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The smell of damp earth

Posted by Robin on 20 October 2008 10 Comments

My favourite smell is burning olive wood. I spend much time in Greece and in the autumn, when the olive trees are pruned, the woods are filled with the smell of burning olive branches. The smell of damp earth and burning olive is incomparable and, I believe, inimitable.

— Author Salley Vickers, quoted in Heaven scent: favourite smells at the UK Times Online.

Filed Under: perfume in the news

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10 Comments

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  1. Anonymous says:
    20 October 2008 at 10:08 am

    The seedheads of gray-headed coneflower–O…M…G–can put me in a state of calm 10x more powerfully than can lavender. Some day I'm going to get a pro nose to work with this musty scent–an untapped resource. (Slack jawed and drooling now.)

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  2. Anonymous says:
    20 October 2008 at 10:42 am

    Really?!? I need some of that. I've grown other coneflowers but not that one.

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  3. Anonymous says:
    20 October 2008 at 2:36 pm

    I'm familiar with Ratibida pinnata – the scent is strongly anisic and I think some ambrette seed-like earthiness is in there.

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  4. Anonymous says:
    20 October 2008 at 5:10 pm

    Your observations are fascinating, Anya. Thank you for that. There must be just the right molecular twist going on there, since I'm gaga for the pinnata, but gag-gag in the presence of anise.

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  5. Anonymous says:
    21 October 2008 at 11:29 am

    I've read that the smell of moist earth is the most beloved by humans in general. Stands to reason as well as the physical reaction and emotion. It means fertility and survival. There are microbes that are released into the air when the earth is dampened that give you a good feeling, reliably.

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  6. Anonymous says:
    21 October 2008 at 7:55 pm

    That makes sense to me too.

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  7. Anonymous says:
    22 October 2008 at 1:57 am

    I've got the perfect damp earth for you. I was looking for some depth and mossy wood base to layer with no depth florals ; I went and bought Demeter's *earthworm* and that's what I got-damp gardening soil. The exact same smell! If anyone has fished with worms, it smells like the soily they put in the bait bucket.

    It's perfect to splash on if you have to get out of something, “Oh I'd love to go with you but I'm tired and dirty from working in the garden all day.”

    not that I'd ever do that ;-D

    Joy,

    Becca

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  8. Anonymous says:
    22 October 2008 at 11:46 am

    Thanks! Haven't tried Earthworm, and wonder how it differs from Demeter Dirt. Love all the various “dirt” fragrances from Christopher Brosius too.

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  9. Anonymous says:
    23 October 2008 at 12:16 am

    Wow, I wonder how Dirt differs from Earthworm? Earthworm doesn't help with layering. Do you think Dirt does?

    Gee, how does Demeter do what they do? Earthworm smells like your burying something or planting something?…lets say planting something. But is there a difference? ;D

    Bad Becca

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  10. Anonymous says:
    23 October 2008 at 9:43 am

    I wouldn't think any Demeters would be fabulous for layering — they just usually don't last long enough. But who knows? I do layer CB I Hate Perfume Black March, when I've got any — don't at the moment, unfortunately.

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