One of the most difficult senses to write about is smell. Why? Because smells are often distinguished by how pleasant or unpleasant they are rather than their unique compositions. I often encourage writers to pinpoint the specifics of a particular smell rather than writing a generalised description. The layers that make up a certain scent and the memories it conjures help to create a sensory experience for the reader.

The power of smell
Smells have the power to charm and repulse, and they can transport us to other places. Sun cream may take us to a beach on holiday, newly mown grass to a summer garden, or bilge water to a damp canal side. They can even transport us to places within our own pasts, a hotel we stayed at as a child, grandma’s sitting room, home at Christmas. We all have smells we find unpleasant and those that are firm favourites too.

In writing
As one of the five senses, smell is an essential element to consider in your writing. Smells can alert a character to an unexpected event or even draw them towards something they desire. We all remember the moment in Harry Potter where Hermione Granger starts talking about the smell the love potion reminds her of in potions class.

Last week’s blog listed 30 favourite smells so this week, I’ve taken these same smells and listed each of their unique components (from my own perspective, at least):
1.    Autumn leaves – earthy, damp, decaying, musty
2.    Baking bread – fresh, sweet, warm, yeasty
3.    Baking cake – buttery, sugary, sweet, warm
4.    Basil – fresh, peppery, sweet
5.    Buttery toast – buttery, dry, smoky (when well done), sweet
6.    Cinnamon – Christmassy, spicy, sweet, woody
7.    Cloves – Christmassy, spicy, sweet, warm, woody
8.    Coffee – bitter, fruity, nutty, rich, smoky, warm
9.    Fresh washing – crisp, damp, floral, fresh, soapy
10. Freshly cut grass – fresh, earthy, ‘green’, sweet, warm
11. Frying bacon – fatty, savoury, smoky, rich
12. Frying onions – buttery, caramelised, savoury, sweet
13. Hot chocolate – floral, milky, sweet, warm
14. Lavender – floral, herbal, perfumed, sweet
15. Lemons – acidic, citrus, fresh, sharp, tangy, tart
16. Lilac – almond, rose, perfumed, sweet
17. Lily of the Valley – perfumed, sweet, woody
18. Marmalade – bitter, citrus, sweet, tart, zesty
19. New books – dry, fresh, inky, papery
20. Orange peel – bitter, citrus, fresh, fruity, sweet, tangy, zesty
21. Peaches – fresh, juicy, nectar, sweet, tart
22. Peppermint – cool, fresh, pungent, sharp, sweet
23. Pine trees – crisp, earthy, fresh, resinous, woody
24. Ripening tomatoes – sweet, spicy, warm, leafy
25. Roses – musky, perfumed, sweet
26. Sea – salty, fresh
27. Soap – floral, fresh, herbal, perfumed (dependent on exact scent composition)
28. Thyme – citrus, earthy, grassy, herbal
29. Vanilla pods – creamy, caramelised, sweet
30. Wet earth after rain – damp, earthy, petrichor

Your turn:
Contemplate each of the above smells (and any others you can think of), then close your eyes and really try to imagine each one in turn. What memories do they conjure for you?
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