Category: Smell

Your character has had a rough morning. Make your readers feel it too. When you start running out of ideas, turn to his sense of smell: the diner coffee wafting from his mug, the stale smoke on his clothing, the tequila breath he can’t brush away…

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“Rose” is a common scent descriptor, but what does a rose really smell like? Today pick an object that’s commonly used to describe a scent, then give that object its due.

Who used to live here, who will live here in the future? Tell this house’s story, letting the sense of smell guide the reader. Do you smell simmering soup from happy days gone by, fresh flowers gracing the entrance and welcoming guests at a party? What about fresh, tropical air flooding through the rooms when a new owner takes possession and opens it up?

Autumn is full of opportunities to explore the five senses–from the feel of wet, fallen leaves in your hands to the taste of pumpkin pie. Today write about the smell of fall in the air and see where it takes you. For example, does it differ where you live now than where you grew up? If so, does that suggest a story, scene, or personal essay?

Describe the smell of morning in and around your home.

It’s dinnertime in this Parisian apartment building. Focusing on the smells wafting out of the windows, create a series of vignettes about what’s taking place in several homes.