Never have I taken the association of good smells so seriously as I have in my volunteer work with children who have been displaced from their homes.
One of the most common causes for removing children from their home is that their parents can’t take care of them the way that they deserve. This can be due to a variety of circumstances.
Do the parents have an addiction problem? Is one parent known for being abusive? Is there enough money to care for the kids? Can they get to school? Are their basic human needs being met?
When such situations come to the attention of authorities, action is taken on behalf of the children, until all the facts can be gathered, and a plan made for restoring normality, if possible.
The role of a foster parent is to provide temporary care for a child, meeting their needs and assuring their safety until they can be reunited with parents or other family. The goal is always reunification with the family of origin.
I recently had the opportunity to hear from a dozen children who had spent time in foster care about their thoughts of “home”: what it means to them, what it feels like to be there, what word they would use to reflect their thoughts and feelings about it.
“Home is that smell of something good when you walk in the door.”
“Home is that smell that just says you are home, you are safe, it’s going to be okay. That somebody cares you are there.”
Wow. I was blown away by the bittersweet simplicity.
And it got me thinking: what is the smell of home?
For many, it is likely the scent of a home-cooked meal, fresh bread and simmering spices. Or the smell of a fireplace or wood stove.
It could also be the clean, comforting scent of freshly laundered linens or the scent of your favorite household cleaners.
Maybe it’s the natural scent of pets, like a dog or a cat, comforting and familiar.
Perhaps it is the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, both energizing and reassuring, or the sweet and soothing scent of vanilla.
It’s any scent that brings a sense of warmth, security, and familiarity. All things we associate with “home.”
Reflecting on this, I decided to conduct an experiment with my own family.
Members of my family were coming to visit for a special holiday. I decided to fill the house with one of my favorite scents, Belle Aroma® Balsam Peru, by diffusing it in my Esprit de Fleur™ Essential Oil Nebulizer. When they walked in, I would watch to see if anyone noticed and how they reacted.
One by one, my family members entered my house, smiled, and remarked, “it smells good in here” or “what smells so good?” My children adding, “oh, smells like Mom!”
I think of those kids in foster care and hope they are feeling safe and secure in a place where they know they are wanted.
And one that smells like home.
Jean Greco for The Gift of Scent