I was walking into a business on a crisp, cool morning not long ago. As I approached the building, I walked through a cloud of fresh cigarette smoke – most likely still lingering from a customer or employee.

But I liked the smell.

I always have. For some odd reason, I like to catch a whiff of cigarette smoke from time to time. It’s unhealthy, and some folks would say it’s a little weird.  But I admit it. I like it.  

I’m readily admitting such weirdness because I’m interested to see if anyone else will admit their weird or secret love for certain smells.  

Come on. Just go ahead and spill it: you have a list of weird smells that you are almost ashamed to talk about.

My dad used to love the smell of gasoline, and my grandmother was the one who told me. She said he opened a big container once, took a giant whiff, and went a little batty for a while. She said she had to gather him up in a blanket and rock him to settle him down.

When I confronted my dad about it, he had no recollection and was almost aggravated that she had told me about it.

Maybe the smell wiped out his memory.

A college friend admitted that rubbing alcohol was a smell she loved as a child and she would pour a little on her pillowcase at night. I never asked her, but I’ll bet she also loved the smell of chlorine or bleach.

I will readily admit to loving the smell of chlorine, bleach, cigar or cigarette smoke, gasoline, varnish, markers and burning leaves.

Many of you share this list with me, I’m sure.

Do you suppose we associate fond memories with certain smells, even if they are not necessarily popular smells? I did a little research just to test my theory, plus reflected a bit on my own list.

I remember my friend saying that rubbing alcohol was around the house when she was a kid. It was used for treating bug bites and injuries, and both her mother and grandmother used it for cleaning. Both of them were nurses, and she grew up to be a nurse as well.

So the smell of alcohol came from a place of comfort and was attached to memories of feeling cared for or getting special attention. 

I know my friend came from a large family, so that one-on-one medical attention was the time she got to have a caring adult all to herself.

I’m pretty sure the smell of cigarette or cigar smoke appeals to me because many of the folks I cared for when I was growing up were smokers. I’d be around in the mornings when we were all together, and invariably the smells of breakfast would be mingled with cigarette smoke and strong coffee smells.

Let’s not even talk about my insane love of coffee and the smell of it.  I’m sure Heaven must smell a little like coffee.

Burning leaves take me back to carefree days in our neighborhood and small-town life. Varnish and smells of fresh cut wood remind me of the barn or being with my family of woodworkers.  

Bleach takes me back to my grandmother’s immaculate house, laundry day, and also the days when I worked in a restaurant where everything was kept clean and scrubbed at all times. 

Although we worked hard as teenagers in that restaurant, we had an absolute ball mopping those floors and shining those stainless steel food tables.  I think that my boss must have been a genius to instill such a sense of pride in keeping that little taco joint tidy in a bunch of silly teenagers.

Chlorine, of course, reminds us of carefree days at the pool. I mean, that goes without saying.

Of course, the smells of new crayons and glue remind me of times when I thought school was fun, and markers remind me of times when I indulged in my love of drawing and art.

But honestly, with all the smells I loved and sniffed as a child, it’s a wonder I am not in the Betty Ford Clinic.

I’d love to hear your own “shameful” list of smells you secretly enjoy. Email me at marksremarks10@gmail.com.

Happy smelling!