Magnolia - the Magical Scent of the South

The magnolia trees are blooming in my yard and the fragrance is nothing less than sweetly intoxicating. Oh that scent is giddy, distinct and magical and it just transports me into another world – the land of Scarlett O’Hara where you could always think about things tomorrow. This time of year the blossoms measure 8 – 10 inches in diameter and this southern chic thinks it is a sin to cut down one of nature’s most majestic of trees.
I once had a fragrance created that of course included a touch of magnolia. The perfumist was a Southern lady with a mystique and a French accent to match. She had no doubt concocted hundreds of blends in her life and I stumbled upon her when I stepped into a boutique to avoid a spring downpour in the French Quarter of New Orleans. She was mixing before I ever opened my mouth with a bewitching smile as if to say, I can read your mind honey.
And she did, Libby is a mixture of jasmine, gardenia, tuberose, magnolia and a few other surprise notes. I love it as much today as I did the day I waltzed into a wedding reception wearing my new perfume and someone said, I love that fragrance, what is it? I almost flipped. I felt like I had arrived.

"Perfume is the unseen but unforgettable and ultimate fashion accessory. It heralds a woman’s arrival and prolongs her departure." Coco Chanel

Fragrances, like music, are created with notes. The first step in creating an original perfume is selection of aromatic notes in elemental blends that match your moods and promote your passions. The second step is deciding on a combination and concentration of blends in your fragrance. I remember relaxing on a sleeping couch as she mixed and sniffed and touched base notes to my arm and wrist. As we are all different, the fragrance reacts with everyone’s own body chemistry to evoke slightly different smells.
Your personal scent is a powerful accessory, a fragrance only you wear because you designed it yourself. Once you get the perfect combination, the secret formula is registered and you will always be able to re-order. It was a cool thing to do then and I still think it’s cool. Libby smells a lot like Tiare by Chantecaille or Tubereuse Indiana Perfume by Creed. It’s a simple, yet a beautiful floral, feminine twirling fragrance – your signature floating in the air.

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