Is there any smell that you don’t mind that other people normally gag at? I’ve heard that smell can invoke powerful memories, more than any of the other senses; so that a particular smell can instantly bring back a vivid memory of some other time that you smelled that smell.

I think that this accounts, in part, for liking the smell of certain things that smell bad to other people. Here’s my list:

Gas and Oil: My dad worked for a tree cutting company, clearing trees from power lines and such. He would come home smelling of oil, gas, and exhaust. Those smells now remind me of the good old days.

Cow shit: I spent a lot of summers at my grandparents house. They raised cattle, and lots of them. The smell of cow shit on a hot dusty day bring back the memories. Again, it’s an association with the good old days.

Skunk: No excuse for this; but I don’t mind the smell at all. My wife thinks that an early life full of the smell of gas and cow shit burned out my nostrils. But as long as the skunk doesn’t spray on me, I think the smell is strong but okay.

What about you? Are there any “stinky” odors that you like because of good associations, or just because? Maybe you have a smell that brings back a memory from that time you were a member of that famous wine of the month club. You remember the one. The one that gets you all hot and ….. well, let’s just leave it at that for now.