Ooooh….What’s That Smell?

Over the last week or so, it’s been brought to my attention more than once or twice just how much we are affected by smell/odours/scents. Not the B.O type. Not “the dog farted” kind of smells either. I mean familiar scents that bring you back to a certain time in your life.  Those smells that have a strange kind of power over you. Here’s what I mean…

Growing up, I remember a scent my mum used to LOVE. It was an English fragrance by Hartnell called “In Love”. If I could find it today, I’d pay any price (almost) to buy a bottle  – just to capture a moment of my childhood and to let her share the memory also. I also remember the scent of her beautiful overcoat – the one she wore when she’d drop me off to “kindy” and I’d be hanging on to her ankles begging her not to leave me there. I remember growing up  I’d often go into her wardrobe to just sneak a whiff of her coat. Don’t know why, ‘cos I really hated kindy! But it obviously brought me back to a time I’ll never have back again. I also remember 4711 Eau De Cologne. I used to stop at the chemist on my way to school (yes, I used to walk to school myself – Primary school too!) and  pop in for a whiff.  I also remember Brut. I used to buy it for dad (RIP) ever Father’s Day – it was all I could afford and I don’t even know if he really liked it. But being the gentleman he always was, he sure acted like he did, and did such a good job of feigning gratitude I fell for it and bought him a bottle almost every Father’s Day until he died last August…sniff. See? Just the thought of that smell can bring back emotions!

I’ve just arrived back from Honkers (Hong Kong) and one of the first things my friend Di (with whom I traveled) said to me on our cab ride to Langham Place (our lovely hotel) was “just you wait ’till you smell this place”! I thought it odd at first, until the doors to the hotel opened and my nose got it’s first whiff of what will become a long-standing memory. How lovely.  A fresh, almost powdery scent being fed through the air-con on a continuous basis. Yuuuum! I was assured by Di that the scent used during her last trip was even better (so much so, she bought a bottle of it – of course they sold it in the gift-store, didn’t they!).

Memories of Good/Bad Experiences?

I was at an old friend’s daughter’s 21st last night. I was struck by a memory of myself at the tender age of 21. I clearly remember traveling to the Whitsundays from Canberra (in a neck-brace after a recent car accident!) with these friends. We rented a yacht and pretended we knew what we were doing. What a holiday, and one hubby Shane and I still fondly remember. My friend always wore a certain scent and last night, even after so many years of distance between us, I (along with my two almost adult kids) smelt that familiar smell. My son (now almost 20!) couldn’t stop himself “sniffing” her as the scent brought back so many memories of his own childhood. And yes, although his “sniffing her” may have seemed a little  inappropriate at the time, I did understand where he was coming from!  I too found myself thinking how much I associated the word “clean” with her – so much so, today I went and bought myself my own Mum’s day pressie – a bottle of the very same perfume! Let’s call it “vintage” shall we? And all day, my kids have been sniffing me, saying “gosh you smell so much like Heidi! I feel like I’m a kid all over again!”

So how do you feel about the smell of the dentist? A hospital? Perhaps if you have a dental phobia (like I do) you may run away screaming (as I try to) upon approaching the dentist’s surgery? Funny that. I’ve designed corporate wardrobes for a number of dentists over the years… Do you think the universe is perhaps trying to help cure me of that particular phobia?  Perhaps you’ve become so familiar with a certain place – such as a hospital (like I am)  that you may actually not even notice its clinical smell? On the other hand, maybe the hospital stirs up some bad memories for you (like dentist’s do for me!) and the smell itself is enough to make you want to put on your runners and beat a hasty retreeat?  It really depends how you feel about the place, and what memories the smells/scents stir up.

So What’s YOUR Signature Scent?

For many years, I’ve worn Chanel No. 5. I love it. But after the first dab, I now don’t seem to be able to smell it on me at all! But it’s my signature scent, and I’m sure when I stop wearing it, it will have the same power as many of the scents above do today. But I do also remember many moons ago, when I worked at Channel Seven. Back then, I used to wear Thierry Muglier’s “Angel”. Colleagues would come in to work saying “I knew you were already here – I could smell your perfume in the stairwell!”. It wasn’t (I hope!) that my perfume was overpowering – it was just a scent that over time they came to associate with Big Al – my signature scent, I suppose. And that’s where I guess I’m headed with all my ramblings here!

What’s YOUR signature scent? Or what memories get stirred up for you when you smell a particular smell? I bet if you put your mind to it you too will be reminded of the power of smell and it’s ability to bring you back to a time/place…share with me here what those smells are for you – as long as the dog’s farts aren’t one of them!