“For the sense of smell, almost more than any other, has the power to recall memories and it’s a pity we use it so little“
Rachel Carson (Marine biologist& conservationist)
Of the five senses we humans are endowed with, probably the least explored is, the sense of smell. We seldom think of it or revel in its world, the way we do with our sense of hearing or sight. Yet, in a strange way covid pandemic has brought our attention to it. Anosmia (loss of smell) is certainly a prominent feature of covid infection. “Wake up and smell the flowers” is a call to all of you out there to actually bring your focus on to your sense of smell. Have I told you, that what makes walking so intriguing is, it infuses each of the five senses and in a way thoroughly jogs them?
Jogging the five senses
The beautiful sites I see every day, the chirping of birds I hear, the warmth of early morning sun combined with coolness of the wind on my skin all are all delightful experiences. Oh! before covid situation I have even tasted dates on my walk to the alain oasis. Smelling the sweet smells of nature is an important part of my morning walks.Smelling freshly mowed grass in the park is a distinct smell, I relate my morning walks to.
Enigma of sense of smell
Mobile phones have made it possible for every one to click photographs quiet easily. We grab our phones to capture the special moments for eternity. But, have you thought about the fact that, smells cannot be captured and stored in any known device.It has to be captured only by our brain into our memory. What’s our first introduction to something delicious being cooked in the kitchen? The taste!…..wrong. The sight! ..um um..wrong again. Even before you open the house door it’s the aroma which hits your nose and conjures the image of a very tasty meal.
In Bangalore (Bengaluru now) certain streets you will notice the distinct delicious aroma wafting from bakeries..(I think some mouths just watered reading this ). The bouquets you gave to loved ones and they richly inhaled the fragrance and instantly loved it, the heavenly sweet smells of fruits like mangoes (my favourite) and jackfruit (not exactly my favourite), the cake baking in the oven with its buttery and vanilla notes are all happy smells in our memory. I am a beach person , the cool odor of salty winds is very precious. I am also an avid book lover (that’s why all my post begin with quotes ), so the musty smell of old books and diaries is dear to me and takes me to an era gone by.
Memory and smell
Its queer how memory functions. A large part of our memory is also about the smells from our past, yet we seldom acknowledge it. Don’t we all remember our mothers cooking? Do you remember what your favorite flower smells like? Do you buy mint or basil after you smell it? What’s your favorite perfume fragrance ? Is it floral or fruity or may be citrus notes with hint of cedarwood and cinnamon? There is a whole industry out there only in the business of smell come to think of it (more so in the arab world). Wine tasters know to swirl and smell before tasting. Millions of people across the world wake up and smell the coffee. Right?
Wake up and smell the flowers
When I go for my morning walks I see lots of blooms and I cant help but click away on my mobile phone. The artist in me thrills at the colours nature has bestowed on them and for good reason too …pollination. In my morning walks I make it a point to pass by the jasmine shrub and actually inhale deeply just to revel in that experience. Now you see, I just gave you one more reason to tie those shoe laces and go for a walk, didn’t I? So do wake up and smell the flowers on your morning walk. Some flowers have a distinct smell and others have a subtle smell. We may not be very tuned to distinguish between smells but the entire animal kingdom depends on it for food and survival. Look at some of my morning shots of bloom and you will surely wonder what they smell like?
Enjoy every experience of life, no matter how mundane it seems. The tomorrow that you have postponed all your wishes, big plans and enjoyment to may never come. Why not enrich each day by enjoying the smaller experiences life offers every single day?
I have penned a poem on one such experience which I am sure you will all relate to. Its aptly titled “The Chase”.
THE CHASE
It came to me at a
unguarded moment
Was mildly surprised
at the intensity it brought
My eyes gleamed
and mouth watered
Reminiscent of
some golden days
The warmth spread now
touched the soul
Tried hard
couldn’t let it go
I had to chase
to find the source
Feet now restless
eyes were sore
I closed my eyes
allowing heart to lead
Tracing memory lanes
for a Childhood sweet
There… then.. just
at the end of street
Was the vendor of
the delicious treat
Smile spreading across
resplendent face
Ran to him
with a little less grace
I savored
to my hearts fill
Dripping fingers
sloppy still
Some days
just like that
Take you back
with a simple smell
A dusty book
A musty car
A dried flower
Open old scar
It was just a smell
Of beautiful days
Carefree life
and sun-kissed face
It was just a smell
Of forgotten friends
Sharing treats
and swinging feet
A heavy sigh
escaped unknown
Softened eyes
Seldom shone
It was just a smell
It was just a smell….
Did you connect with the poem ? Haven’t we all at some point passed by old alleys, our college canteens, places we hung out with our gang…..they all had their distinct smells. After reading wake up and smell the flowers I urge you all to pay attention at least for a day on the smells of the day. I promise you, that you will stumble on a whole new world. It’s a fact that brain is sharper with practice and a whole part of our brain is dedicated only for olfactory memories.
Olfactory Training
Sadly, in covid times, olfactory training has become a common word. Do you know what they ask you to do in olfactory training ? They ask you to operate from your memory. Even if you cant smell an item you are asked to remember how it smelt before you lost your sense of smell. For example when u inhale into the coffee pot you are asked to remember how coffee beans used to smell to you in the past. This they make you do with a whole gamut of other smells. This helps one rewire the brain to regain the sense of smell.Also the sense of taste and smell are closely related. That’s why when you catch a cold, food tastes bland. Now you know how important smelling is?
When we were kids me and my brother had planned to one day learn to bottle the earthy smell of rain soaked soil. That is, world’s best smell according to me.
There is a much talked about book by Diane Ackerman. She truly know what she is saying when she quotes “Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains”.
What is your favorite smell? What smells take you back to home…to your college…to your favorite sweet vendor ….Please do share. This world will be such a lonely place if we did not learn to share our experiences. You will be surprised what smells people relate to or remember. If you think the write up is interesting or thought provoking do share with friends and family especially your mother, cant think of anyone who doesn’t remember their moms cooking.
Until next time …Smell away