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Lost aromas

Posted: 19 Apr 2020, 08:03
by Airspeed
I was waterproofing my boots today, when I was reminded of how different things smell, compared to my younger years.

I was never any good at soccer, but I loved getting my soccer boots ready. The aroma of Dubbin was gorgeous! These days, it smells like stale shoe polish. No joy at all!

Kerosene/Paraffin had an unmistakable aroma. These days, it is more like road tar.

Penetrol was another liquid that was immediately recognisable. Now it is sort of kero , but not quite. :S

Even my feet don't smell as sweet; what's going on?

Re: Lost aromas

Posted: 19 Apr 2020, 09:40
by 511Flyer
I noticed that the smoke from steam engines doesn't smell the same as it did. I've seen lots of rebuilds including the Flying Scotsman, and also the new Tornado.

:dunno:

Re: Lost aromas

Posted: 19 Apr 2020, 14:46
by Nigel H-J
New cars do not smell the same either, especially those with leather seats, not like the good old days of the fifties and sixties. The one smell I have to admit liking is that of getting inside an RAF aircraft, that smell is something you don't easily forget especially the Vulcan.

Regards
Nigel.

Re: Lost aromas

Posted: 19 Apr 2020, 15:15
by 511Flyer
Long time since I had a new car Nigel.

I mowed the lawn yesterday, and the smell of the grass is wonderful. Never changes.

:)

Re: Lost aromas

Posted: 19 Apr 2020, 15:45
by Dev One
Nigel H-J wrote:
19 Apr 2020, 14:46
New cars do not smell the same either, especially those with leather seats, not like the good old days of the fifties and sixties. The one smell I have to admit liking is that of getting inside an RAF aircraft, that smell is something you don't easily forget especially the Vulcan.

Regards
Nigel.
And a lot of other aircraft that were painted with cellulose & used DTD585 hydraulic fluid......Vanguards never smelt the same .....they used Skydrol...& an epoxy paint.
Keith

Re: Lost aromas

Posted: 20 Apr 2020, 20:49
by hobby
Some months ago I wrote to "Country Life" after a conversation with three ladies who were in an art class. I had asked them which sounds from their childhood they no longer heard.

One answered: "The sound of a neighbour's husband sharpening his carving knife on Sunday morning ready to carve the roast joint."
The second: "The wife next door beating a carpet with a cane carpet beater."
The third: "The sound of church bells."
Me: " I miss the sound of horses hooves belonging to the horsedrawn carts used by the milkman, the greengrocer and rag and bone man."

My letter was chosen as "letter of the week" so i was awarded an excellent bottle of champaign.

Sounds just seem to disappear from our lives and I am thankful that we can still hear the sounds of a merlin engine and rarely now the sound of a Dakota creeping across the sky.

The drink called "Tizer" doesn't taste the same as it did when I was seven.

Re: Lost aromas

Posted: 21 Apr 2020, 00:20
by Paul K
I remember the smell of Kiwi shoe polish as my RAF dad buffed up his uniform shoes every evening.

Re: Lost aromas

Posted: 21 Apr 2020, 03:28
by Airspeed
hobby wrote:
20 Apr 2020, 20:49
....I am thankful that we can still hear the sounds of a merlin engine and rarely now the sound of a Dakota creeping across the sky....
We hear Dakotas more than Merlins here.

Re: Lost aromas

Posted: 21 Apr 2020, 08:14
by FlyTexas
Paul K wrote:
21 Apr 2020, 00:20
I remember the smell of Kiwi shoe polish as my RAF dad buffed up his uniform shoes every evening.
Ah, Kiwi. Good stuff. My Dad kept his in a homemade wooden box, along with an old sock (used for applying the Kiwi), and his brush. Memories. :)

Brian

Re: Lost aromas

Posted: 21 Apr 2020, 08:59
by Airspeed
My latest tin of Dubbin:
Image