For me there are a few smells or scents that I associate with vacation. I love being able to take a deep breath and know that I’m on holiday. Especially if the sun is on my face and I’m warm and there’s an epic view…
That warm humid blast of air as you walk along the air-bridge into a hot country, or better still in the Caribbean as you disembark straight onto the tarmac. I don’t think it is until I get that warm blast that a) I realise how sterile and horrid the plane air was and b) that I have arrived and am on holiday (and c) that I am overdressed in winter clothes in 30 degrees…). I’m thinking about our trip to Jamaica as I sniff this!
I hate the smell of cigarettes but an open-air breakfast in France of coffee, juice and croissants would not be the same without wafts of gauloises from the French diners enjoying their morning routine! There’s something about that particular brand in the sunshine on holiday that says ‘I am away from home and I am happy!’ I’m thinking about our trip to Eze as I sniff this!
My favourite smell of all time is the little known “petrichor” – the smell created when rain falls on hot concrete or dry ground. At home – the first whiff of this means summer has arrived, as finally – even though it has rained – the ground is warm! On holiday I love it too. When we landed in Tenerife it was just after a rainstorm and we walked out of the airport and were hit by the smell! When we were visiting one of the islands of Venice it was raining and sunny at the same time and it was intoxicating! I’m thinking about our trip to Venice as I sniff this!
The smell of the sea I cannot get enough of, as well as the noise of the waves and just generally being able to watch it for hours. When we go to sea for a few days we smell the land as we come back near shore, but it is the same the other way round – I love rolling the window of the car down as we near the coast and sniffing in the seaside scent! I’m thinking about our trip to Cornwall as I sniff this (see very first photo, the one below in case you didn’t think it is Cornwall is in fact Jamaica)!
Be it in the desert or just in warmer climes, but the distinct smell of dryness I find very heady. Dusty yes, but I really like dry heat – I’m no good with humidity so if I can sniff the dust I know we’ve picked our destination well! I’m thinking about our trip to Arabia as I sniff this!
The smell of fresh air – air that is clearly miles and miles from a city – is also a favourite. Often we will head away on holiday in the UK and Mr P will put the windows of the car down just so we can sniff the clean air. It’s the one think I hate about a city is the pollution from vehicles and industry, but it isn’t until we escape to the country that we notice just how clean smelling the air should be. I’m thinking about our trip to Wales as I sniff this!
Just looking at the picture below I can smell the flowers coming out of the page! Tropical and mediterranean flowers are both beautiful and divine smelling. Jamaica was another place where the gardens drip with perfume. I really enjoyed visiting the biomes at the Eden Project as it took us right back to both! I always wear Penhaligon’s perfume as they are the nearest to a true floral scent. I’m thinking about our trip to Greece as I sniff this!
Maybe it is just me, but I love the smell of skin when it has been warmed up by the sun – I assume it is the vitamin D in the pores?
And with all these lovely smells… The inevitable happens – I relax, and I sleep! All the smells relax me and send me off for a doze in the sun!
Fancy joining the link up? Just pop your post up over the next few days (the 1st – 7th April 2016), add it to the link up widget found on Emma‘s , Angie‘s, Jessi‘s or the lovely Sus at Jet Set Chick from the 1st and check out some of the other cool bloggers that are involved in the travel link up; tweet a few of the posts out to your followers that you think they will love and make a few comments here and there. It really is a great way to meet some new travel bloggers and share some blogging joy! This month it is smelling good!
Petrichor – my new favourite word. Thank you for that! I love the smell of the warm air when you land somewhere hot too. It really does make you feel you’ve arrived. Great post about smells!
Author
Haha – it’s a great word, random though – sounds nothing like it smells!
I had no idea that there was a word to describe that smell of rain on hot concrete! It’s such a familiar scent and one that is definitely one I love too.
Author
I must have heard it on the radio or read it somewhere once, it stuck, such a random word!
I didn’t know this either! There’s a word for everything! As a kid I used to think that rain smell was worms coming up out of the ground to breath. I was a tomboy and loved that smell.
Oh I know what you mean by the smell of your skin after a day in the sun. Love it.
Author
Thank goodness, I thought it might just be me!
The smell of the sea is one of those ones where I didn’t realise how much I missed it until I went for a short trip to the seaside and OMG x
Author
Never get too far from the salt and the sea!
Seriously, you have taught me the delicious mischief of a holiday nap – it’s blissful!
Author
The best napping, I am on holiday so it is fine to sleep at 2pm
who doesn’t love the smell of sea? I know that smell of rain on hot concrete too well:) #travel linkup
Author
April showers smell lovely, that’s the only acceptable rain because of the smell!
Mmm, so many delicious smells! I love that hot air blast in an air bridge too!
Author
It’s not so good queueing on a humid air bridge to leave a country though!
Stepping onto the airbridge is always the acid test, have I packed for this trip correctly?! So many times that’s when I realise I’ve horribly over or under estimated the temperature. Also I’m definitely a dry heat person, too. Humidity just destroys my energy!
Author
I got it wrong so often that now I just overpack!!
Gorgeous photos! I can relate to lots of these and they bring back great travel memories for me too 🙂
Author
Thanks Marcella, didn’t realise how important event was!!
thanks for the education on ‘petrichor’ I love that smell too but I had no idea it had a name 🙂
Author
It’s a great new word!!
I think the sea air has to be a favourite for mots of us!
Author
Sea air salt hair don’t care!! Totally
Nothing better than the smell of croissants and the sea!! 🙂 Lots of love, Andrea xxx
Andrea’s Passions
Nothing better than the smell of croissants and the sea!! 🙂 Lots of love, Andrea xxx
Andrea’s Passions
Author
My walk to work from Waterloo goes past far too many bakeries, I have to endure the scent way to often!