Ineke- After My Own Heart

The way I like my lilac is firmly planted in my back yard and far away from perfume and grooming products I use. Seriously, I don't even like En Passant. Lilac doesn't work for me and I've come to accept it. But this week I've been craving all things spring and my hand found itself consistently reaching for the mostly neglected sample of Ineke After My Own Heart. All of a sudden the magic has happened and I didn't make the poor floral thing stink to high heaven.

After My Own Heart is romance in a bottle. The lilac is soft, the heliotrope is slightly sweet and the musk is smooth and warm. It makes me think of a sunny May afternoon in the NJ Botanical Gardens at Skylands Manor. There's a section of the garden that's full of lilacs in every size, color and form. When the trees are in bloom you can smell them from afar and it's one of the most romantic places I know. You can bring a blanket and just lounge there in the sun until it all goes up to your head. I've been having a good skin chemistry week, so this perfume, Ineke's first, has been giving me all of its nuances. Slightly powdery, feminine and embracing- After My Own Heart is full of emotion. It's as floral and lilacy as it gets, even if the opening is somewhat green with a hint of orange blossom- soon you're transferred into a room full of lace, French antiques and vases full of freshly cut blooms.

It's utterly not my thing- decidedly floral perfumes, pink and lavender colors and that style of home decor. But I can appreciate it and occasionally even enjoy wearing such a perfume, especially since Ineke has composed After My Own Heart with care, warmth and originality. The musky dry-down is somewhat typical to the line and I like it a lot. I know some take issue with Ineke's base, so I'd advice everyone, including devotees of lilac perfumes to sample first. Thankfully, it's easy to do as Ineke sells full sample sets of all seven of her perfumes both on her own site and through Beauty Habit.

After My Own Heart ($88, 75ml) by Ineke can be found on ineke.com and beautyhabit.com

Art: The Lilac Fairy by Cicely Mary Barker (dated from the 1930s or 40s)