Fragrances & Memories

Perched up on my balcony window with the wind blowing on my face, I suddenly smelt a familiar smell of hot paranthas from around me. The aroma of hot paranthas on a cold morning in the hills does to me, exactly what a mother’s chest does to a weeping infant.

I’m forced to think then, how certain fragrances take you back in time to certain memories and people who have been in your life. I immediately associate the smell of paranthas with my grandmother who’d be cooking them for us while we got dressed for school. I can even remember the softness and feel of those. Have to admit have never had them better than hers’.

Coming back to fragrances and people, I also remember how the scent of flowers always reminds me of my birthday in Del where I got some 12 bouquets in a day (mostly Lilies) because my friends knew I’d broken up recently and that my favourite flowers will put a smile on my face and their scent would fill my senses with happiness! Whenever, I see lilies or even smell a perfume with that scent, I’m taken back to the memory I made with them on my Birthday.

Then there are perfumes which remind you of people. The warmth some brought with them, the happiness, freshness and love others brought with them and at times the unpleasantness which few others got in.

Each one with a different memory it holds. Of some days, times, moments in the past. That’s the beauty of the sense of smell. It makes you not just inhale but gives you the sensory perception with each associated.

While medicines remind me of my grand mom’s days while she battled cancer and dad’s days of Meningitis; My office stationary cupboards reminded me of my day before every new class I went to (where we got new books and new stationary); Mehndi’s (henna’s) smell reminds me of my sister’s and my best friend’s weddings and the fun crazy times we had together.

The whiff of soft drinks reminds me of school days ,when we longed for a Campa cola after reaching home, Baby powder’s and cream’s odour reminds me of my little nephew (I use it in excess these days just because it makes me feel he’s closer :-))The smell of paints and acrylic reminds me of my school days where we always thought we are all painting masterpieces but rarely managed an A+

So sometimes it is perfumes, sometimes its food, sometimes it’s that breeze from the wintery air and yet other times it’s just my empty thoughts which make fragrances bring back memories. How wonderfully they are connected and related....how they can put a smile on our face in the middle of nonchalant lifestyles we lead.

I love this song called Memories from the musical “Cats” (not entirely related to what I've written here) but these words remain with me which are apt for sharing:

“Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale cold smell of morning
The streetlamp dies, another night is over
Another day is dawning “

With hopes that the coming New Year makes some refreshing memories for everyone with even better fragrances attached to it and takes away the unpleasant ones in the process. Here’s me wishing everyone who takes out time to read this blog – A very Happy New Year 2011 :-) God bless and much love...Your’s truly :-)