SNIIIIIIIIFFFFF.
Do you smell that? It smells like someone just sat in the brig of a ship for three days straight.
It smells like vanilla and butter, then, right?
WRONG.
Today we discuss smells and what people smell like.
SMELL.
I have noticed, recently, that it cures (and curses) many people and things. Depending on who you are and what era you live in, smells can be either good or bad.
For example, the people in medieval times believed that bathing was unhealthy.
Where that one came from, I don't know. I don't want to.
Story relies on both accuracy and smells, time era and soap quality wise.
Here are a few tips on writing smells accurately.
1. Good smell
No matter who your character is, they will appreciate the smell of someone who just stepped out of a shower, or, on a less creepy note, that of flowers or soap. Show their appreciation and describe the smell with smell-able (is that legit?) words, (i.e. rose petals, lavender, vanilla ice cream, dawn dish soap), but don't linger. Unless you're writing a creep. Then, please, by all means, linger.
2. Bad smell.
Remember that time in the Lord of the Rings when Sam and Frodo were at Cirith Ungol, walking into Shelob's lair and the stench was just so bad it hurt you to read further? (Man, that was nasty.) The keys to writing bad smell are to have your character have both physical and mental reaction, and to repeat the process over and over until your readers hurt because they smell it too. Again, have your character use smell-able words to describe the stench, (i.e. fermented, salt, rotten egg, trash juice) and let their imaginations lead them to unspeakable places.
3. Misplaced smell.
There is no one more despised than a girl who can make it through the sewers, sit in the brig of a pirate ship, and wade through a swamp while still coming out clean, refreshed, and looking like she just emerged from a shampoo commercial. Listen, it doesn't work that way. That girl gon be NAASTy. I get it, no one likes smelly characters, but let's be honest, if she is smelly for a little while, she's more relatable if she hops in the shower ASAP and feels clean afterwards because, let's be honest, we have all felt this way.
Here are a few fun facts about soap products for your entertainment.
Deodorant was first trademarked and sold as "Mum" in 1888. (O.O)
Shampoo was made from boiled shaved soap and herbs at the first.
"Cosmetics" translates in ancient Greek to "the power to beautify".
And there you have it!
Tell me about the weirdest, dirtiest experience you've ever had.
See ya!!
