What’s That Smell?
The winner of Emily Freeman’s new book Grace for the Good Girl is: Michele Wilt. Please send your home address to [email protected] along with what it is you won. We’ll get your prize out to you right away.
Aroma:
noun
1. a distinctive usually pleasant smell, esp of spices, wines, and plants
2. a subtle pervasive quality or atmosphere
[via Latin from Greek: spice]
Of all our our senses, smell is the most connected to memory.
Even now, when I stand next to a woman in line at the grocery store wearing White Shoulders perfume, I miss my Aunt Patty.
When I smell leaves burning, I am transported back to high school and it is suddenly football season and my friends and I are walking to the game after having a burger at the A & W.
When I smell cinnamon, I think of canning applesauce with my friend Carmen the one fall we used to much of the spice and the entire house smelled of it.
And I will forever associate Lilly of the Valley with my mom. I can’t even remember why. I don’t know if her Avon perfume smelled like that or she grew them in her flower garden.
Smells have a strength that creates lasting memories.
In my Bible this morning, I came across this:
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” 2 Corinthians 2:14
Are we spreading His fragrance? Does the ‘smell’ we emit to others match His?
Unfortunately, many times I know my actions downright stink. And they don’t always reflect Christ. Oh yes, maybe I hold it together when the dry cleaners ruin my favorite sweater, but when one of my kids or the husband ticks me off?
Oh, buddy…..
If we are to spread the fragrance of knowledge of Him EVERYWHERE, that means even in our homes.
And our cubicles.
And at the intersection when someone cuts us off.
This week, let’s watch our aroma. Others are watching.
And even sniffing.
Does our aroma match His?
One of you who leaves a comment on this post will win the following aromatic giveaway:
~A Bath & Body Works green tea & white pear candle
~ Some simmering wax bars from At Home America in Fruit Smoothie scents
~ A copy of the New testament in the English Standard Version. Perfect to keep in your purse or car.
Just leave a comment telling us a scent that you associate with something or someone from your past.
Winner announced Tuesday.
Yep. I’m unplugging until then.
Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone!
The smell of Night Blooming Jasmine reminds me of when I was a child. We had a hedge of them growing under our front window and on cool evenings the strong, beautiful scent filled the whole house.
the smell of soil, and potatoes, always reminds me of my dear departed Big Grandma… No idea why we called great grandma this but i do know she had a big garden and those smells remind me of her and my childhood always going down to visit her every sunday after church.. what a wonderful memory ?
the smell of soil, and potatoes, always reminds me of my dear departed Big Grandma… No idea why we called great grandma this but i do know she had a big garden and those smells remind me of her and my childhood always going down to visit her every sunday after church.. what a wonderful memory ?
The smell of pine needles that have fallen on the ground in the forest and have been warmed by the heat of the sun, brings to mind my beloved grandmother that has been gone for 30 years. That smell reminds me of the kind of woman she was…one who would give all sh had to others and also loved me unconditionally.
Any type of flowers remind me of my mother’s flower gardens. She has never had a large yard but boy she packed a lot in those small space. She put vegetables and herbs in between and the smell of dill reminds me of her every time.
Lavender has an immediately calming effect on me as does rosemary.
What an awesome prize pack!
Today, a custodian at the school where I work threw away a box of special classroom materials that belonged to me. It was an accident. He thought he was doing his job; I had placed the box in a bad location. When I found out what had happened I was not happy and made sure several people knew my feelings. Then, I was forced to go dumpster-diving to find my stuff. Later, as I drove home, I was ashamed at how I had reacted over a bunch of stuff. The truth is , I belonged in that dumpster with my stinky attitude. Some apologies are in order tomorrow!
I have love the smell of vanilla bean that they only have in the fall time for Christmas. I have been buying it for years. It just smells fresh, clean to me!! I also burn vanilla candles alot in the fall and winter time.
Certain smells bring back memories and one of my favorite is the smell of newly sawed wood. My dad was a builder and it reminds me of how hard he worked to take care of us. I miss him, (1 year ago Aug. 28th he passed away).
HI Karen, I have learned quite a bit from your book on being a good host. I really have and recommend it to more women like myself who have gotten off track a bit with “life” in this fast paced world where popular tv shows aren’t of the “hallmark” type :)
I also am pretty influcenced by the sense of smell. My mother passed away a few years ago and there was some family turmoil…and me being close to my parents was very hard for me to not be there with them every day. It was really hard and i treasure family memories and some scents bring back really warm family memories…
Lilac: reminds me of when i was at home with my parents as a teenager and enjoying wonderful summer breezes in our backyard swing, talking about anything, talking about nothing
Burning leaves: Fall high school events, get togethers, thanks giving and Dad’s stories of when he was growing up
Horse..umm…farm smells: The country, how i grew up and whenever i visited my Dad’s side of the family (mostly farmers) and my aunt’s dairy farm, picking blueberries, swimming in the river, laughing with my cousin Ben (on my Mom’s side of the family); Also of the times i spent in nature with Dad…that smell of horses just feels home
(and horses are herbivores so they really don’t stink as much as other big farm animals, lol)
Jean Louis Ferrer perfume: my sister Louise…she’s very artistic and dramatic, LOL. NOT a country girl
Incense, Musk, Estee Lauder White Shoulder perfume: my sister Christine…she’s very mystical, bohemian, fun, caring, citizen of the world
Listerine: yes, that reminds me of Dad, trying to get rid of the cigar he enjoyed on the front porch at night (he didn’t smoke alot but about half a one each evening as a way to unwind), LOL. He always knew I love him just the way he is! It’s nice that he made the effort though for my mom :)
Apple pie: my mom and watching her make those growing up; our talks as she was making apple pies, simple things, no drama, just fun times
Curve men’s perfume: my ex boyfriend Jason..a cowboy…who proposed to me and then didn’t know what he wanted. LOL. If only he could make up his mind once and for all….ohhhh
OK, that’s enough i think. I’m getting lost in the memories of these scents. LOL These are my immediate memories…I hope some of you enjoyed reading :)
Thanks Karen,
Julie
…those are all times when I’ve thanked Jesus for being there for me and allowing me to have these experiences. Now when i smell these I still thank Jesus for reminding me of those wonderful times.
:)
One of the clearest and most pleasant smells in my memory is that of the yellow climbing roses that grew around the mailbox at my grandparents farm. It was such a sweet, warm smell, and when I think of it now I can see my grandparents old house, with the huge maple tree in the front. Thanks for the reminder of that lovely place, and also for the reminder that I should be leaving the fragrance of Jesus wherever I go.
I love the smell of a fresh cut pine tree. It reminds me the Christmas that my family and I literally treked through the snow to find our perfect tree. While my allergies didn’t agree, I’ll never forget making that memory.
I love the smell of fresh cut grass and hay. It reminds me of being a kid and my biggest concern was if I would finish my homework and chores in time to ride. Even now if I see someone mowing I will roll down the windows just to get a sniff
Smells, I love the memories that smells bring. So many happy smiles on my heart.
I love the smell of a smoking pipe; this always reminds me of sitting on my grandfathers lap as a child.
I love the smell of rain; it reminds me of my grand parents sun porch.
I love the smell of fresh cut grass as it reminds me of summer times on my grandparents ranch and riding shotgun on the hay baler.
I love the smell of bbq and bon fires; it reminds me of family. We bbq year round and bon fires on the deck with 4 foot of snow or -20 degrees we’ve had some fantastic family times. It is so good to remember these times as the kids get older and start moving away one by one.
I love the smell of Aqua de Gio when I’m at the mall or the gym because it is the cologne my man wears and I love the way he smells.
The smell of coffee brewing reminds me of my grandma and my cousin. Both are gone now so the smell always brings fond memories back. Great question!
I will put that verse in my bathroom and when I spray on my Red cologne in the morning it will remind me to spread the fragrance of Christ wherever I go…Roses and lilacs remind me of my grandmas…both home with the Lord and the smell of pine trees reminds me of vacation…We now live in the pines and I sometimes think I am still on vacation…Love it!!!
I love this not only because I get to hear others experiences as I sell candles but because it is so true! The aroma of my mom: roses she loved growing and vegetables from the garden for us to pick and eat, cookies baking in the oven for company; family and friends she hosted for.
The aroma of my children: ‘is like a field the Lord is blessing’; tickling time, football, volleball, hugs and enoying life.
I don’t smell this anymore but I remember the smell of Aqua Velva – smells like my sweet dad. He still uses it after shaving to this day! And even better, my grandfather used it too so it reminds me of both of them.
The smells of cooking a homemade breakfast reminds me of my grandmom! She always made me a hot breakfast on the coal stove when I was a little girl and she baby sat me.
It’s almost apple season. I love the smell of apples & cinnamon baking in a crisp or pie.
The aroma of cinnamon reminds me of canning applesauce with my mom And the smell of pumpkin pie reminds me of family gatherings around Thanksgiving :)
Scent of freshly laundered baby clothes, brings me back to the time when my own children were small. That sweet scent reminds me of how fleeting life is and how precious each moment with our children is. I have been blessed to have three.
Coffee….I was raised by my grandparents, and I would wake up in the mornings smelling my grandfather’s coffee. I loved the mornings we would sit on the porch watching the world wake up while he drank coffee!
Pine Sol and my Grandma’s house. Grandma’s house always smelled for the original Pine Sol. I’ve often said, you could blindfold me and drive me around for hours, but if you dropped me a Grandma’s house, I’d know exactly where I was! I still clean bathrooms with it just for the nostalgia! Can always burn a candle for guests…just sayin’… : )
Love the imagery. Never really thought about it before, but the sense of smell really does trigger strong memories. Thanks for the reminder!
It probably sounds silly but I associate the smell of bacon cooking with my Great Grandpa. He cooked bacon every morning for as long as I can remember. It seemed the smell lingered all day long, so no matter what time you came over, it still smelled like bacon. I will catch myself closing my eyes when I cook bacon sometimes, and I am 5 years old, standing in my Great Grandpa’s kitchen, looking up at him. Scent is a strong sense, that is for sure.