The Mystery of The Miniature Green Flask (or, how I got my groove back)

I recently made a nice little vintage haul from an Etsy seller (robinsvintage) thanks to a heads-up from my lovely friend Joanne of Redolent of Spices. Everything was between $3-$5, so I felt liberated to take a few risks. One of the things I took a chance on was this vintage green glass flask, pictured above. The listing said "manufacturer unknown", but that it was full of, well, something. Well, color me intrigued. Even if I hated what was inside, I love the little flask. Nothing, and I mean nothing could have prepared me for what I discovered when I unscrewed the cap:

(imagine the following being read by the one guy whose voice is always on movie preview commercials)

Sandalwood oil.

It's Mysore, the real stuff. It's at least 20 years old, probably closer to 30, maybe more. And if I use it judiciously, it's potentially enough to last me for the rest of my life (approx. 5-7.5 ml). It cost me $3. 

Yes, what the flask contains is the one thing that I dared not dream it could be, something that is exceedingly rare and very expensive these days due to over-harvesting, the very thing I pine for every day (no exaggeration). It's potent and the longevity is startlingly good. Smelling it on my skin brings back so many good feelings while bypassing specific memories-- it's just a big happy, creamy blur, nuanced with spices particular to certain woods and resins. Many moons ago, straight-up headshop, good quality sandalwood was my signature scent, until the quality started to wane as  substitutions were inevitably made. 

Yesterday I made it out of the hospital a few gall stones lighter; today I awoke to this little Valentine's Day miracle. I received one of the greatest gifts possible, born purely out of chance. I'm playing tin-can telephone with the divine here, people. I can spin tales of passion involving complex and masterful blending and my love of "more is more" perfumery, but what really caused a spontaneous fit of ecstasy was this mystery miniature green flask, filled with positive energy, comfort, encouragement and child-like wonder. My sandalwood. 

[I'm not surprised that this beautiful bounty landed in my waiting hands in large part because of Joanne, as the best things seem to happen when she's around]