There have been a handful of occasions where Iāve smelled the now-discontinued shampoo my momās late best gay friend Jackie used (who called me his little bitch when I was growing up and taught me everything I know about style, elegance, and attitude) and it made me cry. The smells of lumber, soil, and wood varnish remind me of the countless hours spent in my childhood with my dad in the greenhouse, the back patio workshop and at various supply warehouses.
The smell of creosote in the desert raināsorely missed and I want to buy a candle or something that replicates this because itās my favorite scent in the world. LāEau dāIssey Pour Homme on a shirt-collar takes me back to the warmth and security of first love and reminds me of what it feels like to be home. Iāve posted that I wear Fracas every time I want to remember a happy significant day so thatās probably my most strongly nostalgic scent.
The smell of old books and cigarettes! When I come into my apartment after stepping out for just a moment after making espresso and the lingering smell makes me feel like Iām in a cafe! The smell of a REAL Christmas tree!
Yesterday at the farmerās market I smelled a butterfly bush plant for sale and childhood memories came flooding back. Juicy Couture by Juicy Couture was my grandmother's signature scent because she liked the Schnauzers on the bottle so Tuberose always reminds me of her + the smell of face powder. I could go on foreverā¦
May 12, 2024
Related Recs
š
Isnāt it amazing how smelling something familiar in your daily life can transport you back in time?
On the positive association side, whenever I smell my grandmotherās perfume I am overcome with happiness.
Less positive, every time I smell lemon verbena I am brought back to my first boyfriendās motherās cleaning products. Bleh.
I guess the rec is, know your scent triggers and seek out the ones that make you feel happy :0)
Mar 28, 2024
ā¢ Bottled Emotions perfume
ā¢ Watermelon Lip Smackers
ā¢ Bath and Body Works lime and verbena lotion
ā¢ Britney Spears Fantasy perfume
ā¢ The perfume that came with Tropical Splash Barbie
ā¢ Yankee Candle's now-discontinued Berry Bramble candle
ā¢ Inside the building where my old dance studio used to be
ā¢ Coffee beans that remind me of the coffee store in the mall
ā¢ Mall pretzels
ā¢ Jelly sandals
May 14, 2024
āļø
growing up my older sister was my best friend & my idol. shes 10 years older than me so she had her own life & lived away from us. But one time when she came back & moved close to us again, I loved to visit her at her apartment until she once again moved away. This time before she left I took a pen from her house because it smelled like her. I remember I had that pen in my bag for at least two full school years, & Iād never use it lest i scrub away my sisters scent. Iād smell it and tuck it in a safe spot in my school bag hoping & wishing hard that my sister would come visit soon. It brings me deep nostalgia and longing whenever the scent wafts in my direction, even today As an adult. My sisters āsignatureā scent, btw? Weed & cigarettes. I was too little to put 2n2 together lol
Dec 22, 2024
Top Recs from @taterhole
My dad teases me about how when I was a little kid, my favorite thing to do when I was on the landline phone with somebodyābe it a relative or one of my best friendsāwas to breathlessly describe the things that were in my bedroom so that they could have a mental picture of everything I loved and chose to surround myself with, and where I sat at that moment in time. Perfectly Imperfect reminds me of that so thanks for always listening and for sharing with me too š
Feb 23, 2025
Schedule sent my resignation email for the morning, effective immediately ā
š
Feb 27, 2025
š
Iāve been thinking about how much of social media is centered around curating our self-image. When selfies first became popular, they were dismissed as vain and vapidāa critique often rooted in misogynyābut now, the way we craft our online selves feels more like creating monuments.
We try to signal our individuality, hoping to be seen and understood, but ironically, I think this widens the gap between how others perceive us and who we really are. Instead of fostering connection, it can invite projection and misinterpretationāpreconceived notions, prefab labels, and stereotypes. Worse, individuality has become branded and commodified, reducing our identities to products for others to consume.
On most platforms, validation often comes from how well you can curate and present your imageāselfies, aesthetic branding, and lifestyle content tend to dominate. High engagement is tied to visibility, not necessarily depth or substance. But I think spaces like PI.FYI show that thereās another way: where connection is built on shared ideas, tastes, and interests rather than surface-level content. Itās refreshing to be part of a community that values thoughts over optics.
By sharing so few images of myself, Iāve found that it gives others room to focus on my ideas and voice. When I do share an image, it feels intentionalāsomething that contributes to the story I want to tell rather than defining it. Sharing less allows me to express who I am beyond appearance.
For women, especially, sharing less can be a radical act in a world where the default is to objectify ourselves. It resists the pressure to center appearance, focusing instead on what truly matters: our thoughts, voices, and authenticity. Iāve posted a handful of pictures of myself in 2,500 posts because I care more about showing who I am than how I look.
In trying to be seen, are we making it harder for others to truly know us? Itās a question worth considering.
Dec 27, 2024