sniffing

I'm attuned to my sense of smell today, more so than usual. Recent favorite whiffs:

* Johnny grilling dinner outdoors last night: chicken and asparagus wrapped in prosciutto.

* Sweet Thai Delight tea, my dessert after dinner.

* Then, Johnny's nightcap: The Glenrothes. The bottle lists notes of berry fruits, vanilla, and butterscotch. I can't partake yet, but I'm dying to.

* method wood floor cleaner ~ almond.

* Rosemary mint soap.

* Vanilla chai lotion.

* Whole Foods vanilla honey lip balm.

* Harley's fur, a sweet smell.

* Milo's fur, too ~ a different sweet smell.

* Olbas inhaler. I cannot live without this product. I'm oddly passionate about this nasal aid.

* Enfusia yerba mate (tea) brewing in the coffee maker ~ a comforting, earthy smell.



* Coffee stashed in the pantry.

* Scrambled eggs cooking in a lil' coconut oil. It might sound strange, but the combination of the two smells (and tastes) very good.

* Ecover dishwasher tablets ~ citrus-y.

* Green Works all-purpose spray ~ lemon essential oil.
[sorry to endorse so many "green" items, but they sure do smell good and clean. And subtle.]

* A book from the library ~ that "old book" smell.

* Seriously, the Old Faithful candle is a big winner. If you're a vanilla-lover, this candle is for you (Madagascar vanilla, Mexican vanilla, Tahitian vanilla, herbs). I don't know why, but the scent of vanilla is extra-comforting to me. And I feel good about Dirt candles because their aromas do not contain phthalates. I'm such a geek - I keep perusing the little catalog they sent, anticipating my next candle purchase. I'm thinking ....

-Saving Grace ~ cardamom, cream, nutmeg, spices. Johnny is a big cardamom fan.
-Or Spice of Life ~ cinnamon leaf, sugar, Mexican vanilla, ginger.
-Maybe the All-Nighter? ~ cinnamon bark, green tea, nutmeg, soy.
-When autumn finally arrives here, Gingerbread Man ~ cinnamon, ginger, molasses, sweet things.
[yes, I do prefer warm, rich, sweet smells. However, Sugar Rush was too much for me.]

I ran across a new-to-me blog the other night ~ my madeleine. A sentence in Molly's "about me" caught my eye: "What began as the record of a fledgling culinary career now continues as one of recovery while I slowly regain a damaged sense of smell." She suffered an accident involving trauma to her skull and a bruise on her brain which damaged her scent-oriented neurons. She described walking outside on a beautiful day - the vivid colors, the wind on her face, but completely scentless (if I remember correctly - read some of her writing here for accuracy). Can you imagine? Thankfully, her sense of smell is returning. My heart skipped a beat with gratitude for my functioning nose. Heck, I thank God for all of our senses - five ways we're able to experience this beautiful, mysterious, tragic, and joyous adventure we call life. And maybe it's just me, but I love to run across aromatherapy in the Bible's pages ~ cedar, pine, aloes, cinnamon, saffron, frankincense, myrrh, spikenard, pomegranates, coriander .... I like to think about Jesus and all the saints inhaling such smells. We are created to enjoy our lives, very Incarnationally.

Hmm, all of this reminds me of a book I want to read: Scenting Salvation: Ancient Christianity and the Olfactory Imagination by Susan Ashbrook Harvey ....