Shari Pauly

L’Heure Bleu- “The Blue Hour”- After my Mom had gotten through the 60’s and early 70’s with the fad, fashion, fragrances of the time, she moved into the beginnings of her mid-life elegance, wearing L’Heure Bleu. It was so different to me as a young teen to understand the sophistication of this new fragrance by Guerlain. I just didn’t understand the attraction. My young nose had been in training since I was old enough to dab perfume or sprinkle bath powder, but this was a new “smell” and it came across harsh, and the “Dry-down” certainly wasn’t “everything,” at least to me. Fast forward many years. I recently had the amazing fortune of buying a a “Holy Grail” Bouchon Coeur crystal flask (inverted heart,) Baccarat etched, sealed, (original baudruchage / gold thread,) 75 ml bottle of L’Heure Bleu Extrait, and its 50 ml side kick, a vintage bottle of L’Heure Bleu EDP. (Deep breath) It was with these purchases that my own personal infatuation with L’Heure Bleu began. I shall never realize the incredible beauty of the vintage LB Extrait from my own bottle as I can’t bear the thought of “ruining” her vintage perfection, but I do wear my first LB EDP and I’m discovering what an elegant & timeless beauty L’Heure Bleu really is, as my nose has continued a long and enjoyable fragrance journey through out my life. What L’Heure Bleu is to me: -it starts bright, cheerful and softly spicy, like a cozy, softly spiced (coriander, anise, vanilla) cup of Chai tea, served with a warm lemon scone drizzled with glaze at a French Patisserie to begin my day. - as my day continues, I find myself strolling through the French, sidewalk flower market stalls, enjoying the gloriously fragrant and colorful Heliotrope, along with the sharp tang of Dianthus, fruity, sweet Neroli, Rose and a freshly crushed violet leaf. Such staggering, breath taking, olfactory beauty. “How to choose just one?” I silently contemplate. Which one will come home with me this day? -as the suns rays grow long, my fragrant foray concludes as my senses, calmly soften as I sink deeply into my cozy, blue Iris print chair. I intentionally breath in deeply, and I recognize the sensual wafts of Orris, Tonka, Benzoin, Vanilla pod, rare sandalwood, and fragrant vetiver emanating from a pomander sitting on a table, near my chair, filled with treasures from my afternoon’s sidewalk shopping. I look around and take note that the tall, blue Iris’ from the flower market, have blended perfectly with the deep blue azure hue of the evening. An absolute L’Heure Bleu moment and I capture its beauty in my mind. It is then, that the melancholy of missing my Mom and her signature scent, L’Heure Bleu fragrance, sets in. This scent evokes many memories, of great maternal love, good family remembrances, all the while exuding the pain from her loss and my aging soul. It is at that point, that my “L’Heure Bleu day” begins to fade away into twilight, as beautifully as it began.