I’ll admit, this subject had me stumped for a while! Perhaps it’s the sheer scope of the topic. Happiness or joy. I could instantly think of 1,000 spins on this, and at the same time, nothing inspired me . . . until today. I went outside, breathing deeply of one of my favorite scents – rain – and felt a deep upwelling of joy! The joy of smelling something and having a million memories run through your head at once, the happy and the sad, intertwined and a part of what makes you who you are.
The olfactory sense (the sense of smell) is the sense with one of the strongest and most intense links to memory. There have been many studies on this phenomenon, especially as regards childhood memories linked to scent. One interesting fact is that the sense of smell is processed in a different part of the brain than the rest of the senses, one very closely situated to the center for emotion in the brain.
I love so many wonderful scents. Here are a few of the best . . .
1. Rain. Also known as Wet Dirt. I have loved this scent since I was a little girl, and it still brings about intense feelings of contentment for me. I remember putting on my rain gear and walking thorough the lighter downpours on my parents’ property. Just me and a billion tiny raindrops meandering through the oak trees and tall grass.
2. Lilacs. They are my favorite flower, both in appearance and scent. For many years, my mom had a lilac bush that bloomed every spring, and I was ecstatic to discover one in the back yard of our first rental. It is the smell of spring for me.
3. ANY scent that reminds me of Disneyland! [I couldn’t escape this topic without bringing it up, could I?] My poor husband has heard it at least 100 times: “This smell reminds me of Disneyland!” And then I proceed to tell him exactly where in Disneyland the scent can be found. Because as soon as that connection is made, I can imagine myself in the exact place. The musty smell of Pirates of the Caribbean, the sweet scent of churros, the chlorinated odor of Splash Mountain. And don’t think that this is just an accident. Disney deliberately uses what they call Scentertainment to enhance your experience!
So as I sit here, the rain scent wafting through my open window, I find great joy in this wonderful and unforgettable sense of smell!
[Project 24 is a Creative Photography Challenge that I am applying to my own art form -- writing -- and pursuing with several photographer friends via Facebook.]
The olfactory sense (the sense of smell) is the sense with one of the strongest and most intense links to memory. There have been many studies on this phenomenon, especially as regards childhood memories linked to scent. One interesting fact is that the sense of smell is processed in a different part of the brain than the rest of the senses, one very closely situated to the center for emotion in the brain.
I love so many wonderful scents. Here are a few of the best . . .
1. Rain. Also known as Wet Dirt. I have loved this scent since I was a little girl, and it still brings about intense feelings of contentment for me. I remember putting on my rain gear and walking thorough the lighter downpours on my parents’ property. Just me and a billion tiny raindrops meandering through the oak trees and tall grass.
2. Lilacs. They are my favorite flower, both in appearance and scent. For many years, my mom had a lilac bush that bloomed every spring, and I was ecstatic to discover one in the back yard of our first rental. It is the smell of spring for me.
3. ANY scent that reminds me of Disneyland! [I couldn’t escape this topic without bringing it up, could I?] My poor husband has heard it at least 100 times: “This smell reminds me of Disneyland!” And then I proceed to tell him exactly where in Disneyland the scent can be found. Because as soon as that connection is made, I can imagine myself in the exact place. The musty smell of Pirates of the Caribbean, the sweet scent of churros, the chlorinated odor of Splash Mountain. And don’t think that this is just an accident. Disney deliberately uses what they call Scentertainment to enhance your experience!
So as I sit here, the rain scent wafting through my open window, I find great joy in this wonderful and unforgettable sense of smell!
[Project 24 is a Creative Photography Challenge that I am applying to my own art form -- writing -- and pursuing with several photographer friends via Facebook.]
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