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Evocative scents
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Scent-evoked memories tend to be pure and emotional. This is connected to how the memories are stored. Most of the action takes place in an ancient part of the brain – the limbic system. Odour receptors in the nose, like tiny antennae, send messages to the brain’s olfactory bulb, located above the roof of the nasal cavity, for processing. The olfactory bulb sends its information directly to the amygdala – the memory bank for emotional experience. There is no extra processing en route, as there is for our other senses, so smell memories link to emotional memories in a raw state."
The smell of freshly cut grass on a hot day, fresh lavender, just-picked rhubarb, stewing apple sauce, the earth carpet in a beech woodland -- these are some of the evocative scents that take me straight back to childhood.
What happy scents remind you of growing up? |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Carbolic soap smell reminds me of being very young. "
That reminds me, my aunt's house always smelled wonderfully of exotic soaps and women's boudoir scents. I went into the bathroom of a restaurant in London and it had a similar fragrance, and I was straight back in that moment to being a young girl exploring Aunt Penny's house! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I cant describe the smell but i can smell it if that makes sense. It was the smell of the loft i would go up into the loft with my dad and walk across the joists it was so adventurous and exciting at the time  |
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The smell of an old 2stroke motorbike exhaust, it has a very distinctive smell, Silkoline is best, to me it reminds me going to Cadwell Park race track to watch tbe shell oil super cup (Original BSB) in 1989, and of my first motorbike, Yamaha TZR125 From 1989. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Raspberries and Benson and Hedges"
I remember an older friend who smoked B&H whilst driving and as I sat in the back of the car it was this amazing caramel smell. |
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The smell of rubber reminds me of the rooms in school where they kept all sports equipment and footballs/basketballs etc
oh and when I was about 10 I had my teeth out and they used a large black mask to cover my mouth/nose and knock me out, A strong smell of rubber always makes me feel queasy  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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what a lovely post!..many many smells for me..baking cakes... roast lamb.. making jam..i have a very keen sense of smell..so , yes..food.. and my childhood garden, childhood cooking....some men too!if i like the way a man smells, and i dont necessarily mean aftershave etc..love proper human smells! |
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By *ady LickWoman
over a year ago
Northampton Somewhere |
There's a particular rose that reminds me of my grannies garden, she used to have a couple of them. I used to spend a lot of time with her as a child.
The smell of fresh doughnuts makes me think of days out at the seaside
There's a perfume that makes me stop in my tracks everytime it wafts past but that's for another time x |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"I cant describe the smell but i can smell it if that makes sense. It was the smell of the loft i would go up into the loft with my dad and walk across the joists it was so adventurous and exciting at the time "
My dad turned the garage attic into a den for me and my sibling, with a pulley-door and special code words to get in. Spent hours up there!! Ours had a distinct scent too! |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Smell of fresh bread and coal fire . "
I was obsessed with our coal and log fire. The smell, the look and the sound. Crackling away whilst my family sat reading of an evening! Ahhhh memories.
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"The smell of an old 2stroke motorbike exhaust, it has a very distinctive smell, Silkoline is best, to me it reminds me going to Cadwell Park race track to watch tbe shell oil super cup (Original BSB) in 1989, and of my first motorbike, Yamaha TZR125 From 1989."
Oooh sounds very technical! |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"The smell of rubber reminds me of the rooms in school where they kept all sports equipment and footballs/basketballs etc
oh and when I was about 10 I had my teeth out and they used a large black mask to cover my mouth/nose and knock me out, A strong smell of rubber always makes me feel queasy "
Sounds like a not so positive smell!! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Smell of fresh bread and coal fire .
I was obsessed with our coal and log fire. The smell, the look and the sound. Crackling away whilst my family sat reading of an evening! Ahhhh memories.
Yes it's nice but funny when spark jumps out of fire
"
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"what a lovely post!..many many smells for me..baking cakes... roast lamb.. making jam..i have a very keen sense of smell..so , yes..food.. and my childhood garden, childhood cooking....some men too!if i like the way a man smells, and i dont necessarily mean aftershave etc..love proper human smells!"
Ooooh cooking smells, yes! Roast lamb makes me immediately smell my dad's homemade mint sauce. And jam-making and chutneys is a massive memory from the picking of the fruits or veggies in the garden through to prepping and then the cooking. Lush!
I kept a t-shirt of a man for weeks to sniff it after he left the country. He had smelled so good. Nuzzling into a nice smelling armpit makes me happy. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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i like the smell of wood...old furniture...or newly chopped wood..i wish people would stop trying to disguise smells..whether the smell of our bodies, or the smell of the things around us...dont try and sanitisise us! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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My uncle had a white Triumph Spitfire (soft-top) and he used to wear a leather bomber jacket. When i was little i used to sit in the car and pretend i was driving it and i could smell the leather.
He passed away when i was 9 whilst he was on holiday in Spain and after his funeral my nan gave me his leather bomber jacket. I used to put it on and sniff it and it would remind me of him. In a comforting way.
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"There's a particular rose that reminds me of my grannies garden, she used to have a couple of them. I used to spend a lot of time with her as a child.
The smell of fresh doughnuts makes me think of days out at the seaside
There's a perfume that makes me stop in my tracks everytime it wafts past but that's for another time x"
Oh gosh you've made me think of my mum with this post. She adored the smell of the St Ethelburga rose we had in the garden of our family home. So when she and dad moved house, dad dug it up and took it with unbeknownst to her. She was so surprised. And burst into tears.
The smell of the perfume she would wear when I was small, on an evening when she was dressing up to go out and I was in her room watching her dress and she'd squirt it on her, in the air and at me right before the babysitter arrived. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Chips with loads of vinegar reminds me when as a family we used to go Wales or when I went to the swimming baths with my mates as we always went the chip shop afterwards "
Nice |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Smell of fresh bread and coal fire .
I was obsessed with our coal and log fire. The smell, the look and the sound. Crackling away whilst my family sat reading of an evening! Ahhhh memories.
Yes it's nice but funny when spark jumps out of fire
"
Exciting!! |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"French toast, that takes me straight back to my childhood. It was always a special treat when my mother made it."
Oh yes!!! We had it as a treat too! Good call. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"i like the smell of wood...old furniture...or newly chopped wood..i wish people would stop trying to disguise smells..whether the smell of our bodies, or the smell of the things around us...dont try and sanitisise us! "
Free the smells! |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"My uncle had a white Triumph Spitfire (soft-top) and he used to wear a leather bomber jacket. When i was little i used to sit in the car and pretend i was driving it and i could smell the leather.
He passed away when i was 9 whilst he was on holiday in Spain and after his funeral my nan gave me his leather bomber jacket. I used to put it on and sniff it and it would remind me of him. In a comforting way.
"
That's lovely! |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"My grandmother was quite religious so her house would always smell of incense.
Incense reminds me of her "
I had a teenage friend who wore patchouli perfume, and I recently smelt some and so strongly missed her laugh. Scents are so powerful. |
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The smell of Avgas around Heathrow Airport. I've always loved going there since I was a teenager and now when I drive past I open the car windows to hear the aircraft engines and smell the aviation fuel. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Zoflora reminds me of growing up, laminate throughout the house and that was the go to product for mopping lol."
That's made me think of the swafega my dad always used to clean his hands after he'd been doing work in the garden. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"The smell of Avgas around Heathrow Airport. I've always loved going there since I was a teenager and now when I drive past I open the car windows to hear the aircraft engines and smell the aviation fuel."
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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The smell of pine needles reminds me of our country house when I was young.
The smell of certain strong cleaning products remind me of Christmas (the big cleaning of the house before our party each year).
Pumpkin pie and stuffing smells remind me of thanksgiving.
I could go on for ages. |
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I had a weird one recently. Went swimming at an indoor pool for the first time in about 25 years. The instant I smelt that chlorine I was a kid again having swimming lessons. It brought back all kinds of happy memories around that. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"The smell of fresh grass and also petrol xx
I used to love the rainbow petrol stains on the road. "
I used to say the fairy's had been doing there washing up xx |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"The smell of pine needles reminds me of our country house when I was young.
The smell of certain strong cleaning products remind me of Christmas (the big cleaning of the house before our party each year).
Pumpkin pie and stuffing smells remind me of thanksgiving.
I could go on for ages. "
I feel the same. Smell memory journeys! 
Give Ember and Panda a head-stroke from me, the smell of dogs in the house is something I miss currently. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"I had a weird one recently. Went swimming at an indoor pool for the first time in about 25 years. The instant I smelt that chlorine I was a kid again having swimming lessons. It brought back all kinds of happy memories around that."
Oh golly yes!! |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"The smell of fresh grass and also petrol xx
I used to love the rainbow petrol stains on the road. I used to say the fairy's had been doing there washing up xx"
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Vosene shampoo, takes me back to bathtime x
Ha ha i only thought it was my mum that tortured me with that stuff 
Oh and the smell of Dettol and TCP ."
Oh gawd yes, to all of those and Bonjela! |
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By *igeiaWoman
over a year ago
Bristol |
There's a perfume all three generations of women in my family used to wear that neither of us remaining can wear anymore because of how wrapped up in reminiscences the scent is. We always seem to catch a whiff when we're out together though. Creosote always makes me remember walking through the alleyways of my village growing up. Lavender is all about my grandad because he was an amazing gardener and I spent hours reading books on his lavender lawn. Patchouli is a waft of teenage shenanigans. As is dewberry. |
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By *ady LickWoman
over a year ago
Northampton Somewhere |
"Vosene shampoo, takes me back to bathtime x
Ha ha i only thought it was my mum that tortured me with that stuff
Oh and the smell of Dettol and TCP .
Oh gawd yes, to all of those and Bonjela!"
And Vicks, first sign of a cold I had it rubbed under my nose!! |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"There's a perfume all three generations of women in my family used to wear that neither of us remaining can wear anymore because of how wrapped up in reminiscences the scent is. We always seem to catch a whiff when we're out together though. Creosote always makes me remember walking through the alleyways of my village growing up. Lavender is all about my grandad because he was an amazing gardener and I spent hours reading books on his lavender lawn. Patchouli is a waft of teenage shenanigans. As is dewberry."
Also dewberry in the form of the Body Shop
Products. |
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"Vosene shampoo, takes me back to bathtime x
Ha ha i only thought it was my mum that tortured me with that stuff
Oh and the smell of Dettol and TCP .
Oh gawd yes, to all of those and Bonjela!
And Vicks, first sign of a cold I had it rubbed under my nose!!"
I always had it rubbed on my chest. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Vosene shampoo, takes me back to bathtime x
Ha ha i only thought it was my mum that tortured me with that stuff
Oh and the smell of Dettol and TCP .
Oh gawd yes, to all of those and Bonjela!
And Vicks, first sign of a cold I had it rubbed under my nose!!"
I still have it here in my first aid tin! I'm addicted to Vicks! |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Bonfires and creosote remind me of my much loved grandmother."
I was thinking about you as I posted the OP!! Wyrd would say this is too long.....!!
Good smells. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"The smell of real leather always takes me back to the tack room at the stables "
Oh absolutely! And the feeling of my jodhpurs and long riding boots. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"The smell of pine needles reminds me of our country house when I was young.
The smell of certain strong cleaning products remind me of Christmas (the big cleaning of the house before our party each year).
Pumpkin pie and stuffing smells remind me of thanksgiving.
I could go on for ages.
I feel the same. Smell memory journeys!
Give Ember and Panda a head-stroke from me, the smell of dogs in the house is something I miss currently. "
I love that you remember their names.
I gave them each a stroke for ya! |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"The smell of pine needles reminds me of our country house when I was young.
The smell of certain strong cleaning products remind me of Christmas (the big cleaning of the house before our party each year).
Pumpkin pie and stuffing smells remind me of thanksgiving.
I could go on for ages.
I feel the same. Smell memory journeys!
Give Ember and Panda a head-stroke from me, the smell of dogs in the house is something I miss currently.
I love that you remember their names.
I gave them each a stroke for ya!"
Thank you kindly |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Estella may I say you always come up with some fantastic threads thank you lovely xx"
Oh gosh. That actually made me well up a little. Thank you. I was just reminiscing this evening. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Parma violets. The smell reminds me of my mother who always wore a perfume called April violets. I lost her when I was young, so the smell always evokes a very emotional response. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Parma violets. The smell reminds me of my mother who always wore a perfume called April violets. I lost her when I was young, so the smell always evokes a very emotional response. "
Awwwww. X |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Estella may I say you always come up with some fantastic threads thank you lovely xx
Oh gosh. That actually made me well up a little. Thank you. I was just reminiscing this evening. "
bless you reminiscing can be good for the soul you are a lovely woman inside and out xx |
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Some years ago, I worked for a reprographics company - famous for duplicating machines. In the warehouse, they still held stocks of ink and the fluid. The first time I ventured into the warehouse, the smell hit me - I was transported straight back to the head teachers office (where the school secretary kept one of the aforementioned machines); butterflies in my stomach and the exact same feeling of dread that I had on my (many) visits there - to account for the many heinous crimes of my youth (talking in class, cheek, smoking, selling cigarettes and sweets and charging classmates to look at my older brother's porn stash etc ha ha). If you've ever watched the film "Kes" you'll get the picture. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Estella may I say you always come up with some fantastic threads thank you lovely xx
Oh gosh. That actually made me well up a little. Thank you. I was just reminiscing this evening. bless you reminiscing can be good for the soul you are a lovely woman inside and out xx"
 |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Some years ago, I worked for a reprographics company - famous for duplicating machines. In the warehouse, they still held stocks of ink and the fluid. The first time I ventured into the warehouse, the smell hit me - I was transported straight back to the head teachers office (where the school secretary kept one of the aforementioned machines); butterflies in my stomach and the exact same feeling of dread that I had on my (many) visits there - to account for the many heinous crimes of my youth (talking in class, cheek, smoking, selling cigarettes and sweets and charging classmates to look at my older brother's porn stash etc ha ha). If you've ever watched the film "Kes" you'll get the picture. "
Hahahahahaha! I get it totally |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Smell of grease & diesel - reminds me of the dads old workshop
Smell of freshly cooked croissants - meeting my partner as he baked me croissants for our first breakfast in bed together
X Lady  "
Oh he is a keeper!!! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Estella may I say you always come up with some fantastic threads thank you lovely xx
Oh gosh. That actually made me well up a little. Thank you. I was just reminiscing this evening. bless you reminiscing can be good for the soul you are a lovely woman inside and out xx
"
xx |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Vosene shampoo, takes me back to bathtime x
Ha ha i only thought it was my mum that tortured me with that stuff
Oh and the smell of Dettol and TCP .
Oh gawd yes, to all of those and Bonjela!
And Vicks, first sign of a cold I had it rubbed under my nose!!"
Oh yes we had that as well x |
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"Carbolic soap smell reminds me of being very young.
That reminds me, my aunt's house always smelled wonderfully of exotic soaps and women's boudoir scents. I went into the bathroom of a restaurant in London and it had a similar fragrance, and I was straight back in that moment to being a young girl exploring Aunt Penny's house!"
My Gran and Grandad always had Wright's coaltar soap in their bathroom. From when i was young until they both sadly passed in 2004 there was always that smell. I found it strangely comforting.
This might sound sad, but I now keep a bar of Wright's Coaltar soap in the bathroom. It's unopened, but when I want to be transported back in time just for a few moments I dig it out and smell that familiar comforting scent. Takes me right back to being with them. |
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"i like the smell of wood...old furniture... "
Oh gosh, that just reminded me of the back stairs in my prep school.....the smell of old victorian wooden stairs being worn down by hundreds of little feet running up from warm cloak rooms filled with shoe bags, wooden benches and those fabulous double iron coat and hat hooks!!! |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Carbolic soap smell reminds me of being very young.
That reminds me, my aunt's house always smelled wonderfully of exotic soaps and women's boudoir scents. I went into the bathroom of a restaurant in London and it had a similar fragrance, and I was straight back in that moment to being a young girl exploring Aunt Penny's house!
My Gran and Grandad always had Wright's coaltar soap in their bathroom. From when i was young until they both sadly passed in 2004 there was always that smell. I found it strangely comforting.
This might sound sad, but I now keep a bar of Wright's Coaltar soap in the bathroom. It's unopened, but when I want to be transported back in time just for a few moments I dig it out and smell that familiar comforting scent. Takes me right back to being with them."
Not sad at all. I have a bar of soap I do exactly the same with and a bottle of perfume. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"i like the smell of wood...old furniture...
Oh gosh, that just reminded me of the back stairs in my prep school.....the smell of old victorian wooden stairs being worn down by hundreds of little feet running up from warm cloak rooms filled with shoe bags, wooden benches and those fabulous double iron coat and hat hooks!!! "
Sounds like my primary school too! |
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By *imbo59seMan
over a year ago
North Norfolk area |
Wrights Coal Tar Soap definitely for me. My father was a manager at the Wrights factory in Southwark (Wrights Layman and Umney to be precise) where they made it.
The smell reminds me of the times he used to take me to work with him as a kid |
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"Some years ago, I worked for a reprographics company - famous for duplicating machines. In the warehouse, they still held stocks of ink and the fluid. The first time I ventured into the warehouse, the smell hit me - I was transported straight back to the head teachers office (where the school secretary kept one of the aforementioned machines); butterflies in my stomach and the exact same feeling of dread that I had on my (many) visits there - to account for the many heinous crimes of my youth (talking in class, cheek, smoking, selling cigarettes and sweets and charging classmates to look at my older brother's porn stash etc ha ha). If you've ever watched the film "Kes" you'll get the picture.
Hahahahahaha! I get it totally "
So did I Estella, so did I!  |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Wrights Coal Tar Soap definitely for me. My father was a manager at the Wrights factory in Southwark (Wrights Layman and Umney to be precise) where they made it.
The smell reminds me of the times he used to take me to work with him as a kid"
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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reading through some of these made me smile - was sniffing a whole heap of candles the other day - my daughter has more than a things for them - one (and i cant remember which make even now) reminded me of the old wax polish we used to use on all the old real wood furniture at home when i was little - i used to love that day - the tin used to last forever - a dark green tin with white polish in - those yellow dusters - |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Creosote reminds me of my dad, painting our fences and garden gates, in the summer. It makes me feel happy, but sad at the same time, because he's not here any more. |
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