The Green Scent of Plants
Summer brings with it the nostalgic smell of herbs during hot afternoons, hung in bunches in window frames to dry, wilting in a basket for infused oils, or spread out on clean towels in a still room.
Whether they trigger the associations or create them, plant scents are storehouses of memories, especially from childhood. They build bridges to your past and to the carefree time spent outdoors so you can relive your favorite moments.
The smell of fresh cut grass, walking barefoot on a chamomile lawn, the intensity of mint during hot quiet afternoons, the peppery scent of sun-baked yarrow, hold inside the distilled essence of many happy summers.
My grandmother used to boil walnut leaves, which we picked right before the storm, because that’s when their potency is strongest. The pot boiled on the stove while the rain rapped on the roof, and the whole house smelled like hot walnut shells. She used the water as a rinse, to bring out the golden highlights in my hair.
Some of the happiest moments of my life return to me wrapped in the earthy, slightly bitter iodine scent of walnut leaves.
Previous Post
Next Post
