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Tennis Smells Different to Everybody

 In 1987, the Australian poet Clive James demanded that he be brought the sweat of Argentinian tennis icon Gabriela Sabatini, writing “For I know it tastes as pure as Malvern water, Though laced with bright bubbles like the acqua minerale.”

7:17 AM EDT on July 14, 2025

I’m an eternal beginner both in tennis and to the world of fragrance. I like to spritz and schvitz in equal measure. But I appreciate being included in the sporty thing as long as I’m under no pressure to do the thing.

Instead of paying attention during summer camp lessons, I wondered about our instructors and what was going on in their lives to cause them to take my lack of hustle so personally. I learned quickly that tennis was a hot and sweaty business that required discipline. But I was a dreamer, not a driller. I was prone to sun poisoning and hurt feelings. I was happiest when I was rotated out so I could sit in the shade and lovingly wrap and rewrap my racquet handle with satisfyingly smooth black grip tape. 

The other campers were focused and driven; I was romantic and moody. They wanted to play well; I wanted to smell good. I could never be like those people. So why would I want to smell like them?