Bottling a summer's day
Smell - writing inspired by Beth Kempton's Summer writing sanctuary Day five
Hello, I’m Rachel. I write about nature and creativity to encourage connection and wellbeing.
This week I’m taking part in Beth Kempton’s Summer Writing Sanctuary. I’m part of her beautiful online writing community on Substack- Soul Circle, but this is her generous free offering to inspire and spark us all into writing. And that is exactly why I’ve joined.
Our fifth sense today, smell. And again, my heart sank a little. Yes, I know I am lucky to still have a sense of smell, it must be horrible to fully lose the ability to smell all the wonderful things around us, and all the other jobs it does.
But, if like me you seem to have a permanently runny and blocked nose (allergies mostly), you’ll know it often takes a lot for a smell to get through. Sometimes, as an early years teacher that was quite useful! But it means, I think, that I don’t have smells within my memory bank in the way others do. Or maybe it’s the visual bias I talked about yesterday.
Flowers though do get through thankfully and as my hayfever has lessened I can fully enjoy their fragrant joys, regularly sticking my nose into blooms wherever I am. And so that’s where my thinking started today but I wanted to push my brain a little further beyond just my favourite floral aromas.
So, here is the scent of summer.
Bottling a summer’s day
The day starts with a slightly medicinal waft from the insect repelling pot next to my bed. It reminds me that my first task must be to drench myself in Incognito, in an attempt to fend off the bitey things (other versions are available). This inevitably makes me sneeze.Â
At least the sunblock that comes next has only positive results and happy memories. I used to hate the smell of coconut, but now I willingly stick my nose into Gorse flowers to bring that scent of summer.Â
Standing by the open door with a cup of tea, the sky determines whether there will be a sun baked dusty earthy aroma, or the wonder that is petrichor - the magical essence released by nature after long awaited summer rain.Â
As I walk down the garden a cacophony of floral scents arise, my legs brushing its slightly wild inhabitants. Lavender, nepeta and salvia. Others like sweet peas and roses require a bit more effort to seek out their delights, leaning in like a bee seeking its sweet treasure. But if I bring them inside to a vase on my desk, the scent of summer stays with me as I work.Â
But I can’t stay here sniffing flowers all day.Â
The car is hot and stuffy. I need to refresh the lavender bag air freshener to mask the unpleasant results of a car used for outdoor adventures. But still, it is better than the pervasive fug of winter damp.
At the beach, the salty air stays the same all year - smelt, tasted, and felt, but in summer an additional, slightly rancid, sulphurous smell meets us - rotting seaweed and algae. To some - repulsive, to others - just a seasonal part of this wonderful place. On our beach, it shows the sea is repairing itself after years of human damage so it is the smell of success. Just remember to wash your cossie well!
If we’re organised, the day will end with the smell of charcoal and grilled halloumi. While winter may bring the woody scent of log burners, summer’s version is the barbeque carrying with it memories of past gatherings with friends long into the night.
These are the scents of summer.
Thank you for reading today. I’m pleased to announce that I have achieved my first 100 subscribers on here!* So a big thank you to those who have enjoyed what I write enough to want me to arrive in their inboxes. Taking part in this Summer Writing Sanctuary has given me a reason to post daily and interact more with the wonderful community on Substack which has gained me my most subscribers in one week. That’s a lot of happy dances! A huge thank you to Beth and those taking part.
*oh - I’ve just checked - now 103!
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I’m currently writing a post explaining the who, what, why, how of me and this substack to go out once this week of special essays has completed.
I forgot about the smell of the sea. The salt. The sea weed. The cows on the field next door. Although I’m not quite sure I’d be bottling that last one 😂
I like Seaweed as a smell of success!