What the Flu Taught Me

~You never know how important your nose is until you lose its contribution to your everyday existence. This bout of the flu began with a scratchy throat and some fever. It progressed into a congestion to end all congestions that made the head weight a ton and made every food taste like cardboard. Yeah, flavour really is a combination of taste buds and smell perception. Try it: pinch your nose and eat a slice of apple and then a slice of potato. Told you...

~Taking a really hot bath is not to be underestimated in any season: there is nary an ailment it doesn't alleviate to some degree. Using some Perlier Honey Bath with Royal Gelee makes it an indulgence with its creamy, sudsy, pampering lather and the 1L bottle makes a statement in the bathroom. They also do a killer Almond bath cream for people who like that sort of thing, although my personal favourite of the scented varieties is the Vetiver.

~I have been using A Perfect Wold white-tea antioxidant serum by Origins for the flakies around the nose these past few days and it worked well (The fact that it contains some silicone helped). This is a product that actually smells very good, exactly because of the cornucopia of natural essences in high percentages included (such as rosa damascena flower water, bitter orange flower water, spearmint leaf oil , vetiver root oil, plumeria extract and frankincense). Of course my congested nose didn't perceive any of the smell or lack thereof at that point, but I did know it from before. It's something one might keep a supply of at home for such cases. I hear they are giving a free one-week supply of the new Dr. Andrew Weil Plantidote Mega Mushroom Treatment Lotion with any $25 purchase (free shipping included till Mar30), so now is the time I guess.

~Last but not least: it is essential for emergencies like this to know what fragrance to fall upon, for the sake of others in your entourage, if not for yourself. After the first couple of days I couldn't really smell much, so it was more of a mechanical than gratifying act, but Kelly Calèche by Hermès ensured that at least I smelled pretty and not offensively loud (it's so easy to overapply when one's nose is semi-working) to visiting doctors and family.

May you never need the tips!


Pic from the Perlier site

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