I was 26 years old when I smelled my first lilac. That might sound crazy, but it’s true. I was in my first year of grad school, and the college had tons of lilac bushes lining the entire campus perimeter. I vividly remember walking from my car to the library, inhaling deeply because I was smelling something wonderful – and having absolutely no clue what that wonderful thing was. (When I asked one of my peers if she knew what smelled so good outside, she looked confused, then a bit incredulous, then asked, “Do you mean, the lilacs?” Apparently yes, I did.)
Lilacs continue to bring me joy every spring. Each time I smell them in the air, I pause for just a second, inhale, and smile.
Today on my walk, I got my ‘first whiff of the season’ of these bushy purple flowers – from a line of lilac bushes a mere two blocks from our house. Wonderful.
Stef
Smile, kiddo. 
Oh, I’m a little jealous! I miss lilacs! We had lilac bushes in the yard of my childhood home in NJ. Here in NOLA, we have a lot of wonderfully fragrant flowers, but no lilacs. Too warm. Please enjoy, enjoy them! Sniff some for me!
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One of the perks of living in a cold climate… (And we don’t get many perks, so I have to enjoy and celebrate all of the ones we do have!) 🙂 I will absolutely inhale extra-deep next time I smell them, just for you.
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I understand! We have three lilac bushes in our yard, and I look forward to their blooming every Spring. They’re my mom’s favorite, and we brought her a bouquet of them on Mother’s Day.
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Aw, that is so lovely! You are a very good son. 🙂
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Loved this post! It’s amazing the memories we tie to our sense of smell- it’s one of my favorite things about flowers.
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It’s so true – smell can transport me back to a specific time/place/memory instantly, and so much more powerfully than a photograph or a song (and those are pretty strong triggers for me, too). Thanks for commenting!
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I grew up with two lilac bushes in our yard (in the first house we lived in, when I was a child). That smell is intoxicating and always take me back to being a kid. I looooove lilacs!
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The smell really is terrific. We don’t have any lilacs on our property, but because there are so many in the neighborhood I can still smell them faintly when I open the windows and the breeze comes in. It’s wonderful. 🙂
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The scent of lilacs —
An enchantment.
Here’s a post (long, fair warning) of mine from way back in September that you — new to lilacs — may enjoy:
https://berkshireviews.wordpress.com/2010/09/22/lilacs/
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Thanks for the link Judith; I’m excited to read your post. 🙂
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(Comparatively new, that is. Our acquaintance, lilacs and me, goes back decades and decades.)
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Yes, I would agree; I’m still relatively new to lilacs. Though, it’s been almost 10 years since that first day of grad school – wild! Wow, I hadn’t even thought of that until just this second…. kind of crazy…
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Love lilacs! My mom had a bush and I looked forward to them blooming each spring. I’ve seen them when we go on rides north of our area, just love that scent 🙂
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I bet smelling lilacs from the back of a bike on the open road would be phenomenal. What an experience. 🙂
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Isn’t it just the loveliest of smells. I love walking by lilacs and love bringing some indoors every year. Mine won’t be blooming for another 2-3 weeks but I’m looking forward to them, as I do every year.
walk in beauty.
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I have heard other people comment that their lilacs aren’t blooming quite yet; something to look forward to indeed. 🙂
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One of my favorite scents!
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I have four scents I just adore: lilac, rose, lavender, and mint. Mmm….
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