(Nice) smells on the Camino

Deleted member 36903 · Jul 3, 2016

You know how it is, you've been home a month or so after walking and then out of nowhere a memory comes back to you with force. today I suddenly remembered walking out of Pontevedra before sunrise in May through a dark, narrow street and suddenly the air was filled with the wonderful aroma of cakes and bread being baked. The shop wasn't open otherwise I would just have to have stopped to buy.

Aside from the perhaps less appealing smells of boots and cows, does anyone else have any favourite olfactory memories of the Camino?

MilenaS · Jul 3, 2016

I remember the wonderful sweet smell of a tree. But I do not know what it is. It was all over the road from Pamplona to Logrono and had smal yellow/white flowers. Maybe somebody can help?

SYates · Jul 3, 2016

Smoke of a wooden fire place always reminds me of the camino. SY

Dutchwalk53 · Jul 3, 2016

The smell of the yellow plants. I'm not sure what they are called in English. I don't think we have them in the USA (at least not here in the South East). Growing up in The Netherlands, it was a sign of that spring had arrived when those plants were blooming

OzAnnie · Jul 3, 2016

Walking past fig trees with edible fruit. Mmmmm

Dutchwalk53 · Jul 3, 2016

milsub said:
I remember the wonderful sweet smell of a tree. But I do not know what it is. It was all over the road from Pamplona to Logrono and had smal yellow/white flowers. Maybe somebody can help?

see my previous post. Maybe those are the ones you mean ?

mspath · Jul 3, 2016

Dutchwalk53 said:
View attachment 27531 The smell of the yellow plants. I'm not sure what they are called in English. I don't think we have them in the USA (at least not here in the South East. Growing up in The Netherlands, it was a sign of that spring had arrived when those plants were blooming

The sweet smelling plant which you fondly remember probably is Spanish broom (Spartium junceum). See more info in the RHS site here.

Dutchwalk53 · Jul 3, 2016

mspath said:
The sweet smelling plant which you fondly remember probably is Spanish broom (Spartium junceum). See more info in the RHS site here.

That looks like it might be it Thank you !

gerardcarey · Jul 4, 2016

I was informed as to the delightful aroma of one herb in particular.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/mary-in-the-morning.33333/

Regards
Gerard

MilenaS · Jul 4, 2016

Dutchwalk53 said:
see my previous post. Maybe those are the ones you mean ?

Remember those as well, but what I am looking for is a tree. With pail small flowers.

MilenaS · Jul 4, 2016

www.caminodesantiago.me/community/camino-photos/what-is-this-tree.5218/

Here is the photo of the tree

Kanga · Jul 4, 2016

Wild thyme. It was flowering in profusion when I walked this year. I would deliberately push my trekking pole down into a clump sometimes, just for the pleasure of the wave of delight that arose.

TerryB · Jul 4, 2016

milsub said:
www.caminodesantiago.me/community/camino-photos/what-is-this-tree.5218/

Here is the photo of the tree

I think it will be White Spanish Broom - grows to a height of 3 meters. This is just a small garden one:-

Blessings
Tio Tel

MilenaS · Jul 4, 2016

TerryB said:
I think it will be White Spanish Broom - grows to a height of 3 meters. This is just a small garden one:-
View attachment 27542

Blessings
Tio Tel

Not totally convinced, because the plant I am looking for was a tree not a bush (almost sure - but not 100%). Will try to find White Spanish Broom some place and see if I recognize the smell.

kellyz · Jul 4, 2016

I love this thread! I am always trying to discover the source of the "gum drops" smell in grassy/weedy areas, especially in Galicia. Maybe fennel? In any case it is a very happy smell.

MichaelB10398 · Jul 4, 2016

kellyz said:
I love this thread! I am always trying to discover the source of the "gum drops" smell in grassy/weedy areas, especially in Galicia. Maybe fennel? In any case it is a very happy smell.

Yes, I think you have it - that wonderful spice drop smell is fennel.

NeeT · Jul 4, 2016

Walking at the moment and can't help but stop evertime I pass some jasmine or lavender (which I've picked to help me with my sleep )

movinmaggie · Jul 4, 2016

Dutchwalk53 said:
View attachment 27531 The smell of the yellow plants. I'm not sure what they are called in English. I don't think we have them in the USA (at least not here in the South East). Growing up in The Netherlands, it was a sign of that spring had arrived when those plants were blooming

Possibly Forsythia?

Mike Savage · Jul 4, 2016

milsub said:
www.caminodesantiago.me/community/camino-photos/what-is-this-tree.5218/

Here is the photo of the tree

The photo is small but I am going with Russian Olive laeagnus angustifolia.

Mike Savage · Jul 4, 2016

mspath said:
The sweet smelling plant which you fondly remember probably is Spanish broom (Spartium junceum). See more info in the RHS site here.

I agree with Margaret. It is Spanish Broom.

Mike Savage · Jul 4, 2016

For me it is the smell of Heather and freshly tilled soil.

Diane Kinney · Jul 4, 2016

Eucalyptus as you near Santiago.

MilenaS · Jul 4, 2016

Mike Savage said:
The photo is small but I am going with Russian Olive laeagnus angustifolia.

That's it! Thanks Mike!

Beth Aitken · Jul 9, 2016

SEB said:
You know how it is, you've been home a month or so after walking and then out of nowhere a memory comes back to you with force. today I suddenly remembered walking out of Pontevedra before sunrise in May through a dark, narrow street and suddenly the air was filled with the wonderful aroma of cakes and bread being baked. The shop wasn't open otherwise I would just have to have stopped to buy.

Aside from the perhaps less appealing smells of boots and cows, does anyone else have any favourite olfactory memories of the Camino?

I remember walking through an area where pimento grew. The lovely smell was sith us off and on for two or three days. And then of course, how could one forget the smell of fresh chocolate croissants?

Jeff Crawley · Jul 9, 2016

Walking up the hill out of SJPP first thing in the morning, honeysuckle climbing over a garden wall on the left hand side.

howlsthunder · Jan 21, 2019

I remember how clean and fresh the air always seemed everywhere in general, because my previous experiences in Europe weren't that way (I'm from Alaska, so I'm used to some pretty darn fresh air!)

But my favorite olfactory experience was finding lilac growing near the Camino. At home, everyone has lilacs and I it's the one garden plant I'm good at caring for. But for the last 10 years, I've worked a seasonal job that takes me away from home so it had been nearly a decade since I'd been able to actually smell my favorite flower.

I smelled and smelled and smelled that tree. mmm!

JamesGeier · Jan 21, 2019

I loved the smell of the eucalyptus trees in the forests of Galicia. Generally I loved the forests in Galicia, and the smell of the eucalyptus and the beauty of those old, tall trees.

Buen Camino!
--jim--

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(Nice) smells on the Camino

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