SENSIBLE ADVICE REGARDING A PERSONAL FRAGRANCE

Insect repellant, anti-venom, and unwashed hippy funk.
What you probably know as ‘Patchouli’.
During the last years that I lived in the Netherlands, I was only familiar with the latter facet of Pogostemon cablin.
So you can probably imagine my surprise (and shock) at discovering that there are other uses for this noxious product than just masking a profoundly unpleasant reek of frowst, shag tobacco, and hashish.

Especially when a bearded gentleman at a coffee-shop recently tried explaining the therapeutic uses of this wonderful essence to me. It's a miraculous substance.

He probably washed daily, but had no idea how much he stank.

It strikes me that precisely like other perfumes and odourants, patchouli deadens the user's senses to that particular smell.
People who habitually drench themselves with perfume or aftershave have little idea how strong it is. Their nostrils are blind to the reek.
Pipe smokers are notorious for having scant clue what their favourite blend smells like when lit.
Workers at S'bucks probably have noses oblivious to coffee.


This comes to mind for two reasons: the first being that I noticed that a coworker was pouring Tabasco over his rotisserie chicken at lunch several cubicles away - the smell of aged vinegar with the sharpness of chilies is both pleasant and remarkably distinct.

The second reason is the overwhelming pong, nay, stench even, of unwashed hippie at the curry truck near the office. It was not hard to figure out whence it came, as the Indian gentlemen in line for chicken tikka and chaat were giving the oblivious artistic white person waiting amongst them as wide a berth as possible without allowing for any cutting.

It struck me that everyone would be much happier if the bespectacled person with the highly individualistic hair and tattoos had drenched himself with Tabasco instead. Such a refreshing fragrance! The other customers would have appreciated it.
I would have appreciated it. Passers-by also.
Even the parking control officer nearby.
Please use Tabasco instead of patchouli!

Do it for all of us.
Love for your fellow human.
Kindness to others on this planet.

Tabasco smells infinitely better than hippies.

Please remember that.
And thank you.


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