I mentioned quite a long time ago that I don't have a sense of smell. I've never had one. Not that I can remember, anyway.
Almost every single day at work someone comments on the smell of the food I am eating, or about to eat. I eat both breakfast and lunch at work. Every morning since early-mid November I have homemade quiche and eat it with some Turkey bacon. I had no idea that quiche was so... odoriferous (love that word). It's a strong smell, and one that almost everyone seems to agree is very pleasant. I always feels awkward and a little guilty, I guess, when someone comments on the smell. I feel bad because I feel like I am disturbing them, somehow. Like I am invading their space. I also feel bad because I don't have enough to share. Heh. I feel like apologizing. Weird, I know, but I seriously do.
I will also often bring in some yummy leftovers from dinner and heat it up in the microwave. Sometimes it's like a little game that my co-workers like to play called, guess what Erin's eating by the smell of her food.
All of these comments make me frequently think about what I am missing out on, not being able to smell. And so I thought I'd do a top 10 list of things I wish I could smell.
1. Roses (and other flowers)
2. Coffee
3. Oranges
4. The kitchen after baking cookies
5. New baby smell
6. Chocolate (because I love to eat it)
7. Vanilla (because everyone seems to love it)
8. My boyfriend (I hear every person has their own scent and I wish I knew what my boyfriend's unique smell is)
9. The ocean
10. My quiche!
So, please tell me, what are some of your favorite smells?
This is fascinating! How is your sense of taste?
I think my favorite smells are all tied to memory. Like, the smell of my dad's cologne, or fresh cut grass.
Although the smell of baking pumpkin or banana bread is pretty awesome.
The smell of Christmas...
The smell after it rains...
And oddly, the smell of marshmallows.
I love, love, love the smell of coffee...and books. So obviously any Barnes & Noble will do it for me. Haha.
Newly mown grass, fresh baked bread. There are so many! My problem is that although I can smell, I can't always identify what the smells are. Some people I know can identify different perfumes but all I know is that it's a pleasant smell but only different from another perfume if I can compare them directly.
Erica, you brought up a couple of great points -- how smell is tied to memory and taste. I have heard that the sense of smell can bring back some of the most vivid memories. In terms of taste, well, it's hard to describe since I don't know how anyone else tastes things :) I do know that I definitely can taste things, like if something is salty or sour I will know it. I actually put salt on nearly everything, otherwise most food to me is quite bland. If you can tell a difference when you are all stuffed up or plug your nose when you eat, I guess it would be like that? :)
Marisa, that is very interesting. Smells like 'Christmas' and 'Rain' are hard for me to wrap my head around. I've heard lots of people say they love those smells but I have no idea what they would smell like. For example, what does a Christmas tree smell like? I am guessing it's pretty hard to describe to someone like me.
NatureCat, haha. I hate the taste of coffee (at least plain black coffee, I'm sure I'd love the fancy flavored stuff with a million calories) and can't imagine that something that tastes so bad can smell so good. Even people that don't like the taste still love the smell, though.
Sheila, I can kind of picture what freshly baked bread smells like (although I could be way off, who knows, haha) but freshly cut grass is another one that has always baffled me. Why does freshly cut grass smell different than just regular old grass? Does the act of cutting it release something into the air? Is it the same grass smell, just stronger? That is interesting that you can't always identify a smell. I suppose that is not the important part though, as long as the smell is a pleasant one!
Wow, that's very interesting. I can't imagine not being able to smell! My favorites are coffee, rain, and pumpkin pie. :)
1. Rainbath Body Wash (reminds me of my grandma); 2. Freshly cut grass (I get it ... also the smell of my ex bf right after he had cut the grass); 3. The way my kitchen smells after I bake my awesome apple crisp; 4. Coffee, for sure; 5. The way my bathroom smells when my mother comes to visit and she has just put all of her lotions & potions on; 6. Old Spice cologne (the way my dad would smell when we would hug him on his way to work every morning when my sister and I were little; 7. Chocolate (not just chocolate but the chocolate candy store smell where it's just chocolate overkill); 8. Chapstick (original brand); 9. A smoking pipe (Sherlock Holmes style ... and the tobacco store smell); 10. Perfume (so many I love ... but not if it is perfume overkill).
Jennifer M., and I can't imagine being able to smell :) I think if I did suddenly gain a sense of smell it would be a big adjustment getting used to the constant barrage of different scents!
bobocela, great list! I looove a good apple crisp :)
To the ladies that said coffee: do you all enjoy the taste of it too?