October

October means McIntosh apples for me. Oh how I love their soft, snowy white flesh and sweet-tart, almost wild, taste. Vivid memories of a big birchwood basket of Macs on our porch in Maine, their fragrance sharp and dusky, with tiny dried leaves curled against each stem. I'm 6 years old again and my tastebuds are dancing in the cold, October air of Scarborough, Maine.




I'm not a particularly 'seasonal' perfume wearer. My contrary Gemini nature doesn't work that way. But October is the month when my patchouli passion seems to awaken. Some of my favorites are:

Keiko Mecheri Patchoulissime: softened and sweetened by jasmine, this scent is quiet and refined. You could wear it to the opera.

Les Nereides Patchouli Antique: A fabulous, earthy, rooty rendition of patchouli; very Italian in it's naturist sensibilities.

Caswell-Massey Patchouli Essential Oil: I don't think that anyone can truly call themselves a patchouli lover without a patchouli oil in their collection. This is strong, tenacious, gutteral patchouli with every head shop connotation you can conjure up. Dab a couple of drops onto a woolen scarf and you'll smell it there years later.

cbperfumes Patchouli Empire: (With sincere and grateful thanks to Dawn for the opportunity to try this scent.) This is a spectacular rendition of patchouli...intense, woody, peppery, leafy, sappy...but without any raw edges. Very long lasting, with just enough sillage to create a lovely, light, personal cloud of patchouli around you. I think that Chris Brosius has created something brilliant here.

Ralph Lauren Pure Turquoise: This is a patchouli from a decidely American point of view...sporty, cleaned up, soapy, with a soft, woody drydown. The bottle is gorgeous but honestly, sort of unwieldy.


I've been drinking hot tea again, now that the nights are cooling down. Aaah, a cup of tea, some crackers and Jarlsberg cheese, and a chick flick...nothing better. I've been drinking Emperor's White lately, from the Fujian Province of China. The flavor is subtle and slightly sweet.

October calls for a darker lip color. I have two in pretty heavy rotation right now. Estee Lauder in Pouty Plum (which is discontinued, but I've stockpiled it...I cannot live without this lipstick shade), and Chanel Hydrabase in Shanghai Red (ridiculously expensive, but your lips will love you). Oh and p.s.: don't bother with Clinique. Less expensive, nice shades, but one hour after application they disappear.



Here is Carl Larsson's beautiful and sensitive watercolor, October (1883). Larsson (Swedish, 1853-1919) is one of my favorite artists, but I've never seen one of his works in person. Some day.... If you click on the picture, you can see a larger image, to really appreciate the way he skillfully shaded the pumpkins and their dying leaves.

I hope everyone is having a spectacular October!