Memories ...

It seems that a lot of my posts recently have been about memories. Well, save for those about politics but I am over those. O.V.E.R. The damage has been done and I am moving on. What was I saying? Oh yes. Memories.
Smarties have said that memory is linked in some way to scent, when walking down a particularly damp and pungent street Craig and I can look at each other and say Bangkok. But! something you might not know about me is that I have a growing obsession with Perfume.
I blame all my time spent in Duty Free.
My collection is now at 16 bottles. So this weekend just past, on the cold but sunny Sunday afternoon, I sat by my perfume drawer (well, really just a shoe box in my lingerie & travel documents drawer) and smelled perfume after perfume.

Here are my memories:

Daisy by Marc Jacobs - a recent perfume, it reminds me of dewy early mornings in New Zealand, wet leaves and fresh air.

Diamonds by Armani - My job in London. It reminds me of the basement office and my favourite people (Alylicious!)

Funeral Home by Demeter - Our flat in Lower Hutt. The house we lived in when we were first married. I am in our bedroom, standing by the open wardrobe.

Gucci by Gucci - Our London flatmate, S, and our Southwark flat, we are in the Lounge. Craig is cooking, I am sitting on the windowsill and S is on the couch, eating a steak with hummus on it. Laughing.

Hot Couture by Givenchy - First year of University, sitting in Von Zedlitz waiting for a class, I have dyed black hair and I am wearing a red red top and long black cardigan. I am being given a hand painted champagne flute which reads "Candy Perfume Girl".

Lolita de Lempicka (eponymous) - I am in a perfume store in Norfolk Island, Craig and I are on our honeymoon and we've spent the afternoon making a woodfire and having a picnic. The smell of woodsmoke is strong on my fingers.

Miss Dior Cherie by Christian Dior - I am wearing a dress and getting ready to go out, in London, I think to a pub or to an outdoor adventure. It may be a grey afternoon or early evening.

Sexy Little Things by Victoria's Secret (worst name ever!) - I am in our San Francisco hotel room, straightening my newly short hair, Kat is getting ready, and Craig is ready to go.

Sheer by Stella McCartney - I am standing by the mantelpiece in Askew Crescent in London. It is summer and I am wearing a white top.

Splash in Grapefruit by Marc Jacobs - I am in Heathrow Duty Free on my way to New Zealand, rushing and wishing I had a basket, trying to look like I haven't been crying, Craig is coming to New Zealand later. I am walking with Mum, Jayne, and Charlotte on a quiet grey day, windowshopping.

The One by Dolce & Gabbana - It is a cold, sunny Saturday morning and I am in London. Wearing a scarf and a leather jacket, walking down to Borough Market by myself. Incandescently happy.

Viva La Juicy by Juicy Couture - Hawaii. Wide streets and intense sunshine. Pervading sense of happiness. I am alone, reading and wandering, Craig is off surfing. We're both happy.

(I also have LAMB by Gwen Stefani, Chance eau fraiche by Chanel, Cotton Candy by Demeter, and (ugh) Curious by Britney Spears. But they are too new (or unworn (Curious and Cotton Candy)) to have memories yet.)

I tend to choose my scent based not only on my mood, plans, or weather, but by which memory I want to experience or avoid. For a long time I couldn't use Sheer by Stella McCartney because that memory made me feel horrible and guilty (I felt we overstayed our welcome).

Is this just me? Does anyone else have a specific memory for a perfume? or do you just think about the scent itself?