Scentzilla!

Vow Fragrance somewhat follows the current trend of limited edition perfumes: each year the fragrance will change, so that what you buy this year is not the same as what you’d buy the next. Each version is intended to provide a bride with a fragrance tied directly to the year she was married, and upon subsequent registration with the company, ladies will be able to continue buying the formulation from the year they were wed.

Vow’s 2006 eau de parfum is a light floral blend that to my nose smells of watery lily of the valley, pale rose and other white florals with peppery accents and a sandalwood and musk base. The musk is remarkably light, which I think makes it an ideal scent to wear outdoors in the heat of summer. It’s a polite fragrance. The notes as listed by the company’s literature are:

Top:Sparkling citrus blossoms, white pepper, and pink freesia
Heart:Champagne roses, honeysuckle, orange flower, and night blooming wild jasmine
Base: Amber and sheer musk

I’m secretly sentimental sometimes, so at our wedding I wore something that held memories of when my husband and I first met. Some men likely wouldn’t know the difference, but mine would. Hell, he still rues the day I gave up wearing Magie Noire for any and all special occasions, although I do think this might be partially due to the fact that our house is virtually populated by samples, decants, and bottles like Oregon is forested with trees. So personally, I would not ever choose something new to wear at my wedding. Others differ, of course, and want something “special.” I’m not a “special” kind of gal, though, so while it would not be something I’d ever buy for myself, I think I would have been delighted to receive it as a gift. The simple packaging is quite elegant, and would make a nice gift at a bridal shower. There is a slot inside the box containing a card for registration of the scent, but one could also slip a gift card in there as well, which would make for a much more lovely presentation than just handing the bride-to-be an easily forgotten envelope. For that matter, I also think it would make an excellent gift to bridesmaids - it seems more personal than presents of cheesy catalog jewelry, and this is the sort of scent that will offend no one’s nose.

One can purchase a sample of Vow 2006 directly through the company for $2.00 via their online store.

The photo above is my husband’s fave of me on our wedding day. Actually, it’s one of his favorite pictures of me ever. I was getting ready in the dressing room, and realized too late that between the push-up bra and the flouncy poofy underskirt I could no longer see my feet to put my own shoes on. So I plopped down on the floor so I could reach them. . “There’ll be no standing upon formalities for you!” is what he said the first time he saw it. He still giggles when we look at it. I guess I could have chosen a more formal picture, but you know, you gotta go with the one that makes your husband giggle. Sorry for the crudly quality of the image: it’s a photo of a photo, so it’s a bit fuzzy looking.