Stuff that appeals to the senses?

Post Reply New Topic

Are there any sounds and/or smells you like? Like they calm you down and such? It's really hard to explain so I'll give a few examples:

Sounds/smells/etc. that stimulate me:

Sounds:
The sound of typing
People moving around papers
Water
Birds
Walking
Someone moving stuff around in their bag
Crunching of leaves

Smells:
A lot of books (though I don't like the smell of all)
New bed sheets
Paper
Camping smells
Library smells

Of course, there are a lot of smells and sounds and such I can not stand, but these are just some that I like.

Rainfall and a little bit of low thunder.

The smell just before it rains, the green smells in the woods, lavender, vanilla, and amber are a few that come to mind. I'm big on scents, and find those or some that are linked to a good memory particularly soothing.
As for sounds, music (enya or enigma are good for mellow moods) is huge, the sound of rainfall, and anything with an element of silence really-- no engines, no people noises, just me and nature. I used to go hiking just to find this. The sound of a coffee maker gurgling is a good one too.

Sounds:
- Some clicking sounds (but others are distinctly unpleasant)
- cats purring
- some music (no particular type, but I dislike certain vocals).

I also like the feel of a purring cat, and the feeling of typing on some keyboards with good tactile feedback.

Smells:
- Ground coffee
- burning rosin (such as when soldering)
- chocolate

The mildewy smell in the older style air conditioners. I used to purposely sit near the ac units in class to get a whiff.

I like things that are bright and shiny.

I'm pretty receptive to that kind of stuff too, here are some I can think of off the top of my head:

Smells:

Some specific types of perfume that my favorite teachers used to wear
Fresh laundry
burning wood
After-rain humidity and smell
things I own that smell like me after a long day of not being anywhere near my room or stuff
wild flowers and fresh grass
hay
the smell you get when you walk into a milking barn
wet forest smell
the ocean and lakes

Sounds:

Zipping up my tent/sleeping/whatever
thunder
raining
livestock ambiance (grunts, patting on the ground with feet, etc)
that sound my coffee machine makes
popping of burning fire wood
the ocean
boat creaking
knife sharpening
that little crackling sound some people make when they smile

Sounds:

A chorus of frogs
Several people typing (a single person tends to bother me)
Rain on the roof
Running water
Distant highway traffic
Wind

Smells:

Western Red Cedar
Scent before rain
Petrichor
Snow
Salty fresh ocean air
Campfire