SMELLS LIKE TEEN GRUNTING

Everything felt a bit lacklustre in our house last weekend. God has slowed time and we’ve all done the same things so often it feels like life’s on repeat. So I came up with a brilliant plan.

It’s widely known that smells can stimulate memories and feelings at lightning speed. For example, for me, cut grass equals spring. Fish and chips means its Friday. Walk past the Indian takeaway and it’s Saturday night. Petrol reminds me of my days as a mechanic. Paraffin, 1970s’ fence panels. You get the picture. Here’s the plan and it’s simple. It was Sunday morning and the house was beginning to stir. I’d been up for a while and finished watching Match of the Day on iPlayer. I dug out a nearly finished bottle of essential oil called Smells like Christmas. It was £3 and I bought it a couple of years ago when I tried and failed to make aromatic dried fruit out of oranges.

I got the oil burner going, added water and Smells like Christmas. It’s a heady combination of cinnamon, cloves and ginger. It smelled like Christmas. I made sure the heating was on adding a sense of surprise warmth. I turned up some Christmas hits. Mariah Carey did the trick.

It worked a treat. Anyone who came into the kitchen was smiling. Even my son said ‘it smells like Christmas’. Obviously, I’m not sure that’s what was said as I’m still learning ‘Teen Grunting’. But

I’m pretty sure it was. I recommend it. It lifted the mood for at least eight minutes.