The fragrance of memory

a roadmap to the self

My favorite smells remind me of community. They say, “There are people here.” Waking up to a pot of coffee brewing in the kitchen. A grassy field uprooted by cleats after an elementary soccer game. The sweat-deodorant combination on my boyfriend when he comes back to bed after teaching a yoga class. Leather seats and buttery popcorn. A wool blanket atop…