I had just begun to doze off, when something caught my attention. A familiar damp musty smell began creeping in. It instantly brought back a flood of memories of being with my grandparents. I knew we were getting close to their home.
I grew up in the desert where the air is dry, but my grandparents lived in the southern part of the United States, where the air hung damp and musty. I loved that smell, because it was connected to 2 people dear to my heart.
My grandparents have long since passed away. I'll probably never go back, but the smells from the past are a part of who I am.
I have a scarf kept in a special place in my bedroom closet. The scarf that was my mothers. Whenever I get to missing her I can pull it out and smell her fragrance. Memories of being home and surrounded by the love of my mother bring tears and laughter!
The smell of wet sidewalks remind me how precious rain is in the desert!
Johnson's Baby lotion brings back thoughts of soft, newborn babies!
Homemade bread baking in the oven has a smell that speaks of safety and security...if there's bread in the oven, then there is food for my family!
Our 5 senses are closely connected to each other. For me, the sense of smell is so closely connected to my heart and the memories of days gone by. The past can become so vivid just by a passing, momentary scent!
Are there certain smells that pull memories from your heart?
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I love the old familiar smells...I have a bottle of Craig's cologne "Cool Waters"...every now and then I will open it and put a small dot of it on me so I can visit the smell of him all day long. ... the channel of the nose is the sense of smell, our conscience being awaken by the smell creating within us hope....isn't it awesome!
ReplyDeleteLoosing a child must be one of the most difficult challenges a mother faces. I know Craig is near to your heart! Thanks for visiting Rhonda!
Deletewhenever i go back home, i miss my grandparents. they are the best grandparents ever! it always brings me back to my childhood with all of my cousins, road trips and christmas. those memories we can never forget..
ReplyDeleteYou'll be going back soon? Family is where my heart is too!
DeleteIsn't it funny how certain smells can trigger all kinds of emotions.
ReplyDeleteI too love the smell of bread baking. It reminds me of home. Home being when I was young and my Mom would make us fried bread. It was such a treat.
Fresh homemade bread is one of the best foods ever created! Are you able to eat bread with your candida?
DeleteI also love it smelling items that bring back memories! Great post!
ReplyDeleteKaren
Thanks for stopping by Karen! Happy Monday!
DeleteIt is neat to have those smells bring up good memories
ReplyDeleteHi Kim, hope you're having a super Monday!
DeletePlain, round sugar cookies remind me of my Grandmother. Chocolate chip cookies and baked bread remind me of my Mom. The smell of wood reminds me of projects made with my Father. Dreft detergent reminds me of my babies.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your memory smells. Baby smells are one of my strongest memory smells!
DeleteIt's so amazing to me how God created our senses as a memory!!! Old Spice = my Daddy!!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteHE is pretty amazing...Old spice has been around for a long time, my dad used it too!
DeleteYou are so right, it is the same for me. And I read an article a long time ago, I wish I had saved it now. It was kind of scientific, and said that of all the senses, the sense of smell affected memory the most.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense that smells and memories go together! Thanks for the visit...how's your computer problem going?
DeleteI know this might sound crazy but every time I hold my daughter I put my nose right in her hair or her neck and just smell her as long as I can. I also smell her clothes when I get them out before dressing her. The smell of coconut shampoo, body wash, or anything like that reminds me of my honeymoon because it was the best time of my life and the first time I had ever left home.
ReplyDeleteBaby smells are all too soon gone! I love how you are cherishing every moment!
DeleteI love baby shampoo or lotion smells. They do grow up all to quickly! It is amazing how a smell, a picture, a piece of music can bring up feelings and bring us back to a moment in time like it had only just happened.
ReplyDeleteIt surprises me how vivid the memories can be! Thanks for stopping by today!
DeleteExactly! Certain smells relive precious memories. There are so many smells, nothing comes to mind right now :). I'll have to smell them to remember them. For me, smells and music are the most powerful things which evoke memories. Listening to Madonna while sniffing on baby powder sends me back a good 20 years :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that music can be powerful too! Yesterday my teenage daughter was asking me about the music that was popular when I was a teen...that sent me back!
DeleteThe sense of smell in the brain is located next to some of the strong memory receptors. This is why smell is such a huge memory trigger for us.
ReplyDeleteThese are lovely memories!
I didn't know that! It makes sense and is pretty cool! Hope your day is terrific!
DeleteAqua Velva brings back memories of my Dad. Fresh cut grass takes me back to summers at my grandmother's house. I love how strongly the sense of smell evokes memories.
ReplyDeleteJust you mentioning Aqua Velva took me back to my Dad! I'd forgotten all about that! Happy Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteNothing beats a freshly cut Christmas tree to remind me of years past. Ahhh...so nice just thinking about it. :)
ReplyDeleteChristmas holds it's very own special smells. Thanks for adding this. I think everyone can relate to fresh cut Christmas Trees!
DeleteLovely post and so true. I think of my grandma when I smell moth balls. I think she had stock in a company :0. Once when working in my garden I smelled the familiar fragrance of my geese which made me homesick for them. I think it was just a stored memory which created the scent.
ReplyDeleteThanks Grace, do people still use moth balls? I guess I never had any furs to store away...lol
DeleteThe fresh sunny smell of laundry just off the cloths line. It's a childhood reminder of long ago. I even enjoy hang cloths on the line until this day.
ReplyDeleteOh my Bonnie, that's a smell that I'd forgotten! When I could still walk, I enjoyed hanging laundry outside...if we were fortunate to have a wind, the clothes would get soft without fabric softener!
DeleteYup, the smell of Johnson's baby cream can certainly calm my nerves :) I loved reading through some of your posts :) Glad I found your blog. New follower here!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and visiting!
DeleteBecky, this was a beautiful post! I know there are smells that just bring me down to a special place; I remember writing a post at one time about a package I received from my daughter & how the smell when I opened it reminded me of her...
ReplyDeleteThat must have been a special surprise! I just got a package from Tennessee and it had that musty smell I love! Happy Wednesday!
DeleteThis post brought tears to my eyes. I'm also very sensitive to smell and it always makes me remember something from the past. Last year, my parents came over for a visit (they live overseas) and as soon I got back from the airport I realized that my mom had left some clothes behind. I remember holding on to it and crying, it had her smell and I was already missing her!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.essentialmamababy.blogspot.com
Having your parents so far away must be difficult. I cry with certain smells too.
DeleteLove this post :) and especially to reminisce the smells of babies. Oh, don't you just adore holding them and have them hold your thumb in their tiny little hand. Okay I gotta stop or I might get baby fever. Hahaha :) And I do love the smell of warm bread, yummy.
ReplyDeleteCertain smell smake me cry. I live across the country from my entire family. During winters it hits the hardest. I'll smell burning wood and have a total flash back of the wood burnings stoves in my grandmothers house or parents. Tons of things, apple cider, a stew (which is why I make stews alot) I totally miss the smell of snow though....:( Aww this post made me so sad. I need to make stew!!
ReplyDelete