Scent In The Ayers

A Scentimental Journey

Scentimental Journey Blog

Children’s Books About Turtles

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As a child in the 1960s, children’s books about turtles were read frequently, namely Myrtle the Turtle. There have since been other children’s books about turtles released under the same title.

If your little likes to read, or be read to, children’s books about turtles, here’s a partial list: Dr. Suess’ Yertle the Turtle, Ten Little Sea Turtles, Goodnight Little Turtle, Are You My Happy, Franklin Goes to the Hospital, Turtles Are Found Everywhere Except Antarctica, the entire Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series.

The list of children’s books about turtles is extensive: A Loud Winter’s Nap, Nellie’s Big Splash, The Tortoise and the Hare, That’s Not My Turtle It’s Shell is Too Bumpy, and Good Night Turtles, just to name a few.

Here’s a fun plush Trip the Turtle, it’s weighted, can be warmed, and scented. What a fun friend for your favorite little who adores turtles and reading children’s books about turtles.

With an adorably sleepy face and soft blue shell, Trip is the perfect vacation and staycation companion! Weighted with ceramic beads to calm and soothe, Trip the Sea Turtle is designed to be held or lie flat, and he can be warmed in a microwave for extra comfort. Includes one Scent Pak of your choice.

To warm your Weighted & Warming Scentsy Buddy, first remove the Scent Pak. Then start with one minute in the microwave. If needed, continue in 30-second intervals until reaching your desired warmth, but do not exceed two minutes. Please use caution when removing from the microwave and check product temperature before use. Overheating may cause burns. Dimensions: 18″ long, Weight: 3.25 lbs.

Trip the Turtle is a wonderful companion to any children’s books about turtles. He’s only available for a limited time, so I wouldn’t delay in ordering him.

How do you feel about lemon and sage scents?

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The scents you sniff play a strong role in how you are feeling. It’s a neurological thing. How do you feel about lemon and sage scents? Find out below.

Lemon’s zesty scent purportedly uplifts mood, reduces stress, and boosts cognitive performance by increasing norepinephrine (a chemical in your body that regulates stress and stuff) and stimulating the limbic system (the part of the brain that involves emotion, behavior, long-term memory, and your sense of smell). Whiff some lemon scent for enhanced mental energy and positivity.

Sage scent has also been reported to reduce stress and anxiety and enhance memory and cognition by stimulating the limbic system in the brain.

Lemon scent sage scent
Lemon and sage scents known offer physical benefits

I don’t claim to understand exactly how this scent-brain-benefit works, but I am all for sniffing some lemon and sage if it could lead to an improved mood and cognitive function; you too?

You can find lemon sage tea blends if sipping is your bag. If you’re more of a coffee gal, then perhaps you’d like these lemon and sage scented candles and air fresheners.

Unrelated, but fun: Lemon in Spanish is limón; and Sage en Espanol es salvia.  Are you impressed that I’m on level 24 in Duolingo?

Lilo and Stitch is Not Just a Kids’ Animated Movie

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If you’re living your golden years, you may not be familiar with Disney’s Lilo and Stitch; or know that it is not just a kids’ animated movie.

what is lilo and stitch about

To date, there have been seven Lilo and Stitch movies and three separate series.  So what’s all the hubbub? Why are so many so enamored with these two?

I asked Grok to summarize why this series tugs at heartstrings.  The result:

Lilo & Stitch (2002) is an emotionally rich animated film that explores themes of loneliness, family, and belonging. Lilo, a young Hawaiian girl, feels isolated after losing her parents and struggles to fit in, grappling with grief and a sense of being different.

Stitch, a chaotic alien experiment designed for destruction, is also an outcast, searching for purpose after escaping his creators. Their unlikely bond forms the heart of the story, as they find solace in each other, learning to heal through love and acceptance.

The film emphasizes the Hawaiian concept of ‘ohana, meaning family, highlighting that family is defined by care and connection, not just blood. Moments of humor, heartbreak, and tenderness—especially in Lilo’s efforts to connect with her sister Nani and Stitch’s transformation from chaos to loyalty—create a poignant narrative about finding your place in the world.

Now you can see why Lilo and Stitch is not just a kids’ animated movie. Grab some popcorn, head over to one of your streaming platforms and enjoy.  Then head over to IncomeWax.com to pick out some Lilo and Stitch scented swag.

Lilacs and Violets Stole My Heart: A Blooming Love Affair

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Picture this: late spring at our house, where the air practically danced with the sugary, punch-you-in-the-nose scent of lilac bushes. Those purple poofs lined our backyard like a royal guard, swaying in the breeze and tickling the chipped, rainbow mural Mom had painted onto our old garage with all the gusto of a 1970s art rebel.

As a kid, I’d channel my inner forest fairy, snapping off a lilac sprig to tuck behind my ear, instantly transforming into Princess Lilac of Backyardia. Mom? She was totally cool with my flower-snatching shenanigans. She got it—those blooms were like nature’s perfume, and we were both obsessed. At night, with the windows cracked open, that lilac scent would sneak into my room, wrapping me in memories of barefoot grass-dancing, firefly-chasing evenings, and Mom’s classic “dinner’s ready!” holler—yep, the original 1970s text message, delivered at max volume.

Now, Babcia’s house? That was a whole different kind of magic. Her place was a cozy, hug-shaped cottage, where the air felt like warm cocoa. Her kitchen windowsill was a jungle of African violets, their velvety purple petals practically begging for a tiny pat. Babcia would hand me her enchanted watering can (okay, it was just tin, but work with me), guiding my hands with her arthritic ones. “Violets are delicate, like fairy wings,” she’d whisper, her voice as soft as a lullaby. I’d pour just enough water, feeling like I’d cracked the code to some ancient plant-whisperer spell.

lilacs and african violets purple flowers

Fast forward, and Mom’s gone, the lilacs are history, and the house belongs to someone else. But when I close my eyes? BAM—that lilac scent teleports me back to my princess days, twirling in the yard. Babcia’s violets, though? They’re still kicking it, thriving in a perky little pot by my bay window, their dainty blooms winking at me like they know all my secrets. Lilacs and violets aren’t just plants—they’re like magical portals, zapping me back to those wild, love-filled days with the women who made me, well, me.

Lilacs and Violets truly did steal my heart. Now you know my blooming love affair.

Postscript: Every Mother’s Day my adult daughter finds someone who has a lilac bush so that she can snip me off a bouquet. It’s a tradition. Because the lilac season is so brief, I can still enjoy their scent year round with fabulous lilacs and violets candles, room spray, and air fresheners.

Why Scents Trigger Memories

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Non-Sciencey Explanation Why Scents Trigger Memories

Certain scents trigger memories because your nose is like a VIP with a backstage pass to your brain. When you sniff something, the smell hits your olfactory bulb, okay wait, that’s a little sciencey. The olfactory bulb is just the part of your brain involved in smelling scents.

Anyhoo, this part is super tight with the amygdala and hippocampus, the brain’s emotion and memory squad. Unlike stuff you see or hear, scents don’t get stuck in traffic; they zoom straight to these areas, making strong connections.

It’s called the Proust effect, okay wait, technically that’s more academic-y, and not sciencey, so we’re still on target. It’s more of a phenomenon, and it’s legit because our brains evolved to tie smells to survival, like remembering what’s safe or dangerous. Like, ooh, that smells like natural gas, and I should not fire up this incense cone right now or, y’know, kaboom. Or maybe you smell the kind of gas from someone’s dupa and definitely do want to light a candle.

Why scents trigger memories

This is why the smell of your babcia’s cookies or some old cologne can hit you like a time machine, pulling up vivid feels and moments. My mom died almost a half century ago, and yet anytime I smell Estee Lauder perfume, I instantly think of her, like she’s standing right next to me. I bet some of you think of pimpley face, awkward junior high days if you smell Love’s Baby Soft body spray? Or Musk oil, same same.

Nifty, huh?