To smell or to stink, that is the question.
I never really got into cologne, perfume, or fragrance of any sort for that matter, until I discovered incense and essential oils in college. Nag Champa was a real turning point in my sensory education and even candles are now appreciated for the depth they give decor, intentional or accidental, planned or spontaneous. I cannot say why I neglected smell, but to some extent it must be that I grew up in the woods where the smell of nature is constantly shifting through a range of muted hues and textures from slight to insignificant. Smell was ever-present but somewhat subdued and noticed only for its absence or intrusion until my education had truly begun. I am exploring this parallel only because of a recent coincidence.
Weeks ago I was asked to participate in a survey run by anonymous Marketeers (the Musketeers have been replaced in contemporary society by these new heroes of the republic, defenders of our ideals). These Marketeers asked me to try a fragrance and evaluate its efficacy and value and fill out a form at the end of the trial to inform their efforts to reach the right market with their advertising. I went along out of curiosity and to get free cologne. At or around the same time I began reading two books that had been on my list of "Fiction you really must read" as suggested by persons whose opinions I trust. As we have recently been discussing the holographic nature of human experience (see Wikkying below) you may understand my astonishment at the content of one of the titles, the one I read second, coincidentally; "Jitterbug Perfume". This is to recommend the book and the author Tom Robbins to all readers and to ascertain the commonality of this kind of experience. I think this happens to all of us all the time but I don't know, perhaps I am an anomaly. The book also addresses this topic for any who are interested.
