Think: coffee, lilac, orchid, cookie, and gym. Tell me you haven’t smelled the words as you read them.
Last night as I walked into the grocery store, I caught a scent of cinnamon. Ah, it was wonderful. It felt like Christmas.
This sense of smell is quite unique and to be fair, the other senses are unique in their own ways too. But what I find special about this particular faculty is its ability to transport you to a place in time where that smell was prevalent or memorable. Today, I wish I could smell the scent of growing rice stalks again.
I miss the smell of rice paddies growing with the young unripened green stalks.
photo copyright by Langfia Ayeona Huber
I miss the smell of fully ripened golden yellow rice stalks.
photo copyright by Langfia Ayeona Huber
I miss the smell of freshly gathered and clumped rice stalks drying and toasting under the heat of the sun.
photo copyright by Langfia Ayeona Huber
No one has yet captured the scent of growing rice. My memory is having difficulty retrieving the scent of those young and ripe rice stalks. Maybe someday a genius will find a way to bottle up that scent. Not that I will wear it on me…just a whiff is all I need to feel like I’m home in the mountains again. For now, I will settle with this beautiful photo of home through my good friend Marilou’s lense.
photo copyright by Langfia Ayeona Huber
If you ever wander into the northern region of the Philippines, stop by one of these beautifully man made wonders and smell the roses rice. You won’t regret it. In the meantime, a new season is upon us so enjoy all of Fall’s wonderful scents – pumpkin spice, apple cinnamon, crisp cooler morning air, and bonfires. Welcome Fall!