Want to remember exactly how your feeling right now? Wish you could bottle inspiration or that certain something you feel when your are in the midst of making cool stuff? That enthusiasm you have for something you are working on - is it ever hard to get back in that zone? It's proven that scent is the most powerful of the senses to recall memory - more than visuals, and more than music. You probably already know this but why not use that knowledge to your advantage? Why not use scent to assist you in your creativity? Pick a new scent and make pathways to the memories you are making.
I've been doing this for a few years....when I start on a new project I pick a new scent - like a candle, or some incense, or perfume. I make sure that scent is around when I am filled with that enthusiasm and drive for what I'm working on. Let's say I'm using a scented candle - at the end of my studio time I'll pour that wax into my journal. The next time I am able to get back to the project I can take one whiff of the wax and I'm transported back to that zone. It's a great tool. Bottling inspiration - this is a little trick that comes pretty close.
So the challenge for this Crusade is for you to start a scent bank for this summer. Use your new scent in the studio and document it in your journal. In a few months time, and even years from now, I'll bet you will remember how you felt during June 2007. Make a blog entry about your scent for the summer and link here with a comment.
The example on the side shows the back cover of a journal where I've poured out some scented wax (Glade: Tangerine Ginger) and covered it with plastic screen so it wouldn't chip off. Sometimes I'll chip some wax into a mesh bag and hang it from the spiral. For incense I tie a few sticks to the edge of a page. For perfume I'll spray some on tissue and tuck it into a glassine envelope on a page. Always document the date with the scent.
A favorite scent (Fireside candle) given from a friend became the memory maker for the end of 2006. Reminds me of several pieces of art created last year. I'm not sure I'll be able to get more of these candles so I'm glad to have it documented in my journal. Snifffffff.
How cool is this scent? Ralph Lauren ROCKS. A birthday gift, my summer scent 2007. I hadn't seen this fragrance yet so it was a delightful surprise that my husband picked out the perfect label, and it smells good too! You gotta see the the site, HERE.
Let's hear about AND see your scent selection for this summer. Make a journal page and blog entry about bridging memory with scent while you make art. Comment here with a link to your site.
CRUSADE No. 9 ~ What's that Smell? DUE JULY 1.
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