Since CaFleureBon began as we reach Christmas Eve I feel an odd compulsion to take “’Twas The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore and add a fragrant twist to it.  We’ve done perfumers, natural perfumers, and creative directors. For 2013 one of the things I realized was what an awesome community our fellow bloggers are as every one of them add a different way of communicating and experiencing our shared passion. All together we are the different island of the fragosphere. So my friends imagine a house full of some of the brightest and creative writers lying down to sleep in the same Holiday house.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Perfume Blogger’s house
Not a thing was stirring, not even a new idea.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Scent-a Claus soon would be there.

The editors were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of new (and vintage) perfumes danced in their heads.
And Michelyn in her doobie hair wrap, and I in my fedora,
Had just settled our tired brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the iPad to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny bloggers.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be Scent-a Claus.
More rapid than eagles his writers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Gaia! now, Victoria! now, Adrienne and Persolaise!
On,Jordan! On,Robin!, On The Scented Hound and GoodSmellas!
To the top of the webcam! to the top of the keyboard!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As boring concepts that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an original, mount to the sky.
So up to the atelier-top the perfume bloggers they flew,
With the sleigh full of crystal flacons, and Scent-a Claus too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little foot.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Scent-a Claus came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of new ideas he had flung on his back,
And he looked like an editor, just arranging his thoughts.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like Rose (Velour), his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the sillage of an extrait.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Fragrant Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

From the entire crew here at CaFleureBon we would like to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday full of fragrant magic and joy. Especially our colleagues at the other blogs.

–Mark Behnke, Managing Editor