- Dough. In almost any form. Freshly cooked bread. Hot from the oven doughnuts. Toasted bread. The yeasty scent of dough as it’s rising in the kitchen.
- Bee balm. The way it’s impossibly to walk out my front yard without catching a whiff of that flower.
- Rice. Walking into the house and yelling, “What smells so good?” only to find out the rice cooker is on.
- Anthropologie. While rarely rationalizing the prices, walking into the store is an olfactory delight.
- After a rain. Walking outside and seeing worms everywhere, having viewed the rain as a sort of invitation to come out and play. I used to think it was the worms that actually smells. I now know it’s more complicated than that.
- John Frieda Brilliant Brunette shampoo. The other types of that brand’s shampoo are fine, but the brunette makes me stay in the shower longer so I can just breathe in the scent.
- Crayons and Play-Doh. Both contain the smells of childhood, creativity and things being easier.
- Kittens. Not kittens after they’ve made a mess of themselves, which is most of the time. But kittens when they’re clean and cuddly and fit in the palm of your hand.
- Fresh copies off of the mimeograph. The ink all smeary initially, but smelling great.
- Freshly cut grass. The smell of summer.
This post originally appeared on Kate’s Point of View. © Kate. All rights reserved.