Scented Paper

[GreenVelvet]

A while back, someone posted a question about scented paper. I've always liked the idea (because scented ink never retains its scent long enough to make it to the recipient) but worried about how it would play with fountain pen ink.

 

I just sawthis strategy and thought I'd share it... I may have to try this sometime. (For me, the properly sized airtight container could be problematic.)

 

Anyone else have experience with this?

[Octo]

My grandmother almost never sent an unscented letter or package, but there were never oil stains. She simply put a little dusting (bath)powder or powder sachet in the bottom of the box under a piece of paper. With the lid closed, the scent permeated the stationery or tissue wrap.

[jbb]

I stored some paper in a ziplock bag with rose buds and another time with spices (cinnamom, clove, orange rind, etc.) and it worked nicely.

[GreenVelvet]

I stored some paper in a ziplock bag with rose buds and another time with spices (cinnamom, clove, orange rind, etc.) and it worked nicely.

 

Oooh, GREAT tip, JBB! I definitely have some ziplock bags around, plus some very zealous lavender. I also have a bunch of scented geraniums, and I know their oil has often been used for fragrance in the place of roses (the "rose" scented geraniums are pretty lovely) - so that gives me another idea. I just might have to experiment for my next letter to you. :-)

[jbb]

I stored some paper in a ziplock bag with rose buds and another time with spices (cinnamom, clove, orange rind, etc.) and it worked nicely.

 

Oooh, GREAT tip, JBB! I definitely have some ziplock bags around, plus some very zealous lavender. I also have a bunch of scented geraniums, and I know their oil has often been used for fragrance in the place of roses (the "rose" scented geraniums are pretty lovely) - so that gives me another idea. I just might have to experiment for my next letter to you. :-)

I will look forward to your experiments... although I owe you a letter back first...

[Annika]

I keep my writing paper in a box with one of those paper sachet packets, (found in craft stores next to the candles) or spray some perfume on a paper towel and put that in the box. Hallmark used to sell a scented notepad that was pink, and it smelled like carnations but was a little bit small for letters. The scent lasted a long time, though.

[jbb]

I keep my writing paper in a box with one of those paper sachet packets, (found in craft stores next to the candles) or spray some perfume on a paper towel and put that in the box. Hallmark used to sell a scented notepad that was pink, and it smelled like carnations but was a little bit small for letters. The scent lasted a long time, though.

Hi Annika. Welcome to FPN. Carnation scent sounds nice although in general I like scents like vanilla or spices. If there were chocolate scented paper that would be perfect.

[Kabe]

My grandmother almost never sent an unscented letter or package, but there were never oil stains. She simply put a little dusting (bath)powder or powder sachet in the bottom of the box under a piece of paper. With the lid closed, the scent permeated the stationery or tissue wrap.

Seems like a great way to get aquainted with a federal agent

[jbb]

My grandmother almost never sent an unscented letter or package, but there were never oil stains. She simply put a little dusting (bath)powder or powder sachet in the bottom of the box under a piece of paper. With the lid closed, the scent permeated the stationery or tissue wrap.

Seems like a great way to get aquainted with a federal agent

http://bestsmileys.com/valentine2/1.gifHow romantic! http://bestsmileys.com/valentine2/1.gif

[Octo]

My grandmother almost never sent an unscented letter or package, but there were never oil stains. She simply put a little dusting (bath)powder or powder sachet in the bottom of the box under a piece of paper. With the lid closed, the scent permeated the stationery or tissue wrap.

Seems like a great way to get aquainted with a federal agent

 

 

Ah!! (But the powders never went through the mail. Only the papers they scented were mailed.)

[tavon]

My grandmother almost never sent a letter or a package without perfume, but there was never oily stains. He just put some powder (bath) powder or sachet of powder in the bottom of the box under a piece of paper. With the flip closed, the smell permeated the stationery or wrapping cloth.

[Triplet Mom]

I just spritz a little fine mist of one of my favorite perfumes onto the paper. I started doing it back when my husband and I were first married 19 years ago. All of the letters I had sent to him in the Persian Gulf during Desert Storm were on the same pale peach colored paper, (my favorite color at the time,) and smelled of Jardins de Bagatelle by Guerlain, (my favorite perfume at the time.)

 

Lynne

[Paddler]

Ahah! But did he write back with Aqua Velva or Old Spice?

 

Paddler

[GreenVelvet]

I just spritz a little fine mist of one of my favorite perfumes onto the paper.

 

Lovely idea if you wear perfume or keep it on hand.

 

Alas, the synthetics in most perfumes do not play nicely with my nose. It's essential oils or the actual plant (love the lavender idea, mine always needs a bit of pruning) for me.

[Inka]

This is a great topic and thread.

I've considered buying scented inks at times, yet I've heard all too often the scents don't make it through the mail too well and fade readily.

Each winter we get some fresh scented oils from a local pier & farmers' market, place them in a hand-carved Soapstone oil burner with a tea light and fill our home with scent.

It could be flowers, cookies, spices, usually around Christmas it's Frankincense & Mir, whatever, since once the trees and flowers wither from the cold there's nothing to smell but molds and highway exhaust.

What great ideas, to place paper in a box or a bag with a scented swatch, instead of placing scented oils right on the paper; such a simple solution and one that I'd not considered until now.

With all the colds and flu going around, I'd been spritzing my letters with Eucalyptus oils before mailing them out, always concerned of spraying too much or the ink running, so this is good stuff.

[Ondina]

My aunts used similar methods; a generous spray of their perfume on a base sheet, satchels of lavender and roses, or even talc powder in the bottom of the drawer where the paper was stored. A bar of soap was other very effective way to make paper smell good in a subtle way.

Very interesting thread, thank you, OP.

[pen2paper]

holding a precious gift from a late friend of mine.. it's lavender in a tiny lace edged fabric bag tied with ribbon..

The tag reads:Before deodorants, Ladies would put dried lavender in little pocket such as this and tuck them into their bosom.

The scent is still as delicate, but strong as the day I received it.

I have many Victorian era fabric set in metal garment buttons, to which scent was added-also in consideration of lack of modern day dry-cleaners..bathing customs..

the scent does not remain on these buttons..though they are still known as "perfume buttons".. I do have one Asian garment with all metal toggle buttons, the silk doused in essential oils-which cannot be removed.

edited spelling

Edited September 27, 2009 by pen2paper

[Northwoods]

While it's not to everyone's liking, storing some stationery or note cards with a little pipe tobacco should impart a nice heady scent to the paper.

[hollyuk]

I was pleased to find this thread so thanks everyone who contributed. Some lovely ideas here.