Nothing like a good whiff of something.....

…..to spark a memory, hopefully a good one. Yesterday, Kyle came in hot a sweaty, rushing from one meeting and needing to be to another one without having time to go home and freshen up. He asked me if I still had Dad’s cologne, "Elsha", anywhere. It was right where he left it over 7 years ago and hasn’t been touched since. He splashed some on and came out breathing in the scent of memories of days past….."That’s the smell of a babysitter.” I was a bit puzzled at first but then he explained that the only time he smelled it on his dad was when we were going out on a date and got a babysitter. The babysitter would arrive and we would leave, exiting with the scent of “Elsha” in the air. My dad’s signature cologne was “Old Spice” and my mom’s was “Evening in Paris”. I remember seeing that dark blue bottle in the medicine cupboard and always being fascinated with “grown up” perfume. I think I even sneaked a whiff once in a while. Then Avon came along and “Topaz” seemed to be my mom’s scent of choice along with others she would try. I remember trying things like “Chantilly” and others but they all seemed “cheap smelling” compared to my favorite, “Eternity”. I don’t know when I started thinking I was rich enough to have a “signature” cologne but I did and I still wear it to this day. I used to use any money I was given as a gift to purchase it. I don’t wear it much any more but I still love it, mostly because of the memories I have when I smell it. I’ve thought a lot about smells lately as I’ve enjoyed the coming of Fall and the scent of cool, fresh air with a whiff of ….can’t call it anything but Fall. I’m not sure what it is, maybe the changing of the leaves causes it….maybe someone has a fire in their fireplace somewhere. I’m not quite sure but it always brings with it memories of family gatherings, football games and the coming of the holidays. Speaking of holidays, I think that’s the main reason I still get a real Christmas tree. I just love the smell. I’ve stocked up on my “Evergreen” and “Christmas Tree” Salt City Candles and can’t wait to get them lit, anything to capture that fresh-cut Christmas Tree smell, always trying to capture something other than the 28-year old house smell. I use Pine Sol when I clean. Even if I don’t clean, if I put a bit of it in the sink with a little water, it smells like I’ve cleaned. Everyone’s house has a smell. The kids used to say if they were blind folded and taken to someone’s house in the neighborhood, they would be able to tell whose house it is. I think I’ll go do some real cleaning….then light a candle. Mmmmmm, Pine Sol and Pumpkin Spice; doesn’t get much better.