Monthly Archives: June 2012

Of Sights and Scents

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I recently came across an article that explains how to create your own scented photographs. At first I thought it sounded a bit gimmicky, but if done well I imagine the combination of the visual and olfactory senses could be particularly evocative of a special time and place. The idea brought to mind a recent holiday in Positano on Italy’s spectacular Amalfi Coast. It was a magical few days. While there I was delighted to re-discover a heavenly perfume that I used to wear a long time ago that my mother had given me – ‘Fiori di Capri’, made by Carthusia – I Profumi di Capri. I had been completely enchanted by it – the unusual scent (lily of the valley and wild carnation blended with sandalwood, ylang ylang and oak); the beautiful packaging and the story behind it.

Legend has it that when, in 1380, the father prior of the Carthusian Monastry of St Giacomo learned that Queen Giovanna was to visit Capri (an island off the Amalfi Coast near Positano), he made a flower arrangement using the island’s most beautiful flowers. The water was not changed for three days and the prior noticed that it had acquired a distinctive  fragrance. With the help of an alchemist the fragrance was re-created and became known as the first perfume of Capri. Centuries later, in 1948, the prior of the monastery discovered a number of ancient perfume formulas. With the permission of the Pope, he gave them to a chemist and Carthusia, as it is known today, was born. Still today, Carthusia’s perfumes are made with flowers from the island using the traditional methods of the Carthusian monks.

So of course when I stumbled across the Carthusia shop I couldn’t resist!

If I were to make a scented photograph (which I confess is unlikely) I would choose this photo of Positano:

and scent it with Carthusia’s ‘Fiori di Capri’:

If only scented blog posts were possible!

(While there I discovered another Carthusia perfume that I love, ‘Io Capri’, a delicious summery fragrance of wild fig and tea leaves!).

Let There Be Light

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With my half marathon to train for I managed to keep running regularly through winter this year. I would head out in the dark and snow often at below zero temperatures. While my weekend runs were often exhilarating, my weekday runs were much harder. I didn’t feel secure running in the dark before work so I would run in the evenings at the local athletics track which was flood-lit. Even though running around in circles got awfully monotonous at times, I knew I was lucky to have access to a safe place to run in the dark. For me it was a hundred times better than being stuck on an indoor treadmill.

As much as I was thankful to have access to the athletics track, I longed to run in daylight and kinder temperatures. I kept telling myself that this year I would truly appreciate the light mornings and long summer evenings when they finally arrived; days when I would have the luxury of choosing to run early in the morning or late into the evening. For months I checked the sunrise and sunset times eagerly witnessing the addition of extra daylight minutes each week.

And now these longed-for light filled days have finally arrived! Strangely, after months of waiting, it almost seems as if it has happened overnight. Our little garden is suddenly in full bloom and the trees seem to get leafier each day. Each time I lace up my running shoes this summer I will try to remember to appreciate these gloriously long, light, warm days. Long may they last.

*I recently discovered Susan Cain’s wonderful TED talk ‘The Power of Introverts’. If you haven’t already seen it I highly recommend it.