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We’re thinking about memorable moments and sentimental scents with our mums this week. Two of London’s most sought after trainers Alice Rickard and Esmeé Gummer talk to DOSE about how they’ll be celebrating Mother’s Day this year…
What makes your mum so special?
Alice: My mum is always positive. I can’t even remember a time when I’ve gone to see her or been on the phone and heard my mum moan. She will always make a joke or laugh even in dire situations.
Esmeé: My mum always puts my head straight no matter what the problem is. She can tell me how it is and at the same time make me feel empowered and in control of my problem. She is so calm and relaxed and nothing shocks her. She looks after my brother who has special needs and a heart condition and always has a smile on her face. She is superwoman.
What types of fragrance remind you of her and why?
Alice: Comfort fabric softener. When I was at boarding school, my classmates would steal my clothes because they smelt so good and would always comment on how my clothes had such a familiar smell. “That’s Alice’s jumper – smell it, you can tell”. At school they would only wash our jeans and jumpers once a week, so my mum would always wash everything with loads of fragranced fabric softener.
Esmeé: Roast dinner! Not because she smells of it, that would be a bit odd! She actually always smells so nice herself, her signature scent being L’Eau D’Issey by Issey Miyake. But she cooks the best roast dinner and it reminds me of Sundays with her, which I loved when I lived at home. She would cook all day and play music in the kitchen singing along and drinking red wine of course and just living her best life.
What are her favourite notes in a fragrance? Do they differ to yours?
Alice: My mum is definitely more feminine than me when it comes to scent. She loves floral and sweeter smells in her perfumes, shower gels and soaps (only mums use soap haha!), whereas I prefer much more unisex smells with leather and sandalwood tones. We always smell completely different.
Esmeé: My mum has worn Issey Miyake fragrance for as long as I can remember. It smells really fresh and delicate. I prefer a scent with more creamy sandalwood base notes so if I wanted to be twinning with my Mum I can wear the L’Eau d’Issey Pure Nectar de Parfum.
Do you have a fragrance memory with your mum?
Alice: After I evolved from wearing Impulse fragrances (God, do you remember those!) my mum took me to Boots to pick out an actual Eau de Toilette to take to school. She didn’t have much say in what I chose. I was determined to buy the one advertised by Kate Moss.
Esmeé: I don’t remember shopping with my mum for fragrance but I know that every Christmas she used to buy me a collection of small “posh” perfumes in a gift box and then I could try them all. I really remember the fragrance Issey Miyake and I wore it and thought I was so grown up.
What’s the best advice your mum has given you?
Alice: I fell off my horse quite badly once. I hit my head and couldn’t remember who my mum was. After about 15 minutes of crying and a cup of tea with 6 sugars in it, I came round and the first thing I really understood her saying was: “Right, you must get back on that horse now.” It’s a phrase and a piece of advice that has stayed with me ever since. Even when bad things happen or hurt you, you have to pick yourself back up, get on with it and try again.
Esmeé: Oh wow my Mum has given me endless advice and every time she says something it always it’s me hard, she is so amazing with words. After learning to walk again I couldn’t run so I didn’t for about 8 years. I told my Mum I really missed it and she said to me ‘if you can teach yourself to walk again, you can teach yourself to run.’ So I ran a marathon – all with my Mum in mind. I took this advice literally but also use it metaphorically most days in my life.
What is your favourite thing to do with your mum?
Alice: This is going to sound cheesy, but laugh. My favourite thing to do with my mum is laugh. It doesn’t matter where we are or what we are doing, my mum still behaves like a naughty school girl and is highly entertaining to me and my friends. There is never a dull moment when Mary is around.
Esmeé: Eating, drinking wine with background music and talking. I could talk and talk to my Mum forever. She is so wise and so in touch with everything. She’s probably one of the smartest people I know and teaches me a lot as well. After a few hours (once the wine has set in) we start the laughing. My Mum can get so silly and I love it. We usually end up dancing and singing in the kitchen!
How will you be celebrating Mother’s Day this year?
Alice: I’m actually in Florida over Mother’s Day this year but I have already pulled a celebration out the bag. I took my mum for a 3 course meal on the British Pullman steam train that journeys through the Surrey hills.
Esmeé: I’m hosting at my new place in London. Going to put on a little spread you know the score. My place is tiny and the whole family are coming including my grandparents so I’m going to have to conveyer-belt them in 1 by 1. I’m thinking they come into the living room and they get to choose 1 song each to dance with me, have a cheers, then move on. My Mum can have 2 songs. Issey Miyake have kindly sent me a couple of their fragrances, including the new Petale De Nectar, which I can’t wait to wrap up and give to her.
Find out more about Issey Miyake fragrances
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