Rebstock Design

Begging for Blessed Anosmia

December 28, 2008 – 6:39 pm

In case you’re wondering…

Anosmia: (noun) Loss or impairment of the sense of smell.

I recently found myself at a local wine bar, with a friend, enjoying a good conversation over a nice glass of pinot noir, my favorite wine. As it so happens (to everyone—or at least 51% of us), I soon needed to excuse myself to use the “necessary room for ladies.” (Actually, it was unisex, but I love the euphemism.)

Like the wine bar itself, the restroom was thoughtfully designed: spacious, well lit, with a nice color scheme and high quality fixtures. But as I approached the sink, my poor sensitive nose was assaulted with a horrible, perverted scent. You know it, yes: ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP. As this soap was my only option, I used a small dab to wash my hands, and then returned to the bar and my friend. And as I raised the glass to my lips, instead of the wine’s berry, cinnamon, leather, and cocoa notes, I got a whiff of my own hands. Which smelled of LAUNDROMAT. Or DAY CARE CENTER. Or MICHAEL JACKSON. The aroma has no basis in nature, so we’ll just call it “antibacterial”. And it was so strong and long lasting that it completely ruined my experience of the tasty and expensive wine I had hitherto so heartily enjoyed.

But it doesn’t end there. When I got home I washed my hands again, with the mild, all-natural, subtly almond scented hand soap I’ve used for years. But guess what! The scent remained. And when I got up the next day? There it was. It took a ten-minute shower, including shampoo, to finally remove it. I would liken my experience to that of Jerry and Elaine on the Seinfeld episode “The Smelly Car,” but I was up against a cloying, artificial odor instead of a musky, earthy one.

So why am I sharing this little story? First, if you happen to own a wine bar or a restaurant (lucky you!), please give some thought to the hand soap you provide to your patrons. Make sure its scent, if it has one, doesn’t interfere with the diner’s olfactory experience of your establishment’s food and drink. Scented soaps are fine, but consider lemon grass, lavender, almond, or the like—something not entirely alien to the gustatory experience.

For the homeowner, some advice: if you use any scent in your home, make sure it smells natural. And as with perfume or cologne, don’t overdo. Your home fragrance should never overpower that delicious dinner you so lovingly prepared. Verboten: Glade, Febreze, Air Wick, Lysol, Renuzit. Anything that plugs into a wall, spritzes itself intermittently, offers “continuous fragrancing,” or “plays” on disk in a “player“. Generally, avoid anything that calls itself an “air freshener”. Plus: they ain’t green.

Some nice options for home use: sprays, candles, and potpourri by L’Occitaine (I love their vanilla and honey scents), Jo Malone, Diptyque. They cost a bit more than the supermarket stuff, but a little goes a long way. Also consider home fragrances made by perfumers, who design fragrances to be worn on the body and therefore appreciate… uh… subtlety.

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Pot Pourri