The Art of Writing A Love Note + DSH ‘American Beauty’ Fragrance and RedFlower Candle Draw

 

Right to left : Elisa Hires and Jan Vermeer "Woman Writing a Letter"

 

 

Is the art of letter writing lost forever in this technological age of emails, twitter, texts, and Facebook? Do hand written notes belong to a bygone era  when separation  was agonizing and when  pen, paper and ink were the only real means of communication? In light of the almost overwhelming choices of instantaneous sound bites could there be an untapped hunger for what a letter—especially a good old-fashioned love note—could provide? Can a text message actually be touched, or smelled. can you tie IMs with a beautiful ribbon or store them  in a special place. Will you open an impersonal cyber greeting card over and over again and hold it close to your heart? Does it feel natural to give your iPhone a lingering proxy kiss?

 

 

 

The answer to these questions is no—and yes. Certainly, one can revisit a text, or email or voicemail for that matter. However, the emotional resonance –let’s face it—the romance of it all just is not the same! Perhaps the most special gift you can give your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day could be that most antiquated of customs: a love letter produced from hours of your most intimate thoughts, and fragranced with a  signature scent?

 

Your perfumed  love letter can be used to recapture that “loving feeling”, to honor a special milestone, or as a beautiful tool to move your relationship to the next level. It can also be the vehicle by which you have the courage to express thoughts and feelings that are difficult to articulate in person. One does not need to be Lord Byron to write a good love letter(not many of us are capable of writing "she walks in beauty like the night.. but its the emotion, right)?

 

 

 

Your words will be poetry to your intended as long as the are by hand and from the heart. Begin the process by formulating your thoughts into words in a rough draft. Get your initial ruminations out first and then refine the language while making any necessary editorial corrections and fanciful flourishes.

 

When you are ready to execute the final copy, select a special paper of high quality such as hand-made, parchment, or Crane’s 100% cotton. If it is appropriate, your beloved might be especially impressed with recycled paper.

 

Lip Imprint :Courtesy of Michelyn Camen

 

For extra effect you can use a sealing wax embossed with your initial or a special motif that represents you as a couple (an imprint of your kiss is always a sexy touch on the outside flap of the envelope).

 

 

 

Tips on Scenting your Love Letter:

 

 

Perfume Spray – Hold the letter 3-5 inches away from the bottle, spritz the air, and wave paper through the scent trail. Your signature scent is recommended. However, for Valentine’s Day you might explore  Dawn Spencer Hurwitz's  American Beauty,  "My initial inspiration was the lovely American Beauty rose itself, with it's crimson lusciousness; however when I saw that gorgeous scene in the film 'American Beauty', with the floating rose petals, it all came together.  That image spoke to the ephemeral nature of the true rose essence.  Infusing that inspiration into a hand made perfume, with the rose notes counted drop by drop (like the floating petals into the bottle) is like infusing true love and passion into a hand written love letter.  There is nothing else like it."- Dawn Spencer Hurwitz

 

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Perfume Oil or Essential Oil – Dab facial tissue with scent of choice and fold into pages of the letter, waiting at least 24 hours before sending. Popular essential oils are rose, lavender, orange blossom, vanilla, and sandalwood. Remove the tissue, seal and mail

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Dried Flower Petals – With Redflower NY's Morrocan Rose candle, you can write your love note by candle light then, sprinkle the dried rose petals inside the envelope for a fanciful visual interpretation of scent.

 

 

 

Scented Ink – There are some scented ink pens which are fun,but  without sillage. The true connoisseur will use a Montblanc pen and Montblanc Love Letter Ink boasting not only a gorgeous ruby red color but also a longer lasting rose fragrance.



This year, write and express love, longing, and desire; your cherished person will be haunted by both your words…and scent!

Special Note: The US Postal Service has been issuing commemorative "Love" stamps since 1975. The stamp pictured above was issued in 2001 and features a red rose superimposed on an excerpt from the letter of John Adams to Abigail Smith, written on April 20, 1763, during their courtship.

"I am at Braintree but I wish I was at Weymouth! What strange Revolutions take Place in our Breasts, and what curious Vicissitudes in every Part of human Life. This summer I shall like Weymouth better than Braintree but something prompts me to believe I shall like Braintree next Winter better than Weymouth. Writers who procure Reputation by flattering human Nature, tell us that Mankind grows wiser and wiser: whether they lie, or speak the Truth, I know I like it, better and better. – I would feign make an original, an Exemplar, of this Letter but fear I have not an original Genius".

–Liza Wade,  Contributor

Editor's Note: My first real insight into the life of former first lady and feminist, Abigail Adams was through the 2008 Emmy Award winning  HBO series "John Adams". A rare situation when I saw the movie before reading  the book (by David McCullough).The biopic starred Laura Linney as Abigail Adams, and actor Paul Giametti in the title role. As of 2011, the mini series won more Emmys than any other in history and four Golden Globes.

Art Director: Michelyn Camen

Please enter our draw:

One Winner will receive one ounce of American Beauty by Dawn Spencer Hurwitz of DSH perfumes.

One Winner will receive a full size Moroccan Rose Candle from Redflower, created with all natural ingredients, and with a 50 hr burn time

Please leave a comment about Liza's piece on  the art of letter writing, about American Beauty the movie or rose and the  fragrance by DSHperfumes , Redflower Candle, Lord Byron, Jan Vanmeer, Lord Byron,  Michelyn's lips (keep it nice) and/or of course Abigail Adams and the HBO mini series John Adams. Draw end Feb 13, 2011  at 2:00 est

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31 comments

  • Vivienne Carey says:

    Fabulous article. Thanks for bringing back such lovely memories.  Loved to seal a love letter with the imprint of kiss but only after I had slathered my lips with red lipstick, of course! What a great idea to fold a scented tissue into the page of a letter. I am inspired!

  • Warum says:

    This is a nice article, thanks!
    My friend was talking about how attached she was to her sms-s in the phone, but yes, I agree, kissing an iPhone would seem strange to me!

    Fortunately, me and my love have exchanged plenty of letters in our time, they even had to come by snail mail for real, so when we finally got together, we were elated to have to write no letters, arrange no phone calls and never worry about time differences again.

    Too bad, this was before my perfume years and I never actually scented my letters to him.  Perhaps, now I would scent my letter to him in DSH's Mahjoun; as R.E.M. song goes "that way he'll know that it was really really really me, me".
    Love DSH, love letters in the mail, love scented candles.  Thanks for the draw!

  • Anita says:

    I'm a fan of DSH's Mahjoun as well, although I scented letters to my beloved before I discovered that perfume. We emailed, IM'd and phoned, but loved the romance of writing letters to each other.  I enjoyed the article, and that Love Letter Ink sounds very tempting! Thank you for such an inspiring article.

  • Masha says:

    Thank you so much for reminding us all of the power of love letters! I always keep a few special ones nearby, they travel the world with me. Text messaging does not cut it on Valentine's Day!

  • marika says:

    Lovely reading. I don´t think I have ever written a loveletter. I did a "love-drawing" for my husband once upon a time:)

  • Isa says:

    Thank you for all these tips 🙂  I will keep them in mind if I write a love letter to my boyfriend someday. I remember the time I wrote him a poem. I had never written one before, because I'm not good at this kind of things and I usually have a hard time writing my feelings down. Then one day I gave it to him and as he was reading it I felt so embarrassed… I still turn red when I think of that silly poem. And it took me days to make it up…  LOL
    Anyway, we are "sms generation" and I used to write down all the sms's he sent me in a notebook. I was doing it for four years 🙂
    Hmm I don't like American Beauty… but I think I would love John Adams.

    Please, enter me in the draw 🙂

  • sara says:

    Liza–you are a terrific writer! I loved reading your article. I would like to enter the drawing. Big fan of DSH and Red Flower products.

  • Claudia says:

    What a wonderful ways to express your love to your loved one. I am very intrigued by the scented ink. I must seek that out. Wonderful ideas. Th candle sounds wonderful and of course what a great treat to be able to win a DSH fragrance.

  • Annelie says:

    My favorite style love letter (written by me to my husband) is to write on the bathroom mirror with lipstick,
    leaving some kisses there also… Especially nice when he has worked all evening and comes home very late and maybe belive that I´m sleeping and when he enters the bathroom he can se my "love letter"… Hint: Don´t use too dirty language if you have kids, incase you forget to remove the writing! 😉

  • Dervishspin says:

    I still send my beloved a note in the mail about every other week. There is something delicious about the written word, A lift in the heart when you have an actual physical letter someone has taken the time to write.
    I can't claim to write time tested poetry, but I know it makes him joyful to receive these notes.
    Don't we have a duty to our fellow living creatures to craft spaces in this world for more joy?

  • d3m0lici0n says:

    Wow! I remember when I used to open my mailbox to see if there was a letter from friends or my parents, it was always a thrill to see the handwritten envelopes with my name, now alll those things are gone. I really missed that. And seeing that people still does the effort of doing it "old school" it is amazing. Thanks for reminding us those nice things in life.

  • Caro Fernandez says:

    I just love the idea of sprinkling dried rose petals in an envelope.
    It is always joyful for me  to receive even a postcard, anything that is paper and handwritten. I'd venture to say, even finding a note from my husband on the table upon returning home.

    A few weeks ago I ran into our postman on the street and we ended up talking about the time when people wrote more often and more letters were mailed and he mentioned how he used to enjoy delivering scented letters : )

  • Rose says:

    I love everything scented but have never come across scented ink before! that must be very hard from the perfumers point of view, balancing the smell you are trying to achieve with the smell of the ink- how wonderful though.
     
    I really enjoyed this post- and while I love the internet I do miss old fashioned letters- I even quite miss writing them sometimes- it was an art form.
     

  • Patty says:

    I loved the book "John Adams", and thought both Giammatti and Linney were wonderful in the lead roles of the series.  The DSH fragrance and the candle bot sound delicious, please enter me in the drawing. 

  • Haunani says:

    I enjoyed your article, Liza! We very much enjoyed the John Adams series, and that rose candle is calling my name.

  • Nina Z says:

    Back in the day we used to illustrate (illuminate) our letters to each other. So some of my old love letters (including from my husband to be) have charming drawings on them. Treasures!

  • ElizabethN says:

    I haven't written a love letter in a while, but I think I scented it lightly…I am now inspired to write another, but to whom? I'm living with my love right now! Anyway, when I think of Lord Byron, I think of his graffiti on the temple of Poseidon at Sounion, one of the most beautiful spots in the world. Very cool, even though technically he was defacing the temple. I would love to win either of these prizes, being a rose fanatic. thanks!

  • Michelle Hunt says:

    I agree that there is nothing comparable to the romance of the written letter, and I always wished I had beautiful handwriting.  That scented ink sounds lovely!
    Please do enter me in the draw, I would just love to win the DSH American Beauty Perfume….the scene in American Beauty was quite beautiful and I love knowing that it inspired a perfume! 

  • DSH says:

    Thank you Michelyn and Liza for such a feast of beautiful words and images… as always, an amazingly delightful read!  Thank you so much for the opportunity to share my American Beauty perfume!  Happy Valentine's Day to all~ <3, Dawn

  • stellaglo says:

    a wonderful post, reminds of the days i used to receive actual letters. it was great, and i still have most of them. i don't think an email from my grandmother in the sixties would have held up quite as well. or the letters sent airmail from friends lucky enough to visit far off lands in high school. 
    and i loved the HBO series! it was brilliant!
     
    thanks for the drawing!

  • queen says:

    I have an older female relative, who still writes me letters (she live in another state), I would respond by telephoning her. I have started to answer her letters in kind. It's a practice that I know she enjoys. I have found that I actually enjoy doing it.
    It's a double good deed…..It brings satisfaction to both of us.

  • Lori says:

    I really enjoyed this article. Very thought-provoking, indeed. I have to admit to being lazy about personal notes and letters. Even my handwriting has lost something over time, because I scribble notes all day long, and whatever real writing I do is via keyboard. I need to recapture that habit.