The Spirit of Scent~The Proust Effect

From the book “Welcome Home” by Melissa Placzek

page 96

“But when from a long-distant past nothing subsists, after the people are dead, after the things are broken and scattered, taste and smell alone, more fragile but more enduring, more immaterial, more persistent, more faithful, remain poised a long time, like souls, remembering, waiting, hoping, amid the ruins of all the rest; and bear unflinchingly, in the tiny and almost impalpable drop of their essence, the vast structure of recollection.”

Marcel Proust, in Swann’s Way, “Remembrance of Things Past” 1913

There’s an interesting phenomenon called “The Proust Effect” that I came across while doing research for a psychology class. What it is is simply memories and emotions being prompted into recollection through the power of scent. Example: Picture yourself walking down a city street and as you pass a bakery the scent of chocolate chip cookies overwhelms you. Immediately you feel as though you’ve been transported back in time to your grandmother’s kitchen. The scent of the cookies actually brings tears to your eyes because you miss your grandmother. This is the Proust Effect in action.

Ever since this pshych lesson I’ve been applying this little trick in my own life to create a sort of “scrapbook of scents.” I do this whenever I travel or know I’m about to experience something new. This is so fun, and one of my favorite things to do. It’s surprising how it keeps the memory of certain experiences, places, and people alive.

Maybe you’d like to try this? The next time you’re planning a vacation select a new perfume scent that is unlike anything you’ve ever worn before. DO NOT wear this new perfume until you arrive at your vacation destination. While on this vacation make sure you wear the perfume every day. When you return home, don’t wear the scent for at least two weeks. Then, the next time you smell the perfume it will be like being transported back to where you were vacationing. The scent of this special perfume will remind you of this place forever. I promise, this really works!

Anytime I want to escape, my perfume bottles serve as a sort of time machine. When I wear “Summer Hill” by Crabtree & Evelyn I am on Nantucket Island. When I wear “Rapture” by Victoria’s Secret it’s my wedding day again. When I wear “Pleaseures Exotic” by Estee Lauder I’m being a beach bum in Florida and touring Magic Kingdom with my family, and “Beachy” by Lilly Pulitzer transports me to the beautiful Island of Maui Hawaii. You get the idea. I can’t wait to bring this new scent, “Red Cherie” by Thymes, on a new adventure so I can add to my scent library.

Red Cherie by Thymes

Red Cherie Bath Salts

Red Cherie Body Scrub

Red Cherie

Do you have a favorite perfume or cologne that reminds you of a special place or time?

XO,

Melissa

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Last night, after everyone else was in bed, I lit a candle and played an Edith Piaf CD while I read my new “Food & Wine” magazine and sipped my favorite chamomile lavender tea. (Have you ever tried Harney’s Yellow & Blue tea? It’s really good!) As the cares of the day melted away I thought it would be a good idea to take a snapshot of the moment and share it with you. What could be more important than sharing a message of relaxation? We all need it. My hope is to share a relaxing ritual with you at least once a week and that you will share your ideas with me. I’m always looking for new ways to unwind.

What are your favorite relaxing rituals?

~Melissa

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I’m walking up to the market to get the ingredients for a little ‘home spa’ indulgence and thought I’d share my shopping list with you in case you’d like to join me…

Papaya promotes healthy skin by fighting free radicals and encourages the renewal of skin with a naturally occurring enzyme called papain. It’s also a fantastic moisturizer.

Luxurious Summer Mask

1/2 cup papaya, cubed

1 teaspoon plain, whole milk yogurt

1 teaspoon honey

Puree all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Apply to face. Sit back, relax and read a magazine for 10 minutes while the mask works it’s magic. Rinse well with cool water. Follow with your favorite moisturizer.

Enjoy!

~Melissa

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You could either order some, or if you have a little time on your hands, you could make some!

Invigorating Body Spritz

Fill a clean, dry mini spray bottle with 4 oz. distilled water. Add:

1 drop eucalyptus essential oil

2 drops geranium essential oil

3 drops peppermint essential oil

Cover. Shake well before each use.

Tranquility Body Spritz

Fill a clean, dry mini spray bottle with 4 oz. distilled water. Add:

2 drops bergamot essential oil

3 drops lavender essential oil

2 drops frankinsense essential oil

Cover. Shake well before each use.

~Melissa

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An exfoliating, smoothing treatment for your feet:

Combine 1/2 cup beach sand (or play sand), 1 Tablespoon sea salt, and 1/2 cup olive oil in a big basin. Put your feet in the basin and massage the sand mixture all over your feet. Rinse feet in a seperate basin full of cool water. Pat feet dry with a towel.

“Teach me to hear the mermaids singing.” ~John Donne

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“This is la vie en rose…” ~ Edith Piaf

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Combine:

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup grated coconut

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted OR 1/4 cup creme de coconut

1 Tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon vitamin E oil

10 drops coconut perfume oil

3 drops sandalwood essential oil

3 drops vanilla or almond essential oil

Standing on a towel, rub mixture all over your body. Allow to penetrate for 5 minutes. Rub mixture off with a damp hand towel. Soak in the tub or take a shower to rinse off remaining mixture.

“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.”

~Lucille Ball

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Just before you get in the shower or bath tub, combine a couple tablespoons of your favorite shower gel with a teaspoon of dry cornmeal. Pour on a loofah or exfoliating scrunchie sponge. Shower as usual. The cornmeal is a great, natural exfoliant that will leave your skin silky smooth.

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“Stars” eyeshadow pencil by Rimmel of London- I’m not a big eyeshadow fan. I’ve never really liked it. I think it usually takes away from looking natural and borders on Barbie doll “fake.” I DO like “Stars” by Rimmel because instead of leaving a layer of unnatural color on your eyelids it just gives you a sublte, glittery glow. This look is perfect for summer, and glitzy enough for a night out on the town.

Jergen’s Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer- This moisturizer smells fantastic and has a subtle skin darkening ingredient that gives you a healthy summer glow without the sun’s harmful UV rays. This is my favorite self-tanner because it doesn’t streak and it has a little bit of golden sparkle to it that accentuates your new “tan.”

Happy Summer!

Love,

Meliss

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• Purchase spa products by Crabtree and Evelyn, Caswell Massey, Philosophy, Origins OR make your own.
• Clear out your living room or family room, rent or purchase yoga DVDs, and take a fitness”class.”
• Create spa gift baskets for your guests. Include: mesh sponges, pumice stones, fun nail polishes, lipsticks, magazines, and bottles of Perrier or Evian.
• Light naturally scented candles everywhere (Aveda makes some that are scented with all natural ingredients and essential oils.)
• Give each other pedicures, manicures, facials, and massages, or hire a professional massage therapist who will make home visits.
• Watch “chick flicks” such as Because I Said So, Marie Antoinette, or The Holiday, and eat popcorn sprinkled with a little parmesan cheese.
• Set up your CD player and play relaxing spa music. I like anything by Enya, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, and “White Stones” by Secret Garden.
• Make sure everyone brings comfy jammies, slippers and robes.

• Serve Grand Wailea cucumber spa water, flavorful salads, whole grain crackers, hummus or any of your favorite, nutritious dishes.

“Most of us dream of being the perfect hostess. this means being well organized far enough ahead of time to allow for a hot bath, a short rest, and time to put on a pretty frock and spray yourself with White Lilac. This never, never happens to me.”

-Gladys Taber “Stillmeadow Cookbook” 1947

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