For me special aromas associated with my childhood bring
back fond memories. Here are my 10 best aromas.
I grew up in a happy family environment and with this happy
childhood I associate aromas bringing back fond memories. There are too many of
them but the 10 best aromas are:
1. Pot-roast in the oven:
My mother was an excellent cook and in an era when nobody was actually
concerned about high levels of cholesterol she spoiled us on Sundays with her
best pot-roast. Early in the morning she would prepare all ingredients, put it
in the oven at low temperature and boy, when we returned from church the house
was filled with the aroma of slow-baking pot-roast. Rest assured, the taste of that pot-roast was
just as good as the smell thereof.
2. Fresh-cut grass:
My father taught us from a very young age to attend to our garden
ourselves and in that time all houses had big yards with big gardens. Every
Saturday was garden day and I had to mow the lawn and the smell of fresh-cut
grass was heavenly. It still reminds me of our bondage with earth.
3. Jeyes Fluid: My
father believed that once a week all drains had to be disinfected, the court
yard had to be washed and the dog kennels had to be cleaned. For this purpose
he only believed in Jeyes Fluid. The smell lingered on for days and the smell
always reminded me of cleanliness. Fifty
years later, I still follow the same routine as my father and I still use Jeyes
Fluid.
4. Wicks bubble-gum:
My childhood was during the late fifties, early sixties when money was
scarce and we had to rely on one penny a week as pocket money. For that one
penny, we could buy 4 pieces of wicks bubble-gum. The secret of this brand of
bubble-gum was that the flavor lasted for days and the aroma of the bubble-gum
was heavenly. I remember sitting in church when suddenly the smell would reach
you from somewhere in church and you knew someone of your own age was secretly
chewing the bubble-gum – unfortunately, the smell could not keep it a secret.
5. Dettol: My mother
only believed in Dettol as an antiseptic ointment. And believe me; she used
bottles and bottles of it. We were outdoor children, not a day went by that
bruises, and nicks had to be treated with Dettol. Dettol is even today part of
my medicine chest and a spoonful in a hot bath is like aromatherapy for my!
6. Roasted peanuts: Once a year one of the big circus
companies would visit our little town and you did not miss it for a thing on
earth. With money a bit scarce, the only
thing my father could afford for snacks during the show was a packet of freshly
roasted peanuts in their shells. For that odd ninety minutes the show was on I
indulged myself in the aroma and taste of roasted peanuts.
7. Candy floss: During church and school bazaars there was
always a machine making candy floss. In spite of all the aromas of food and
other edibles competing for your attention, candy floss was always the winner
and whilst it was melting in your mouth the aroma itself engulfed you.
8. Vicks vapour rub: This was one of the musts for my
mother’s medicine chest and she believed in it. We as children loved it for its
beautiful aroma and warmness it created.
9. Wintergreen muscle ointment: My father was a very active man and
after a hard day’s work in the garden or his chicken coop or his garage he took
a hot bath and afterwards he rubbed in wintergreen. I loved to sit in his arms
in the evenings listening to the radio programs and just took in that heavenly
smell of wintergreen. I always associated it with a macho-man because my father
only used it after a man’s work!
10. The smell of a puppy: My father lived near the earth and
he tried to bring us as family nearer to earth and therefore a dog was always a
must in our house. Whenever we received a new puppy, I loved to cuddle it for
the smell only a puppy could have.
All these 10 best childhood aromas of mine are still part of
my life. Yes, believe it or not, even the occasional candy floss and roasted
peanuts I buy when there is a church bazaar or when we visit the specialized
candy shops in the malls.
Danie
