a few of my favorite scents
By Grace on Jun 19, 2008 in Thursday Thirteen
13 SCENTS/SMELLS I LIKE
1. Vanilla - I haven’t met someone who doesn’t like the smell of vanilla. It’s an essential ingredient for baking but not limited to it - Aromatherapists use it to create a relaxed, euphoric mood and to counteract tension, frustration and irritability. The sweet, exotic aroma is also associated with sensuality and confidence.
2. Butter - I love the smell of butter in butter cakes, cookies, rolls or simply butter as it is.
3. Cinnamon- I even used to buy cinnamon candies and just smell it. Studies also show that cinnamon smell can increase alertness when driving. It wouldn’t work though to have a box of Cinnabon in the car as it is more likely you’ll take your hands off the wheel and reach for the cinnamon rolls!
4. White Musk - My favorite scent from The Body Shop.
5. Lemon/Lime/Citrus - I like this smell to start my day! It’s full of life! The scent of lemon has proven effects on the mind. It relieves mental fatigue, improves mental clarity, alertness, memory, sharpens the senses and reduces stress.
6. Freshly baked bread - Just the smell can fill up my hunger!
7. Burning wood - Just because this smell reminds me of the simple life I had back home. We did not have a gas or electric stove, and used wood to cook our food.
8. Lavender - One of the things I look forward to summer in Japan is this plant. The smell of lavender is always very nice, not too faint nor overpowering. Studies show that it calms the nervous system, making it a sedative. It also reduces stress in the body with its anti-spasmodic qualities.
9. Baby smell - I love the smell of babies even before I became a mom and more so when I became one 5 years ago. If I hold a baby, I don’t just kiss, I breathe in the smell until almost all the smell is gone!
10. Chocolate/Cocoa- This smell I couldn’t get over. Try baking some brownies? I love how the smell of chocolate stick even to my pillow cases. I would put out my pillows when I bake choco-walnut fudge brownies to make them smell like gooey chocolate!
11. A box of new Crayons - because they remind me of my first box when I was little. Seeing and smelling crayons always make me think of the unlimited room for creativity.
12. Jackfruit- If you are unfamiliar with this fruit, you are likely to find this in your local Asian market. Jackfruit, when ripe has the strongest and richest smell of any fruit in creation - in a good way! Just in case you were thinking of the the dreaded Durian smell, I promise, jackfruit is not that bad! Some sites mention that the smell of jackfruit is almost identical to the smell of rotting onions! Don’t believe it - I personally think it’s not true. By the way, Jackfruit is probably my next favorite fruit in the Philippines (the first would be mango), not just because of the scent but because of the taste.
13. Believe or not, Gasoline! - I open the car windows when I’m in a gasoline station just to smell it. How many others share this same crazed passion?
My daughter said that today about gasoline. There was a leak on the road and she said, “Mommy, that water smells good.”
Carrie Lofty | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
OK…I don’t get the gasoline thing. But everything else is perfect! The only thing I would add is Jasmine
Lisa | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
I like the smell of perking coffee. Happy TT.
Sarah @ pussreboots | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
Grace, ako i don’t really care much for the smell of vanilla, too sweet for me. weird eh? I do love the smell of coffee,and soap and citrus!
melbs | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
I love vanilla and lavender and gasoline from your list - and here I thought that I was the only insane one who liked the smell of gas!
I’m up here!
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Tiffany | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
I’ve never smelled jackfruit and I can’t stand the smell of gasoline, but the rest I’d agree with.
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Robin | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
Oh, yeah. I’m with you on most of those — jackfruit’s new to me (never even heard of it) and wood fire tends to aggravate my asthma (so does gasoline), but vanilla, lemon, and cinnamon? SO right there with you.
Now if I could only grow lavender… I need the relaxation!
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Susan Helene Gottfried | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
I’m with you.
Gasoline was my favorite. It is probably too expensive to smell these days though.
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Urban Thought | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
I grew up with my mom who owns the gas station in Thailand so I don’t really take it as my favorite smell. It’s more of the familiar smell.
Love the baby smell and coffee smell. I would also add Jasmine smell. hmm.. So nice.
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Amy @ The Q Family | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
Yummy yummy yummy yummy yummy…. mmmmmmmmmmm This is a wonderful post - and now I know why I like you so much. I love all of these smells!
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On a Limb with Claudia | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
I love your new design! And I also love many of the scents you mentioned, especially cinnamon and burning wood…I even have a candle called “Campfire”. Yum!
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Janet | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
Musk always gets to me. I smell it more easily than citrus.
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Alice Audrey | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
Mmmmmmm….I love most of those scents. Campfires remind me of toasting marshmallows to make Smores.
The smell of Lavender helps to relax me, after a chaotic day.
Fun list.
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Christine | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
I love the smell of fresh vanilla, but my daughter has some vanilla-scented lotion that makes me want to gag!!!
Di | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
Love those smells, well I don’t know the scent of jack fruit.
Baby smell … yes I get that. And the gasoline one as well.
I also really love the smell of chlorine and bleach. I don’t know why.
And how cool you’re in Dubai. I’ve always wanted to go there. I find it intriguing.
Happy TT
Thanks for dropping by mine.
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Amy Ruttan | Jun 19, 2008 | Reply
The smell of BREAD… Gosh I am hungry
and yes ma’am the tattoo is permanent
Happy TT!
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Jeanette | Jun 20, 2008 | Reply
I, too, like the smell of gasoline. Weird, huh? I always thought it was because I accidentally tried to drink some gas when I was little. Yes, I had to get my stomach pumped, but I don’t remember it. I’ve slept since then! Lots! Happy TT.
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forgetfulone | Jun 20, 2008 | Reply
I, too, LOVE the smell of a new box of crayons. And I love to color! Still. And even with gas so expensive I like to smell it too.
My husband and I own a car shop and we have someone from Dubai ordering some parts from us. I thought that was kind of cool!
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Amy | Jun 20, 2008 | Reply
I’m very sensitive to smells, so I don’t like perfumes or smoke or gasoline, but natural smells, like food smells, or fresh-cut grass, or babies—those are great.
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Darla | Jun 20, 2008 | Reply
I’ve never heard of jack fruit…it sounds interesting!
I love the smell of cinnamon, of anything citrus, of newly made toast, marmite…lavender too.
But the two smells I love the best are the sea, and airplane fuel. Those bring back so many childhood memories….
A great list, I love your blog too! I’m glad to have found you, I’ll definitely be back!
bella
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Bella Mocha | Jun 20, 2008 | Reply
Gasoline??? and Crayons???
lol….you have a very unique taste in smell….Happy TT and thanks for stopping by 
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Lori | Jun 20, 2008 | Reply
I love your smells.
Can I say that? Ooops. Well, you know what I mean. I love all of the smells on your list!
Happy TT!
Bubba | Jun 20, 2008 | Reply
You had me until the gasoline, can I substitute Freesia in there?
Loved the comment about babies, there is a special smell.
Thank you for stopping by, have a great weekend.
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Jenny | Jun 20, 2008 | Reply
Another Vanilla Lover here! I would have to also say Peppermint for me, it opens my sinuses and I need that! And my favorite Bath and Body Shop scent Cucumber Melon! It’s just so fresh and yummy!
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Shaunesay | Jun 21, 2008 | Reply
Isn’t the smell of cinnamon wonderful? In the winter, I add a little bit of ground cinnamon and ground cloves to a little bit of water and just bring it almost to a boil. It makes the house smell great.
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Maisie | Jun 21, 2008 | Reply
I’m with you on most of these, especially the gasoline smell! I always loved that and my parents always thought me nuts because of that.
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samulli | Jun 21, 2008 | Reply