Fr Tim Finegan links to a site that sells the Pope’s Cologne.
I thought the Pope’s Cologne was one of B16’s German cathedral cities, but it seems a California perfumier has resurrected a formula for a papal perfume. This adds a whole new dimension to ‘smells and bells’. I wonder if there is a special way to apply the stuff. Ring a little bell, dip your finger in the cologne, then make the sign of the cross on each wrist and behind your ears?
With the Italian heat and all those robes, I’m sure the body odor factor gets pretty high in the Vatican. If the cologne sells well maybe they will come out with a whole range of high class men’s toiletries. I can see fast paced TV ads featuring handsome seminarians splashing on the after shave. Will there be shower gel, underarm spray, shaving cream and a new range of razors patterned after the Swiss guards’ halberd?
Speaking of the odor of sanctity, I recently bought a new rosary supposedly made from rose petals. I think it has been soaked in rose oil and my study now smells heavily of cheap perfume.
I’m only a convert. Can someone tell me whether I am supposed to:
a.) like this, and thank the Lord that I now belong to a religion that is not ashamed of the physical aspects of worship.
b.) put up with it as a penance
c.) soak the thing in bleach to get rid of the smell
d.) not tell anyone, so they think when they enter my study it is permeated with the odor of sanctity and they are in the presence of a living saint.
Well I would invoke the Catholic both/and and pick a, b, and d.
Husbands never try this one at home. Never tell your wife they smell like the pope no matter how close her perfume is to the Pope’s Cologne.
9 comments
Thank you for my laugh of the day!! By the way, I like option d. I can see the wondering faces and hear the whispers already. On the other hand, there’s no way to fool the kids if there are any about. They’d pinch their noses and yell “What’s that SMELLLL?” Then they’d fall on the floor, rolling, gagging, etc…Sounds like fun–unless the rosary shows up in church, in which case my kids would act as they always do when there’s incense in the air–they’d pinch their noses and WHISPER to the nation “What’s that SMELLLL?”, etc.
I agree…it’s silly.
While visiting Vatican City in June 2004 we bought a number of rosaries as gifts for family and friends back home. They were all supposedly made of “rosewood”. The more expensive ones probably were rosewood, but the less expensive ones which I bought for my prayer group members had a very strong unpleasant perfume-like odor. Our prayer group members still use them, and every time they bring them out I still cringe at the artificial rose smell. Bless them, though, no one has every objected or said anything negative about them.
When I bought some llama wool slippersocks, and after I got them back to the dorm they started to smell like the leather’d been cured over a dung fire, I put them into the “freezer” in between the windowpane and the screen and left them there for three or four days. The wind and freezing temperatures took the smell away very nicely.
The Pope Cologne reminds of the Pope on a Rope joke from Good Morning Vietnam.
We received a sample. It is not something I would carry or wear. Also, to get a discount as a store you have to buy a case – over 100 bottles.
acck!
I saw this article in the newspaper, and the history of it piqued my interest. It strikes me as more of the product of a scholarly work. The packaging itself is quite elegant and tasteful.
Needless to say, I got a bottle out of curiosity, and it’s simply lovely – truly a spiritual experience! Wore it for New Year’s Eve – lots of hugging of friends, you know – and there was much intrigue over The Pope’s Cologne.
I typically wear Banana Republic’s Classic which is outdoorsy and light. This scent is in the same family AND unisex in my opinion!
What a great gift for anyone with a fascination for history, Papal workings, perfumes, aromatherapy.
I do, however, agree that to exclaim to your wife that she smells like the Pope would not be a big point earner. Saying, “You smell heavenly” might be more complimentary AND accurate!
Libby
The Pope’s Cologne is a real historic fragrance from the past.
In the mid-19th century it was common for aristocrats to wear cologne. Giovanni Maria Mastai-Feretti was such an aristocrat before he became Pope in 1846 at the age of 53. The story of his pontificate is worthy of an epic movie. His cologne provides a glimpse into the past as well as being an eminently wearable and refreshing experience.
The Pope’s Cologne is a real historic fragrance from the past.
In the mid-19th century it was common for aristocrats to wear cologne. Giovanni Maria Mastai-Feretti was such an aristocrat before he became Pope in 1846 at the age of 53. The story of his pontificate is worthy of an epic movie. His cologne provides a glimpse into the past as well as being eminently wearable and a refreshing experience.