Olfactory photographs
I haven't done Sunday Scribblings in a while. This week it's 'Time Travel'.
Yesterday Andreamusc was with me. We went together to pay the registration fee for an 8-week writing workshop we were accepted to (starting next Saturday).
After paying, I had to go into town to drop and collect a few things. Andreamuse came along for the adventure. One of my stops was the Film Company, to drop off a submission (film) for the festival. As we left the building, Andreamuse commented: "This building reminds me of Scotland."
As soon as she said it, I became aware of the smell. "It's the smell," I said.
It transported me back to a childhood moment in Scotland ... the smell of what must have been a combination of things: the carpet, late evening, wool (sweaters) and an electric heater. I can vividly see the orange glow of the coiled thing in the heater whenever I smell that particular smell. It is a smell I look for (and have found) in cold climates, when I am indoors (usually in a domestic setting) with a particular level of heating. It is the smell of cosiness. I also look for it (and find it) when I smell wool and certain sweaters. It's a very distinct and comforting scent, but hard to describe: somewhat sweet with a touch of something that if it were not a smell would be the colour orange and a small spark of fire.
I wonder if certain feelings of pleasure and comfort in that childhood moment made me record that smell and store it as my memory of Scotland. Like a photograph.
Yesterday Andreamusc was with me. We went together to pay the registration fee for an 8-week writing workshop we were accepted to (starting next Saturday).
After paying, I had to go into town to drop and collect a few things. Andreamuse came along for the adventure. One of my stops was the Film Company, to drop off a submission (film) for the festival. As we left the building, Andreamuse commented: "This building reminds me of Scotland."
As soon as she said it, I became aware of the smell. "It's the smell," I said.
It transported me back to a childhood moment in Scotland ... the smell of what must have been a combination of things: the carpet, late evening, wool (sweaters) and an electric heater. I can vividly see the orange glow of the coiled thing in the heater whenever I smell that particular smell. It is a smell I look for (and have found) in cold climates, when I am indoors (usually in a domestic setting) with a particular level of heating. It is the smell of cosiness. I also look for it (and find it) when I smell wool and certain sweaters. It's a very distinct and comforting scent, but hard to describe: somewhat sweet with a touch of something that if it were not a smell would be the colour orange and a small spark of fire.
I wonder if certain feelings of pleasure and comfort in that childhood moment made me record that smell and store it as my memory of Scotland. Like a photograph.
Labels: sunday scribblings
10 Comments:
Very well said. I do have similar smell / memory triggers.
Yes, that's exactly it -- you're so good at describing smells...that's something that's very elusive for me for some reason! ;-)
Guess what: Stardust got herself out of her cage while I was gone yesterday! I came in and she was cheerfully playing on the top of the cage and one of the side doors to her cage was wide open...
Isn't it amazing how powerful the sense of smell can be. It's wonderful when it brings back sweet childhood memories.
Thanks for sharing!
I recognise that smell so well, must be because I live in Scotland! Lovely evocative descriptions!
Aren't our sense wonderful how they transport us to places of long ago - beautifully written, thank YOU!
Sense of smell sure takes me to places. Great post!
timely intervention
Smells are wonderful time-machines! They never fail to take me to several places and moods.
And like you said, it's so hard to expain in coeherent words!!
This piece was great for me - seeing as i still have to heat my bedroom with an electric heater! As one artist and photographer to another - its your astute visual, and sensual skills that have made those observations and words so clear and embracable in your writing! I peaked around your site and your art work - great eye!!
Great Post! Smell does evoke great memories for me as well.
what an absolutely lovely memory trigger... i really enjoyed this....
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