Sense of SMELL

Smell may be the most powerful sense of all. One familiar scent can take you back to a place, a person, or a feeling in an instant. It is such a personal part of home—and one that is easy to overlook.

The Smell of Memory

I have listened to Simon Sinek’s conversation with scent designer Dawn Goldworm, The Smell of Memory, three times now. It still leaves me inspired every time. The conversation is a beautiful reminder that scent is so closely tied to memory and emotion.

Consider: If your home had a signature scent, what would it be?

Material Choices

Every home has a scent. Some of it comes from its age and history; some from the materials it is made of and the things we bring inside. Fresh air, natural materials, low-tox cleaning products, a favorite candle, dinner cooking in the kitchen—these all become part of the feeling of home. Even a flowering shrub outside an open window can make an ordinary day feel special.

Consider: What scents make you feel grounded or uplifted?

Palm Springs

It has been ten years since my husband and I first visited Palm Springs. The hotel where we stayed had Rudy’s 1-2-3 Bundle in the shower, and we have used it ever since. One whiff and I am right back there.

Consider: What smell instantly transports you to another place?