A Man embracing a Woman, Dosso Dossi (Giovanni di Luteri), ca. 1525 (detail)

— isa b. this survival hasn't been soft

17th and 18th century perfumes fell into two general categories: floral and musky. Floral scents of the time were made from flower oils or waters distilled from blooms such as roses, orange flowers, and jasmine. These scents float near the top of the modern note range. Musks are base notes– heavy yet subtle at the same time. They are often animal-based and were favored by both sexes because they blend well with the natural human scent, itself a musky note. In an age of inconsistent bathing practices perfume served as a popular odor equalizer in the merchant and noble classes. During the 17th and 18th century, there was very little difference between men’s and women’s perfumes. A man might wear a wash of rose water to fresh his skin while a lady might don a heady amber toilet for a candle-lit dance.

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by Bo Eide

please be so healing and gentle

fan of mother-of-pearl, gold, and silk; open and extended: 21.5 x 37 x 1.8 cm; rené lalique, french c. 1900.

my potions and talismans

Jardins de Claude Monet, Giverny