My Top 5 Memorable Trips filled with Fragrances: a short Essay
Aromatic journeys are remembered more! It is linked to memories and emotions so much that a whiff of a peculiar smell will transport you several years back, several miles away! Aromatics is one force that inspires transformation.
During the several aromatic journeys that I have had, some fragrances helped relax, some rejuvenated, some instilled hunger pangs while some initiated romance! I have had them in my life and look forward to more. Below are my top 5 memorable trips filled with fragrances.
Top 5 Memorable Trips filled with Fragrances
5. Jasmine
I stand in my balcony watching my favorite jasmine bush. The sight of so many buds on the verge of blooming is enchanting. As the scent of the jasmine flowers floats into my brain, I find myself virtually transported to Spa Alila at Alila Diwa Goa. This Jasmine fragrance reminded me of my spa experience!
There in the pin drop silence of the room my olfactory receptor cells suddenly seemed to get active. Her fingers dripping in jasmine scented oil went over my body with right pressure relieving me of all my tensions.
Like a newbie chef who flips over an omelet, she turned me over as gently as possible. The entire process of ‘rub rub rub’ done, she paused for a feedback. But where was I?
My brain was kind of slipping into deep slumber but the fragrance kept my brain active and my mind in a happy state. 60 minutes of pure aromatic pleasure, I woke to a new level of consciousness balancing both body and mind!
Ever since then jasmine fragrance always reminds me of my relaxing spa experience.
4. Goan Fish Curry
This sensory journey starts from my kitchen. As I stood preparing the Goan fish curry I learned from the chefs at Spice Studio a classy restaurant of Alila Diwa Goa, a delicate flavor emanated from the pan.
Closing my eyes I smelt the aroma, did it smell the same as it did in Goa? Instantly I am beamed to the restaurants of Goa where at least 3 of the 5 tables would order this delicacy, where every waiter suggested ‘try the Goan fish curry here, it is excellent’!
I added layers of heat and aroma trying to reach the perfect amount of ginger garlic paste and Kashmiri chilly for that ultimate flavor. It is the flavor which gives the right character to the dish!
By now the smell had ignited hunger pangs in my stomach. This aroma can never be a room freshener nevertheless this is one strong smell that keeps taking me back to my holidays spent in Goa.
3. Tea
Every morning I am on a trip to Darjeeling for a cup of tea. Well, actually it is the warm aroma of my morning tea that transports me there. I remember how I made the trip to Darjeeling just for a train ride, the one similar to Sharmila Tagore’s train journey in Aradhana movie. Rajesh Khanna in bike sings “Mere sapno ki rani kab aayegi tu…” But I soon got disinterested in the train after I saw the lush green cha bagaans (tea gardens).
I preferred to be on foot. From the resort in the foothills there, I walked several cha bagaans, encountering many creepy crawlies, chirpy birdies on the way. It was refreshing in every sense of the word. “Taaza ho jaye!” the ad word seemed to gain a meaning here.
Captivating smell, beautiful scenic sights, trying a hand at plucking tea leaves and throwing them artfully into the bag behind… with each sip I relive those experiences. At the end of the walk I found my arms laden with packs of Darjeeling Tea. Green leaf tea or the dried ones, I always find it hard to choose between the two. But whichever I choose the smell of tea always refreshes!
Suggested Reading: Salt Tea – Sundarbans Special
2. Roses
“The fragrance always remains in the hand that gives the rose.” so said some great man! I have this habit of cooking up occasions just to gift roses or receive them. While at florists I almost always gravitate towards roses. The fragrance of rose evokes several sleeping memories! Always!
One that seems to recur is my trip to Ooty Rose garden. Approaching the garden, you get the fragrance from a distance and as you enter you feel as if ‘this must be heaven’. With a mix of fragrance from 1000s of varieties of roses there, it is easy to get intoxicated and loose senses. There is a surge of good feeling hormones.
The walk inside Ooty Rose Garden through the curved paths is long but definitely worth the experience. I was there early April, peak time of the season so got to smell the maximum with so many of them in full bloom. The best place on earth for aromatherapy! Rose perfume has had importance from time immemorial and will continue to have so for years to come.
1. Night Queen
When I think of night time fragrances few scents come to mind: musk, amber, night jasmine, each intense. In the stillness and darkness of night, when most sensory nerves cease to be active, the olfactory nerves are more alert. The fragrance of night flowers create a mood that often sets the tone for night.
There is one particular journey in my life which I very fondly remember. Years back, in the initial months of married life, we had a very late night party with friends. After they dispersed we wished to just unwind so we set off on a long walk in the stillness of night.
This was at my parents’ home in Thiruvananthapuram, earlier known as Trivandrum. It was dark, street lights dim and with moonlight everything just visible. The Night Queens in my mom’s garden had almost fully bloomed and the scent was strong.
As we walked the lanes we noticed almost every neighbor had this Night Queen plant laden with the huge blooming flowers. We actually wouldn’t have noticed but for the sweet smell all along. Our path wasn’t laid with flowers yet it was engulfed in fragrance!
What a walk it was, the journey of life together had just started, hand in hand, with sweet fragrance! Today I have the same night queen flowers blooming in balcony. Those moments can never be recreated, that short journey at that unearthly hour can never be recreated but it is continuing and we stop once in a while to try and relive those moments.
My Top 5 Memorable Trips filled with Fragrances: is my entry for the “ INSPIRE A FRAGRANCE “ contest being held on Indiblogger , in close association with Godrej Aer.
UPDATE: This post won the contest.
I have a very sensitive nose and scents can take me back even 30 years ago at one point of my life. Funny you mention Jasmine, Jasmine always reminds me of Hawaii where I used to go for work over 10 years ago. Good luck with your contest.
What an interesting post! I’ve never read something based on Aromas. I love the smell of jasmine, so I’d love to take that journey. Also, I’d love to explore some Darjeeling Tea plantations!
Loved reading this aromatic journey! You are right about how these memories can transport back in time. I have my share of memories as well, and reading your post took me back in time!
I love rose and jasmine! This was such a lovely post. Certain fragrances will undoubtedly transport me back into a specific time and place!
The power of scents to recall memories is amazing. I could practically smell the Night Queen just reading your recount of your walk. I can image how amazing 1000 varieties of roses would smell walking into Ooty rose garden. Now you’ve got me thinking about what smells have stood out to me over the years! The ones that come up first are chai tea in Rishikesh, India, and jasmine, which always makes me think of Cambodia.
It really is incredible the power that fragrances have, in order to transport you back to a particular moment in time. I have the same thing, certain memories which you think are lost, are triggered by a particular smell. Thanks for sharing some of your aromatic memories; Roses and Jasmine are two of my favorite aromas; very strong scents too!
What an interesting post, it has made me start to think of aromatic journeys that I might have taken too. I do love the smell of Thai food on their streets and of course, Jasmine, I associate it with a spa too, although I probably cannot pin point the exact spa and why. Goan fish curry, yum!
What a great way to relive memories. It hadn’t occurred to me to remember how a dish smelled while determining if it needs more spice
Very interesting post to read. Love the bit about tea. That would be my number one if I did a list like this. I am tea crazy (and I am British..he he)
You know Indrani – I lost my sense of smell a few years back but the smell that I remember most strongly is the haunting smell of Rajnigandha – it is such a unique smell and it transports me to Varanasi where I spent one year as a kid and our home had a big Rajnigandha tree in our garden. Lovely post.
I think you’re right, I also tend to tie nice scents to the places I’ve visited. I think roses might be my favorite ones, I’d love to step into the Ooty Rose garden!
What an interesting contest and you have shared some wonderful aromatic experiences. I loved all your wonderful experiences but the jasmine massage, that would be top of my list especially at an Alilla resort.
Beautiful recollection of memories along with fragrance!
Wow! So many amazing smells, Indrani!
A smell-richie-rich post 🙂
I had been to Ooty, but that time this rose garden wasn't there…Must visit again!
Best wishes for the contest!
All of these scents remind me of India, but I really associate the jasmine with Southern India, of course. Miss them all. May be coming again.
All the best for the contest. Nicely written post.
Lovely… especially the last one…
Smells are really amazing. I dont know what neurons they connect in the brain, but they bring back memories of events that you have long forgotten..Very nice reminiscences Indrani !
The smells from your post are wonderful Indrani.
Wow! Such a beautiful post it is. 🙂
Fragrances awaken our true selves… Didn't know that reading a post on them can make them actually feel until I read some of the articles, including yours… Best wishes for the contest, may you win!
jasmine is my favourite too..just planted a jasmine plant a few days ago…..loved the fragrances Indrani..nice post… 🙂
Nice post.
All the best 🙂
A neat and beautiful post.. All the best for the contest 🙂
Nice post with best of things which inspire fragrances ! ATB for contest dear 🙂
Your post just made my nose smell all those items even though I am not around any of them. Enjoyed the experience.
A fun post Indrani, yestereday I was just thinking how much I enjoy the smell of newly moan grass. There are so many smells that I enjoy.
The Last one (actually numerated as 1st)…is the best one….Lily pond are my fav and I love the peaceful white….Great post Indrani….I have contributed too towards this one. Let me know what you think if you get an opportunity to stop by,
Enchanting Indrani!
ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
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