Interesting that you raise this thread. Working with my Year 8 class on creative writing, I've been trying to convince them to use the less-described senses (and, in particular, smell) to 'put the reader in the picture' in their writing.

It's interesting - smell is one of the few things that can stop me in my tracks. I was walking down by the creek here in Townsville about a week ago, not too far away from the loading dock of a pub. All of a sudden, I had to stop and take a deep breath. For a brief moment, I was transported - by smell alone - to Paris. There was something about that area that bore the odour of Paris in the early morning, perhaps when the dew has moistened the cobblestones and allowed the smells to come back to life as they are heated slowly by the sun. It was smell alone that took me to that place. Townsville in Summer bears no resemblance whatsoever to Paris at any time of year.

Smells are also delightfully ephemeral. Walking back that way just an hour later, the smell was gone. Perhaps it's that temporary nature that makes smells so central to memory - they can take you to exact moments. It's now over 12 years since I visited Florence, and the sights of that city have faded, but the smell of leather, stagnant water and other Florentine delights is as strong today as it was then. Strangely, I didn't find the smell of Florence OR Paris particularly appealing at the time. I still don't. But the memories invoked by revisiting those smells are priceless.

Dear Otokonoko,

Smells are very central to memory. Thank You for sharing
your experiences with us. It reminded me of my own
feelings of homesickness and nostalgia that the smell of
eucalyptus evokes in me when I'm travelling overseas.
Homesickness strikes me to the core.

Where would we be without the sense of smell. It certainly
would have a negative effect on our quality of life (as well
as also being a sign of a serious health problem). We wouldn't
be able to delight in the fragrance of flowers, the aromas
of our favourite foods, and so on. Smell acts as a warning system
alerting us to the dangers of gas leaks, spoiled food, fires,
and so on. Its a sense that helps us not only to enjoy life -
but live it. Perhaps that's one of the messages that Patrick
Suskind was trying to send us in his novel?

cont'd ...

I still remember standing on the deck of the P & O Orient liner outside of Vancouver when the heavy fragrance of pine filled the air.
To this day - the fragrance of pine takes me back to that moment.

The other less pleasant smell is that of mold that makes me
recall my childhood. I grew up in an old house whose bedrooms
were riddled with it. Luckily we did not stay in the house for
long. But again - that distinct smell has stayed with me over the
years.

And so it goes

Yeeeeep. I've never forgotten any of my farts.

'diabolical allergy'

To Columbian marching powder?

*Yeeeeep. I've never forgotten any of my farts.*

So Houllie, do you pull the blanket/sheet over your other
half and make her smell them? :)