Hey Crew. Scent Semantics?
We get a word, we get a date, we have to choose a single fragrance that fits the word and then have to explain how it fits together, in our way. As much or little as we feel the word/fragrance connection needs. We are going to probe a little into how each of us bloggers see the world, fragrance, ourselves. We get to see how one word can inspire different directions in connection. or not.
MISANTHROPE: Scent Semantics #11
MISANTHROPE! Well, I’m sure ALL of us have felt a little misanthropic from time to time. Maybe it’s your default? It’s a place I go to when too many things are happening and I’m unable to keep to my loose routine. Suddenly the whole world are a bunch of dicks and I need to wade through everything as quickly as possible to get back on an even keel. It can be exacerbated by outside forces, especially pertaining to money or health. Also, if something happens that has me a bit freaked. For example, about two weeks ago I’d finished walking the dog and dropped his poo in our wheelie bin. Coming back I saw two people and their dogs standing silhouetted at the top of our carpark drive. I went to say hi and see if they needed anything or just wanted doggy interaction. They were menacing and the guys dog was growling like a pre attack warning. The reflector sunglasses guy said, “See, that’s all it takes.” The girl had such googly, out of it eyes that I couldn’t even tell where she was looking. I think they were talking to me but TBH couldn’t be sure. So I looked, walked towards them a bit, made a face and came inside. So for the last two weeks I’ve been alternating between normal and full MISANTHROPE. We are also selling my motorbike and Jin had it all set up with some woman buying for her son yada yada yada. Turns out she was a scam and phishing for info. It was so subtle and she had the whole routine down pat, I was completely drawn in and definitely gave away too much info. Now I’m on high alert distrust and freaked out hate the world mode. It’s bloody exhausting.
MISANTHROPE
noun
a person who hates, dislikes, or distrusts most others; an antisocial, cynical, or unfriendly person:
They’re a bunch of mean-spirited misanthropes, smugly indifferent to the misfortunes of others.
Methaldone by Aether
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Incense, Metallic notes, Resins, Musk, Amber, Woody notes
The opening both warm fuzzy teddy bear and cold metallic. It’s a strange, beautiful, repellant hit that makes me smile and wince every time. Methadone is much like my mental dream addiction, if you happened to be an alien. All the allure of the best multinational advertising and backed by the same feeling of careless, cynical, greedy, inhuman enormity that eats its own personnel and offers less and less for more and more and more to the buyers. An outer space fragrance. Something clinical and immersive. Methadone smells like the reason we become the MISANTHROPE. It’s also good to wallow fragrantly in the moment and feeling of misanthropy, let myself drown in it.
Then as the fragrance continues it becomes something so beautiful. Still alien, still other but now it feels friendly and warm, being cozy under a cashmere throw. Like all the fears are now rendered meaningless because safety has arrived. Well, the perception of safety has arrived. I’ll take it. a period of time when the MISANTHROPE is given surcease is a moment to be treasured. Methaldone comes through every time.
How do you interpret and what perfume would you associate with the word MISANTHROPE?
Portia xx
Elena https://theplumgirl.com
A Bottled Rose 
I’m sorry to hear you’ve had to deal with such lousy human interactions. The few bad ones can easily ruin everything for the rest. Methaldone sounds like it might be a bit scary for me. I prefer my perfumes not to be so misanthropic, but St Giles The Writer comes to mind—it’s supposed to be rosemary, clary sage, etc. herbal memory aid and inkiness, but to me it smells like unwashed male wearing bad deodorant gel. The last time I wore it perversely was about year and a half ago when I was working from morning till night several days in a row against unreasonable deadlines. Thank goodness those days are behind me.
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Hi there Nose Prose,
HA! Yes, it’s definitely a ride from unsettled to safety. Maybe that’s part of why I love it so much.
OOOOOH! Your St Giles The Writer sounds extremely misanthropic, but also kind of intriguing.
Fingers crossed your deadline stay reachable.
Portia xx
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Hello dear Portia. I sympathise. I quite often say animals are better than humans. Feel sad to see that you write “walking the dog”, singular. Didn’t you have two? My heart hurts for you to think that something has happened. Here’s hoping for better times ahead for us all.
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Hey Jillie,
Yes, we had to put Jinx down because he had a rampant cancer that grew so fast we could almost watch it. Very sad times.
Yes, better times for us all.
Portia xx
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Portia
So sorry to read about Jinx. Big hugs to both you & Jin x
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Thanks Alityke. XX
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I’m soooo sorry for Jinx. Hugs to you and Jin. Are you sharing Paris with him now?
That’s awful. ❤
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Yeah, it was totally crap.
Paris loves Jin but he is my dog through and through. No worries. Jin likes to have him but has made it very clear we are not having another dog. We’ll see.
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Hi Portia
My original reply must have triggered the spam barrier. It’s gone walkabout.
I’ll just add the most misanthropic smell I’ve ever worn was Vintage Poison lavishly sprayed over SL MKK. Worn only when going out when I REALLY did not want to be sociable
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Best description of wayward comments ever, “gone walkabout”!
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HA! And so very Australian. It’s the term our first Nations use to say they need some time away.
Portia xx
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Woo Hoo Alityke,
What a huge barrier that must have created around you. I bet it smelled really good too.
Portia xx
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Smelt great to me but the cloud of Poisonous Sweaty Musks surrounding me certainly said “Keep Out”
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HA!
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If I wanted to create a Do Not Approach because Dangerous I’d wear a combo of Dans tea Bras and Patoy Joy. Absolute rank on me, and would be giving the stink eye to all and sundry. Given the current situation with a lot of the sub-human race that might be no bad thing.
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HA! Yes, agreed. You could be a well fragrant island Cassieflower. Did you ever do this?
Portia xx
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Well, those are two nasty little interactions you’ve had! I’m glad it appears you have emerged unscathed. I’ve been wearing Chanel No. 19 for a week as my fragrance armor at work, so that became my Scent Semantics subject. Having posted, I am now off to do more gardening in between torrential downpours of rain, which are literally putting a damper on this holiday weekend (but not so much that I can’t enjoy it). Happy Monday!
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Happy Monday OH!
CHANEL No 19 works for so many situations. As backbone, armour, summer spritz and elegant evening wear. I need to get my bottle and put it on the grab tray.
I hope the weather stays reasonable for you, without mishap.
Portia xx
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Nasty encounter indeed – I am scared of even friendly breeds of dogs, so would not have handled that experience well at all. I hope you can shake it off soon, ditto the horrid scamming experience. As for Metha(l)done – there must have been a drug reference behind the choice of name and isn’t (A)ether a form of anaesthetic? 😉 – it sounds very strange and a worthy contender for the title of Misanthrope! The fact that you describe its vibe as “clinical and immersive” underlines its druggy antecedents.
My pick would be something that has thrown me into a complete tailspin… could be the stinker that is Mona di Orio Nuit Noire, or Caron Narcisse Noir. Both triggered an instant migraine.
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OH NO Vanessa,
Migraine perfumes are not fun. Two of my loves also. Bummer.
Yeah, I think the boys were going for that feel, it really is astounding.
Portia xx
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