Thursday 5 September 2013

Seven: Day 5 - Seven smells that transport me to another time and day

Smells are an important aspect of memory and without smells there would be no memories opine scientists and boy, they cannot be more correct. How much often I try to avoid sentimentalising my past, some smells never let me rest -- they coerce me into mentally shifting into another time and day when a particular smell happened.

1. Smell of moth balls are not quite to my liking but a whiff of them sends me into the trunks and cupboards of houses we lived in and clothes we transferred from cupboards to suitcases. Moth balls are emissaries of nostalgia!

2. The fragrance of jasmine flowers always remind me of a time when I fought for flowers on my aunt's head. They also remind of markets where there were many shops lined which sold strands of jasmine flowers.

3. Freshly painted walls force me into a mental journey of places that were part of my memory - school buildings, shops, houses and public libraries.

4. Smell of newspapers transport me but I still can't pinpoint any special place. It just transports me!

5. The smell while passing by a bakery - The assortment of diverse pastries and savouries combine to send out a wonderful smell that immediately reminds me of school get-togethers in small bakeries and shops.

6. While sauteing onions, there is a lovely smell that wafts through the kitchen and immediately the mind conjures images of lovely food and always food leads one to vibrant and beautiful and not-so-beautiful memories.

7. Nail polish smell brings to mind the memory of other similar smells like that of petrol, fresh paint alongside incidents which formed an integral part of our lives some time ago!



I am participating in Write Tribe's Festival of Words from 1st to 7th September where nearly 82 bloggers are writing on the theme of Seven for Seven days - a post a day! Today is Day 5.



24 comments:

  1. Lovely post. Every life has its own share of smellodrama if I could put it that way.

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  2. Smell of different things affect people in different ways. Whereas smell of jasmine is refreshing for all,the smell of onion is welcome for some and repulsive to others. Nicely written!

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  3. Except for the smell of freshly painted walls, I love all the smells rather the fragrances . Fragrances of the jasmine flowers is divine and right now I am cooking lady finger sabzi and aroma is..........love it.

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  4. Aha moth balls have this peculiar smell that every winter transports me to memories of my maternal grandparents' place! Don't know why exactly.
    N the smell of petrol, which I love, always remind me of endless trips with papa on scooter!!
    Lovely post! :) thanks!

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  5. I vaguely remember your post, may a couple of years ago where you had written about the how a scent/ touch/ taste transports one back to a particular scene/ emotion. This reminded me of that. We once had a extempore event in school and the topic was, "sounds that I like" it was a fun activity :)

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  6. I simply enjoy reading your posts.. There is so much of a personal touch and warmth to it... :-)

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  7. The smell of Petrol, Ghee in the kadai, agarbattis are the ones that I can't resist. :-)

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  8. It's amazing how smells bring back vivid memories for us. Wonderful post!
    Penny
    http://pennymcdanielspiritualguidance.blogspot.com

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  9. I love the smell of soil after rain. I love the smell of mehandi too.
    Smell of petrol, old papers and strong perfumes is unbearable to me.

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  10. Why is it that only the smells relating to food stay in my mind :)

    Ah! I also love the smell of old books - Thank God there is something else :)

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  11. I have the habit of loving the first five smells. Great post and can't stop laughing:)

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  12. I have the habit of loving the first five smells. Great post and can't stop laughing:)
    www.vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com

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  13. I esp identify with smell of those moth balls.. The memories of dark wooden almarahs they take me back to :)

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  14. I too love smell of jasmine, petrol smell in the early morning drive, ghee in kadai, briyani smell, elaichi smell etc :-))))

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  15. I love the smell of old book and the first rain :D
    beautiful post :D

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  16. Isn't it amazing that we all seem to have some kind of engraved childhood memory associations with each of the smells you've mentioned?

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  17. That's a nice post. Smells...for me I somehow like the smell of dettol too much...I don't know why...maybe it smells care :)

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  18. Nostalgic post....smell is indeed a heightening sense organ like the others

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  19. I liked your post, also agree with you some smells like nailpolish, petrol, sandalwood, attracts me. The smell of biryani, kababs, and some very special curry's reminds me of my mom who was very good at cooking. Thanks for sharing !!

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  20. True moth balls are emissaries of nostalgia and sauteing onions makes one hungry.
    Petrol smell used to make me go bonkers, but that was in the school days.

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  21. Your write up made me also gait into all those pathways and rebrush all my bachpan ka memories.

    LOVED IT!!

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  22. I love the smell of jasmine flowers too. The next time I'm in Bombay I've told myself I'm going to buy and wear a gajra at least for a day. My aunt loved them.

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  23. What a fun post!! I had to laugh at the smell of moth balls. After my mom was sick with cancer she would wrap up a bunch of moth balls in a piece of cloth and bang then on the arm of the chair where she was sitting pulverizing them into dust. Maybe she did it to get high and it helped her to deal with the pain. I have no idea. LOL I can just remember her doing it vividly.

    Kathy
    http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com

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  24. Oh yes, smells have a way of transporting us to different places... some lovely memories and moments come live in a flash of a second! :)

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