a catalogue of smells

i keep lists. some are here, on this online space. some are written in my slanted writing, in notebooks. some are maintained on the kitchen whiteboard. some are scribbled almost illegibly in pencil on the backs of envelopes. some are scrawled on the notepad i keep on the nightstand. some are made on my phone - but those are very rare as i like to write and form the letters physically (yes, i am old fashioned). some lists (those that i get my children to write as i do dishes or iron clothes) are made on torn off note paper and written in glittery ink, then folded up and taken with us for grocery shopping.

but most lists remain in my head. an inventory of things to do that i mentally tick off as they are accomplished. a keepsake of happy memories to which i return over and over again. a wishlist of those things that are nice to dream about but will most likely never be accomplished or purchased.

one list that has remained in my head is that of smells that delight me. smells that transport me to smiley days. smells that are evocative or uplift even the dullest of days. smells that bring back memories of childhood. they are all smells that i would want to capture and keep in a smell box - to be opened and inhaled when i need a little something to make me smile.

in no particular order, some of the things on that list would include:

the smell of the earth after rain
the spray of the ocean
turmeric
warm french toast
a chicken being roasted
bread being baked
a fleeting whiff of night blooming jasmine
fresh cut grass
pages of a new book
cinnamon
babies
laundry drying outside
campfires


~~~

Tell me, what are some of your favourite smells?