I guess the most obvious place to start is why I’m doing this blog in the first place. I mean, I could have written about anything: politics, travel, music, current affairs. Why fragrances? What is it about scent that captives my imagination? The short answer to that question is: I love to smell shit. Not actual shit (god forbid), but practically everything else. Plants, clothes, pens, books, candles. The list goes on.
A smelly childhood...
Like many odd behaviours, my smelling habit dates back to childhood. As a kid, I would sniff everything, particularly food. Ordinary stink made a big impression on me. Early smells which stick in my mind include Carex hand soap – which I first encountered at a friend’s house aged six or seven – tar – which could be found on a telephone pole outside my primary school - baked Stilton – which knocked me for 10 as a nipper – and chlorine – which, still to this day, reminds me of family visits to the swimming pool.
Hello aftershave!
As time went on, new aromas would begin to enter my universe. Familiar smells of soap and wood gave way to pungent aftershaves that my then step-dad owned. He had a generous selection of fragrances, and, like many boys aged eight, I just had to get my nose on them. So I did – and boy did I spray the shit out of them.
As my teenage years rolled around, I began to acquire fragrances of my own, starting with Joop! Homme – a scent which even now reminds me of my uncle – followed shortly after by Ultraviolet Man – the fragrance of my university years.
Artistic interest
These early olfactory encounters had a big impact on me and helped to cultivate my growing interest in smell. They made me realise what an incredible scent receptor the nose is and the important role it plays in helping us make sense of our surroundings.
It’s this intrigue that drives my fascination with perfumes and the connection we share with them. You don’t see aftershave or hear cologne. You become intoxicated by it. Much like a great painting or a poignant piece of music, a good fragrance has spiritual powers and can awaken in one deep rooted thoughts and emotions. Feelings that make for gripping writing and mesmerizing reading, or, in the case of YouTube reviewers, riveting watching.
Looking ahead...
In contributing to the fragrance community, my ambition will be to bring something different to the table. Something off-beat and out of the ordinary. Over the coming months I’ll be sharing with you not only fragrance-related commentary, but also insights into the science of smelling itself. After all, what good is a curious nose if you don’t know how it works?
Happy reading!
Anton
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