The nose knows

Have you taken notice of the gazillion scents of lotions and air fresheners that are available on the shelves? Funny what these smells do to the senses.

My goodness, I could spend hours tantalizing my nose with all those smells - and some of them even make me hungry!

There are chocolate-scented lotions - talk about teasing! I would probably have to buy 10 pounds of candy a day to satisfy my cravings from the smell of the lotion.

There are flowery smells that are "real" enough to draw bees. And there are combination smells that somehow work together. One of my favorites - unlikely as it sounds - is cucumber and melon. The smell is good but this one doesn't necessarily make me want to eat cucumbers and melons together - infact it doesn't sound good at all.

There are edible lotions and spray ons. My daughters have had a cupcake flavor; another tantalizing smell and hey, it's all right that they licked their arms to taste the smell they were smelling (a little crazy but all right since the bottle said it was.)

There are the air fresheners that are not only designed to take away the odors in the house but also provide some pleasantness to the nose.

I was in the grocery aisle just the other day and picked up a can that features the "country" scent. Whoa. When I think of country, I think of the wonderful smells of...a busy farm! I had to squirt a sample into the air before I decided to buy it - the smell was nothing like what I smell outside of the country house when the wind is blowing just right! (It was actually a pleasant smell.)

Another can was labeled "Tropical Escape." I threw this one in the cart and took it home so I could pack for my escape that I was expecting to happen. It didn't. I thought I would be in the Bahamas after I released my finger from the button but I was still in my kitchen. Drat. Maybe I had too much luggage that grounded me!

And all those candles that women are crazy about these days. Muffins, cobbler, apple pie. I have one that smells like fresh brownies when it is on the warmer. I am sorry to say I have tricked them many times with that candle.

"Umm, brownies, Mom?"

"Ah, no. Just a candle."

Those other candles do the same thing - they provide the nose enjoyment but are disappointing to the taste buds when it is learned that the real thing isn't in the oven.

Be carried away with these smells - it's cheaper than taking a trip to paradise and the food smells, are low in calories!