We lack a verb that can accurately convey the delightful odour of something without resorting to words like stink or pong. The absence of such a word has left English-speaking people with limited options, relying on negative descriptors when they could be expressing a more nuanced appreciation of a pleasing scent.
In many languages, including Welsh and Croatian, there are dedicated verbs that capture the experience of enjoying a pleasant smell. For example, in Welsh, you can hear a smell as well as smell it thanks to the verb "clywed," which encompasses sensations beyond just olfaction, including sight, touch, and even taste. Similarly, Croatian has two distinct verbs: "mirišiti" for pleasant smells and "smrditi" for unpleasant ones.
One of my favorite expressions in Croatian is a phrase that can't be easily translated into English: "ni miriši ni smrdi." It roughly means someone is neither pleasant nor repulsive, but rather...neutral. Unfortunately, this concept doesn't translate well to our own language, leaving us with an inadequate vocabulary to convey the experience of enjoying a pleasing aroma.
It's interesting to note that certain scents can evoke powerful emotional responses in people. For instance, vanilla and lavender have been used in therapeutic settings to stimulate creativity in prisoners. These smells seem to tap into memories associated with grandmothers' bathrooms, where they were once commonly found in soap and perfume.
The notion of smelling a smell without physically smelling it has sparked interesting conversations among listeners. Some claim they can still detect specific scents even if they've lost their sense of smell. Others share vivid recollections of past experiences triggered by familiar smells – like the sweet aroma of privet blossoms or the pungent scent of an 80s snooker hall.
I'm excited to revisit Bache Brothers Cycles, a bike shop from my childhood, and see if its nostalgic charm can transport me back to that magical world. Will it still smell as I remember it? Only time will tell, but one thing's for certain – the experience of revisiting this beloved place promises to be nothing short of delightful.
In many languages, including Welsh and Croatian, there are dedicated verbs that capture the experience of enjoying a pleasant smell. For example, in Welsh, you can hear a smell as well as smell it thanks to the verb "clywed," which encompasses sensations beyond just olfaction, including sight, touch, and even taste. Similarly, Croatian has two distinct verbs: "mirišiti" for pleasant smells and "smrditi" for unpleasant ones.
One of my favorite expressions in Croatian is a phrase that can't be easily translated into English: "ni miriši ni smrdi." It roughly means someone is neither pleasant nor repulsive, but rather...neutral. Unfortunately, this concept doesn't translate well to our own language, leaving us with an inadequate vocabulary to convey the experience of enjoying a pleasing aroma.
It's interesting to note that certain scents can evoke powerful emotional responses in people. For instance, vanilla and lavender have been used in therapeutic settings to stimulate creativity in prisoners. These smells seem to tap into memories associated with grandmothers' bathrooms, where they were once commonly found in soap and perfume.
The notion of smelling a smell without physically smelling it has sparked interesting conversations among listeners. Some claim they can still detect specific scents even if they've lost their sense of smell. Others share vivid recollections of past experiences triggered by familiar smells – like the sweet aroma of privet blossoms or the pungent scent of an 80s snooker hall.
I'm excited to revisit Bache Brothers Cycles, a bike shop from my childhood, and see if its nostalgic charm can transport me back to that magical world. Will it still smell as I remember it? Only time will tell, but one thing's for certain – the experience of revisiting this beloved place promises to be nothing short of delightful.
. It's like we're stuck with "nice" and "pleasant", but can't even nail down something more specific. I mean, have you ever tried to describe the smell of freshly baked cookies without resorting to clichés? Not easy, trust me 
. And don't even get me started on the emotional connection we make with certain scents - it's like they're just tapping into some deep memory or something 
You know, I was just browsing through old family albums and stumbled upon some old scented candles my grandma used to make 
. The smell instantly brought back memories of her kitchen where she'd spend hours baking and cooking for our family gatherings. It's amazing how certain smells can transport us back in time, isn't it? 
I think the article highlights the importance of having words that can accurately describe pleasant scents. It's not just about describing a smell, but also evoking emotions and memories associated with those scents. The concept "ni miriši ni smrdi" resonates with me - there are some smells that are just neutral and don't evoke any strong reactions 
. Anyway, I'm definitely feeling nostalgic for my childhood bike shop now... maybe it's time to dust off my old bike and hit the roads again 
. I mean, who hasn't gotten a whiff of something amazing at the beach or after baking cookies and suddenly felt all warm inside? It's like our brains are hardwired to connect smells to emotions and memories 
. And yeah, it's crazy that we don't have a dedicated word in English for something so beautiful 
. Can you imagine having an expression like "ni miriši ni smrdi" to describe that perfect in-between feeling? 
It's like trying to describe a sunset without saying 'sunset' - what even is that? 
We should totally create a Croatian-inspired vocabulary for English speakers... "ni miriši ni smrdi" for the win! 
and btw i love how some scents r like a time machine 4 us! 
vanilla & lavender r def evokes these crazy emotional responses 
I swear every time I catch that scent I'm 8 years old again, playing hide and seek in her house 
. What about you guys? Are there any smells that instantly take you back to a specific memory or place? 
. And I love the idea of having a neutral expression like "ni miriši ni smrdi" – it sounds so... refreshing 
It's amazing how our brains associate certain smells with happy memories, like grandma's bathroom soap 
OMG u guys can u imagine having a word in english to describe a lovely scent? 
like what's wrong w/ being able 2 appreciate the good vibes of a pleasant aroma? 
b4 lol what r some other scents that cld evoke emotions? like is it just me or do u guys remember tht sweet privet blossoms scent from ur childhood? 
Dude, you're saying we don't have a word in English that can accurately describe a pleasant smell? That's wild! Like, what even is "delightful odour"?? Sounds like something my grandma would say when she's trying too hard to be fancy 
.
like whoever wrote this article had like 5 minutes to edit it 
"ni miriši ni smrdi" is a pretty cool phrase but come on, cant you just translate it properly english? 
For me, it's those nostalgic experiences that make the most impact - walking into grandma's kitchen and being hit with a wave of vanilla wafting from her famous cookies. It's not just about the smell itself, but what memories it evokes... 