2nd Annual Language Lab Summer Sessions

Join me here for a 10-week creative practice in olfactory expression.

Last year I asked my Instagram community what the word “fresh” means to them; I wanted to see if this generic word had multiple meanings. Sure enough people said they used it to describe all kinds of things: the air, their clothes, bread, baked goods, fruit, perfume.

It’s clear that “fresh” has become a catch-all word to describe something we like: the smell isn’t off-putting, no rough edges, feels familiar, sometimes nostalgic, and definitely safe. But does the word really tell us much? Not really.

It got me thinking: What if we could build clearer, richer meaning around the everyday words we use to describe smells?

Today I want to invite you to join me for my 2nd annual Language Lab Summer Sessions: playfully, creative summer writing activities I’m offering this community as part of the Language Lab series here in my Substack.

I do want to be clear: this isn’t summer school. These sessions aren’t meant to be tedious. The aim is to exercise your creative muscle, and to have you simply enjoy the process.

If you’ve been with me for a while, you know that last year we focused on using our four other senses to create broader descriptors for smells. This year I’m changing it up a bit and focusing on some of the most common, frankly boring, words we use every day.

All year I observed what generic words people were using to describe smells, and I’ve narrowed the list down to ten that I noticed the most: stinky, musky, earthy, green, woody, floral, fruity, smoky, fresh, and artificial.

HOW IT WORKS

Every Friday, for the next 10 weeks, we’ll explore each one of these common smell descriptors. I’ll give you a few simple, fun writing exercises to help you give more meaning, and expand the definition of that word.

Each exercise shouldn’t take you more than 10-15 minutes to complete. It’s up to you how deep you want to go, so you can do it every day or just once that week. Of course, I’ll be doing the sessions along with you and will share what I’ve come up with in the comments. I encourage those participating to do the same so we can learn from each other.

I do need to note that these sessions require you to be a paid subscriber to participate (no further action required if you already are - just a heartfelt thank you 💜). I’ve put much thought and effort into these exercises, and for a nominal subscription fee of $6.00 a month (that’s 4 sessions right there), equivalent to a cup of coffee, I hope you’ll feel it’s not too much to ask. You’ll also have access to last year's sessions, if you want to explore even further.

WHY THESE SESSIONS ARE POWERFUL

They sharpen your attention: You start noticing the details. Not just that something smells “nice” or “bad,” but that it has texture, depth, and temperament. Writing helps you put words to the nuances, and that helps make you a better smeller.

They expand your sensory vocabulary: Most of us weren’t taught how to describe what we smell, so the words for what we experience are lacking. Connecting perceptions and feelings to smells allows for more distinctive, vivid communication that’s more meaningful, and better understood.

They can awaken memory: You already know that smell is directly wired to the memory centers of your brain. One whiff of a familiar scent - an old perfume, a woolen blanket, or the ocean breeze - the experience immediately transports you to a moment in time. Writing helps you hold on to that, and lets you reflect on it more deeply.

They can reveal new emotions: We know that smelling is first and foremost an emotional act, and so can be difficult to convey. A smell might make you nostalgic, annoyed, safe, tense, or something you can’t quite explain. Writing about it helps you figure that out. It gives shape to feelings that might otherwise slip away.

They’re a creative act: Smells are invisible, right? But when you describe them, you bring them into the world: as characters, landscapes, colors, textures. Even if you’re not aiming to be a “writer,” you’re learning to tell stories through your nose.

They expand your world: As you explore a single descriptor each week, the exercises will help your brain link seemingly different smells to shared memories, feelings, and ideas: “It smells like a rubber hose in August” or “like a birthday cake left in a warm car.” You’ll start noticing patterns and associations around you that you didn’t even know were there.

So, if you want to feel more connected to the real world, and less to the virtual and artificial one, join me.

If you're looking for an easy-going, creative, and rewarding activity to do this summer, take part in the Language Labs Summer Sessions.

Let’s olfactively express ourselves in community.

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This week on my podcast An Aromatic Life:

In this week's whiff of wisdom, Charlie Atkins, who was born with no ability to smell (congenital anosmia), and has never known smells, asks me a bunch of really tough questions about smells.

If you enjoy this whiff, do spread the insight by sharing this episode with your friends and family. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss an episode.

And if you want to hear all of Charlie’s questions, and my attempt to answer them, why not go back and listen to the original full conversation - episode #50.

You can listen to this episode and many more on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.