Every couple of years my family and I would fly from Canada to visit my grandparents in Norway during summer vacation. They lived in a beautiful old white house overlooking Lake Mjosa.

I remember the garden being very well manicured and there being lots of red and black currant bushes covered in nets to keep the birds away.

My mom told me that my brother and I would sneak under the nets to eat the berries. I remember they tasted so yummy. But I also remember walking past the bushes and brushing against the leaves. This amazing smell would hit my nose. It was sweet and a little bit earthy.

Recently we were in Lake Tahoe and I was on a walk. I saw a bush and it looked like a black currant bush so I went to smell it. Sure enough, it was a black currant bush and the smell instantly transported me back to my grandparent’s house in Norway. The happy childhood memories of spending time with them and getting warm hugs from my grandmother.

To me, the smell of black currant is a comforting smell that immediately puts me at ease and makes my mouth yearn for the tasty berries.

If the scent had a sound, what would it be? It would be a melodic sound. Very sweet, pleasant and enjoyable to hear.

If the scent had a color, what would it be? Turquoise. The smell is fresh which is blue to me, but then there’s a green smell too. So the combination would be turquoise.

If the scent had a texture, what would it be? Wool. The scent is soft, a little smooth, but slightly bumpy, so that reminds me of wool.

If the scent could give you advice, what would it tell you? It would remind me to embrace our families and the memories of those family members who are no longer with us. It would tell me that family is important. But it would also say to enjoy nature, its plants and the delicious foods it provides. It reminds me to enjoy the simple things in life and to enjoy the here and now.