We've done scent before but that was June of 2007. By now you probably have a host of new scents - those used in your home, on your self, and you need to document them. I've been doing it for years and find it an incredible treasure to be able to revisit memories through past scents. For instance, I love scented candles or incense in my studio. The constant fragrance helps me capture and solidify thoughts I'm experiencing Right Now. Taking a whiff of old favorites that I've put on a page can even trigger creativity as they remind me of a groove I was in when I first used them. The challenge this month is to select a scent for the holiday season, use it all month long, and document it in your journal.
The scents that help us recall memory don't always have to be a perfume or candle - it might be a bath gel or soap. Do you find you change your scents from summer to winter? Journal about that. Do you have a favorite you never stray from? Journal about that. Breathe in, and think about what scents make you happy, or calm, or whatever. Find a way to get that scent on your page, and write about it. Don't forget to date it. It's amazing how time can march on and we change our routine and it goes unnoticed, or worse, undocumented. Here's a summer scent I will put on a page soon - there are only a few drops left in the bottle and it's time to put on my winter scent.
If you don't have a new scent for the holiday or the winter you could make a page that is evidence from the summer. THEN, go out and shop for a new scent, AND while you're at it pick up some sweet smelling things as gifts. Candles are always a great gift. One year my friend Judi gave me Frosted Cranberry candles and lotion, from Bath & Body Works. I adore that scent and chipped the last of the candle into an envelope for my journal. Luckily that candle is available again this year and I've stocked up. Another year Lisa gifted me with the Elton John Fireside candle that made me wild. It is only available now on ebay for a king's ransom so it's a good thing I poured some melted wax onto my journal pages. Here are a few In-Progress pages that are Evidence of my scents, including my new fave Cedar incense from Pier 1:
When I re-stocked on Cool Water incense the formula must have changed, and now it's not available, so I was really glad I took the first few sticks from the pack and put them in my journal about 4 years ago. I'm not a scent snob. My fave candle this year is from Glade. I can get it at Target and my grocery store! Whatever works - it's the fragrance that matters. Yes, that's a car freshener thing on my page. I just discovered Black Ice. LOVE IT in my van. Their other offerings make me gag but Black Ice rocks. The kids say it smells like Dad which is probably why I like it, *wink*.
If you weren't around for Crusade No. 9 ~ What's that Smell you can revisit the prompt and the links that were shared.
If you are treating yourself to a new scent, why not pick out some new sounds too? Songs help build a gateway to memory almost as strongly as scent. Last year I picked up the Sarah McLachlan Christmas cd. Putting it on the player this week made me remember so much from last year. Maybe you need to treat yourself to a HIM cd! Trick yourself into capturing memories, and make pages about it now.
CRUSADE NO. 26 ~ Scent of the Season DUE JANUARY 1ST
Pick a scent, make a journal page, blog about it, then come here and leave a comment. I'll post you to the link list, newest will be at the top. (Past crusades are archived into alphabetical order by first name.) You are welcome to join in on any crusade at any time, and anyone can play. Don't forget to leave your enthusiastic comments when visiting the links, even if you aren't playing along. Don't have a blog? Get yourself a free flickr account and post your photos there.
Have a great month as you prepare for whatever holiday you celebrate. Breathe in, and enjoy the fragrance the season brings.
EDIT: Archived links have been moved from sidebar to here.
CRUSADE NO. 26
- Alberta
- Becci Renfro (C25)
- Belinda Schneider
- Bre
- Carlene Federer
- Cath Sheard (C25)
- Christy Sobolewski
- Elizabeth Bunsen
- Hedwig
- JeriAnn
- Julie Prichard
- Julie Thornton
- Julie Thornton (C24)
- Julie Thornton (C25)
- Kathryn Antyr
- Lay Hoon
- Lee
- Lydia Fiedler (C25)
- Megan Warren
- Melissa Sabin
- Melissa Sabin (more)
- Michelle Ward
- Pam Carriker
- Paula Long
- Stephanie Hilvitz