There is a scent combination of old wood, motor oil, WD-40 and lawnmower gasoline that when I smell those 4 things together (and it happens more often than you would think) I am standing in the middle of the clapboard workshop/garage on my grandmother’s property, that has long since been torn down. But when I get a whiff of that smell, I can see my Uncle tinkering and explaining to me and my brother how to make arrowheads and I am 5 years old again.
The scent of cloves (even if it’s on a ham or in a spice jar) takes me right back to my high school years in the 80’s. My best friend smoked Djarams.
The scent of slightly musty parachute material brings me back to my childhood days of tent camping with my brother and Dad. Our tent was made from leftover parachute material from WWII. If I hear a zipper like that, I get the same sensation. Whhhhrrrrrrrzzzzzzzzzzkk.
The scent of hose water hitting hot sidewalk cement brings me back to the summers of my childhood. You could see the steam rise up from the side walk. We used to purposely hose it down and lay on our stomachs in our bathings suits on. The sun was so warm and that smell, although kind of oddly dusty smelling, was delicious. And when you would get up, you would always have dirt and little pebbles and grass clippings stuck to your stomach and legs.
The smell of honeysuckle instantly transports me to my elementary school playground. It was surrounded by honeysuckle. Sometimes I fall into a very intense bittersweet emotional state when I smell it. I didn’t like school, but I have fond memories about certain friends and I have really vivid remembrances about the fabulous Halloween carnivals that the school held every year. Those carnivals were one of my favorite things from childhood. I was so thrilled to hook a pink plastic bracelet at the fishing booth and to eat a piece of fudge wrapped in waxed paper from the bake sale. It’s kind of a weird feeling because I experience fear, loathing, joy and intense happiness all mixed up with that scent. Sometimes it’s a little overwhelming and I try to avoid it.