnolia tree in the front garden are similarly some of the scents that remind me of home, me and my sister pulling each other’s hair in the garden while my poor mum was probably watching from the kitchen – who knows over what.
Based on the scents that remind me of my wonderful childhood, I chose Givenchy’s Hot Couture; strong and a little spicy at first, it settles into a sweet, woody eau de parfum with musk, sandalwood and amber base notes. It’s warming and comforting, and long-lasting, and I think it will suit her.
(I think so. If she hates it, I’ll have it myself).
What are your favourite perfumes?
Which perfume would you love to get for Mother’s Day? Tell me what you love and hate about perfumes in the comments.
To see the women’s perfume perfect for mothers day, check out the Boots website.
Anais Anais was mums perfume of choice ‘back in the day’, and can easily transport me back to sitting on her bed, watching her do magical stuff with the various and coveted pots of make up and sticks of wonder. It makes me wonder what mum wears now….I’ll have to have a good sniff next time i see her – if that’s not too weird??
I love Ultra Violet and my older daughters will comment on how that smell reminds them of me when they were younger and comforts them. I used to spray a teddy bear with it for when they went to stay with their nan so they knew i was nearby. Smells mixed with good memories are magical time travel – you are absolutely spot on!!
My Mum’s too! And Rive Gauche.
I get caught by certain smells – particularly related to my grandparents. A towel – a specific smell on a towel when it’s very slightly damp. Imperial leather soap. And brown bread toast. All of them evoke memories – which on a regular basis can be hard to deal with, or evoke special memories. Scent is such a powerful thing. But music…..music is even worse.
Imperial leather soap! My nan ALWAYS had that, I haven’t thought about it in years!
I’ve ordered some of this in my online shop for Monday. Soap with the weird label reminds me of my gran. I’m fully expecting to smell it and immediately be transported back to her house when I was a teen 💛
This really resonated with me and just how powerful scents are in our memories
I remember growing up with my mum wearing poison! I thought she was so beautiful, she’d spritz herself before going out. Funny the memories that you keep isn’t it. They’re precious.
Im a fan of Ghost fragrances, especially the original one as its what i wore during my pregnancy with my first daughter (reminds me of her too, she was sadly born sleeping)
She made me a mum after all, so its one always on my wish list for special occasions.
Lovely photos
My mum used to also wear Poison it was clawing but it kind of suited her. My mum died when I was 18 so for me the smells I remember most were things like her cottage pie and weekend fruit cake. She battled cancer from when I was 11 and still mummed the whole time, mum’s do an awful lot that at the time we just don’t realise.
xxx
My mum loved Anais Anais too. The smell always takes me back.
I don’t remember my mum’s scent when I was little, but I do remember my grandmother’s. It was Poison by Dior(??). It was AWFUL!!! Whilst I loved my gran, I’ll be happy never to smell that again
Agreed. I couldn’t stand Poison. It was certainly the marmite of perfume.
My hands are really dry at the moment, i opened some body lotion stuff and i as i was rubbing it in i was instantly transported back to April 2017, at first I thought it was the way the sunlight coming through the window, new spring light levels but as i breathed in i realised it was the hand cream, it was the same as the one i used back when the twins were born and they were in nicu and i was washing & sanitising my hands a hundred times a day. It took me straight back, i got the same knot in my stomach as i had back then.
It’s hugely powerful. Thinking for a moment on that train that my nan was there, I had to blink back tears.
Smells are so evocative. I will always associate Chanel No 5 and Joy be Jean Patou with my grandmother. Perfume is such a wonderful way to keep hold of a memory.
The smell of Atrixo hand cream will always remind meof my gran
My Mama always smelt of Devonshire Violets and whenever I smell it I think of her. My Mum was a Dior Essence fan. My Mum died nearly 8 years ago. A couple of years ago my estranged Father sent me a box of my Mum’s costume jewellery and when I opened it, it smelt of my Mum. Took me by surprise and I promply burst in to uncontrollable tears bringing back just how much I miss her. Those of you lucky enough still to have your Mum with you, tell her you love her and cherish her every single day ❤
That is really lovely x
Anais Anais and Rive Gauche. I think I’m going to look into getting her some now!
i know its bizzar but talcum powder reminds me of my mum and the perfume beautiful by ysl, my dad bless him has to be old spice xx
This is such a beautiful piece xxx
Oooh my Mum always wore Poison when I was growing up and always reminds me of her. I have a massively sweet tooth so like anything that’s pretty sweet. Funnily enough Hot Couture is a favourite of mine 🙂
It is lovely isn’t it!
It’s amazing how perfumes create and bring back so many amazing memories. I’m currently wearing a really lovely Hollister one.
My dad always wore Old Spice aftershave. Possibly the world’s most potent smell in a bottle! I always think back to places and memories through smells and sounds – certain songs and certain smells will always take me instantly back to happy memories.
Haha, my husband loves a bit of old spice 😉
Poison and white musk were the two perfumes my mum always wore, cant stand the smell of poison now but I do often find myself buying the odd bottle of musk from the body shop 💜
White Musk was the other – don’t get it myself, I always liked the Clementine one haha!
Lovely xxx
Musk
Even now, when I smell Estee Lauder ‘Alliage’ it takes me back to my childhood and holding my mum’s hand on the way to school. It’s been suggested to me by my daughter’s therapist that I could add a hanky with a spray of my perfume on to a sensory box for my daughter. Feels weird to think my Jo Malone will remind her of her childhood and safety.
Oh And Ralph Lauren Polo reminds me my Dad of when my parents would be all spruced up ready to hit the town in the 80s.