The Candy Perfume Boy #ScentedStories

Scented Stories: The Seaside

#ScentedStories
#ScentedStories

My favourite medium of Social Media is Instagram, so it will be no surprise that my Instagram account (you can follow me here, BTW) is filled with many, many pictures of my favourite things, specifically a variety of images related to perfume, food and my family. You can say a lot with a simple picture and I personally find it to be a fantastic way to represent the spirit, or essence of a fragrance by pairing it with a piece of art, or a carefully-selected background. I’m a bit in love with Instagram, if I’m being honest with you, whether I be using it to flirt with perfume photography or simply stroking my ego with a cheeky, but essential selfie…

One thing I’d like to start doing via my favourite medium is record some of my everyday scented experiences using photography and a smelly commentary. I’m calling the series ‘Scented Stories’, or ‘#ScentedStories’ for the social media savvy amongst us, and I’d like to invite you along with me to explore the smellier things in life. Photos and captions will initially be posted on my Instagram and then collated in a blog post here. But this isn’t just about me (not everything can be, I know…) and I’d like to hear/see your #ScentedStories too! So, tell me about the interesting smells you come across and share your photographs, comment away, and let’s traverse this wonderfully, and beautifully fragrant world together.

For my first Scented Story I have documented a recent trip to that most wonderful of places – the British seaside. When we were kids, my father would take my siblings and me to a small town in Suffolk called Aldeburgh. Unlike many seaside towns, Aldeburgh is quaint, laid back and fairly untourist-y, but it does have all of the things one expects from such a place, namely; a beach with painful pebbles (murder for the feet, let’s face it), plentiful ice cream, tacky gift shops and, most importantly, killer fish and chips. To rekindle fun times spent by the coast, we (as in my siblings, father, step-mother, husband and I) have started taking semi-regular trips back to Aldeburgh with my nephew and below the jump is just a small photo essay, complete with scented commentary, of this year’s trip. Enjoy!

"Today we took a trip to the seaside. Here's a little #ScentedStory of the many intriguing smells we encountered, starting with my SOTD (Scent of the Day). I picked Womanity Le Goût du Parfum - a posh marine mezze of sea salt and fig chutney."
“Today we took a trip to the seaside. Here’s a little #ScentedStory of the many intriguing smells we encountered, starting with my SOTD (Scent of the Day). I picked Womanity Le Goût du Parfum – a posh marine mezze of sea salt and fig chutney.”
"The grey mineral smell of pebbles under one's feet, with a dash of sea air and galbanum-like sea kale for good measure."
“The grey mineral smell of pebbles under one’s feet, with a dash of sea air and galbanum-like sea kale for good measure.”
"The sweaty, humid air pouring out of the fish and chip shop is filled with chewy batter, beef dripping and fat. Familiar and strangely irresistible."
“The sweaty, humid air pouring out of the fish and chip shop is filled with chewy batter, beef dripping and fat. Familiar and strangely irresistible.”
"Fresh fish for sale smells rather pungent. Hot, ripe seafood under the summer sun. The smell of worn and sea-scorched nets and hooks."
“Fresh fish for sale smells rather pungent. Hot, ripe seafood under the summer sun. The smell of worn and sea-scorched nets and hooks.”
"Mr. Whippy. Lactonic vanilla, a hint of chocolate and an inevitable tummy ache."
“Mr. Whippy. Lactonic vanilla, a hint of chocolate and an inevitable tummy ache.”
"My nephew. Chocolate ice cream, sunscreen and gorgeous, buttery hair."
“My nephew. Chocolate ice cream, sunscreen and gorgeous, buttery hair.”
"Toy boats on a toy lake. Chlorine brings back memories of summer swimming lessons and endless hours in the water."
“Toy boats on a toy lake. Chlorine brings back memories of summer swimming lessons and endless hours in the water.”
"Finally, Maisie sums top how we all feel - exhausted by the sun but content with the simple pleasures in life. Warm, salty fur, Doritos and wet noses."
“Finally, Maisie sums top how we all feel – exhausted by the sun but content with the simple pleasures in life. Warm, salty fur, Doritos and wet noses.”

Our next instalment of #ScentedStories will be coming to you from Amsterdam in a few weeks…

Join the Discussion!

What are your scented memories of the seaside? Let me know in the comments box below!