Dear Friends
This may come as a surprise to you, but there is something in the world that The Perfumed Dandy actually prefers to perfume (I can hear the shocked gasps from here) and that thing is people.
I take the greatest pleasure in the in all the good folks that I come across in this scented world and take many of them to be my friends.
It is therefore with the most enormous happiness that I am able to collaborate with a select number of these new friends from across the world to bring you not only a perfectly excellent guest post but also the opportunity to win a tenderly hand-crafted gift…
So dearhearts, today we take a fragrant journey back in time with the charming Jordan River from The Fragrant Man.
I will allow our guide to explain all…
Brie in New York has made some spikenard foot oil especially for this post.
If you would like to encounter this scent and look after your own or your loved one’s feet please leave a comment or like The Dandy’s site on Facebook.
The gift recipient will be announced on Easter Sunday and mailed to you the following Tuesday.
Spikenard or nard originates in India and Nepal, high in the Himalayas.
The root of the plant is the source for one of the rarest and most precious oils.
Brie would like to say that she is not a professional perfumer. This is an interest for her.
She blends with the best of intentions, carefully choosing oils for their healing properties as well as for the enjoyment of smelling.
Brie goes on to remark that spikenard is quite tenacious and challenging to work with as in her experience it takes over the blend (similar to tea tree oil).
Are you spending too much on perfume? Here is a scented tale for you.
The Oil in the Alabaster Box
There are many faiths in this world. There are also many myths and legends.
It’s up to you to find the truth on your fragrant journey.
Let’s travel to the east this Easter to visit with a woman living on the boundaries of her culture.
She has recently met a man. She believes him to be her spiritual guide.
He is surrounded by men at a dinner party. She is uninvited and has to make her way past the guests to be able to offer her teacher a scented gift.
The gift is spikenard oil, a costly perfume ingredient which at this volume, a Roman litra*, costs the equivalent of spending a year’s salary on a scent; a scent so potent that the home where this story takes place becomes filled with fragrant air.
The room grew still
As she made her way to Jesus
She stumbles through the tears that made her blindShe felt such pain
Some spoke in anger
Heard folks whisper
There’s no place here for her kindStill on she came
Through the shame that flushed her face
Until at last, she knelt before his feet
And though she spoke no words
Everything she said was heard
As she poured her love for the Master
From her box of alabasterDon’t be angry if I wash his feet with my tears
And I dry them with my hair
You weren’t there the night He found me
You did not feel what I felt
When he wrapped his love all around me and
You don’t know the cost of the oil
In my alabaster box– lyrics: Janice Sjostran
for chanteuse Cece Winans
– an interpretation of Mark 14:3-9
Judas, ever the accountant, thought this money would have been better spent feeding the poor. Nevertheless the teacher accepted this gift from a woman’s heart.
Jesus looked at her with a smile “your deed will never be forgotten. Your story will be told throughout all the lands and for all time and in ways you have never even dreamed of“.
Little could she have imagined that one day the story of her alabaster box would be told on the World Wide Web.
Album Version – Cece Winans – The Alabaster Box
A more melodic interpretation.
* A Roman litra is the equivalent of 327 grams these days
The Perfumed Dandy can’t help but think that’s a rather appropriate tale, not only for the time of year, but also as it does provide a little comfort to those of us who have a tendency to spend rather too much on perfume.
After all The Dandy’s never spend a whole year’s salary on a scent!!
It remains for me to thank Brie in New York and, of course, my guest Jordan River from The Fragrant Man.
And, of course to wish you a most fine and fragrant day and remind you to comment below or like The Perfumed Dandy on facebook (after all I do like you all awfully much) in order to have a chance of winning the gift.
Until we meet again.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy.
The Perfumed Dandy. 
Beautiful – and timely … =)
Hello Dear Elvin One
Indeed it is – I’m sure that The Fragrant Man will appreciate the compliment!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
Oh, Mr. Dandy!
I loved your introduction. Indeed, since I discovered the world of perfume blogging three years ago I have come to know so many wonderful people across the globe (you and Jordan being two of them š !). and Jordan has done an outstanding job! (obviously no need to enter me in the draw!)
Dearest Brie
Thank you so much for your kind words – as always – and for your kind donation of the giveaway gift.
I had no idea when I started this blogging business of what wonderful people such as your good self and Jordan I would (metaphorically speaking) meet, it’s a source of constant pleasure.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
What a lovely and timely post, Mr. Dandy! We like you awfully much, too! š
Lllybelle, you are in the draw. What a lovely and well chosen name.
It was a typo, it’s Lilybelle. And thank you. Lilybelle seems to mean different things to different people. I chose it because I like lily of the valley. It is one of my favorite flowers. Thank you for entering me in your draw. I loved your post. š
Dear Lily
How kind of you to say so – you have The Dandy all in blushes.
Best of luck in the draw!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
A blushing dandy! I can’t think of anything more charming. š
What a wonderfully decadent little box and the contents sound deliciously decadent as well!
Dear Nadja
An you have now secured a place in the draw to win those contents – best of luck!!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
I must admit I have never heard of this plant before. This is what I love about perfume blogs (beside the wonderful people you ‘meet’ there) You always learn something new, no matter how long you are already into the fragrance world there is still something to be discovered.
Dear Miss Misty
I am so in agreement with you – my voyage through the world of perfume truly has been one of discovery.
Being an inveterate walker, anything that soothes the feet always comes as a very welcome relief to The Dandy too!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
thank you for another wonderful post and generous offer
Thank you so much for the comment and welcome to the Dandy’s Dremybluz, do make yourself at home!
Very best of luck in the draw!!
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
thank you for another wonderful post and generous draw
Oh ,Mr Dandy,I like you awfully much.I particularly enjoy your senseof humour. We ‘perfume obsessed’ types spend a years salary on MANY fragrances. we simply cannot have only one. this foot oil seems like it might just fix my cruddy feet.{tmi}?