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Collections often bring images of stamps, coins, or art collections. But a collection of smells? Yes, you heard it right-smells of weird things. The general notion of collecting weird smells may sound unusual, if not eccentric, yet such a collation taps into one of the unique and powerful senses: smelling. Now, let us step into this intriguing world where odors become treasures.
Why Collect Strange Smells?
The very fact that one might want to collect weird smells can seem bizarre on first consideration. After all, most smells are transitory and immaterial in a world where most other things people collect are not. But our sense of smell is inextricably linked with memory and emotion. One odor can send one flying in a heartbeat to the moment, location, or feeling. To others, the art of collecting strange smells deals with capturing those instances and experiences.
Smells can provoke emotions and even affect our mood changes. Some collectors of smells like weird odors simply because they are quirky or unusual, or perhaps because the odors call up memories that no sight or sound could replace. Others just like the challenge of hunting down and trying to identify new, unfamiliar smells.
The Tools of the Trade
To begin collecting weird smells, one should familiarize oneself with the associated tools of the trade. In contrast to traditional collecting, which relies on storage of a physical nature, the collection of smells utilizes a different modality. The basic components of interest herein are highlighted below.
i) Scent Jars:
These are small containers, usually airtight, used for storing and preserving smells. Collectors often use materials like cotton balls or blotter paper to absorb and hold the scent inside the jar.
ii) Scent Diffusers:
For those who want to revisit their collection, diffusers offer one the ability to release stored scents in a controlled manner.
iii) Scent Cataloging:
Just like any collection, it’s all about the organization. Some collectors maintain a detailed journal of describing each smell, its origin, and the memories or emotions it evokes.
The art of collecting strange smells also includes experimenting with different means of storage since some scents are shy; they come and go, then disappear right away with time passing by.
Strange Smells Worth Collecting
While collecting strange smells, the options are endless. From natural smells to artificial ones, the world is full of interesting aromas. Here are several examples of unusual smells that collectors may want to look for:
i) Petrichor:
The smell comes from the earth when rain falls on dry soil. It is a smell liked by many and which can be extracted from rocks or soil after a light rain.
ii) Old Books:
Smell of old paper and ink, especially in used bookstores or libraries.
iii) Fresh Asphalt:
That pungent yet curiously reassuring smell of newly laid asphalt.
iv) Wet Dog:
A love-it-or-hate-it smell, but may be comforting to dog aficionados.
v) Burnt Toast:
A slip-up in the kitchen that, for some, makes the life memories a bit worth having a hint of char on.
vi) Vinegar:
The pungent, sour scent might evoke images of pickling or cleaning.
These are a few examples, but essentially the gathering of strange smells can be an endless art form. What one individual considers odd, another person might find appealing, therefore this is a very individualistic type of activity.
Challenges in Collecting Strange Smells
But this art is not bereft of its challenges, despite its allurements. Whereas objects can be kept in their form and state, smells are ephemeral and may fade away or change over time. It is the techniques of preservation that help maintain a smell in its integrity. And it is not so easy, especially when a smell happens to be highly volatile or multilayered.
Besides, not all smells are conventionally pleasant. The art of collecting strange smells sometimes involves confronting odors that are pungent, overwhelming, or even repulsive to others. But the true enthusiast finds beauty in the unusual and appreciates the complexity even in the most bizarre aromas.
Another challenge is sharing your collection. How do you really describe a smell to someone who is not there? You can show them pictures, and you can describe them, but those do not capture the essence. Some collectors may hold small get-togethers or “scent tastings” with friends or fellow enthusiasts where they will share their collection. This makes others actually able to take in the smells themselves and makes the hobby more social.
The Community of Scent Enthusiasts
Collecting weird smells is more popular than you would think. Enthusiasts of fragrances have even created communities and forums online where they discuss what one has found, share tips on how to preserve them,a and brag about their latest finds. Very often, such communities include professional perfumers, hobbyist fragrance enthusiasts, and even scientists, whose point of study was the olfactory senses.
In recent years, the proliferation of scent museums and exhibitions across the world has presented visitors with an opportunity to experience some of the rarest and weirdest smells. These museums extol the art of collecting strange smells, which range from historical scents to the latest innovations in fragrance.
This is yet another great way to learn and be in contact with others if you want to start a collection yourself. You will find that the world of smell is so much greater and stranger than anything you can ever imagine.
Conclusion
Smell collecting is an unusual and enriching art; it’s truly one of the only hobbies in life that can really stimulate your senses. But even though it may seem like a quite peculiar thing, it offers you a deep connection to memory, emotion, and experience. Whether it is because you are fascinated by the smell of old books or fresh asphalt, or something else entirely, a whole world awaits you.
So next time you catch that whiff, capture it. You never know might discover a whole new passion in the art of strange and unusual smell collecting. To Read in Detail: Click here
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