ÇaFleureBon Celebrates a Hip Hop Meets Star Wars Chanukah 2015 (or is it Hanukkah OY) + Eight Ways to Spell It Perfume Draw

menorah cafleurebon Hanukah

It’s that time of year again when the menorahs come out we get ready for the next 8 nights of the annual CaFleureBon Chanukah (or is it…Hanuukah. Chanukka, Hannukah, Hanuka, Channuka, Hannukkah, Hanuka maybe it is Chaka Khan) celebration!   Oh, the lovely memories of childhood it brings.  It was something I always looked forward to with both anticipation and dread. 

dr dreidel  present

Where Hanukah meets Hip Hop..How about a nice Dr. Dre-idel

There is no easy way of describing my feeling on it, so I’ll sum it up something like this…”Yay, presents!” followed by, “Ack, family time and boring old stories, get me outta here!”  It was indeed a plight filled with delight. In my family it went and still goes like this; every night we would start by reading/remembering stories, prayers, eating, and then getting a present.  Of course the first two were pretty yawn inducing, but, being a good boy, I participated half pretending I was interested.  Frankly, all I cared about was the food and the PRESENTS!  Hey, I gotta be honest here, people. 

 

how-to-spell-chanukah 8 ways

8 most common ways to spell  the Holiday aka one for every night

So, every night we would go through it all and I would ultimately (read, finallllllly) get a present. There were, of course, the obligatory Gelt chocolates to start the gift giving -that would count as one gift-hip hip hooray.  Then each night would pass and I get another…oh like…underwear one night and then socks the next.  Of course, we all know how GREAT presents like those are…NEXT.  It goes without saying, but in the back of mind all I could think was, “What about something I actually want?  Hmmm, is that ever going to happen?” Let me tell you, the waiting was torturous for me AND everyone involved.  See, the way my family did it was by saving the best for last.  In other words, I had to wait all that time to get the main thing I hoped for.  What was a boy to do? It was horrible!   I would constantly have this little voice in my head saying, “Patience, Aaron, patience!”  I really did try to listen to that little voice.  I swear I did. 

return of the jedi chewbacca  1983

1983 Chewbacca toy

One year that sticks out is 1983.  The one thing I wanted more than anything in this world was a Chewbacca stuffed animal from Return of the Jedi.  Seriously, I wanted that thing so bad I could hardly stand it!  I had to have it!!!  I just had to!!!  I raised a raucous and voiced my dismay every single night to everyone’s annoyance (so much for the patience, Aaron, you greedy little twerp.  Oy, did I just say that?).  Anyway…when the final night finally came around, guess what I got.  Yes, yes indeed, it was my Chewbacca stuffed animal!  My parents and the Universe answered my little prayers!  I was the happiest little boy in the whole world.  Hooray for Chanukah, Hanukahh (there are eight ways of spelling it, now if you happen to be Jewish it makes perfect scents I mean sense)!

star-wars-the-force-awakens-poster december 18

Star Wars the Force Continues… Can anyone buy Aaron Tickets?  He really deserves them 

Now I look back on it and find it funny that this year for Chanukah what I want most is tickets for my Dad and me to watch The Force Awakens and a Chewbacca stuffed animal for my son (a spoiled rotten Yorkie).  Hahaha, its funny (and really miraculous) to think how everything cycles around.  Yes, someway somehow in one way or another, it (the Holidays, the memories) all comes back around year after year bringing a smile to my face consistently.   

 

So, in the gift giving spirit of Chanukah (no matter which way you want to spell it), we would like to present to you 8 nights of prizes and a Hip Hip Hanukkah video that sums up a lot of what I (and many others I am sure) felt growing up. 

So, to close I and everyone here at ÇaFleureBon would like to say “Happy Chanukah and Happy Holidays to you all!”  May the strife in our lives be brightened by the light of hope and the faith that all will be alright.

Oh yeah, and that we smell more fabulous than ever too…  

-Aaron Potterman,  Contributor and Vintage Perfume Expert

han-solo-and-hanukkah-300x289

Harrison Ford is JEWISH  (his mother, so that puts the HAN in Hanukkah)

Editor’s Note:  Our Eight Crazy Days and Nights of Hannukah have been a yearly tradition. Always music and perfume chosen by our team. 2010 and DSH Perfumes Hanukah Cannelle, Michelyn’s Chanukah or is it Hanukah Featuring Adam’s Sandler’s The Chanukah Song 2011,  2012 Former Managing Editor Tama Blough’s (We miss you)  We Spell it Chanukah and Smellbent  Lady Dreidel (featuring The Bare Naked Ladies Hanukkah oh Hannukah),  2013  Former Editor Nancy Lichtenstein Hanukah Hold em Rules set to swing  and 2014 Former Natural Perfume Editor Einsof’s SmellBent review of Gimel A Break ( Hey Brent ..keep those  Hanukkah smellies coming).  Hanukkah begins 12/6/2015 at sundown and ends December 14, 20015 Sundown.

the perfumed court

Thanks to Diane from The Perfumed Court we have a special draw… worldwide for a 8 ml (of course for any perfume on the site (excluding vintage) of  the reader’s choice. Remember you must be a registered reader to be eligible. Please leave a comment with what you liked about Aaron’s personal reminiscence of Chanukah, how you spell Chanukah, where you live and your 8ml decant choice. Draw closes December  9, 20015.

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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28 comments

  • Wishing all those who celebrate it a happy and joyous Chanukah. Aaron was a typical child who wanted presents. It made me chuckle and I was pleased that the last gift he got was the one he wanted! I guess you can spell Chanukah any way you want or maybe just write it in Hebrew? 🙂 I have a hard time deciding which 8 ml decant I would want. It is between Hiram Green Moon Bloom, Isabey Gardenia, and Heeley Hippy Rose. I think I’ll go with Hippy Rose. It’s pretty and fun and goes with everything. It also raises my spirits. USA

  • Oh nice <3 It's really nice to read Channukah (how I spell it!!) stories this time of year, when I can often feel overlooked and subsumed into Christmas festivity. I live in NYC (and I would guess that being Jewish can be MUCH harder in MANY more place) and if I had to choose just one, it would be M#3 November from CB I hate Perfume, perfect for this long lasting autumn we're having here!

  • At our house it was always spelled “Hanukah” and his memories are spot on with mine, well except for my mothers awful latkes, a.k.a. Potato Sinkers.

    My decant choice would me Chanel 1932 Extrait. I live in the USA

  • Aaron’s Hanukkah (I have mostly seen it spelled this way) memories are very funny and very typical of a little kid! I would choose a decant of Tom Ford Noir Femme. Thanks everyone for the chance! I’m in the US.

  • Aaron’s childhood memories made me laugh! My family does not celebrate Hanukkah, but as a kid I always wished we did (for the presents!). I am in the US, and I would love to win some Lonestar Memories by Andy Tauer. Thank you!

  • What fun to read! I think children being more interested in food and presents during the holidays is universal. I still feel like that, to be honest (although now it’s more about the food than the presents). Happy Hanukkah to all (that’s how I spell it)!

    I live in Canada. If perfume oils are not excluded, I would love a decant of Arabian Oud al Kamir. If this is excluded, I’d love Parfum D’Empire Tabac Tabou.

  • Thanks, Aaron, that was great fun! I come from a Jewish family, but we never celebrated Hanukkah. Obvs, that’s how I spell it, though I can pronounce it Chaukah with the proper amount of guttural-ness for someone who grew up in Queens and Long Guyland, NY! My family had a Christmas tree, my relatives lit candles; I was totally confused about the whole thing! Happy Hanukah, friends, and this is so weird, but this morning I was reading the Noisey Guide to Jewish Rap.

    I’d get a decant of By Kilian Intoxicated if I had the good fortune to win. In the US. Cheers!

  • How he reminisced about 1983 and wanting a Chewbaca stuffed animal. Return of the Jedi is something I actually remember from that year. I always spelled it with an H: Hanukkah. I live in the U.S. Hummingbird is something I’m dying to try. Thank you so much.

  • I loved Aaron’s excitement when he got the Chewie toy in 1983. Definitely seems like a fond memory 🙂

    I spell Hanukkah with an H. I live in Canada, and my 8ml decant of choice is Tauer’s L’Air du Desert Marocain. Thanks!!

  • hehehehe, that family time and stories thing really irks so many people 🙂 but food is also a fair compensation…1983 must have been awesome to get the toy you so wanted…i still remember being so proud of the Lion’s toy i got though i bought from a friend…I spell Hanukkah as it is written..my choice for the decant will be Guerlain Djedi…thanks so much for the draw. I am in the US

  • What I liked the most was Aaron’s intense longing for that Chewbacca toy. I mean he just had to have it didn’t he? Should I be chosen 8ml of Roja Dove Creation-E por Homme would be a great gift. US

  • Very nice review. I very like Aaron’s childhood memories, those are very interesting. In my country we do not celebrate Chanukah, but it must be interesting.
    If I will be as lucky to win, my choice is Honore des Pres Love Coco. Thanks for the chance. I live in Europe.

  • Thanks for the read Aaron, I too am a huge Star Wars fan and enjoyed your read about the Chewy stuffed animal. I will be taking my kids when The Force Awakens next Thursday night to enjoy the new movie and I hope you enjoy it as well.
    Also Thanks Diane for the giveaway and would enjoy a decant of Jubilation XXV if I win. Happy Hanukkah all from Hawaii.

  • Thanks for sharing the memories! I think we can all relate, even if Chewbacca wasn’t the particular childhood mus-have. 😀 Very timely with all the Star Wars fuss happening now. I typically use the “Hannukah” spelling. My pick would be Vero Profumo Kiki Voile d’Extrait. <3 Thanks for the draw, i live in the US.

  • I spell it Hanukkah. I’m not a Star Wars fan now or then, still the agony of wanting that certain gift as a child seems so important at the time. 🙂 My pick is FM Musc Ravageur. USA

  • Aaron, your memories bring back my memories of being unofficially adopted each Hannukah (that’s how I spell it) by my neighbor and her family many years ago. I remember with love the relaxed and happy time we adults spent indulging in great food and witty conversation plus spoiling the children with treats, songs, and games. The emphasis was on enjoying one another’s company through tradition more than anything else. No pressure to meet commercial expectations, just good times at a great party. Thank you for the reminder of those happy moments. I am in the US. If I am chosen I would be so happy with a decant of Parfums DelRae Wit.

  • Those reminiscences really brought back memories, and now that all my grandparents are gone, I wish I’d written down or recorded all the family stories. I’m in the US, and I’ll go with Hanukkah and Amouage Beloved Woman.

  • What an entertaining post! I can definitely relate to Aaron’s childhood impatience – I think my parents had the same idea when it came to gifts (right down to the socks and underwear! as ‘starter’ presents). I never realized there were exactly eight spellings of Hanukkah (my ‘chosen’ one 😉 ), but it does make ‘scents’! I’m in the US and the decant I’d choose would be the elusive Guerlain Iris Ganache! Thank you!

  • I enjoyed reading Aaron’s childhood memories from Hanukkah celebration time. It reminds my very own childhood memories where food and presents meant a lot to me and my sister waiting from our parents to get and share. Hanukkah that’s the way I spell it.
    I live in EU and in case I win I would love to have Tom Ford Cafe Rose.
    Happy Hanukkah time to all people in the world!

  • I’ve always spelled it as Hanukkah. I enjoyed reading Aaron’s memories as a child, I can definitely relate to it in many ways. I am in Canada and would absolutely love to win 8ml of Amouage Sunshine Man. Thanks for the draw!

  • I loved Aaron’s reminiscence’s of his childhood and the presents he was coveting. Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hannukah (how I usually spell it) the feeling of the holiday spirit is universal. If I won the 8ml decant I would choose one of my faves, Vero Profumo Mito Voile d’Extrait. I am in the U.S.

  • Hilarious and what a visual. I so agree with you Aaron everything comes back around. Lord know I have learned this to many times. I believe I spell it Hanukkah. Wow who knew there were so many spellings. In the USA and I believe I would choose 8ml of Mona di Orio Les Nombres d’Or Oud. Thanks Caflourbon and The Perfumed Court.

  • I’m a big fan of Star Wars and I also enjoyed reading about Aaron’s childhood talking about his memories and impatience . Hanukah that’s the way I spell it I think = D
    Happy Hanukah to everybody !
    If I will be the lucky to win my choice is By Kilian Single Malt .
    I ‘m from US .

  • Thank you for this generous draw! Better than even dark chocolate gelt. Happy Chanukah to all!
    I spell is Chanukah (with the throaty CCHHH) but am flexible ;D

    Loved Aaron’s description of waiting for the good present. I know the feeling! And now, I fear, I pass on that feeling to my siblings…

    (I am so excited for the new SW! I had a stuffed Ewok when I was 8 and ROTJ was my favorite movie)

    It’s so hard to choose– a scent from my unsniffed to-try list? or one I’ve sampled and know I like?
    In the end I’d choose one I tried in a store, which I thought about for years:
    Clive Christian X for Men
    USA

  • The anticipation of the presents is something I remember very well! Every night was another chance that something great would be coming my way! Also, Star Wars had a large influence on my childhood as The Empire Strikes Back was the first movie I saw in a theater.
    Chanuka, Hanukka, Chanukah..it doesn’t really matter because it’s a transliteration of חנוכה, so we should all feel free to improvise 🙂
    I would love to have Hiram Green Voyage.
    In the US. Thanks for the draw!

  • I laughed out loud ( okay, I snorted) about the underwear and socks. I’m so glad there was a happy ending!

    I prefer my Chanukah with the “ch” and an “h” at the end, as it helps me with the pronunciation. Whichis crazy with a Georgia drawl!

    I’d love to try Aedes de Venustas Iris Nazarena, of possible!

    Thanks!

  • I thought there was only one way to spell it haha. Hanukkah is the way I’ve always known it to be. Happy Holidays to everyone by the way! This is such a tough choice because The Perfumed Court literally has everything! My choice is Sunshine Man by Amouage. I’ve heard so many amazing things about it. I am a Canadian reader.

  • Regardless of the spelling, I love this holiday and the holiday season in general. One of my close friends celebrates it and its always a thrill to be invited and involved in the celebration.

    I will go with Roja Dove – Bergdorf Goodman Exclusive as my choice should I win

    I’m international (Toronto) and thanks a ton for the draw!