They say that our sense of smell is mostly closely associated with our memory.  How many times have you walked by a diner and thought back to a dinner you had many years ago?  Perhaps you’ve been in a busy museum or at a concert and a whiff of someone’s perfume or cologne brings you back to an old (or current) lover.   Indeed, we have a constant rush emotions and memories when certain scents pervade our senses.

Of all the smells associated with the outdoors, none is more ubiquitous to me than that of Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata).  I remember a 12-year-old me walking with my dad on deer and elk hunts on the plateaus of northwestern New Mexico, my jeans completely infused with dust and that heavy, musky odor of Sagebrush.  The opposite is also true, sitting here in my office, I can close my eyes, and breathing deeply, I can almost smell that familiar odor again.

The same is true all over the West.  Everywhere you go, you can find Sagebrush, and it has a long history here.  Its tough fibers were used to make sandals for Native Americans, and tea made from its leaves was used to treat infections.  Despite its usefulness, the oils are toxic to humans, creating toxic compounds in our liver.  While I can’t speak much to its toxicity, I do know that although I have such strong memory associated with the plant, I also have strong allergies to it as well.

The scent of Sagebrush always brings me solace; when I walk amongst its knotted, twisted branches, I breathe deeply, close my eyes, sneeze, and say to myself, “I’m home.”

Sagebrush and oak leaves, October 2010

What scents bring you comfort?  Do they help to define your sense of place in the world?  I’d love to hear about it in the comments.