Ever since I can remember, the smell of cigarette smoke has been a comfort smell for me. It never really made sense because no one in my family, besides my parents before I was born, has smoked cigarettes. There's something crazy about the smell of cigarettes; because I smoke, I cannot smell cigarettes on myself or anyone else... except for one person.
A lot of people find the smell of smoke to be off putting but for me, the scent makes me feel at home and comfortable. The only person that I can actually smell the scent of cigarettes on is my best friend, Chloe. When I'm at home, I've become accustomed to waking up to the smell of cigarettes mixed with Twilight Woods (Bath and Body Works perfume) and immediately feeling happy, like there is no where I would rather be. I've always felt that certain perfumes smell so much better mixed with the scent of cigarettes, like they compliment each other. What's interesting about that is, I gave Chloe that certain perfume because I personally didn't like it. However, when I smell it on her, complimented by the smell of smoke, I love the smell.
Hmmm, I guess that would make sense that you would lose the smell of smoke if you are always around it. But that makes it even more unique that you can smell it on Chloe. It sounds like you guys have a good and close relationship. : )
ReplyDeleteWhat does Twilight Woods smell like? Pine trees? fire? (and was it named after the movie Twilight? I know a lot of things in scents were named after the movie. It just makes me cringe to think about having your children named after the characters Bella and Edward. But that is beside the point.)
I like how you made the connection between growing up smelling smoke and how it reminds you of home. Does it remind you of any memories in particular?
As someone who grew up around smoke I can relate to the accompanying sensation of comfort. To this day I can pick out the smell of a Marlboro Red because it reminds me instantly of my dad. And your feeling of comfort with cigarettes is how I feel with hookah and other herbs and things so I definitely can relate. Furthermore, I enjoy your style of writing it is very fluid and its so cool that you can only smell the scent of a cig on your friend and that mixed with the perfume you hate, that must be special to you
ReplyDeleteI find it really unique that you and Travis enjoy the smell of cigarettes so much. I think a lot of people have certain smells they enjoy that many people find off-putting. I, for one, love the smell of gasoline, although that might not be quite as unique since I have heard several people say that.
ReplyDeleteBased on all of our writing about smell, I think it's safe to conclude that smell is a very subjective sense. This is probably due to the fact that smell is so closely associated with memory, so people have different connotations when it comes to different smells.
I wonder if there are people out there who have good memories about smells that most people would consider awful, like rotten eggs or something.
I like that last question Zane, and all of the above comments. Liking the smell of gasoline is a question on "The Purity Test", which was an internet thing, circa 2001.
ReplyDeleteI have pretty good memories surrounding skunk smell because my sister made a good joke once about such a stench.
Anyway, nice writing above Katie. So specific. I myself think that cigarette smoke is a pretty nice smell because, to me, it's a (relatively) safe vice. Smelling it puts me in touch with something I feel to be authentic, but I don't have to actually feel the harmful effects.
DW