Common Scents: Brut

Brut splash-on-lotion was a favourite of mine as a teenager, probably on account of its low cost. Perhaps for this reason it is one of the few scents that I can easily recognise. I keep a spare bottle at the chapel; always conscious that cycling there may render me a little sweaty and therefore smelly, it is strong enough to cover any pong and cheap enough to sustain its loss if some light fingers rummage around the vestry.

It is made by Fabergé, but not to be confused with the ultimate luxury brand of old Europe which bears that name; the original House of Fabergé sued American Samuel Rubin in 1937 for using the name on his scents without permission. For this, he paid $25,000 in damages, which seems rather minimal, even back then. So it is essentially a cheap scent with an expensive name. On the other hand, the great Elvis Presley was known to be a regular user, and he was not short of a dime or two.

To many, the name of Jesus is cheap, thoughtlessly pronounced as an expression of shock or anger. Yet in prayer, it takes us to the Father’s throne and on that great Day of Judgement, it will determine the difference between heaven and hell. To we who believe, He is precious, and His name? -priceless.

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.

Philippians 2:10

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