The Stench of Travel: Three Tips and a Contest

Stinky fish at the market in Venice

I’m a sensual person, and in my travels I seek to explore the world through my senses. There’s nothing like the taste of creamy panna cotta with fresh strawberries, the sight of the Eiffel Tower sending bright sparklies into the night, the ding! ding! of bicycle bells in Amsterdam and the smell of freshly baked croissants.

It’s all nice and pretty until it’s not. The senses aren’t picky; they take in everything. There are some things I don’t want to see: open trucks loaded with raw meat deliveries. Some things I don’t want to hear: another tourist bemoaning how much things cost. And there are certainly things I don’t want to smell.

Before I launch into the stinky stuff, let’s focus briefly on what smells good. Three travel scent tips:

I discovered a fun trick to stay fresh while flying. Pop into the duty-free perfume zone and spritz yourself with a scent you like. Wrap your scarf around your neck and you’re smelling pretty for days.

Bring a small bottle of air or face spritz. I used my Moondance Botanicals Neroli spritz when I wanted a sensual pick-me-up. I spray it into the air in front and above me and step into the mist as it falls over me.

On the stinky side, I learned that I don’t ever again want to take five weeks of vitamins in a plastic travel vitamin container. It doesn’t seem to work to keep the vitamins fresh and when they start to stink, boy, do they talk. Especially in humid climates like Venice. I came back to my room one day and could barely tolerate the vita-stench.

Another bad travel smell is the one that’s produced from a suitcase that carries clothes, souvenirs, shoes, and pretty much everything else, stuffed into a small space for five weeks. You know what I’m talking about. That stale smell that rises from weeks on unwashed clothes and….

Garbage Barge in Venice

Stinky Travel Contest

I tried to describe that travel stench in my novel and didn’t achieve a true description of the scent. I can’t seem to pin the travel stench down in words. Maybe you can! I’m hosting a Name That Travel Stench contest. Here’s the deal:

In 25 words or less, describe the smell of the traveler’s luggage or clothes. Be as descriptive as you can. The winner (chosen solely based on what I like the best) will receive a copy of my latest e-book, The Graceful Return. Because part of returning home gracefully is describing things accurately, and getting rid of the travel stench that clings to your clothes and lurks in the crevices of your suitcase!

Email your Name That Travel Stench entry to me before November 11^th. I’ll announce the winner here and include the Travel Stench description for all to enjoy. This is solely for fun and to stretch your writing muscles.