It also allowed me the opportunity, for the first time in my life, to appreciate art. I was fascinated. The experience was defined by two distinct facets that, when combined, sucked me into this whole perfume thing.
First: logic. Smelling fragrances gave me something to think about. Second: emotion. I suppose that is a physical reaction, but it stimulated an emotion of excitement, enjoyment, pleasure. This connection between logic and emotion was new for me. Or, at least, newly recognizable. The experience was a newly discovered appreciation of art, an appreciation that I simply never had before.
I had no desire to be an expert. Now, I can stand in front of a painting for a long time. My mind races. I wonder what the story is. I try to figure out what made the artist want to create it.
I look at the strokes and am captivated by the construction of it. I lean in close and see the blending of the colors, the texture, the detail. I lean back and see how a small blob transforms into very specific detail — my mind actually making up those details automatically in service of the artist.
I love how the reflection of light is manufactured, especially on images of water. Similarly, when I hear a song that sounds good to me, I go to Spotify and listen to the whole album, songs in order. Sometimes I discover a new favorite that has never been chosen for radio play. Having the patience to fully experience something the way someone else intended is gratifying and luxurious.
