Often, I love to dab on a few drops of fragrance from a vial containing an exquisite combination of cherished reminiscences, events that have created lasting impressions and the scents cloaked by the memories of growing up. It is at once invigorating and reenergising, unlocking some treasured moments and sparking a flurry of emotions. And every summer, when we spend a few days in India, these olfactory memories are refreshed and refilled, triggered by a wealth of memorable experiences and different places visited.
The breathtaking beauty of an indelible image of rows of fresh flowers including beautiful gladioli, dahlias, roses and others in stunning, vibrant colours displayed in a market place in southern India during the early morning hours is only surpassed by the mixture of the intoxicating scent carrying their natural freshness. The tantalising aromas of curry leaves and mustard seeds crackling in coconut oil, arising from my mother’s kitchen evoke visions of elaborate family meals that are intertwined with the happiness of the past, while reminding us of the great care and emotions behind the wonderfully flavourful dishes. The unforgettable scent of rain that brings along with it the freshness of the clean air, the unmistakable fragrance of the warmth of greenery and the wet earth, always bring to mind the endless fun of childhood days while watching the rains with cousins and memories of afternoons spent gorging on freshly plucked mangoes and the honey sweetness of jackfruit.
While walking along the crowded streets, the scents of burning incense and of the garlands made by stringing together marigold and jasmine flowers, emanating from the different places of worship all seem to carry the same fragrance of devotion and faith.
While at home, I enjoy tidying up the cupboards just to have a chance to deeply inhale the smell of a mixture of sandalwood, incense and moth balls from the gorgeous silk clothes stacked neatly on the top shelves. Another favourite pastime is rummaging through the old metal trunks in the attic and along with the excitement of finding a broken medal, a precious collection of old coins or a hand-woven basket, their musty smells unravel many interesting family stories and oft repeated anecdotes.
Also, while leafing through some old books in the far corner of a cupboard, I bury my nose in their yellowing pages inhaling the heady smell evocative of the giggles, gossip and the joy of little things during the carefree school days.
And then when I return to the UAE after a summer redolent of the past and also adding several new experiences created with family and friends, I am greeted by the comforting scent of a sense of calm and order prevailing above the cosmopolitan charm and pace of the city that has been a second home to me for several years.
The food and elaborate arrangements during the various festivals celebrated with equal fervour, all evoke the distinct aromas of the traditions attached to each of these festivities and give me a seamless sense of home in a distant land.
I deeply inhale the familiar smell of the oud and bakhoor sold in the malls and the distinctive smells of the spices and other goods sold in the souqs. And, along with these waft across, the scent of a potpourri of cultures, their cuisines and customs that seem to be blended perfectly to create the unique fragrance that is the essence of the country that has also helped to retain the distinguishing aromas of its individual elements.
And it is a mixture of all these fragrances interlacing in the different aspects of life in the UAE that help to create a rich tapestry of experiences and cherished memories.
Fyna Ashwath is a journalist based in Dubai.
