smelling like my Dad...

[thoreau]

When on stage - antiperspirant deodorant is supremely important, and the only kind of deodorant (i've found anyway) that really works when I sweat in costumes under the light is Old Spice "High Endurance". The WORST thing that can happen backstage is have someone that smells... particularly in the tight quarters of this show. but - while Old Spice works?

It reminds me of my Pop - before he retired he would wear gobs of Old Spice aftershave - and I remember that when I started shaving he almost made a masculine ritual out of buying me my first bottle of Old Spice shaving cream. So - there I was backstage last night - and I realized that the scent was bringing back serious flashbacks of my EARLY childhood. (like 3, 4, 5 years old when my Pop was still working).

I dreamed about it all night long - strange how a simple scent can send one's entire subconcious off on a journey.

Comments

[kroyd.livejournal.com]

Omg!
My dad used the old spice aftershave lotion. He probably still does if he remembers to ask mom to put it on since be can't shave himself after the stroke. :(. I really miss the dad he used to be. Now I'm lucky if he remembers my name. But old spice would have the same effect on me as with you. I sometimes would sit on the toilet (lid down) and watch him shave. LOL. If I remember I'll tell you what else he did while shaving when I see you next week.

[kroyd.livejournal.com]

oops!! Forgot to offer other solutions to the sweaty problem. Do away with wardrobe alltogether. Or just enjoy the natural fragrence of MAN!! LOL.

[surewood31.livejournal.com]

The Olfactory sense is one of the stronger ones for stimulating memories.

My aunt's house has a smell, I don't know what it is, but it's a sweet smell. Not overpowering (cause usually strong smells put me in a sneezing fit and make my eyes water) but that scent takes me back to when I was 3 and I lived with them. Her making pancakes for me while I watched cartoons (the one where everyone was racing in dune buggies). My coworker one time smelled of that scent, and I stopped in mid sentence and said, "You smell like my aunt's house." Kind of awkward after that.

[dewittar.livejournal.com]

When I was performing I had to get this special anti-perspirant from my doctor, not for the odor but for the moisture.

As for the olfactory kick: I keep a small supply for old fashioned aftershaves, tonics, etc from my earliest childhood. Brings my father, grandfather and uncles right back to me. It's not the sexiest scent by today's standards but I love them for how it helps me to feel connected and whole.

Thanks for bringing that back to me!

[pagerbear.livejournal.com]

When I was performing I had to get this special anti-perspirant from my doctor, not for the odor but for the moisture.

Nowadays they shoot Botox into your pits! I saw a brochure for it at my plastic surgeon's office and have thought about it, but I don't really sweat much any more. Not like I did when I was in the 400 club, certainly!

OLD SPICE GENERATIONAL GAP

[bootedintexas.livejournal.com]

I use OLD SPICE shaving cream, deadorant, and actually DTP loves it when i use Old Spice Original Scent body spray...."you smell gud!"

[transmodal.livejournal.com]

"When nothing else subsists from the past, after the people are dead, after the things are broken and scattered· the smell and taste of things remain poised a long time, like souls· bearing resiliently, on tiny and almost impalpable drops of their essence, the immense edifice of memory" -Marcel Proust

I guess that scent memory is so strong because it was an important factor in survival for our ancestors. I'm sure your Dad was making a masculine ritual out of buying you that shaving cream... in our modern society there aren't many opportunities for that kind of thing anymore.

Thanks for sharing this.

[truthfeather.livejournal.com]

Since I was raised by women, I don't have any strong Old spice memories. Menthol cigarettes on the other hand will remind me of my mother. She also wore a perfume that I still can recall, called Grass.
My strongest scent memory re men, would have to be Brylcreem which my uncles used.

[grizzlyzone.livejournal.com]

I originally thought you were referring to Elizabeth Arden Blue Grass, but I looked and there is a Marc Jacobs Grass perfume.

[septimuswarren.livejournal.com]

I think the olfactory sense is the most powerful for exactly the reasons you list here. It can take us back in an instant. I love the times when a scent appears in my nose and I'm not around it at all. my mind playing tricks. It's fun!

[holy13nation.livejournal.com]

I still use Old Spice.
Smells way better than D&G, Prada and the like.
To my innocent nostrils anyway.

[bnsd70.livejournal.com]

Pinaud Clubman always makes me think of going to the barbershop, when I was a boy. It was a small town barbership, the kind with bass fish mounted on the wall and men sitting around for hours. Getting a haircut was never traumatic for me, like it is for a lot of little kids. I loved it and still do.
I keep a bottle of Pinaud in my medicine chest. I rarely use it, just sometimes when I need a pick-me-up. :-) A friend gave me a hug once while I was wearing it. He pulled me tighter and whispered to me "Damn, you're wearing Pinaud aren't you? That's giving me wood". I think those scents from our fathers' time are far sexier than the new, flowery stuff on the market today. Apparently he did too.

[mikeybill.livejournal.com]

For me it's Chanel pour Homme - straight back to Dad, and why I never wear it

[labeartorycub.livejournal.com]

It's a scent from my childhood, as well. Both my dad and uncle wore Old Spice.

[grizzlyzone.livejournal.com]

I did some research on the Internet and found that the colognes I prefer are categorized as "woodsy".

So, I did some research on "woodsy" scents and discovered Pino Silvetre, first formulated in 1955. It is the result of the following top fragrance notes: bergamot, basil and lemon. The middle notes are: juniper, cedar and tree moss and the base of the fragrance is: pine, musk and amber.

[cuyahogarvr.livejournal.com]

I'm the product of an Old Spice dad too.
Once I laid to rest the ghosts of my childhood, I began to thoroughly enjoy the scent again and it was much appreciated when I discovered my ex wearing it.
Unfortunately the term "ex" will give you some idea of my feelings for it now.
Maybe someday I'll be able to smell/wear it again with fond memories.

[kbearblog.livejournal.com]

Your getting old when you start smelling (or looking) like your father!

[jhitchin.livejournal.com]

The next time you're on iTunes, search for Christine Lavin and specifically, the song "The Scent of Your Cologne."

DADDY!

[anziulewicz.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, the smell of Old Spice makes me think INSTANTLY of my dad. It was the ONLY fragrance he ever wore when I was a kid. I really need to get a bottle of it for myself. It's so ... Old School.