It was February 2nd, 6 a.m., and while it was indeed the typical time at which I greet the new day, something was amiss. I lied there, in an advanced state of mental fog, due in large part, to the lateness of my final resignation to sleep the night before. Regardless, something wasn't right. I went on to subject myself to a series of inquisitions..."Am I awake, am I dreaming, have been bottled inside the worlds largest jar of maple syrup, nay, perhaps baked inside the worlds largest sugar cookie? What sort of nightmare is this?"
Approximately 20 minutes from my initial stage of awakefulness, still cursed with the varied symptoms of sleep deprivation, a light began to glisten, despite my lack of mental acuity. I was in fact awake, and this was indeed a familiar scent, yet from whence has this pleasant while disturbing aroma come? The light, ever so slowly growing brighter, at once shot forth my realization. EUREKA! It was the scent from the previous evening's theatrical revelry. In our host's earnest and thoughtful desire to make us feel quite at home, via the provision of a burning candle, he had unknowingly saturated me with the scent of sweetness.
I chose to keep my realization to myself throughout the day. It was not my desire to create a sense of uneasyness on the part of our gracious host, in regard to the state of his most welcoming home. However, upon my realization that I was not the only individual who fell victim to this condition, I felt it my duty to bring my secret to light. I can only hope that the disclosure of this incident will save others from the troubling uncertainty brought on by this little known occurence. I have declared February 1st 2008 as our first national "Over-Scented Candle Awareness Day," please join me in the fight against scent saturation.
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20 comments:
oooohhhhh kaaaaay?
For those interested:
The candle in question is a Wood Wick, for sale at your local Cracker Barrel. The wick is, indeed, made of wood and even crackles like a fireplace while burning. The particular scent in question is "caramel."
My two main thoughts upon reading this entry:
1) I never knew candles could be over-scented.
2) Oh my word is this ever funny.
Ha!
I, too, fell victim to the over-scent saturation. Unfortunately, it took me significatly longer to realize the original source of said sweetness. As the night in question, I had dined at IHOP and assumed stray remnants from dinner were the culprit. After brushing my teeth, washing my hands and a thorough face wash, I concluded the problem had been rectified. The next morning I awoke to a similar smell as M. Kate had and this time gave up, figuring I had somehow gotten maple syrup in my hair. Solution: head strait for the shower. Later that day, upon leaving my abode and donning the same coat I had worn the night before - the scent suddenly reappeared. In a humorous conversation with another over-scented victim, who was experiencing similar symptoms, we realized it's true origin.
M. Kate,
Thank you for using this forum for such an important public service announcement.
I am officially and publically joining the fight against "scent saturation".
Say what???
My coat does have a slight sweetness scent to it. Matt had asked me if I had noticed anything after the partaay at Madmup's. After a quick mental review and some more aroma reassessment I too believe I have experienced some fragrance saturation.
As Marshall mentioned, Eric and I were also victims. My coat still has a sweet smell. I will be wearing it tomorrow, in case anybody would like to see what we are talking about.
I would like to propose another POSSIBLE cause... Tate and Lyle (aka Staleys). The plant is located 1.7 miles to the southwest of the party location. According to the weather records, the wind that evening was from the SW at 5 MPH. And the atmospheric conditions would have been stable, so that the plume from the factory would remain near the ground. Therefore, it is possible that they were producing corn syrup at the plant and that is what we smelled.
I have previously experienced this scent at my apartment, and I do not have a single Cracker Barrel candle. Just ask Eric about the time I almost went crazy trying to find the source of the syrup smell.... I thought it was on my clothes, but it was nowhere to be found.
There are two sides to every story, and since so many seem to be against overscenting, I will stand up and be counted for overscenting.
So often the gift of our sense of smell is overlooked or is blamed for unpleasant experiences! It is time we reclaim this gift from God and rejoice in the memories that the smell of syrup (or caramel, as the case may be) can bring to mind!
I concur
All I can say is I only understood about 10 words in M Kate's post. I happy though, last year it would have only been 8 words!
Hooked on Phonics works for me!
I'd just like to thank those of you who have corroborated the events as described.
Mark - it's not that I'm against a pleasant scent - it's just that my scarf STILL smells like Caramel!
Pete - you are too funny -
And I say there's nothing wrong with a caramel-scented scarf! In fact, I would welcome such things, and might even be tempted to manufacture them for profit!
Well in the event you would manufacture said "Over-scented Textiles" - I'd need a cut of that action. I did discover/inspire the concept.
Did ya'll know that they put cologne packets on the tags of the clothes at Abercrombe and Fitch, so that when you buy a sweater it smells good? Not caramel good, but good.
a late entry in the "over-scent saturation" comment section...but just to let you know...I washed my Columbia coat this weekend...and the syrup scent has been neturalized. I can't give any info on whether or not dry cleaning would produce the same effect, however.
Melissa: You'll get your cut, but you'll have to be in the commercials: "I liked the idea so much, I invented it."
Steven: I'm so totally suin A&F for stealing my idea before it's even hatched.
Jeannie: Your story cracks me up! The "syrup" smell was SO offensive it HAD to be neutralized! Ha!
No Sturm, only you would know that - the rest of us aren't that cool!
I kinda like the idea of me being in a commercial.
Sturm - I shop at Goodwill. They don't do that there. :)
hrmm.. do you think Jared gets his clothes from Aber-Crum-bie?
That is hilarious marshall!!!!!!
OK, after reading this post, I believe that I need to jet to Cracker Barrel and "get me one" of those candles! It will come in extremely handy on those mornings when I cook eggs or sausage and then my clothes and hair smell like that the rest of the day. Now I can just leave the house, masked by the smell of caramel syrup!!! Thanks Mark!
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