Scents & Memories

Tonight as I was shaving I finished my shave with some Clubman Aftershave & Clubman Talc and immediately for some reason I was flooded with memories from growing up.

I grew up in a small South Texas community where you either farm or work in the oilfield. We had 1 barber in the town, an older black lady who was masterful and to this day is still a barber- she's likely in her mid-late 60's. I remember as a kid walking 4 blocks to that old tin travel trailer, 5 dollars in hand and waiting my turn all the while casually observing the older gentlemen coming in from a hard weeks work and getting the full pamper. There was only room for 7 people to sit inside, so if it was not your turn you stayed outside under the shade tree and played dominoes.

As I got older she would make sure that all of us young me were groomed and ready to go for Friday nights on the football field. We took pride in how we looked for the pep rally, starched up in ties and dress slacks for the pep rallies and well groomed from her cutting our hair late into the evening on Thursdays.

She cut my hair from the time I was 5 to the time I was 18 when I up and moved away. Whenever I go home I make sure to walk those same 4 blocks and wait my turn to go through the same routine I went through so many years. And now that I am a grown man, I sit in that barbers chair as she lays it back and preps me for a full hot towel shave. Afterwards what does she use---- Clubman Aftershave & Clubman Talc.

I'm sure many of you experience the same things, and as we all come from different backgrounds and ethnicities feel free to drop your memories and thoughts here for all of us to enjoy.

Thank You,

C.Garza.

Yes, scent and memory seem to be indelibly connected. Of that there is no doubt.

For me, Old Spice and English Leather will always remind me of my grandfather; as a kid I watched him shave, and when he applied one of the aforementioned A/S's he would always dab a bit on me as well.

BTW he is still very much alive, and still using Old Spice and English Leather....

wood burning stoves always remind me of childhood.. other than that.. all the ladies in my family wore chanel no 5.

The O/P is a very cool story. I had many vivid images from the way your descriptions came together. thanks.

A morning memory for me was always a strong smokey/spicey aftershave. My dad still wears Old Spice, and as a kid, I remember him saying goodbye while I was still asleep every morning. The scent always lingered in the room. Now, I'm not into the Old Spice myself, but when i put on "pleasures" or "Nao", both are very spicey and smokey....i get those same feelings of being tucked in.

Nothing to do with the smell but your story reminds me of the only woman barber in town where I grew up. Her name was Emma. She had a French accent and kept a mina bird in her shop named Blackie. She would talk to it continuously while cutting hair and as soon as the customer got up from the chair, Blackie would say, "Pay the bill, George, pay the bill." She used to sleep with Blackie on her pillow and I heard she woke up one morning to find Blackie dead. She had rolled over on him in her sleep. Poor Blackie. I used to love Emma's shop.

Hello, CGarza:

A sweet story. Thank you for telling it.

Regards,

Obie

Aqua Velva... Dad wore Ice Blue Aqua Velva for as long as I can remember. I can remember him shaving with Williams cream in the tube and then applying Aqua Velva. When I use it, it all floods back.

@CGarza-you're absolutely right about certain scents conjuring up memories. For me, it's Aqua Velva and Aramis. As a young boy, I used to spend a lot of time at my grandparents. My grandfather was "shave in the afternoon" kind of guy, after coming home from work. After he'd shower, he would hand me a DE, minus the blade, I'd lather up and it was shave time. After shaving, he'd splash on the Aqua Velva or Aramis, and give me a dab of the same. To this day, I have both in my rotation

C. Garza,

Thanks for sharing your fond memories.

For those of you like me who find yourself asking "Why?" alot:

Discovery Health "Smell and Memory"

It's no coincidence that smells conjure strong emotions.

Greg

When I use Mitchells Wool Fat the smell of it reminds me of my grandmothers bathroom.

Some of my best memories are of going to the Barber Shop through the last 48 years. I remember getting my first hair cut and sitting on a paddle board so the Barber could cut my hair. One of my rites of passage was when I was big enough to finally sit in the barber chair without the board.

Later when I had my own two sons...I got to experience the same memories with them. Now that my son's are both grown, we talk about going to the barber shop and how the smell of the place made it a warm and comfortable place to share conversation and relax.

It was the memory of these smells and experiences that led me to purchase straight razors for my sons and myself. I was even fortunate enough to have gone to the Barber Shop with my Dad and two sons at the same time. Every time I shave and use the Clubman aftershave...I am a younger man all over again.

Ahhhh....the memories of days gone by....

It's amazing how fragrances can trigger memories for us. Aftershave in general always make me think of my grandfather. The really cheap Stetson cologne makes me think of him too because he always gave the boys a gift pack of that stuff for christmas. Man, when I put that stuff on I felt like a million bucks. Now, the scent that make me think of him the most is Coors Light. Ha ha.