The Fragrance Foundation UK

Collection of smell memories of home and first smell memories of London-Britain by Semra Eren-Nijhar https://bit.ly/2WpQz1c

“Smell is a tool of our belonging, identity and heritage and therefore it is important to find out how we relate to our olfactory heritage.”

–          Semra Eren-Nijhar –

My first smell memory is the Turkish citrus ‘kolonya – cologne’ and smell of coffee. These odours carry great significance and are a reflection of my upbringing in Turkey and Germany. They still play a great part in connecting me with my past, present and the future. And that’s why I was inspired to the small focus research on our olfactory heritage.

Collection of smell memories of home and first smell memories of London-Britain by Semra Eren-Nijhar https://bit.ly/2WpQz1c

‘My first smell memory is the glue smell at school when I was 4-5 years old; I think we were doing some kind of arts craft. And the smell of rice pudding which my mother made is my home smell. The smell of rice pudding always reminds me of my childhood.

Apart from these odours I cannot recall any smell memory when I arrived in Britain, nothing special.

I use the fragrance “Desert” by Fragonard.’

Collection of smell memories of home and first smell memories of London-Britain by Semra Eren-Nijhar https://bit.ly/2WpQz1c

‘My smell memory goes back when I was 5-6 years old and is the smell of the Sambar breakfast. As South Indians we use a lot of spices in our cooking therefore along with paprika my home smell is the smell of spices.

On my arrival in Britain I smelt the Cornish pasty and fried food, especially the smell of the Cornish pasty at Marylebone station.

I use the fragrance “Aqua Marine” by Bvlgari’

Collection of smell memories of home and first smell memories of London-Britain by Semra Eren-Nijhar https://bit.ly/2WpQz1c

‘We were  eating a lot of oranges during winter as my father wanted us to be very healthy during that time. The smell of oranges and also the smell of roasted chestnuts in winter is my earliest smell memory.

The smell of home for me is the smell of jasmine scent as my mother loved flowers and had jasmine flowers everywhere in the house. Jasmine smell is still my home smell and makes me feel at home whenever I smell it.

When I came first to Britain I did not sense any smell. But after a short time I clearly was smelling the magnolia trees everywhere. For me the smell of magnolia is the smell of Britain.

I use the fragrance ‘Black Opium’ by Yves Saint Lauren’

Collection of smell memories of home and first smell memories of London-Britain by Semra Eren-Nijhar https://bit.ly/2WpQz1c

‘On my first day of school when I was 7 years old my dad came home to take me to school (my parents were divorced). Soon as I came out of the house I smelt the crispy, fresh air of the autumn day. And this is my first memory of smell.

My home smell is my mother’s perfume which was ‘Shalimar’ by Guerlain.

I first came to Britain as a teenager and stayed with a family in Essex, the natural smell of green and countryside is the first smell of Britain for me.

I do use ‘Ambre Nuit’ by Dior

Collection of smell memories of home and first smell memories of London-Britain by Semra Eren-Nijhar https://bit.ly/2WpQz1c

‘Rose was the scent my mother used. The smell of rose for me is the smell of home. Every year I still get the rose fragrance from Cyprus, it’s very special for me.

Someone bought me the fragrance Avon-Elegance as a gift from Britain, so I started using it until 1984 when they stopped making it.  Avon-Elegance is the first memory I have of Britain and it never changed.

Now I am using the perfume ‘Chance’ by Chanel.’

Collection of smell memories of home and first smell memories of London-Britain by Semra Eren-Nijhar https://bit.ly/2WpQz1c

‘My first memory of smell is burnt coffee. I do remember as a four-year-old going out in the playground in the Kindergarten and coming inside and smelling burnt coffee. Our nursery teachers would make coffee for themselves while we were playing outside.

Iceland is a country with fresh air. Wherever you go the air is fresh. I do not have specific memories of home smell, but if any, it would be definitely the fresh air.

I came to Britain in 1992 but I cannot give any different smell as I was used to Iceland.

I stopped using perfume five years ago as I think it’s more natural.’

Collection of smell memories of home and first smell memories of London-Britain by Semra Eren-Nijhar https://bit.ly/2WpQz1c

My first memory of smell is the flower of the orange trees which were very strong in springtime.

My home smell is of cake which my mother was baking all the time. It was a wonderful smell and it is still with me today. I feel at home whenever I smell a baking cake.

When I came first to this country I smelt the rain, it was a kind of a different but nice smell.

I use the perfume ‘Chanel No.5’ by Chanel.