It Smells Like Purple“It smells like purple in here. Do you smell it?”
So, I’m at work today and I’m working with one of my favorite co-workers. We’re sitting at our computers when she suddenly sniffs the air, turns to me, and presents me with the above quote. Food for thought?
It’s not the first time I’ve heard this. I’ve been around one other person who said they smelled purple. My co-worker explained that anytime she’s ever opened any purple liquid, such as medicine, it always smells the same. She says it doesn’t matter what it is or what brand. She now associates the color with the smell.
Now…I sat there for a moment in a kind of dumb-struck daze. I tried to understand what smelling a color was like. I don’t think I’ve ever associated a smell with a color.
But it’s really not so strange. I associate smells with emotions, times, places, etc. So why not associating smells with colors?
For example, one smell that I have an instant association for is coconut.
The smell of coconuts (no matter where, in what form, etc.) always makes me think of this:
Of course, there’s a perfectly logical explanation for that: Sunscreen.
There’s always a coconut sunscreen. Someone ALWAYS has it when you’re anywhere that swimmers are present.
So how odd is it really? Everyone makes their own associates between things.
I just found it amusing how a scent can spark not emotions, not memories, but rather, a flash of color.
UPDATE: Well, folks. I’ve been informed that this isn’t odd at all. In fact, it’s got a name. Synesthesia Apparently, there’s a scientific explanation as to why some people may relate colors to other senses. Interesting. Check it out.