Tuesday, May 26, 2026

I USED TO WRITE #1 Prada Candy Kiss

I realize in the throws of being, I've lost so many parts of who I used to be. 
I haven't sat down to write just for the sake of writing in years. Years!
Today is the day. Starting to reclaim myself bit by bit, so a writing: This one is for you @pradabeauty

PRADA CANDY KISS
by Cumorah McOmber

$300 now that is just outrageous

That was the line


I had to give it up at that point

I mean, this scent was me

Synonymous with

energy, fun, trail-blazer

half part boss babe and half part 

dancing on a table top while

scream singing Pink


And someone sitting crosslegged

at conference table somewhere

Decided to just stop making it

Discontinued

No more


It was the sister scent to the more popular, 

well known, signature

In fact it even had the same name, 

with just one word added to the end

But that one word added everything

KISS

Infused with excitement

notes of elegance and

hints of ‘this girl is extra’


They didn’t even make an announcement

No, “stockpile while you can!”

Or “limited quantities available”

They just quietly gave up

on the best part

the kiss is what weaved refinement, 

rowdiness, and revelry


The first year post cancellation,

I bought the last bottle on the shelf 

without knowing it wouldn’t be replaced by another shipment


The next year I discovered the truth

when my regular refill wasn’t possible

It wasn’t on shelves

And barely online

I felt lucky when a no-name site

sold it to me for one and a half times more than usual


And then, year three

the gouging began

There were so few left

with obvious others like me

like-minded scent seekers

who were hunting them down

and sellers knew it


I paid double the price I used to

and wished I didn’t have to but knew it was worth it

I even bought both bottles this dealer had,

knowing their scarcity


And then,

when I had used up every

dream driven drop,

No amount of searching

in stores or online

led to a legitimate bottle


I bought one fake with high hopes

Dashed

I tried recommendations

“if you liked that scent, try this one!”

NOTHING even came close

to the real thing

Nothing came close to

spritzing on the feeling of me

Nothing had the same playful power


I had been labeled discontinued

Not worth recreating

Not wanted enough

by the general public

who might have stumbled upon it

back in the day


But pursued by a select few

Treasured

Savored

Collected

Purchased at triple the price,

Triple the price!

Until

I was completely out of stock

completely


Depleted

I had vanished

Most people don’t even remember

I existed

Most think I was enough like

the original anyway,

they couldn’t tell a difference

Couldn’t tell a difference?!


Everything about me is different!

I am the difference!

I am the extra

The most

The loudest

The softest

The stand-up against-er

And the sit down next to-er

I am at the front of the room

with the microphone

and an expo marker

And I am in the back

sitting, listening

intently taking

the most beautiful notes

on how someone else thinks

I could change to make every single part of me better: 


more engaging, a little more reserved

less involved, more caring

more grounded, more YOLO,

more meek, more confident,

more inclusive,

and better at setting boundaries


I guess the people

don’t know what they want

Or at the least,

they are happy with

Just enough

Maybe not happy, but satisfied

Satisfied with just enough

But not me


I am an anthem of more

hints of extra

notes of beyond

undertones of higher

base notes of amplified


and I am out of stock

not on shelves

unattainable

the formula filed away under

do not revive

do not resuscitate

Let her be

because I is tired


Tired of it all

tired of carrying the weight for

everyone who is fine with average


Tired of creating the razzle dazzle

that they realize

they really wanted all along

but just didn’t want to

work for


Tired of being expected to be radiant 

because that’s just who I am

when I really just want a rest


A good long nap


I would pay good money for a nap

Maybe even $300



 

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