Today is a day of smells !
I have a rather sensitive nose and before you say it yes it’s a good sized nose !
Have you noticed how smells evoke and awaken memories either good or bad?
As I started the day and looked out of my bedroom windows the beautiful clean ions of tumble dried exhaust wafted up to my nostrils, you see the laundry is two floors below me and the vent spews out fabric conditioned air – I like it, that was a good start to my journey today.
As the day progressed I was assaulted by food smells , fried foods , curry, Fresh coffee , pastries each smell triggering memories in a different filing drawer in my mind, likes dislikes , warm cozy, rancid and sickly .
I visited a little herb garden at lunchtime and a random lady said to me ‘ youve got to smell that one ‘ pointing to the lemon verbena bush, I ran my fingers over the slim green leaves and then put them to my nose .
I was taken aback literally!
I said to the stranger ‘ that smell takes me back to my childhood as my mother had a lemon bush in the front garden and as kids we would use the leaves to concoct perfume, of a sort.
The fragrance was so strong pungent and beautiful it opened the file in my mind that had lay dormant for so many decades.
Suddenly I was transported to Edwalton , Nottingham my mother in the background,kids playing in the garden and the smell was as fresh and new as it was back then.
Fascinated by this pleasant reminder,my soul was lifted, it was summer in the sixties when summers were long and hot and we were outside making perfume !
I was soon jolted back to reality when sitting on the train at Marylebone station to make a journey up to Stratford on Avon to visit my son , I had settled peacefully at a window seat when a humongous man plonked himself down next to me and lay his snacks out before him…… fizzy coke and pickles onion monster munch!
Do grown ups eat this rubbish?
The file in my mind suddenly swung open in panic , I hate monster munch ! the smells makes me wretch!
I’m trapped ! help I can’t move he’s too big to move away from and I would have to get closer to the pickled onion smell!
I decided to ride it out taking small breaths and waiting whilst he swings it all down with his coke .
Phew panic over let’s hope he doesn’t get anything else out of his bag!
Smells , evoke good and bad feelings , think of your happy place and remember the smells
Aromatherapy is a practice which uses fragrances to help you relax and feel better, it’s quite simple really,as our brains are so reactive to smells and our sense of smell affects our taste and therefore our enjoyment of food .
Recently when I had eye surgery I noticed that my taste buds were not as sensitive perhaps my senses were confused for a little while , they seem to have returned to normal now!
I know some folks have no sense of smell and therefore no sudden smell reminders, like the dinners burning or socks need washing or the enjoyment of the herb garden and lemon verbena !
As my journey came to an end the monster muncher alighted the train before me phew !
I could relax in a smell free zone!
Thinking about the lemon verbena and happy days.
I would encourage you to take a moment to relax thinking happy thoughts perhaps you could find something nice to smell as well,
‘Tis the season of hygge,
Candles, spices, fires, pumpkins and bonfires …..can you travel the journey with me and smell the fireworks or the wood fire smoke ?
Whatever your favourite smell enjoy it and take a
Moment to savour it….
You could even respond and share with us your favourite smell and your worst hated smell !
From one pearl to another
”tis a scented season”
Xx