Every Friday I’m going to ask a question. The questions I choose might be ambiguous on purpose. The goal is to have you answer the question according to your beliefs, where you’re at in life or a circumstance that might have recently impacted you. The only thing I ask is that you provide an explanation for why you answered 
the way you did.
the way you did.
It is my hope to understand you better through this and also to gain a greater understanding of humanity and how people make decisions.
There’s a commercial out now that is unsettling to me. A man sniffs a pair of gloves and looks at them as an unfavorable gift. He rolls his eyes and says, “They smell like church.” I don’t know about you, but when I think of the fragrance of church and all the connotations that phrase stirs up, the last thing I envision is something unfavorable.
Your question this week comes on the heels of my description of the eBay commercial.
What does church “smell like” to you?
*photos by flickr
*photos by flickr
Church smells like cappuccinos because everyone in my church brings their coffee into the worship service. :-)
ReplyDeleteIncense, wild mixture of perfumes (achoo!), old wood (and yes it does have a smell) and paper (hymnals, bulletins, etc.)
ReplyDeleteMmmm, I have to agree with Donna's answer. Paper for the hymnals, and then when I think of church I do think of incense because I was raised Catholic, even though I'm not now. Great question, and what a sad commercial.
ReplyDeleteIt's a haven, of sorts, whose scents evoke history. Ancient ritual. And mostly peace.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sarah. Coffee. Which I happen to love, so it's a favorable smell.
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful mix of smells on potluck Sundays, but deeper than that, it smells of the Spirit. Where else can you go and breathe It in? Oh, other places, I know, like outdoors or our own personal havens, but where else is It so concentrated?
ReplyDeleteMine doesn't have a smell I can think of, so I'm going to talk about an African church I attended. That one smelled like b.o. :0)
ReplyDeleteIncense. So much you can't breath! LOL
ReplyDeleteHymnals. Wood polish. People. Love. Prayer.
ReplyDeleteToo bad the guy in the commercial didn't attend our church--he'd change his mind, fast!
I haven't seen that commercial, but I am offended.
ReplyDeleteChurch? It always smells fresh, new--just like I'm having my sins forgiven, you know?
Ha! My church smells a bit like coffee, too. But mostly, like Jill said, it smells fresh. It's refreshing and uplifting and it always reminds me of worship music :)
ReplyDeleteWow! That's a tough one today, Wendy! I think the analogy of the gloves smelling stale might relate to an old church. When I go to my Mom's church building that's been around for over 100 years, there's a musty smell. But I find it quite comforting, like the ease of familiar traditions. The newer churches, like mine, have the scent of fresh carpet and paint. And they tend to push us more out of our comfort zones.
ReplyDeleteIt has a pleasant smell, kind of nondescript I suppose. The thing that strikes me first about our church is seeing the people, and knowing that this is a comforting place to worship and hear about the Lord.
ReplyDeleteDonuts. We serve them after so that's probably why. BTW, I love this song (God of this city). Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIf peace had a smell, that's what it'd smell like :) Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteOld paper, I think. Old hymnals. New carpet, though. :) Seems like our church is always replacing carpeting in different buildings...
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
warmth. It's always comfortably warm in my church. Cozy. Does warmth have a smell?
ReplyDeleteUsed to be the old woods, papers...but being in several new churches in the last few years, I can't say that anymore. Hummmm. Well, I guess, new... and wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHope, tears, closeness, pain, joy, rejoicing. These all come from the love that permeates the atmosphere in church, I think love does have a scent.
ReplyDeleteDiane
When you walk in the door of your own house you notice no paticular smell because the blend of smells that is home is so familiar. Only after a vacation, when the smell of home has been cleared away for a period of time, can home be smelled, for just those few moments after you first walk in the door.
ReplyDeleteThat's my church. Part old building, part new building, with love spilling out all over. Our family is there way too often to notice the scent of home anymore.
My church just had a makeover, so it smells of new and fresh. And even without a makeover, I don't remember a smell, so I'll go with fresh and new for then, at least figuratively speaking.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely like coffee!
ReplyDeleteRose perfume. We have many older women in our church, and I'd say at least 75% favor rose perfume.
ReplyDeleteIf peace and rest and forgiveness have scents then that's what I smell at my chucrh. Really. I just take a deep breath of it when I sit down.
ReplyDeleteIntersting question.
I agree that my church smells like old paper, but that's not an unpleasant smell to me, as long as it's not musty! :-)
ReplyDeleteMy Church smells heavenly! Today the fragance was poinsettas- heavenly!
ReplyDeleteForgiveness.
ReplyDeleteI answered at http://awell-wateredgarden.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Annette