Childhood smells

[Alison Adams]

Tinned or maybe it was dried minestrone soup. It was what we had in hospital after getting tonsils out (mid 1960s). I hated it but it was that or nothing - I can barely tolerate it now just because of that smell - even though its something I should like, but no, Im there in pyjamas with a bunch of miserable kids all missing their mums...

[bluemoon]

My Gran was one of the old school; washing on Monday, ironing on Tuesday.... etc, etc. She used to polish up her brass letter-box and door knocker with Brasso every Wednesday, which was also the day we visited her for tea. Last year, after our grandson had put his sticky fingers all over our new fire (which has brass bits) I bought a bottle of Brasso, used it and suddenly I was a kid again and waiting for Gran to open the door.

[ailsasyl]

Peppermints, my grandad always had a pack in the car. Oh and evostick glue grandad used it to fix everything and when making coffee tables.
Baby lotion, my mum, she still uses it as an aftersun moisturiser.
Hot chips and vinegar, from when I worked in the cafe/take away aged 14-16 years.

[Nicos]

Brasso- same here bluemoon..we used to spend 2 hrs once a fortnight
polishing the brass in the dining room!

Calor Gas- reminds me of the weekends and holidays spent in the caravan ( we have a calor gas cooker innFrance and each time I light it I feel like I'm on hols!! ( just as well- cos the darned thing burns everything)

Johnson's baby powder - next doors had a baby when I was about 10 and the mum sprinkled it everywhere- he was a really vomity baby and the house always smelled of drying nappies/vomit/Johnson's baby powder ...needless to say- there was no way I could use it with my babies!!!

[taskey]

the smell of roses remind me of my nana as she had them in her back yard - we only used to visit once a year and the smell takes me back.

also boot polish, as my dad was in the army and the parade of shoes every sunday night for polishing.

tracy

[Alison Adams]

Another one for me - good, this time: swarfega ! My dad was an engineer and always had big tins of this for his filthy dirty hands when he finished stripping down some crane or huge plant vehicle. I used to love sticking my hands in the tin. It was bright, translucent green and smelled - weird. Whenever I helped him with an engine I loved the ceremony of washing in swarfega afterwards. Because of how it squished through your fingers, we called it worms - I just remembered that ! I am all happy now.

[Polly Fouracre]

Mint, fruit buns, chrysanthemums, horses.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Hawthorn blossom reminds me of infants school, there was hedge of it right next to the school gate.

The school my Dad used to teach at in Rochester still smells just the same as I remember some 20/30 years later, particularly the staffroom, even though its been completely stripped and refurbed. I'm going there again next Saturday for the school's Founders Day.

[Stacey Steve]

Oil of Patchouli

Back in my hippy days a lot of the girls used it like perfume but there was one particular girl I went out with, Oh boy I only have to smell it now and I go weak at the knees.

Those were the days my friends, I thought they'd never end......

[kernowyon]

germolene,
coal tar soap (my dear gran in Penzance),
sawdust and bleach mixed (my dad is a butcher and used to clean the block with it)
blue stratos, (my early teens)
fried hogs pudding

bad smells from childhood -
Blood spread on the fields
the knackers yard truck that used to drive through the village every day

[Hilary B]

Another one for me - good, this time: swarfega ! My dad was an engineer and always had big tins of this for his filthy dirty hands when he finished stripping down some crane or huge plant vehicle. I used to love sticking my hands in the tin. It was bright, translucent green and smelled - weird. Whenever I helped him with an engine I loved the ceremony of washing in swarfega afterwards. Because of how it squished through your fingers, we called it worms - I just remembered that ! I am all happy now.

There was another product similar to Swarfega, it was pink, and I think it was called "dirty paws". Swarfega only ever seemed to be available in 'industrial size' tubs, but the other one came in quite small tins.

[maytreefrannie]

Only last week I was offered a sweet from a bag. I was about to say, 'no, thanks' when I looked in the bag and smelled - Butter Nuggets.

These were sweets I used to love when I was a child and the familiar smell from the little bag just about swept me right back to the days when I used to buy 6 for a penny!

I thanked my friend, took two and had a great afternoon (they last quite a while)>

[bobleponge]

Play doh (sp)
Remember smelling it at friends houses and being staggered that you couldnt eat it, it smelt so yummy.
Got some for the grandkids last christmas, and it smelt pretty much as I remembered it.

[Glutton4...]

Castrol R exhaust fumes! Yummy My Dad used to motor cross back in the days when it was called scrambling. Haven't smelled it in years tho!

[Sunbeam]

Bonfire smoke - reminds me of my Dad
Lucozade & Dettol - being poorly & the sick bucket!
Tomato plants - my nan & gramps's greenhouse
Clean bed sheets - my mum - esp when coming home from uni having not washed the bedsheets for a whole semester!