How to write about smell

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?