Thank you all for your kind words about my dear Rusty. Your warmth, kindness and sympathy meant a lot to me.
For a couple of years, long before Rusty got sick, thinking about the future I was telling myself that I would keep this blog going while he was with us and then stop because it would be too painful to continue. But in the last 8 months, as on many days I had to hold off wearing perfumes not to provoke Rusty’s asthma when I gave him the medication or held him on my lap and didn’t have much time, strength or inspiration to write for my blog regularly, these Saturday Question posts were the only strong link to the Perfumeland left, and I held onto it and appreciated all of you coming here week after week to talk to me (and sometimes even to each other). So, after giving it some time (Thank you, Portia, for the support!), I decided that I wanted to come back to at least these weekly posts – and then see how it goes with other topics.
I also want to mention that today’s post is somewhat special: #222 was the last post Birgit (Olfactoria’s Travels) did for her Monday Question series (though, she didn’t number them), which was an inspiration to Portia’s (Australian Perfume Junkies) Saturday Question series, which I “inherited” 4+ years ago. Some of you participated in one or both of those “original” series. Some joined SQ posts on my blog. And I am happy to see all of you here, so I’ll keep coming up with new Saturday Questions.
Saturday Question #222:
What Perfume Would You Wish To Be Named After Or Dedicated To You?
It’s a fantasy question not connected to reality. Just think of any perfume and imagine that you could magically become an inspiration for that perfume and have it either named after you or be dedicated to you. What would it be?
My Answer
I contemplated this question for a while. I wouldn’t want a perfumes to be named after me. I mean, I wouldn’t mind creating/inspiring a wonderful new perfume called something like Undina’s Dream. But for this exercise, I don’t want to mess with what already exists. But I wouldn’t mind if I could claim that I was a muse for one of the great perfumes that I love. Strangely, my choice is not one of my top two perfume loves – Lancome Climat or Ormonde Jayne Ta’if. It’s the #3 on my list – Amouage Ubar. It would have been great to have it dedicated to me. But I would settle for just having it re-launched – not for me, I probably have enough of it for years to come, but for others. Though, judging by the fact that it was discontinued, Ubar wasn’t doing that well for the brand.
How about you?


It’s good to see you :)
There’s a silent vowel at the end of my name and when people don’t use it – I get irritated. SO I’ll ask for the universe to dedicate Dans Tea Bras to me, because I have never had a scent feel more like me. That was my first impression when I smelled it. I still feel this way 14 years later after first being exposed to it.
Undina, I lost my beautiful cat at the very end of April. She died of old age. She was 16, and I was hoping for a much longer life for her. I hope, in time, the pain of the loss lessens a bit. Thank you for sharing all the beautiful pictures of him. Please look after yourself. And thank you for this blog-it’s so funny and warm and the people are so nice :)
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Hi Carole! Was it Marmalade who left? I’m so sorry! I know that this is life, but it feels so unfair to lose our furry companions when we have so much love for them and they became an integral part of our lives. Let’s hold onto happy memories about them: it doesn’t make their absences easier, but it helps to make some sense for why it hurts now.
I need to revisit at least my records of testing Dans tes Bras, because I don’t have any recollection of how it smells. I’m sure: had your name been added to this perfume name, nobody would’ve messed up that last “e” (since these type of silent vowels are expected from French names :) ).
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You have an excellent memory, Undina :) Marmalade, my orange long haired cat, died of old age three years ago. Chicken was my tuxedo cat and she too died of old age. I wanted her to live forever-or at least another four years or so. Marmalade was the most loving cat I have ever known. Chicken was spirited- she liked who she liked, and that was it. I loved her a lot. I was pretty sure that she would leave a big hole if she died, and I’m not wrong about that. I wish I had some advice for you as to how to handle your grief but I don’t.
I always appreciate the community you’re created here, so thank you for that :)
Best regards,
Carole
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I’m glad you decided to continue at least the SQs. When I was younger, I made slideshows in PowerPoint set to music to give people, and then when I had to do it for a funeral, I thought I’d never make one again. Years later, I started making storybooks in PowerPoint, only without the music, about life with my significant other and his cat. When the cat got ill and passed away in old age, that was the end of those storybooks, but I’ve since returned to the medium.
As for a perfume dedicated to me, I’m thinking maybe Little Song by Meo Fusciuni – the notes that stand out to me are pink pepper, coffee, rose, tobacco, and vetiver. I don’t own it (yet), but when I tried it, it felt very “me” and I don’t know it well enough to identify any parts that might not feel that way.
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It’s a sad story about story books, though I understand from where it comes.
Until now, I either haven’t heard about that brand or forgot about it. But bottles look interesting. I’ll try it if I come across it somewhere (or feel inclined to place a sample order at some point).
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I wish their names gave a better indication of their scent. They’re less widely distributed than many other brands, but not impossible to find.
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Last year I specifically went to a bar in Saigon that had a few drinks dedicated to perfumes. We were visiting friends, but they had never heard of the bar. We ordered Little Song, which I was not familiar with, the MDCI one called Cio Cio San, and Waffle Cone by Imaginary Authors. The Little Song drink came out with quite the flourish! Served under a glass dome, when it was removed a lot of smoke went up. It was a very strong drink but I don’t remember the flavors. But the cool thing was they brought a bottle of the perfume with the drink, which you got to spray while sipping your drink. I remember liking Little Song, but no particulars about the scent.
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That’s amazing, and I would have loved that!!! I’ve been to a couple of cocktail bars that had perfumey flavors in the drinks, but never one where they were properly paired with perfumes. Wish more places did that.
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I’m so glad you’ll keep posting Saturday Questions, I love them! The loss of Rusty is so sad. If I were to have a scent dedicated to me, I’d like the original Diorissimo, please!
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Thank you, OH!
I’m not surprised by your choice :)
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I will miss seeing Rusty, but I’m glad you will keep the blog. I think I would go with Ormonde Woman. Mostly because it’s one of my all time favorites and much “fancier” than I actually am in real life.
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Thank you, MMKinPA.
OJ Woman is a great choice! It’s such a “grown-up” perfume that, at the same time, is quite modern and young.
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Thanks for continuing Undina,
Love that the Saturday Question has been such a big part of three blogs I’ve written for. It would be a terrible shame to lose it.
Perfume dedicated to me: Rahele by Neela Vermeire Creations. It has become synonymous with events in my life. After wearing it for our wedding it now holds such special meaning and memory that I tend to reach for it whenever something major is afoot. It also gets the gong on many regular days because it’s just so gorgeous.
Portia xx
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We’ll keep doing it! I’m sure there are topics we haven’t covered yet (or can repeat and see if respondents changed their opinions :) ).
Great choice of perfume! I think it’s a good idea to have perfumes that are connected to special occasions and special mood.
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LOVE the idea of doing some repeats Undina. We ALL will have changed some answers at least.
Portia xx
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Thank you Saturday Questions. These & the Perfume Posse were the blog posts that gave me the courage to reply, chat & eventually write something about perfume. An even bigger thank you for keeping them coming. Thank you to Portia for helping you out in your time of need.
I shall miss Rusty’s beautiful face both here & on IG.
Your answer if Ubar is a great one. I second your wish for it to be rereleased. Sadly, it doesn’t fit today’s Amouage customer base.
Finding an answer to today’s question is proving a tough task!
I have settled on Cristalle EdT. I have worn it continuously longer than any other fragrance.
I’m hoping to inspire a linden fragrance that I want to wear all year round one day, but that’s another question
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Linden perfume!!! I will be the first tester if you ever get it created in your name. :)
Meanwhile, Cristalle is a good choice. I like it too.
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Watch 4160T Sarah has brought some (quite a lot) of linden absolute home from her recent lavender trip. She has plans for a lindencentric fragrance
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You’ve always been an inspiration, Undina. I hope to see many more SQ’s, since I look forward to each and every one of them. Thank you for all you do.
I had some time to think about this question, and while one of my favorites, it’s name probably best suits my personality. Reflection Man by Amouage. Since a young child, I’ve always been in a state of reflection, looking back, preserving the past, and projecting the future. But what is projection, it’s reflection once the time comes to pass.
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Thank you, Flaconneur.
Reflection is such a great name! I don’t think Reflection Man. The Woman counterpart didn’t work for me, but I’ll revisit it soon.
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That’s an interesting question. I would say the perfume I would like to represent me, but it’s probably aspirational, is the original Private Collection. I remember the moment I smelled that in the 1980s as a young working girl, and thought this is what I want to be, strong but classy. And by the way, it smelled like something a rich girl would wear to me.
Undina, as I’m sure you know, grieving is a process. I would suggest there might be joy and healing later in having a community of people who remember Rusty with such fondness. Big hugs. It’s the hardest thing.
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Thank you, Cynthia.
The first Private Collection I smelled was in early 2000s, and I liked it back then. It would be interesting to try the original one.
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A green Chanel No.5 L’Eau bottle would be just right 😍!
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Noooo! Green should be reserved for No 19! :)
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Rusty will be missed, but you do have a fabulous archive of photos to remember him by.
A perfume I would like to be associated with me is one that has not been made by Papillon Perfumery – it got parked at the mod stage. I periodically pester Liz to see if there is any chance of it being picked up again, as it had a favourite combination of notes!
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That’s interesting! It will be so fitting if you end up getting your wish. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
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