My Nannie smelt lovely, layers of floral talcum powder, spearmint and Pears soap. Her bungalow was pristine – she was very much the homemaker. It smelt lovely, too, as did her baking and her much cherished garden. Staying with her was a real treat for the nose with the delicious aroma of homemade cakes and flowers in her garden.

She lived in the countryside and her traditional tea roses, which I frequently buried my face into, were as tall as brooms with an unforgettable divine bouquet.
I loved our walks in the countryside. Nannie knew all about flowers, even their Latin names and the remedies of all the wild ones.

When it was time to be collected, I didn’t want to leave the peaceful haven. I would grab clusters of the lavender from the bouncy ring which encircled her house. I took lots, stuffing the twiggy stems into the satchel Nannie had made for me, before clambering into the car.

Tears would swell as her waving hand grew smaller, her ironed handkerchief dancing as she wished me on my way. At bedtime, I frequently recalled the calm as I nuzzled my face against my lavender filled sock. It took me right back to the little village where she lived…

When I was eleven I suffered a physical trauma. I remembered as I attended to my wounded limbs that we had some lavender soap. As I twitched from the pain of my cuts and bruises, I held the freshly opened bar up to my nose. I even licked it! (Never again, it was disgusting looking back!). The smell was so overwhelmingly comforting to me.

From that day on, when I feel the storm of anxiety ebbing at my edge, I find something comforting to smell. I have many fabulous choices, from candles to scented oils, my favourite perfumes and lots of rose and lavender scented cleaning products.

In my experience the scents of your choice are a simple, yet invaluable, investment.
Dealing with mental health is complex – there are so many layers. We all have our unique viewpoints and varying ways that we can help ourselves to counter our heavy hearts. I find that enjoying the scent of my favourite things can evoke a wash of happy memories which keep me topped up with the energy to face the next task of the day.