The Madeleine
A Summer Odyssey
By Mary Hill Ross
The hardest journey of all sometimes is to slow down.
Summer is nature’s way of telling us it's time. Unlike the frenetic energy of spring—with its burgeoning life pushing ever upwards, summer arrives like a sigh of contentment. It rewards nature’s patience for the long winter and subsequent growth period, and feels like what we’re waiting for too. In its hazy embrace, the hours stretch and bend, expanding our capacity for moments of leisure; while the long, languid days provide us with refuge from the chaos of our ever-changing world.
Summer is a time to shed the need for relentless productivity. Nature leads the way as the rapid pace of growth gives way to sustaining, ripening, and relaxation. Warm air coaxes us to step outside; our noses attune to a fragrant symphony of fresh blooms and lawns, while our spirits find solace in wandering aimlessly, affording us a rare opportunity to explore and discover.
The last weeks of summer coincide with the arrival of City Exclusives from afar on their annual sojourn. The seasonal availability of these fragrances reminds us of the ever changing cycles of the earth; while their long distance allure during absent months connects us with a sense of romantic longing—for faraway places, and missing or imaginary lovers—the same way we dream of summer.