Apology is a lovely perfume; it can transform the clumsiest moment into a gracious gift.

Runbeck’s metaphor treats an apology like “perfume”: something intangible yet powerful that changes how a moment is experienced. The “clumsiest moment” suggests social blunders, careless words, or minor harms that leave an awkward residue. By apologizing, one does more than admit fault; one offers a restorative gesture that re-frames the incident as a “gracious gift”—a sign of respect for the other person and for the relationship. The line also implies that timing and tone matter: apology is an art of tact, capable of transforming embarrassment into connection, and conflict into renewed goodwill.