Smelly smells

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In Deborah Green's book The Aroma of Righteousness, she talks about different scents like frankincense and myrrh and their biblical significances. 
Green explains how frankincense is associated with white since it is white when it is picked in the fall time. Myrrh interestingly enough is not associated with color but instead is heavily associated with super duper bitter taste. It is interesting to try to associate different smells to different “feelings” or rituals. The idea of assigning meaning to different smells is observed both in religious and nonreligious settings. For example, I’m sure some men can relate to shaving in the morning and then applying aftershave to their face. This morning ritual while primarily practiced to relieve one’s skin and keep it soft, may have men feeling “fresh” and “awoken.” Other people may apply perfume or cologne while getting dressed to go on an important social function like a date or a nice dinner or maybe even just to go to work or class. The act of applying a perfume or cologne is typically done as an afterthought but it can make people feel even more “dressed up” than they actually are. It adds a sort of formality to the person’s outfit.

Comments

  1. Emily EmburyApril 30, 2020 at 4:29 PM

    I like your point about smells and the meanings associated with them. I associate the smell of blown out candles with autumn because we always use candles more in the cooler months of the year. This connection is slightly different form your perfume/cologne connection, but I think it's interesting how smells can remind us of different times and feelings.

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