I can’t say I’ve tried all the ways one might time travel, but one way I have found to easily make a leap into the past (besides music) is through smell. My most recent experience happened when I took a connecting road off of a frequently traveled State highway near our home. Not even a quarter of a mile off this busy road was a throw-back hardware and feed/lumber store. I was so surprised to see them – my heart did a little leap of joy.

They reminded me so much of something I might see in the little town near where I grew up on our family farm in Kansas. The first time I drove by I didn’t stop, but I found myself choosing this particular road whenever I could, just so I could drive by and indulge myself.

There came a day when I had the perfect excuse to make a visit – I needed a washer for a little house project so I thought “aha! Now I’ll go visit that hardware store.” And here’s where the actual time travel occurred.

The minute I walked into that hardware store, with its front counter all a jumble of paper and odds and ends, and the four older men sitting in a circle in the middle of the store, chewing the fat – that’s when it hit me. The smell of sawdust and grease. I was immediately transported to my grandfather’s workshop in his garage on the farm. It was so overpowering that I just had to tell it to the young man who was helping me. (He was polite but not really interested in my remembrances – I’m sure the old men might have appreciated it, but I didn’t feel comfortable interrupting their day, which is why I also didn’t take any pictures.)

I was completely delighted and just sat in my car for a few minutes relishing the experience.

“Scent” has been on my mind a lot these days. Just like what we wear says volumes about us, our scent also conveys its own message. My favorite perfume for many decades has been Dior’s Poison. I still remember the first time I smelled it in a department store when it was being introduced – I knew it was for me. While I don’t have any problem continuing to wear an oldie-goldie perfume (in fact I still get complimented on it), I also think perhaps I should find a perfume that is more current. Especially because it’s more difficult to find these days. Yes…I am now wearing a drugstore perfume! (While Sephora’s website says they have it, I find they often don’t.) I’m concerned that Dior might decide to discontinue it, so I’ve been searching for a replacement for years now, but I just can’t find one that wows me – no matter how much I would like it to (I’ve been wanting to love Tom Ford’s Black Orchid, but it just doesn’t work with my skin they way I imagine it will.)

Recently I decided it might be wise to find out the scents that actually comprise Poison, so at least I could be guided in the right direction. Here’s what I found:

Wow – that’s a lot going on! I’m not sure where I go from here, but my search continues.

Have you done any recent time travel because of a scent? Where did it take you?

Thanks for reading – carpe diem!

Adena