Earlier this year my mother and I were sitting in my London living room making plans for the upcoming christening of my cousin's daughter, to be held at Villa Ronche, our family home near Venice. With her typical attention to every tiny detail, she asked me what scent we should use to perfume the rooms. Without hesitation, I replied, "Gardenia." I believe every house has a scent of its own and that it's one of the things that make it into a home. In this case, gardenia reminded me of my late grandmother Gina's personal fragrance. She passed away a little over a year ago, and I guess I automatically translated that smell into one of the thousands of Proustian madeleines that I encounter in each room of the house and corner of the garden.
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