Friday, September 13, 2013

the boulevard of broken (eucalyptus) dreams

On Tuesday morning while I was scanning Pinterest, a particular photo and caption caught my eye. I didn't re-pin it, so I can't say exactly which pin it was, but the picture was something like this:
Source
The caption went something like this: "When I was in _____ (some European country) I noticed that everyone had bouquets of eucalyptus in their shower. I couldn't figure out why until I was taking a shower one night. The hot steam from the shower mixes with the fragrant eucalyptus and makes the entire bathroom smell just divine!! It was like a spa!!"

Well I mean...that certainly sounds delightful. And do-able, when you have this growing in your front yard:

So I made a mental note to do a little eucalyptus pruning/home-spa-creating at some point in the future. I told Matt about it and I think he was even more excited at the prospect than I was. 

So last night we trimmed a few branches, and I turned them into a 'bouquet' with the help of a rubber band and some string. Then I spent about 30 minutes trying to figure out where the heck to hang them in my teensy, coffin-like shower. Unlike whoever's shower is in that picture above, I actually use PRODUCTS in the shower...and those products need a home, and that home happens to be in a hanging thing that hooks over the showerhead. There was no space for a large bouquet of leaves if I ever hope to use my shampoo or face wash again. Which I do, for the record. 

I finally found a suitable spot to hang them, and then it was go time. Operation: My Lame Shower is a Spa Now was complete!

..............

..............

Ummm...yeah. Maybe there is something wrong with my eucalyptus? (Which I don't think there is-- it smells freakin awesome in the yard when the wind blows, and your hands smell really good after I touch it, so I'd say it's as fragrant as you'd expect) Maybe there's something wrong with the steam in my shower? But I really couldn't smell it in the shower. I even moved it so that it was hanging literally 4 inches from my nose.

Nothing.

Biggest letdown ever!!

I think that at the very beginning of the shower, prior to opening any (scented) products, I could smell it very faintly. But as soon as I started using shampoo and body wash, that's all I could smell. So then it was just like I had a big plant taking up precious real estate in my already-cramped shower. BUMMER.

So...sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but this wasn't the life-changing shower experience I know we were all hoping for. We left it in there and thought maybe things would be different this morning when Matt showered. I had big plans of the bathroom having this magical scent enveloping me as I apply my eye makeup...and...no. Not at all.

Maybe my 'bouquet' isn't big enough? Maybe I'll add some more branches to it tonight and it will become more potent. Then again, maybe I'll have to move out of the shower altogether cause there really is not enough room for a huge tree AND me in there. Good grief, Pinterest. How you toy with my heart.  

16 comments:

  1. I don't know anything about eucalyptus, but are there different varieties? Could some be more fragrant? It sounds like a wonderful idea...I have to hunt down some euc!!!

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  2. Well poo. As I was reading I was hoping it worked and was going to get some this weekend!!

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  3. Haha!! I'm so glad you tried this. I've seen it too and wondered about it, although I have no idea where I would buy eucalyptus. But never mind, I don't have to worry about it anymore!

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  4. This needs to be added to the Pinterest Fail Blog, picture and all. Have you seen it? Funny stuff - http://www.pinterestfail.com/. And now you now, you are not alone!

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  5. Haha dangit! I hope if you give it one more shot that it'll work?! If not, this definitely needs to go on the pinterest fail site haha.

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  6. Sad day. Although the bouquet in the picture does look a lot bigger than the one you made. Sometimes, I wonder how these stupid pins get around that are such huge fails. I mean, really. Stop wasting my time.

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  7. You have eucalyptus growing in your yard?!?? Amazing!

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  8. That's a big bummer that it didn't work out. That would have been an awesome way to have an inexpensive European vacation. Instead of having to fly just take a shower!

    And also, like Aubrey asked, You just have just happen to have eucalyptus growing in your yard?! That's way cool!

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  9. Totally bummed. I was about to rush out and buy some.

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  10. Nothing more disappointing than a Pinterest fail! Someone should vet those posts for validity. Don't they know we depend on them?!

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  11. I'm so sorry your dreams were crushed like that. I hope you're able to take the weekend to recover!

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  12. And now you're toying with mine. I was ready to pin this thinking it was the best idea ever...and then read the rest of your post. Never mind then. :)

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  13. First off, lucky you to have some growing in your yard!
    I remember seeing this pin awhile ago. Sorry it was a fail. I usually just pour some eucalyptus essential oil on a wet was cloth and stick in the corner of the tub or hang it on the rod and that does the trick for me. My husband says the smell is too strong, but it sure helps my sinuses.

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  14. hhahahaha i so wish there was a video of this attempt!

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  15. Major disappointment. I think I've seen that before, sad it doesn't work it really does sound magical and I love the smell of eucalyptus

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