Phillumeny is the hobby of collecting different match-related items: matchboxes, matchbox labels, matchbooks, match covers...and I'm getting into it. Real into it.
I've been bit by the phillumeny bug, so to speak, and I think I can map out how I've come to this place. I've always been one whose dwelling space is very aromatic, or at least I try to make it very aromatic. I blame it on my mom really. My childhood was filled with aerosol sprays and candles and those weird slime cone things that lurked behind the toilet especially during the nineties. You know the ones. To this day, when I go home, there are a handful of well-timed aerosol canisters that shoot spray into the air to ensure the house is smelling its best. To my mom's credit, she runs a daycare so there is no shortage of weird smells. Hence, the arsenal of items used to pleasantly attack your sinuses. Like my mom, I'm very particular when it comes to smells, but I go about it a bit differently.
EVERY MORNING as part of my routine, I wake up, turn on our kettle for coffee, then immediately put a few drops of essential oils into my diffuser. It's truly a lovely way to start the day and awaken the senses. I LOVE candles too. Paddywax's Tobacco and Patchouli, anyone? If know, you know.
SO, I feel like it's only natural that this fragrant path has led to phillumeny. (side note, how delightfully annoying is the word phillumeny?) Recently, I wanted our bathroom to be better equipped to combat the natural...ahem...scents...that accompany this particular room. I've always loved the tried and true trick of lighting a match to combat funny scents, but I wanted to make it fancier, more abundant, and easier to access in our own bathroom. Over the last few months I've bought a handful of perfumed matchbooks and very recently I started venturing into the vintage matchbook world. Because I also love anything "body" related, it’s no surprise that I'm LOVING any and all nudie type matchbooks. There is something simultaneously taboo, normal, beautiful, and funny about naked depictions. Therefore, my first vintage matchbook purchase followed suit. Hence, the pink vintage matchbook pictured above.
Maybe you've also found yourself going down INCREDIBLY niche rabbit holes during the pandemic? If so, I thought it would fun to share my current collection and virtually walk alongside you down this particular rabbit hole. If you find yourself drawn to any of the photos above, click on the links!