I have written many blogs about the power of music. Hearing a song or certain band can really take one back to a specific time or moment in their life. I truly love that power. Popping in an old Hole or Nirvana record (I was a total grunger back in the day) takes me right back to my teen years of black fingernail polish, bright pink hair and my know-it-all attitude. The song “I Don’t Wanna Cry”, by Mariah Carey takes me back to my parents divorce. I have a bittersweet relationship with that song. I used to sit on the windowsill in my bedroom listening to that song over and over crying while singing the lyrics. It’s bitter because simply so, it was a bitter time in my childhood. But it’s also sweet because that song helped me get through that bitter time. Somehow it was my comfort song and when I listen to it now, it brings me back to my old bedroom windowsill.
Much like music, smells have the same power. The smell of my mothers homemade chicken casserole always takes me back to my childhood and sitting around the table with my brother eating dinner and trying to pick out the peas. It’s still one of my favorite meals (I eat and like the peas now) and I love when my mother makes it for me. About a month ago I was getting ready for work doing my makeup, putting on my perfume and like any girl with good hygiene, putting on my deodorant. I’m not sure if this is normal or not, but I seem to have a collection of deodorants of different brands and scents. I grabbed my Degree Fresh Energy and as soon as I put it on I found myself sitting on the beaches of St. Lucia. I realized that it was the deodorant I brought with me on our honeymoon and its smell literally scent me back. Yes, I’m absolutely using a play on words here! It was comical yet incredible to me that my deodorant had this power over me. I really hadn’t used it since then because it’s the Clinical Protection which I typically only use when it’s hot out.
I remember that when packing for our two week honeymoon, I didn’t want to bring a big thing of perfume with me because I didn’t want to deal with a glass bottle getting broken or spilling. I had recently received some samples from Sephora that I decided to take with me instead. They were small and packed easily so it was a no-brainer decision. I brought two different samples and fell in love with one in particular called Aquolina, Pink Sugar. I pretty much used that perfume the entire trip and it lasted me right up until our last day on the island. When we came home, I felt like every time I used it, that it too reminded me of St. Lucia. Somehow though, and perhaps it’s because I have since purchased a big bottle and use it frequently now, its lost a bit of that power. So when I put on my Degree deodorant for the first time since our honeymoon, I was so pleasantly surprised that it scent back to a time and place that has so much meaning and love. In fact, so much so that when we went to the Florida Keys a few weeks ago I didn’t want to bring that one with me. I literally only want to associate that scent with our honeymoon and nothing else. We’ve taken so many amazing trips, but our honeymoon to St. Lucia was by far the most exotic, romantic and amazing trip we’ve ever taken. I literally feel warm, fuzzy and happy inside and it makes me nostalgic whenever I wear it. Which I must admit, I find myself using this scent more frequently now!
One other perfume that has a bit of power over me is Burberry Body. One of my cousins gave me a bottle of it as a bridal shower gift. I had updated my Facebook status asking friends and family for some recommendations for perfumes because I specifically wanted something new and fabulous for our wedding that would remind of our day. When I tried it on I absolutely loved it (and so did my hubby), but I purposely saved it for our wedding day. It too has become one of my favorite scents and takes me back to an incredibly special day and moment in my life.
I simply love the power music and scents have over me; it’s something that I truly cherish. This is where my deodorant takes me. So I’m curious, what “scends” you back?
~Sparke