Perfume

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. Proverbs 27:9 ESV

 Scented oils are coming back in fashion. They were the products that were used to wash bodies in Solomon's days. They were luxury goods in the ancient world.

 Perfume, or cologne as the male version is called isn't something I ever used to be bothered about. But since meeting my now wife, I was encouraged to beautify my scent, and now I regularly wear it! I do confess that sweet scenting products do make the heart glad, even if I used to be a typical boy who wasn't bothered!

 Solomon didn't write about perfume to promote his own brand. Instead, he used it as an illustration of the sweetness of a friend's earnest counsel. One of the great things about marriage is that you get to live with your best friend and have their advice "on tap".

When the Bible says it's not good for man to be alone, it doesn't mean to say we have to marry necessarily, although that is a blessing. But we're social beings and we need friends, even if we don't necessarily need to get married. 

"God our Father, thank You for the gift of friendship, and friendly advice. Help us to be good friends we pray. We're grateful that Jesus is a friend of sinners, for such are we. In His name, amen"