Opinion

Winter and its memorable scent

December 21, 2020
Winter and its memorable scent

Noor A. AlNaboud



The reason I’m writing this article is because that winter has opened its doors from the end of September, and as a winter person, born in the middle of the winter season, I think that the season changes the mood, for most of us, for the better.

There is nothing like the smell of the soil following rains, and other memories as a child — smelling the richness of wet earth, smell of wood, smell of a morning dew, and other unforgettable scents that tickle our memories through winter’s days.

For me, winter was always associated with fragrances, and, as we know, smells are senses that can affect our mood and sometimes controls our emotions in a different way. This is why it is important to reset our sense of smell daily by spending time outdoors in fresh air.

I was not aware of this until I noticed people around me confirming the same things I sensed about scent and the memories it evoked. What’s interesting is that a scent can be a trigger for a memory — be it good or bad, happy or sad — but it always immediately takes you back to a moment in time.

If my memory serves me well, I think I have an amazing sense of smell — to the point I still remember the smell of many places that I have visited once or twice only.

At times, I held onto a bottle containing drops of scent for many years or buying the same scent again and again. It seems that I am overtaken by intense emotional moments related to that smell.

Sadly, I do not have a good descriptive word when I talk about winter and its perfumes!

I find that as I grow older, I have started to appreciate specific kind of scents. This trait, I think, can tell us more about our character and how it has changed over time.

Here we understand that everyone has different tastes and prefers various scents. Some like floral, heavy scents, food type scents like vanilla, caramel, cocoa, fruity scents like cherries and berries and so on.

Traditionally, men and women have different tastes, for example in colors, kind of food they prefer, their attitudes and interaction towards things according to their nature.

However, smells unify their tastes through unisex fragrances, especially the ones that have the east spirit.

“Odors have a power of persuasion stronger than that of words, appearance, emotions, or will. The persuasive nature of an odor cannot be fended off, it enters into us like a breath into our lungs, it fills us up, imbues us totally. There is no remedy for it,” quoted Patrick Süskind.

— The writer can be reached on Twitter: @moionlynoor


December 21, 2020
680 views
HIGHLIGHTS
Opinion
20 days ago

Saudi Arabians remain unfazed by the 'buzz' of fools

Opinion
35 days ago

We have celebrated Founding Day for three years - but it has been with us for 300

Opinion
50 days ago

Why is FinTech flourishing in Saudi Arabia?