The Wry Home
  • Home
  • About
  • Newsletter
  • Categories
    • Home
    • Design
    • In and Around Town
    • Beach
    • Travel
    • Furniture
    • Holiday
    • Entertaining
    • Artwork
    • Gifts
  • Contact

The Wry Home

REASONABLE REDESIGN

  • Home
  • About
  • Newsletter
  • Categories
    • Home
    • Design
    • In and Around Town
    • Beach
    • Travel
    • Furniture
    • Holiday
    • Entertaining
    • Artwork
    • Gifts
  • Contact

Fragrant Valentine

February 20, 2014

My husband gave me two bottles of perfume for Valentines Day this year.  I’m not sure what I did to deserve this…. but it was a foolproof gift.

I discovered fragrance early.  Around age 10, I think.  My Aunt gave me a bottle of White Shoulders which I promptly (accidentally) broke on the bathroom floor.  I watched the pale pink liquid seep into the grout, pool around the bottom of our cloth shower curtain and soak into the bath mat.  Every time I went into the bathroom after that I had White Shoulders to thank for masking little brother dirty laundry odor and creating a haven that smelled like tuberose, gardenia and lilacs.

White Shoulders

White Shoulders

In high school, my mother gave me JOY by Jean Patou.  It was so glam.  The elegant bottle.  The words Paris and Parfum on the label. The deep amber color.  I used it sparingly so it would last a long time.  When it was gone, I starting wearing what was popular at the time  ~ Calyx, Jessica McClintock, Sung by Alfred Sung, Obsession, Coco and Ysatis.  But JOY got me hooked.

  Image 4   Image 3

My passion for fragrance ultimately led to a job at Elizabeth Arden in New York in their Parfums International division.  The first three brands I worked on were Chloe, Elizabeth Taylor’s Passion and… White Shoulders.  I was part of the team that launched Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds.  Got to hang out with “Liz” and husband #7 Larry Fortensky. Dream job.

Image 2

I migrated to LA after New York and got a job at Fred Hayman Beverly Hills.  Fred launched Giorgio in the 1980s and, after he sold it to Avon, started a new fragrance venture.  The offices were gorgeous, above Giorgio Armani on Rodeo Drive.  Movie stars were always coming and going, eating lunch with Fred on his patio that faced the Hollywood sign.  I worked on the Fred Hayman 273 brand, the address of his famous clothing store on the corner of Rodeo that sprayed fragrance as you entered the door.  Fred was a character.  He was frequently spotted cruising around LA  in his bright yellow Mercedes convertible with his German Shepard Chumley in the passenger seat, top down, both of them wearing his signature yellow FH sunglasses.

Fred Hayman 273 line

Fred Hayman 273 line

My Valentine fragrances, Fendi L’Acquarossa and Hermes Eau Claire des Merveilles, both sit prominently on top of my bureau.  The bottles are exquisite.  The Fendi a deep red with gold and the Hermes playfully tilts to its side.  Thank you, honey.

P1030205

the wry home

Fragrant Valentine was last modified: April 25th, 2017 by Liz Dowling
elizabeth ardenfendifragrancefred haymanHermesPerfumevalentineValentine's Day
2 comments
0
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
previous post
Family Room Refresh
next post
Goodbye Screen Porch

You may also like

French Country is Out?

November 6, 2014

WE ALL NEED A LITTLE INA GARTEN...

April 7, 2020

Summer Entertaining

August 17, 2017

Island Kitchen Refresh DONE!

May 21, 2019

Christmas Cocktails Even I Can Make!

December 17, 2015

Knock, Knock!

October 22, 2020
Liz Dowling
I have loved design ever since I painted my bedroom walls high-gloss lime green in the fourth grade. A lifelong hobby, mixing low cost items with a few pricier pieces thrown in, has become The Wry Home. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t!

Thanks for subscribing! Check your inbox (or spam folder) for our confirmation email.

Be Social With Us

Facebook Twitter Instagram Linkedin

The Wry Home on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • Palm Springs
    March 1, 2023
  • Food + Wine in France
    January 5, 2023
  • Last Minute Holiday Table Setting!
    December 19, 2022
  • Paris with No Plans
    December 1, 2022
  • I Upholstered a Bench
    November 15, 2022
  • Ina’s FROZEN Key Lime Pie
    October 26, 2022

Popular Posts

  • Palm Springs
  • My Homemade
    Marble Tables
  • Entrepreneur Focus:
    Ivy Becker
  • Painting by Bill Padien Artist Focus
    William Padien

Archives

  • ►2023
    • ►March (1)
    • ►January (1)
  • ►2022
    • ►December (2)
    • ►November (1)
    • ►October (3)
    • ►September (1)
    • ►August (2)
    • ►July (2)
    • ►June (3)
    • ►May (1)
    • ►April (1)
    • ►March (2)
    • ►February (1)
    • ►January (1)
  • ►2021
    • ►December (1)
    • ►November (2)
    • ►October (1)
    • ►September (3)
    • ►August (1)
    • ►July (2)
    • ►June (2)
    • ►May (1)
    • ►April (1)
    • ►March (2)
    • ►February (1)
    • ►January (2)
  • ►2020
    • ►December (2)
    • ►November (2)
    • ►October (1)
    • ►September (2)
    • ►August (1)
    • ►July (2)
    • ►June (3)
    • ►May (1)
    • ►April (2)
    • ►March (2)
    • ►February (1)
    • ►January (1)
  • ►2019
    • ►December (2)
    • ►November (2)
    • ►October (2)
    • ►September (2)
    • ►August (1)
    • ►July (3)
    • ►June (3)
    • ►May (2)
    • ►April (2)
    • ►March (2)
    • ►February (2)
    • ►January (2)
  • ►2018
    • ►December (2)
    • ►November (1)
    • ►October (2)
    • ►September (3)
    • ►August (3)
    • ►July (2)
    • ►June (3)
    • ►May (3)
    • ►April (2)
    • ►March (2)
    • ►February (2)
    • ►January (3)
  • ►2017
    • ►December (2)
    • ►November (4)
    • ►October (2)
    • ►September (3)
    • ►August (4)
    • ►July (2)
    • ►June (5)
    • ►May (2)
    • ►March (4)
    • ►February (4)
    • ►January (3)
  • ►2016
    • ►December (4)
    • ►November (2)
    • ►October (4)
    • ►September (5)
    • ►August (4)
    • ►July (4)
    • ►June (3)
    • ►May (3)
    • ►April (4)
    • ►March (3)
    • ►February (4)
    • ►January (4)
  • ►2015
    • ►December (3)
    • ►November (3)
    • ►October (5)
    • ►September (2)
    • ►August (4)
    • ►July (5)
    • ►June (4)
    • ►May (5)
    • ►April (3)
    • ►March (3)
    • ►February (4)
    • ►January (4)
  • ►2014
    • ►December (4)
    • ►November (4)
    • ►October (4)
    • ►September (3)
    • ►August (5)
    • ►July (4)
    • ►June (5)
    • ►May (4)
    • ►April (4)
    • ►March (4)
    • ►February (5)
    • ►January (4)

Awards

Brown Leadership & Performance Coaching Certification

 

Best of Houzz Service 2017 Best of Houzz Service 2016 Recommended on Houzz

Amara Interior Blog Awards Nominated Blog 2019   nominated   nominated

Amara Interior Blog Awards Nominated Blog 2016   Smarty Style Bathrooms badge

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin

© 2017 The Wry Home


Back To Top