Eldergoth Nostalgia Moment - Seattle specific

[cupcake_goth]

Last night, while soaking in the bath and re-reading The Vampire Lestat (it’s been a hectic couple of weeks, comfort reading is necessary), I realized part of the reason I love blackphoenixalchemylab's Blood Popsicle so. Yes, it is a perfect olfactory tribute to that scene from Only Lovers Left Alive, but it also reminds me of the Vampire Lestat scent from Body Scent, a long-since-vanished Seattle perfume shop.

Body Scent was a tiny store that specialized in scented oils. One wall of the shop was full of tiny shelves crammed with testers of the hundreds of scents they had, while the rest of the store had soaps, shower gels, lotions, oils, room sprays, and incense. You could buy vials of the scent oils, or have them blended into the lotions or other products. And in the early 90s, Body Scent created their own line of scents for The Vampire Chronicles.

IIRC, Claudia smelt sweet and powdery, Louis was green notes with a base of some dark wood, and Akasha was incense-y. But Lestat? That scent smelled like honey and red velvet, and I loved it. A part of me wishes I still had the empty bottle of it, but I’m consoling myself with the harsh truth that I do not need to keep every memento or trinket, there’s not enough room in the WORLD for that.

I know there are other shops around nowadays that offer similar services - custom scenting of skin care products - but there was something magical about walking into that tiny cramped shop. It was one of the places that I always stopped at when I was in the U-District; there, Gargoyles (which still exists, thank goodness!), and that one huge and labyrinthine store that was like a cross between a head shop, Spencer's Gifts, and a new-age "occult" store.

Now I am full of 90s goth nostalgia. I wouldn't want to live through it again, but it's sweet to think about.

Comments

[ethrosdemon.livejournal.com]

Going through all the stuff to move I came across a partial bottle of vintage Dior Addict (vintage here is relative, 12 years old or something). I've been wearing it every day since I found the bottle and am going to be sad when it runs out since (as you know) perfume changes as it ages. Normally I wear Annick Goutal perfumes, a few different ones depending on the season. My favorite is this one: http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Annick-Goutal/Mandragore-1192.html

I've gotten to the point in my life where I indulge the extravagances that really make my life better. Perfume is one.

[oldhalloween.livejournal.com]

There was a pagan shop in Portland that had the most amazing bottles of oils in the 90s. The entire shop was amazing with herbs hanging and drying. Real Estate prices went through the roof and they had to close the shop. Really miss that place.

[sirriamnis.livejournal.com]

If you can swing it, book a session at Sweet Anthem to do a custom scent for that smells like you want.

I know you're not a fan of her pre-made scents, but her custom work is lovely.

[windbourne.livejournal.com]

Ahhaha, Body Scent. I still have a few bottles of theirs scuttering around in my collection. :) One of them is Vampire, just Vampire, so it was probably from a different series. I had a note list for it at one point, and I know it has myrrh and pomegranate, among other things.

I miss that shop, too. Those shops. Ugh, 90s Ave Rat Nostalgia. Not nearly as delightful as goth nostalgia, though there is definitely some overlap. :)

Body Scent

[monstermarybart.livejournal.com]

Wow that is a blast from the past. I remember that store in the 90s. My friend would spend loads of money there. She loved perfumes. And she especially liked mixing her own. I'm originally from Washington but I live in Ontario Canada now.