Smell is a potent wizard that transports you
across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived.
~Helen Keller
Creature comforts! What are they anyway? Okay, lets establish what the term “creature comforts” means. It is thought that the expression was first used in the 1600‘s to describe the simple things that met a person’s needs such as food, a good bed, comfortable shoes, etc. The meaning has evolved a bit over time as it now includes physical ease such as warmth, available hot and cold water, clean laundry, in other words anything that makes life more comfortable and pleasant. Simply put, it can be any small item or detail that makes a person feel at home, which includes not only creature comforts but also heart and soul comforts as well. I think perhaps many of us have similar creature comforts but then time and place may, if asked, change some of our answers to the question. On a side note, before I go on though, I’ve read that interestingly in World War I, creature comforts were cherished even more than comradeship and unit loyalties.
Nothing is more memorable than a smell.
Smells detonate softly in our memory like
poignant land mines hidden under
the weedy mass of years. Hit a tripwire
of smell and memories explode all at once.
A complex vision leaps out of the undergrowth.
~Diane Ackerman
Okay, so what does all this creature comfort stuff have to do with smell? It all started this morning as I sat looking out at my white lilies and remembered their lovely fragrance. Probably because these particular lilies are so white it hit a tripwire of the unforgettable and delicious scent of linens, sheets and towels and such, from my childhood that had been hung outside to dry on a clothesline. That led to thoughts of homemade quilts and white iron beds and the incredibly luscious night’s sleep that was to be had in, on, and under such things which have always been some of my most favorite creature, heart, and soul comforts. Then as Ackerman put it, poignant land mines of memories began to detonate all over my place, but they were the kinds of memories not too many share these days.
If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ~1 Corinthians 12:17 ✝
**All images but the white lily found on Pinterest; collages by Natalie
Sacred Touches 
My friend and I were just talking yesterday at her apartment pool about the memories evoked by the smell of coppertone suntan lotion. The smell of childhood summers.
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Oh I remember that too‼️😊
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The smell of cookies baking always makes me happy. 🙂 I reminds me of my friend, Michelle, who introduced me to the joy of fresh baked cookies in college.
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Oh me too‼️😊
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scent is the biggest trigger of memory 🙂
I love catching those familiar scents that immediately transport us to a different time and place—those happy ones at least 🙂
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Me too❣😘
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I know memories are stored in our brain, I wonder if sense of smell is the button that gets pushed to make them pop up on our screen. :o)
Great post Natalie and I love the prompts of the photos, possibly another button? xo
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Thanks❣😊
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Since today is Father’s Day, I will write of men who I have loved. ❤
My Dad used Old Spice cologne and after shave while once in awhile we would smell his Irish Spring soap.
It isn't a "good" (as in healthy) scent in some ways, but pipe tobacco (cherry burkam) makes me long to climb on to my Grandpa's lap.
My Uncle Orrin who had a tragic childhood (I wrote his and my Mom's sister's (Aunt Amy) love story, including an awful part) always burned leaves in his back yard! They lived in Chardonnay, Ohio in the country!
My ex-father in law drank a good bourbon and just a small sip of it sends me back to my days in college when Dave and I went to Cincy and visited his parents.
The last one is not of men, but how would men become Father's unless babies. . .
Baby powder and baby's skin always brings a slight tear to my eyes, no matter of it is my grandie or someone else's child. Life is so fleeting, but sweet with love and youth!! ❤ 🙂
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Loved reading through your comment❣😊
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This perfumes …- lily remembers me of THE garden of my youth – with peonies, and so many, different, some very ancient flowers all year long …
My mother’s perfumes – something from Dior – and another one …
Il do like this pure lily – thank you again and again, dear Natalie
Do have a nice Sunday ending, and a new week – amitiés er bises 🙂
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What lovely memories mon ami❣ De rien encore et encore❣😘😘😘
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So lovely a post and made memories come back while reading.
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Oh good❣😊❤️
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