Remember when “clean” reigned as aromatic king? Those days are gone. We’ve become a smelly society that, ironically, frowns upon those wearing too much perfume and goes to court at first whiff.
A splash of aftershave or dab of perfume once sufficed as grooming signatures. Today our John Hancocks of hygiene compete with the aromas of deodorants, soaps, shampoos, conditioners, nail polish removers, skin creams, powders, hygiene sprays and feminine products. Apparently the manufacturers think we need help. Why else would they give us “Shower Clean” as a deodorant option?
Even the act of buying something as mundane as dryer sheets demands more than selecting a brand or price point in a scented or non-scented version. Now an array of fragrance options complicates your purchase. Today our clothes smell.
So do our homes. Tissues, candles, diffusers, potpourri, cleansers and dishwashing liquid come in fragrances, too, which supposedly complement the smell of your towels and linens. Scents by the season and for the season.
Let’s not forget the mail. Perfumed inserts in department store sale booklets make sure that our front porch sets the stage for the bouquets inside.
The result of this aromatherapy that envelopes us: selection stress. Eventually it’ll be dubbed a syndrome and someone will name it (can you say research dollars?), someone else will develop a personality quiz (if you choose ‘linen’ and ‘new car’ you are conservative”) and both will hit the talk show circuit.
Personally, I do not want lilac- or gardenia-wreaking hair that attracts bees to my head. Nor do I want to walk around with almondy or lemony tresses, smelling like a French kitchen. Few ask, “Will baby powder clash with mountain rainfall?” Most should.
That’s the plain truth.
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