Poetic smells

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:02 pm

Greta,

I'm with you: the smell of books. There's nothing like it. Also, the smell of a brand new vinyl LP, fresh out of its sleeve.

Linda.

annaedith · Post by **annaedith** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 1:13 pm

in case of hobbies, here are some country autumn smells:
the smell of my horse's coat
the smell in the stable
the smell of newly bought good leather bridles
the smell of my old riding sweatshirt when putting it finally on after a week in the city
the smell of my sleeping back when i'm going to sleep in the hay

greta · Post by **greta** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:41 pm

annaedith,
as a hobby rider i get really excited every time i can sense the smell of stables, although for many this smell is not the most pleasant one

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:46 pm

Leather is a beautiful scent, be it bridles or boots. I can relate to the stables also, a lot of horses around this area.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:58 pm

Hi Anna Edith ~

I worked for awhile cleaning stables ~ the whole nine yards

and found the smell of the stable as I approached intoxicating. As for the stalls themselves, well, it was just my job.....one which the ranch owner had to pull me back from doing "such a good job ~ you really don't have to go all the way down to the clay

." Tearing apart the bundles, to give each horse its share on the rounds, brought an additional, heavier waft of fresh hay that was intoxicating, too. It reminded me of the 'mini thrill' that comes from opening a fresh container of ground coffee. Just that momentary, olfactory blast

.

I love the earthy smell of chicken coops, when gathering fresh eggs ~ and the smell of being up close and her 'objecting' rustle when reaching under the soft down and bristled feathers of the hen to get one. I love picking up a chicken and burying my face in his/her feathers. That wonderful, natural, warm smell of a bird, of nature.

~ Lizzy

Ghoti · Post by **Ghoti** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 8:51 pm

I love the smell of soft grass in maytime out in the countryside somewhere... The smell of the sea... I know it's been said but the musty smell of old books and the virginal, plastic smell of new ones. I see where your coming from with the stables too though I probably wouldn't have thought of it.

Ghoti · Post by **Ghoti** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 8:59 pm

Just occured to me - since the brief is "poetic smells" I was wondering if anyone had a favourite smell quote from a poem or song. some that spring to mind:
"Smellin' like a brewery looking like a tramp. Ain't got a quarter got a postage stamp."
- Tom Waits, Pasties and a G-string

Napalm... smell of victory was already done and I can't think of any more off the top of my head but I'm sure I'll let you know.

Diane · Post by **Diane** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:12 pm

How come CDs don't smell, look or feel alluring in the same way as vinyl? Did technology suddenly become too sterile, too 'perfect', or what? Strange isn't it, the way we don't feel so attached to our cd collection as our old LPs...well, for those of us old enough to have had an LP collection anyway.

I agree about all the countryside smells, stables, animals, earth.

Ghoti, the song that springs to mind is Sunday Morning Coming Down, with "the Sunday smell of someone frying chicken" on an old Kris Kristofferson LP I used to have. It was a wonderfully laid back album, with 'Help me make it through the night' and 'Loving her was easier'. I'm going to have to get a Kris K CD now that I have reminded myself...

Good Wishes,

Diane

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 11:28 pm

Hi Diane ~

As one of those "old enough

," my Rita Coolidge album also hearkens to these. Yes, CDs really do have a "sterile" quality to them, including their sound production.

~ Lizzy

Simon · Post by **Simon** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 5:57 am

The smell of the button jar.

I don't know if button jars smell the same thing the world over, but in my family the button jar has always had this very unique smell. A mixture of old fabric, perfume, mothballs and, I don't know, ginger cookies... ! It's funny how individualy button don't smell, but put in a jar they do. Same thing is true for patato bugs.

Opening the button jar is always a sure ticket to childhood memories. A button jar is a fabulous galaxy of fun to any kid old enough not to swallow them.

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:22 pm

Simon,

YES! The button jar! My mother used one always. It had a unique smell and all those different colourful buttons! Thanks for reminding me of something I had long forgotten. It seems these days, people don't have 'button jars' anymore. At least I don't. If one falls off, another will do.

Linda.

annaedith · Post by **annaedith** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 1:27 pm

hi simon, that's right, the button jar, that's a very special thing. add to the smell the sound when going through it to find a certain one, and it's a very strong childhod memory.
greta, linda, lizzy and diane, how nice to hear that the stable smells also mean something to you! it is true that the muck in the boxes isn't nice, but that's the ammoniak. but the rest of the stable smell mixture, which also contains hay, horses and horse feed, is so special. recently we ad bad hay (we had to burn it) that smelled just like it smells in old cellars or in the storeroom under the roof.
when i had my first horse, i always washed my hair with honey shampoo because he liked it. and never any perfume. horses go very much by smells. when i show something new to my horse, he presses his nostril very strong against it to find out how it smells!
it seems to me that all those old, especially childhood, memories and feelings mainly come back when one is relaxed and calm. in times of stress and problems it is very rare to feel anything.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 2:24 pm

Hi Everyone ~

Yes, my Mom had [still has] a button box and keeps it on the floor, beneath her bed. It's a huge, round, old, decorative tin. I remember the feeling of the buttons as I ran my hands [one or both at a time] through the buttons, too.....and then, singling them out, looking at each closely, arranging them by colour, by size, by whatever. I hadn't sorted through the various smells in combination to create the whole, but yes, it does have a distinct smell that says "button box."

I now, also, have a button box. It's also in a decorative tin, though mine is smaller and vertical. I have it just because I have it. I don't think I've ever looked for or found a needed button in it. However, when I come across and open it, I feel an odd kind of security, just knowing it's there. Looking down into it brings back many memories, many times of lying on my Mom and Dad's bed, by the window, playing with the buttons. I'm so glad you brought this up, Simon.

~ Lizzy

Ghoti · Post by **Ghoti** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 9:53 pm

Can't say I can really pose an opinion on the smell of L.Ps... I am unfortunatly too young but, as I've mentioned on other topics, I've recently gotten and old record player that was lying about the house up and running and can't wait to start a proper collection (for the whiff among other things).

Tri-me · Post by **Tri-me** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 11:43 pm

smell ummmm smell the strongest of our senses, scent can alter your mood like nothing else can
I love the smell of garlic (guylick)
cumin
clothes off the line
fresh cut grass
my kittens
horses
puppies
babies
the smell of a man, (who is on a balanced diet and does not wear cologne

)
the ocean
the smell of a dark room, where you develop photos comes to mind
mornings
the smell after a snow storm and after it rains