Some Perfume Brands Are... Silly?

Why are the better-known fragrance brands still pricing so-so fragrances out of reach of so many potential consumers? That's just silly. I mean, look at this gorgeousness:

 

That is Odyssey French Kiss from Armaf. You can grab it for as little as $45, depending one the retailer. I don't think I have seen it priced at more that $50 anywhere. Now look at this:

 

That is Paper from Commodity. Make sure you look at the front of the package & see the 7.5ml (0.25oz). That tiny amount is $24. For a travel size. That works out to $96 for a full ounce. An ounce. That is 150 drops of perfume. 

So, the plain-looking bottle of one perfume is 150 drops for $24 vs a beautifully-designed bottle of 2000 drops (3.4oz or 100ml) for $43 - or $13 an ounce. Tough choice, right?

I guess maybe wealthy-ish folk (or those who spend like they are wealthy-ish) consider the plainer design to be more stylish and proper. You know, the whole less-is-more thing. Maybe. I guess.

For me being a member of the 99% (or in this economy, the 99.5%), I prefer the more whimsical design. There is more though put into it. Even the packaging is beautiful and keep-sake-ish.

I find that to be so imaginative. I love beauty and color. I love that little touches put into this whole design.

The stitching is perfect!

And this is just one example of why I never bother to even want perfumes from anywhere but UAE and Saudi Arabian brands. And, understand, there are very pricey fragrances from both, but they also have a wide array of affordable perfumes. And both are 2 of the riches countries. 

The scents are lovely and long-lasting and the pricing is good, and the designs are usually so pleasing. I keep a lot of my now-empty bottles just because they are so pretty to display. Here are some from over the past 5 or 6 years:

 

You see what I mean? Each one pretty in its own way and inexpensive.

 

Years ago, my "signature" scent was Shalimar. It was really lovely & I was young and healthy and full of hormones so the fragrance was crazy with the strength and longevity. As I aged, it didn't make sense to get Shalimar since my body chemistry just ate up the scent the minute I applied it. I started wearing Emeraude. Around $10 at the local drug store and with my aging body, the result was about the same as with Shalimar. And this is when I could afford to buy Shalimar all day long.

 

For a while, I fell out of love with perfumes. They are too pricey at $200+ and I wasn't that impressed with any of them. The exceptions were almost anything by Juliette Has a Gun. If I did want something like that, I could get a decant or a travel size vial. And, like I said, I just wasn't that impressed and neither was my body chemistry. 

 

Then I discovered brands like Lataffa, Paris Corner, and Armaf. Not only did I love the fragrances, they were affordable. I didn't mind buying one every now and then - or putting them on a birthday or holiday list as "wish-tables". No one wants their family spending a ton of money on goodies like perfume when groceries and bills would be a better value!

 

These days I just wish I had known about these UAE and Saudi Arabian brands sooner. I may never have worn Shalimar...

 

Peace

--Free 

 

**CROSS POST** Listening While Sleeping???

 Cross posted from my other blog

O.L. Bax & bedtime stories...

I like listening to audio as I fall asleep. I ran across a book of Bible stories by someone using the name O.L. Bax. Of course, I want to know something about a book I'm going to be listening to - especially when I'm trying to relax. I don't want just anything being spoken into my brain as I fall asleep.

The idea of listening to Bible stories (written for adults, no less) seemed interesting. For a moment. The thing is that I can find no information whatsoever about such O.L. Bax. Google can't even tell me if it is a person or some random publisher. 

That sounds odd to me. In this day and age, most people - especially those putting out a book - has some kind of autographical information online. 

So. I will not be listening to anything by O.L. Bax. But I still like the idea of Christian bedtime stories. So, I learned that there is a podcast put out by someone named Heather Crespin. I might be checking that out later, but I am still trying to determine what Crespin's beliefs are.

Being Cautious

 Over the years, I have heard or read about more than one warning against letting things into you through your ears and eyes. I know the effect that music can have on my own behavior and thoughts. I think we all do.

 "The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both." (Proverbs 20:12)

I am sure that the Enemy will use whatever he can to twist what God has made for good. Try to think of what music can do to you - that you notice. When you listen to certain songs or musical pieces:

•  What does it make you feel?
• Can music affect your days at work?
• Can certain pieces make you feel calm or powerful or angry or...?
• Has certain music made you feel more sexual or more aggressive?

You get what I mean. And those are just things we can identify. Theres various research showing that music affects our brains in ways we may not realize.

• This blog post cites studies about music's effects on the brain when studying.
• This from Neuroscience News is about how music can help with cognitive decline was of interest to me.
• This goes into music being used in mental health therapy.

So yeah, I want to be careful about what I'm letting myself in for. I assume I am a lot more open to anything coming into the ears as I drift off to sleep...

Healing

Music can be healing. Think of David and King Saul. But I am pretty sure that a performer screaming about the highway to hell or rapping about all his honeys is meant to heal. 

I suffer from depression so, a lot of times, I will listen to praise songs. I even have certain songs for how I might feel at different times. 

This is a favorite when I think of loved ones (who accepted Jesus before dying)

These are for when I am really depressed and struggling to get through the moment

I don't know much about Third Day and discovered them by happenstance. I will listen to these I am blogging or just working on the computer

To be honest, there are times when I break down and weep when listening to worship songs. Not sad weeping, but thankful, joyful tears of love for the God who gives me all I need to get through just - one - more - moment.  So, music is powerful.

Basically

 

If I am going to let someone speak something into my ears - especially as I drift off to sleep - I need to know who they are and where they are with the Lord.

By the way, I did find another "Bedtime Stories" for adults published by "Fearless Christians". Still couldn't find more detailed information so... that's a nope for me. I found another book by Dr. Frank Milligan of "Northstar Strategic Solutions". I don't know about this one yet; I am looking into it. I am concerned by the Strategic Solutions part.

Anyway.

This was just something I wanted to share for anyone interested in listening to something as they drift off to sleep. For now, I will stick with my Sherlock and Marple stories.

Peace

--Free

If You Struggle to Exercise...

 ... This is for you. 

It is probably the most useful set of exercises I have ever done. And y'all know my old, fat behind is often too sick or depressed or unmotivated for "routines".

The guy has other videos you might want to check out, but I found this one best for someone with limited mobility, poor balance, and a sluggish body to do (okay, "someone" is me!).

Hope this helps someone out there who may really be struggling to work out.

Peace

--Free

DISCLAIMER: Make sure you check with family or your healthcare team about starting any exercises. Do your own due diligence!