Still Life Sketch of Summer Notes
Beginning of SummerQuiet air conditioning first being used, new leather sandals scraping the ankle’s skin, and the scent of those particular hormones released in humans anticipating the summer holidays – these combined have a very definite scent of excitement on the verge of freedom.
Peak of the Summer
Lemon popsicles, tart and sweet, sweating their juice away in the hot sun;
Melons warmed by the baked earth in the fields;
Watermelons piled up and chilled in the darkest corner in the house while their seeds start to sprout within;
Green figs, fuzzy and stingy, honeyed and tangy, with that dangerously burning milk dripping from their stems;
Hot sand and bubbling boiling asphalt;
Burning bushes and forest fires;
Sour plums – too few;
Sweet overripe apricots – too many, all cooked into a jam on open fire;
White Peaches with tree resin stuck to their skin;
Sunscreen and chlorine blended on sun-soaked skins;
Lemon & Lime bubble gum that is so big and juicy that it’s hard to chew on;
Coconut scented tanning oil and coconut scented chewing gum;
Wheatgerm & Honey Shampoo masking the salty scent of sandy hair – but not quite so;
Straw and mud as the garden and orchards are being watered;
Chocolate covered banana ice cream bars, melting and dripping into the sand and onto tar struck soles;
Spearmint flavoured lemonade and spearmint flavoured rice-filled sour grapevine leaves; Green juice of tomato leaves staining a little gardener’s hands.
End of Summer
Sand Lilies wiggling in the sea salt scented and slightly chilly breeze… Announcing the arrival of school days and books and new introductions.
Summery Building Blocks
Marigold (Tagetes) – this flower loves the sun and the summer and we used to plant it in the vegetable garden to keep away aphides and other bugs.
Spikenard – reminiscent of the scent of just-watered soil, of straw and of mud. Creates an interesting base.
Basil – delicious and abundant in the summer, it adds a wonderful twist to both citrus and jasmine with its aromatic happiness.
Spearmint – cool and refreshing and abuandant in the summer, and also likes to transform jasmines and make them even more radiant.
Rose – luscious tea roses and wild roses in full glorious blooms, warm and soft
Jasmine – particularly intoxicating in the evenings, and the most flexible summery heart note there is.
Rose Geranium – not only as an extension for rose, but a note with its own bold rosy green herbaceous lemony presence with a full bodied fruitiness.
Lemon Verbena – this tropical lemon scented plant has the most delicate lemony scent which
is a bit floral and green, and is a heart note. It’s glorious with rose and refreshing and soothing at once.
Lemongrass – grows in abundance in summer and adds a green and lemony, somewhat hay-like aroma.
Seaweed – a natural building block that brings to mind salty oceans and soft warm sand. A great way to get a marine note without calone.
Lime – the most refreshing green citrus there is.
Lavender – this soft herbal flower can have the most cooling effect when paired with citrus or woods.
I wish you could join me by sharing your summer scent memories with us and adding a comment!