This list of scents is something I’ve been meaning to do forever, because the sense of smell is uniquely connected to memories and to emotion. A scent in a story can flip a little switch in a reader’s brain, immediately triggering a mood. That’s why when I edit other people’s books, I often encourage them to include smells.

I especially encourage writers of Christmas stories to include beloved holiday scents in order to summon up feelings of nostalgia and happiness. That’s why I already did this list of Christmas scents! Most of those scents will be in the mix here, too!

An odor or scent can be used in all kinds of ways in writing:

It can cause a strong negative response, such as fear or disgust.

It can tell you about a character (whether it’s their scent, or the scent of their home or car.)

It can be a clue in a mystery.

It can be a reason for attraction in a romance.

And it can make a scene more immersive, so readers feel like they’rein the story!